With interest rates at unprecedented lows, it is increasingly more likely that borrowing costs will be lowered even further on mortgages. This serves as a small silver lining amongst the economic uncertainty Americans are now facing during these tumultuous and ever-changing times.
The Federal Reserve has recently lowered borrowing costs to near zero in a move to counteract the economic shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic. Also unfolding, the 10-year Treasury yield, a key benchmark that influences borrowing costs on houses and auto loans, took a nosedive to historic lows.
Mortgages: Buyers and Refinancers
Mortgage rates have dropped to historical lows as bond yields have fallen, which is a move that could help first-time homebuyers and those who already own, and are looking torefinance. When Treasury yields fall, banks will charge lower interest rates for mortgages. The Federal Reserve announced that it would be cutting its benchmark federal funds rate by 1% to a range of 0% to 0.25%, alongside other measures meant to stimulate the economy.
If you’re considering selling your home in the next few months, contact a neighborhood expert: One of the real estate pros at Brookside Real Estate Company. Call today at (816) 333-3330. Or, stop by our offices in the heart of the Brookside at 9 W. 63rd Street.
Brookside Real Estate agent Ellen Zetmeir may be the newest member of our team, but she’s been an expert in the field of understanding the structure and unique character of Brookside homes for years.
Ellen first fell in love with the neighborhood and its distinct and unique homes as a child when her uncle and aunt moved to Brookside.
A native of Kansas City, Ellen lived and worked in Wisconsin for several years, first working for a cabinet company and then for Pella windows. She moved back to Kansas City to be closer to family – and to finally live in Brookside, the neighborhood she’d loved since adolescence.
Ellen worked with Brookside Real Estate in finding and purchasing her Brookside dream home. Her own Brookside home-buying experience fanned the flames of Ellen’s passion for older homes and convinced her that working with home buyers and home sellers who had the same love for old homes – and for Brookside – was inevitable. Ellen decided to pursue her dream of becoming a real estate agent with the same company that helped her with her own home: Brookside Real Estate!
While Ellen’s expertise doesn’t limit her to working with older homes, houses built pre-1940 are her absolute favorite. “I see each home as unique, and as having its own story. In getting to know these homes I feel that I can see a part of their history and get to know their personality,” said Ellen.
This skill has proved invaluable to Ellen, enabling her to perfectly match each family with just the right home. Not only does her expertise help match homes for sale with the best buyers, it also helps her know what potential problems to look for in home inspections and to be able to effectively communicate the scope of any structure issue with her clients. “Older homes have their own personalities, and charm, but they also come with their own baggage. Helping buyers and sellers navigate this is one of my specialties,” said Ellen.
When Ellen is not busy matching homes with buyers, she loves to stay active in her community. She is a board member on the Wornall Homestead Homes Association and serves on the Country Club/Waldo Steering Committee. She is a lifetime Girl Scout member – honored with their “Thanks Badge” recognition, and continues to work with local Girl Scouting.
You can often find Ellen driving the streets of Brookside, top down on her SAAB, still admiring the architecture she fell in love with as a child. Or sharing her screened-in porch with friends, neighbors and clients – or even hosting a live blues music party in her back yard.
Click here to learn more about Ellen – or stop in and meet her at our offices at 9 West 63rd street! You’ll be glad you did!
Buying your first home can be incredibly intimidating. When’s the best time to buy a house? Are you even ready and have you saved up enough money? How do you know you picked the right real estate agent? There are so many things to consider when purchasing your dream home – but where to turn? Recently an enthusiastic group of would-be future homeowners had those questions and more answered at Brookside Real Estate’s Home Buyer Happy Hour on the Patio!
The third event in an ongoing monthly series, Brookside Real Estate’s recent Home Buyer Happy Hour was again a great success! Brookside’s own Ellen Zetmeir gave an excellent presentation on the process of becoming a first-time home buyer. She kept the presentation fun and entertaining, and, as a professional Realtor was wonderful at demystifying the many steps of the often complex home buying process.
Ellen explained how obtaining your pre-approval letter is one of the best first steps in the home-buying process. Said Ellen, “A pre-approval letter will provide you with a better understanding of what the lender will give you versus what you can realistically afford to spend on your home.”
One of Ellen’s key recommendations was to find the right real estate agent for you. Ellen explained that. “you want someone who is tech savvy, someone who you can build a personal relationship with, and, most importantly, someone who you can be open and honest with!” Ellen continued, “As your personal agent, we are here for you no matter what the situation is – from morning to late at night, we want to make this process as easy as possible for you.”
In addition to Ellen, Joe Grego, Vice President of Mortgage Banking from OakStar Bank, also spoke at the Home Buyer Happy Hour. Joe discussed the advantages of buying a home versus renting a home.
