Maybe you’ve heard about the shortage of home inventory, or maybe you’ve heard that the #NumberOneMistake millennials are making right now is to not invest in a home. For many, just the thought of buying a first home can be overwhelming. There are so many unknowns, the process seems highly complicated, there’s so much to consider, not to mention the questions you have may feel silly.
Whatever your concern, we’ve got answers at Brookside Real Estate’s Home Buyer Q&A Happy Hour on the Patio!
At Brookside Real Estate we recognize the questions are many for would-be first-time home buyers. Even if you’re not quite ready to buy a home, but would like to learn what steps you need to take to be ready financially, this Happy Hour’s for you! Our goal is to answer commonly asked questions, clear up any misconceptions, lay out steps along the home-buyer timeline, and take away the mystery from some ominous-sounding home buying terms.
To make the Happy Hour Q&A extra-informative, we’ve invited our friend Joe Grego from the mortgage business to offer his expertise! He and our very own Brookside Real Estate agent Ellen Zetmeir will join up to offer their best advice to prepare Home-Lookers to become Home-Buyers!
If you could use a little more information before you decide to look for the homes of your dreams, then this casual and fun Happy Hour’s for you!
• Where: The lovely outdoor patio of Brookside Real Estate Company at 9 W 63rd Street, right here in Brookside!
• When: Tuesday, August 22 from 5:30- 6:45! Stop by on your way home from work for a little food and drink and stay for the Q&A time with Real Estate and Mortgage Professionals.
• What to bring: Yourself! (And any other friends who want to learn more about the home-buying process!) We will provide the food, beverages – and helpful advice!
• Who: You and other would-be future first time home buyers!
See you at 5:30, Tuesday, August 22, at Brookside Real Estate Company’s first time home-buyer happy hour! Need a little more info? Drop us a line at (816) 333-3330 to learn more, or just stop by!
The number of reasons that we love Brookside are too numerous to actually count, but here are 3 more reasons why we love Brookside and why you will too! Put simply: The Shops. Today we highlight 3 neighborhood favorites that you really should stop by to a visit!
The brand new Red Door Grill – The first Red Door started across the state line and was a culinary hit from the start, so we were super excited to welcome Red Door Grill’s second location here to the heart of Brookside! Locally owned and operated, Red Door Grill is committed to community and they show that by the locally sourced ingredients they prepare their delicious meals with and the local providers they partner with. Red Door offers a great environment for most any occasion and considers themselves “an upscale neighborhood joint.” Definitely another reason to love Brookside!
Here in Brookside good food isn’t only available for humans. Brookside Barkery and Bath boasts Kansas City’s largest selection of all-natural pet foods and products for dogs and cats of the family. They are passionate about “better health through better nutrition” and care for each pet’s individual needs. Your pet will love the service from the Barkery’s friendly and knowledgable staff. Want to really pamper your pet? Check out their wonderful Pet Spa! Do what’s best for your best friend, stop by for a visit on your next walk through Brooksde and pick up some tasty treats – your pet is sure to fall in love with Brookside too!
All of Brookside’s shops are pretty darn charming, but one of the mostunique is The (New) Dime Store. A throwback in time, this dime storebringsback the wonder and nostalgia of an old-fashioned variety store that truly has it all! Various iterations of the Dime Store have been an essential and beloved part of the Brookside community since 1941 – and The (New) Dime is no exception – a store where you can still find just about anything you need just when you need it most. Stop in for something you need – and fall in love with something else you just can’t do without! Always worth making a special stop,come take a peek into a charming part of the past and we guarantee you’ll find an essential part of your future trips to the Brookside shops for many years to come!
The Brookside neighborhood is a little bit of old, a little bit of new, and a whole lot of charm. Stop in and visit the iconic Brookside Shops, have a drink on a patio, chat with neighbors and stroll down the wide, tree-lined sidewalks. And while you’re at it, stop by 9 West 63rd Street – the home of Brookside Real Estate to find out how you can make this special neighborhood your home neighborhood.