According to Joe, “Because renting is becoming increasingly expensive – and the fact that you never see a return on your rental investment – buying a home is often a financially smarter and cheaper option to renting.”
Joe continued, “Another benefit to buying a house is seeing appreciation – an increase in the value of your home over time – which everyone loves!” In closing, Joe pointed out one of the more intangible but also one of the best reasons to buy a house, said Joe, “Being able to call a house your home and building lasting memories with friends and family is a truly most invaluable advantage of buying!”
Interested in purchasing a home for the first time yourself? Brookside Real Estate would love to walk you through the process and to help you down the path to finding your own dream home! Call us at 816-333-3330 or visit us at 9 West 63rd St. If you missed the Brookside Real Estate’s August Home Buyer Happy Hour, don’t worry, we are planning another session soon. Stay tuned for details! In the meantime, take a look at the photos below from the most recent event!
It finally feels like spring and Mother Nature’s harvest agrees! We don’t know what your plans are Saturday morning but we couldn’t be more excited for the opening of this season’s Brookside Farmers’ Market this Saturday, April 15th at 8:00 AM!
The Brookside Farmers’ Market has been a neighborhood tradition for 14 years now. Recognized as one of Kansas City’s largest organic and non-GMO farmers’ markets, this weekly happening always draws quite the crowd! Each of the many market vendors are from around the local area. (They must be and all use sustainable and/or cruelty-free practices.) You can’t get much closer to the source as the products and produce are sold exclusively by the local growers themselves with no resale – now that’s local!
Located on the southeast corner of 63rd and Wornall, many Brookside neighbors often walk the short distance to the Farmers Market – although the Market continues to draw fellow shoppers from throughout the city!
While the selection varies slightly from week to week you can expect to find:
Farm-fresh fruits and vegetables
Herbs
Organic eggs and meats
Fresh flowers
Fresh bread and baked goods
Organic juices
Vendor’s like our fellow 63rd Street friends at Heirloom Bakery and Hearth and Simple Science Juices draw quite a crowd for their organic juices and fresh baked goods. If you haven’t tried one of Heirloom’s homemade pop-tarts you’re missing out! No matter what your personal taste is the Brookside Farmers’ Market has something for everyone.
Every Saturday morning, rain or shine, from 8:00AM to 1:00PM (starting Saturday, April 15 and continuing through late November), come on out, meet up with your friends, get to know your neighbors, and fill your pantry with some of the finest and freshest baked good and produce in the area!
Neighborhood events like the Brookside Farmers’ Market are just one of the many reasons that the Brookside area has become such a desirable place to live. Imagine yourself walking down wide tree-lined sidewalks with the morning sunlight filtering through the spring blossoms on the trees, waving to your dog-walking neighbors and stopping by the Farmers’ Market to pick up your fresh produce for the week!
Like the idea? Give your friends at Brookside Real Estate a call at (816) 333-3330 – or just stop on by and see us at our street-front office at 9 West 63rd Street – to discuss how you can make this great neighborhood your home!
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!
Reflecting on the past year, we here at Brookside Real Estate are thankful for the success we’ve experienced in 2016.
Without a doubt, it wouldn’t be possible without our great clients! We are especially grateful for the many great neighbors in Brookside and surrounding areas we’ve come to know. After all, neighbors are what make communities great!
With the New Year upon us, we are excited to announce a few new changes that we know you’ll love! For one (as you already know if you are reading this on a handheld device), our brand new mobile-friendly website is now live with its updated and refreshed design! We encourage you to look around and check back often for new blogs, helpful tips, upcoming neighborhood events, and, as always, the newest property listings in our new, easy to use property search engine.
Equally as exciting, Brookside Real Estate Company reached the notable milestone of 30 years in business this year! Even though a lot has changed in the area over those 30 years, one thing that will stay the same is our commitment to the wonderful neighborhoods of Kansas City. After all, we live here too!
We are thrilled to welcome 2017 and continue to provide you with the same high level of personal service, commitment and dedication. We can’t wait for you to experience the new changes we have in store for 2017. Whether it’s looking around our new website or stopping by our retail office on 63rd St. just to say “Hi” – we love saying hello to old friends and making new ones! We welcome the New Year with open arms and look forward to developing relationships with more wonderful clients, the various lenders and title companies we support, and the 100’s of other real estate agents (too many to name!) that we work with day in and day out in the Kansas City community!
Until we see you again, we hope you and your family enjoyed a very Happy Holiday and have a safe and happy New Year!
“The Brookside community is the perfect spot for those seeking an older home near some of the best local spots Kansas City