Maybe you’ve heard about the shortage of home inventory, or maybe you’ve heard that the #NumberOneMistake millennials are making right now is to not invest in a home.
For many, just the thought of buying a first home can be overwhelming. There are so many unknowns, the process seems highly complicated, there’s so much to consider, not to mention the questions you have may feel silly. Whatever your concern, we’ve got answers at Brookside Real Estate’s First Time Home Buyer Q&A Happy Hour on the Patio!
At Brookside Real Estate we recognize the questions are many for would-be first-time home buyers. Even if you’re not quite ready to buy a home, but would like to learn what steps you need to take to be ready financially, this Happy Hour’s for you! Our goal is to answer commonly asked questions, clear up any misconceptions, lay out steps along the home-buyer timeline, and take away the mystery from some ominous-sounding home buying terms.
To make the Happy Hour Q&A extra-informative, we’ve invited a couple of friends from the mortgage and financial planning business to offer their expertise too! Mitchell Smith from Buttonwood Financial and Mike O’Neill from Oak Star along with our very own Brookside Real Estate agent Nicole Lonergan will join up to offer their best advice to prepare Home-Lookers to become Home-Buyers!
If you could use a little more information before you decide to look for the homes of your dreams, then this casual and fun Happy Hour’s for you!
Where: The lovely outdoor patio of Brookside Real Estate Company at 9 W 63rd Street, right here in Brookside!
When: Tuesday, May 9 from 5:30- 6:45! Stop by on your way home from work for a little food and drink and stay for the Q&A time with Real Estate, Mortgage, and Financial Professionals.
What to bring: Yourself! (And any other friends who want to learn more about the home-buying process!) We will provide the food, beverages – and helpful advice!
Who: You and other would-be future first time home buyers!
See you at 5:30, Tuesday, May 9, at Brookside Real Estate Company’s first time home-buyer happy hour! Need a little more info? Drop us a line at (816) 333-3330 to learn more, or just stop by!
Following hot on the heels of the national news media and Real Estate publisher Motovo’s accolades of Brookside as one of the “Top 10 Best Zip Codes in America, ” the March issue of 435 Magazine is not to be outdone naming Brookside, “One of the Best Places to Live Right Now.”
“We couldn’t agree more,” said Brookside Real Estate broker, Jim Kraus, “I’ve been in the Real Estate business here in Brookside for over 20 years now, and the community continues to astonish everyone with its consistently appreciating home values. I’m not surprised anymore. Everyone wants to live in Brookside. What’s not to love?”
435 Magazine points out, “Not all the great homes are in distant suburbs…In the last few years, these areas have just taken off. Demand is up, but supply is limited.”
More from 435 Magazine:
“The Brookside community is the perfect spot for those seeking an older home near some of the best local spots Kansas City
has to offer. This vibrant community is ten minutes from the Plaza and only a fifteen-minute drive from downtown Kansas City. Everyone wants to live in a small community with slow streets and large lots, and even though some of the homes in Brookside might run a bit pricier, they are the ideal location for those with above-average incomes looking for a neighborhood with character.”
“The Kansas City housing market is strong and stable, and in many ways the envy of the housing pundits on both coasts.”
The article quotes that the average number of days a home is on the market in Kansas City is about 15 days and expects that number is going to dwindle as Spring Market gets into full swing and the busy summer months hit. Some houses listed in Brookside are even sold within 24 hours.
Spring Market buying and selling can be daunting and feel rushed, but don’t let this discourage you. With over 30 years of professional experience, the agents at Brookside Real Estate have all the tools needed to navigate you through Spring Market madness! If you’re looking for a new place to call home, give us a call at (816) 333-3330, or stop by the Brookside Real Estate office located at 9 W 63rd Street and check out one of Kansas City’s, “Best places to live right now.”
For some time now exciting changes have been percolating along the 63rd Street Corridor in Kansas City (and we don’t just mean coffee at the new Unbakery and Juicery!) While new developments are always noteworthy, this advancement is particularly exceptional.
You see, just over a year ago, this section of 63rd Street was more than 85% vacant!
No wonder developer Butch Rigby’s vision to revitalize this area of the community is causing such excitement! For Rigby, a local entrepreneur and developer (known by many for his work in bringing classic film venues renewed life via his company Screenland Theatres), the “Brookside East” 63rd St. Corridor project is more than redevelopment, it’s a means of “connecting” a community.
601 E 63rd Street Before Renovations
The early renovation results have led to some surprising “connections” that were not entirely expected. For example, one of the renovated office buildings – that was only a year ago dark and empty – now has floor to ceiling exterior windows providing clear vistas both inside and out. In fact, so clear that several new office dwellers happily reported that outdoor pedestrians often wave up to them as they pass by on afternoon sidewalk strolls.
The views from the building’s inner offices are nearly as great as those from the exterior offices thanks to deconstructing solid-walled offices and replacing them with clear (sound-insulated) glass. “My goal,” says Rigby, “is for everyone from inside the building to be able to see a tree from their workspace. If they could see a tree, they could not only enjoy natural light, they could see the surrounding neighborhood they were now part of.” Another “connection” made!
Unbakery and Juicery
Brookside has long been a thriving market for home buyers in search of charming one-of-a-kind homes, big trees and walkable shopping district. Home values have continued to appreciate, and neighborhood has become a bit of a coveted place to call home. It has both small-town, family-friendly charm – as well as convenient access to the Plaza, the Crossroads and downtown.
Unfortunately, the office and retail space along 63rd Street past Oak had not been updated much at all in over 30 years. But, thanks to the shared vision of Rigby and several other like-minded local redevelopers, like Scott and Kate Meinke who opened Heirloom Bakery & Hearth just over a year ago, and Colonel Laster with Laster Industries, the goal of extending the walkability and local retail allure of Brookside further along the 63rd Street Corridor is in full gear.
A longtime supporter of local small businesses, Rigby is committed to bringing unique and interesting new retail neighbors to the neighborhood. His vision to expand the Brookside neighborhood further down 63rd Street corridor has meant carefully curating new shops and retailers that will continue to represent the unique neighborhood charm of Brookside.
The renovated office space has been an attractive option for many area small businesses – as witnessed by occupancy that nears 100% even as some of those spaces are still being completed. A wide variety of businesses have already moved into to the mixed-use office space in the renovated building (with the new floor to ceiling windows) located at 601 E 63rd Street. From businesses like Element Wellness Spa Studio, to Odimo, a cutting-edge architectural design and consulting company, small business in occupancy along new 63rd St. corridor is thriving.
We here at Brookside Real Estate Company have long said that Brookside is more than a neighborhood, it is a way of life. Brookside is about community. Brookside is vibrant. Brookside is teeming with life and growth. This expansion is bringing wonderful value to the neighborhood. We welcome this advancement – and our new neighbors – with open arms. If you’ve not yet had a chance to do so, stop by and see what all the buzz is about. If you’re already a Brookside resident, take a walk down the sidewalk, wave to the new office tenants, stop in and meet the new retailers and say “hello” to our new neighbors.
And if you’re not already living in Brookside or Waldo or one of the surrounding neighborhoods, stop in and visit us here at our own retail office on 63rd Street. If this community isn’t already your home we, like Butch Rigby, would love to get you connected!
If you are looking to buy a home, you may be more interested in your credit score than ever before.
The difference between a good credit score and a mediocre credit score could be the difference in being approved a home loan or not – and your score certainly might affect your home loan interest rate.
Lenders first analyze your credit scores to determine whether or not to consider you for a loan. If your score is above the minimum threshold that particular lender has set for home loan approval, then they consider various aspects of your credit history, your income, and your debt to monthly expense ratio. This is to be reasonably certain that they will not lose money by choosing to lend. If all looks good they will approve you for a loan at a specific interest rate. Next stop: Find that dream home!
Here are 5 tips to help get you on the road not only to loan approval, but also to a loan at a better rate – potentially saving you thousands over the lifetime of your loan. You not only want to demonstrate that a loan with you is a good investment, but that it is a great investment. Successfully achieving this saves you time and money!
While improving your credit score sometimes takes financial behavior changes consistently over time, here are 5 quick tips to help make an immediate impact:
Quick Fixes – 5 Things to do Right Away
Check your Credit Report – You need to know what you are up against in order to strategize how to improve your credit. Request a free copy of your credit report. You can get one free per year from all 3 of the major credit reporting agencies under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Take advantage of this. Requesting and
checking your own credit score will not affect your score as long as you order it directly from the credit reporting agency.
Dispute Any Errors – Mistakes happen within the credit bureaus. If you find erroneous information in your credit report, formerly protest this to the each of the credit bureaus that has the incorrect information. Don’t be penalized for mistakes that aren’t yours! You can dispute errors online through Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Pay Down Debt – keep your credit card balances low. A high debt to credit ratio will drive your credit scores
down. Make sure that you are using less than 30% of your available credit at the most. Ideally use 10% in order to maximize your credit score.
Negotiate Late Payments – Mistakes happen! It is understandable that you missed a payment here and there. If you have been historically good about making payments, and just missed a couple here and there, ask for a “good-will adjustment.” Write a letter to Visa emphasizing that you’re a good customer, and ask for the mistake to be erased from your credit.
Set up payment reminders- Use the tools available to you! Some banks have texting or email programs that you can sign up for to make sure that you do not miss a payment. If not, use a calendar and make sure that you have scheduled the dates of your payments to be feasible with your pay period and bill cycle. Late payments look particularly poor on your credit report.
Now you’re getting started! Talk to your financial advisor about more tips to increase your creditworthiness – and be well on your way to purchasing the home of your dreams!
The national news media seems to be catching on to what locals have known for some time: Kansas City is a wonderful place to call home.
Forbes recently named Kansas City’s downtown experience in their top 20 list and Huffington Post listed Kansas City in their list of top 5 American cities to keep on your radar. Now, local ZIP Code 64113 (the Brookside area), has been listed by Real Estate publisher Movoto as one of the “Top 10 best ZIP Codes in America.”
Everyone loves a good list, but we like this one in particular for its methodology. The Movoto Top Ten list was created using the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey. The criteria considered were quite analytical:
Median Household Income (the higher the better)
Unemployment Rate (the lower the better)
Average Commute Time (the lower the better)
Median Rent (the higher, the more desirable an area)
Median House Worth (the higher, the more desirable an area)
High School Graduation Rate (the higher, the better)
Families Below the Poverty Line (the lower, the better)
While the Brookside area is often recognized for beautiful early twentieth century homes, tall Oak trees, picturesque drives, wide open parks and one-of-a-kind shops; the Census data reveals 64113 is also a leading neighborhood statistically. With a high school graduation rate of 99.53 percent and an unemployment rate of under 3 percent, the 64113 ZIP Code also boasts a whopping average household income of $119,676 and a nearly nonexistent poverty rate. In fact, the Brookside area matches up quite favorably against every neighborhood in the entire country!
We here at Brookside Real Estate are not in the least bit surprised, we’ve always known that Brookside is both pretty and smart! After all, not only do we specialize in 64113 (Brookside’s primary ZIP), but most of our agents also call this ZIP Code home.
New and exciting developments continue to come to the area. Butch Rigby and other developers have invested much to extend the Brookside neighborhood vibe east of Oak for several blocks down 63rd Street. And the opening of the new Red Door Grill has been a fun new attraction this winter season.
Even pets will love 64113. Not only the wide and picturesque Trolley Trail the area boasts, but also popular neighborhood merchant, the Brookside Barkery and Bath – Kansas City’s leading organic pet food supplier and pet spa!
Is 64113 the next 90210? We’d rather it not, but we still think our neighborhood’s exceptionally likable. Want to see what all the buzz is about? Come check out the area yourself. We know you’ll fall in love with Brookside. And when you do, give us a call here at Brookside Real Estate. Now celebrating our 30th year right here in Brookside, no one is better able to help you find the home of your dreams in one of the top neighborhoods in the country.