RE/MAX Real Estate Symposium last Thursday generated a little more excitement than usual

• CBRE, Inc. imageThe plans for Towne Harbour near the Grand Glaize Bridge calls for two hotels and a broadwalk shopping area.
  
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  The annual Re/Max Real Estate Symposium last Thursday 
  generated a little more excitement than usual when developer
  Kent Nixon announced plans for a major hotel and retail 
  center in Osage Beach.
  Nixon said he plans to build Towne Harbor on the former 
  Kalfran Resort property off Jeffries Road at about the 
  19.5 miler marker of the Main Channel. The major stumbling 
  block, he said, was the success of a Tax Increment Financing 
  (TIF) application he has yet to file with the city of Osage Beach.
  Nixon said his vision is for an “entertainment district” that 
  would include two hotels, a boardwalk of retail shops, restaurants 
  and bars and other facilities. It would be built in two phases, 
  with the first getting underway by next summer.
  “It all depends on the success of the TIF application,” he said. 
  “There won’t be anything quite like this at the lake.”
  Nixon plans to have the letters of intent ready by the end of the
  year and begin the TIF application process at the beginning of 2014.
  
  The project would be the first major hotel resort/entertainment center
   at the lake since Tan-Tar-A and the Lodge of Four Seasons were built. 
  A similar hotel resort planned by John Q Hammons near the Grand Glaize 
  Bridge failed to materialize several years ago after its TIF application 
  was delayed by a lawsuit, followed by Hammons’ poor health and eventual 
  death.
  Nixon said the entire project would take about four years to complete, 
  with the first phase finished about two years after a TIF application 
  is approved by the city of Osage Beach. One of the hotels would be 
  located on the water, while the other would be closer to the Osage Beach
  Expressway.
  Nixon said he decided to unveil the plan here because the entertainment
  and hotel segment of the market is beginning to show some age.
  “The public expects a lot, and we seen an opportunity to create a game 
  changer, to swing the lake’s pendulum in the proper direction,” he explained.
  
  “The lake needs to work on increasing its static population so it doesn’t 
  have to rely on only seven or eight months of income,” he said. 
  “It needs to be more of a year-round retail center.
  While the city of Osage Beach is aware of the development, there has not 
  been an application for a TIF filed.
  City Planner Cary Patterson said Nixon has visited with the city but so 
  far, there has not been any development plans filed with Osage Beach.
  Zoning is not an issue for the proposed development. The current zoning 
  would allow for a development of this type, he said.
  
  More to read on this at original source: 
  http://www.lakenewsonline.com/article/20131021/NEWS/131029887#ixzz2jDZUpzbJ
  
  
  
  

  
  

Dick's Sporting Goods.... Bed Bath & Beyond slated to join Dierbergs in Osage Beach

Dierbergs

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — As Dierbergs Markets opens its doors next week, two national retailers new to the development will be getting their construction plans underway.

Dierbergs confirmed today that DICK’S Sporting Goods and Bed Bath & Beyond will open in the Dierbergs Lakeview Pointe Shopping Center within 11 months.

Dierbergs' new store in the center, 4655 Osage Beach Parkway, is set to open its doors at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

DICK’S Sporting Goods, a full-line sporting goods equipment, apparel and footwear company, plans to open its 34,000-square-foot store in November.

The housewares giant Bed Bath & Beyond, known for excellent customer service, everyday low prices and an extensive breadth and depth of product assortment, will open a 20,000-square-foot store in March 2014.

Two tenants attached to the supermarket, Eyes on Missouri (an optical store) and Great Clips Salon, are scheduled to open in May.  The UPS Store and JJ Twigs Pizza both occupy space within the supermarket and will open for business when Dierbergs cuts its ribbon Wednesday. Dierbergs is still in discussions with a variety of national and local businesses interested in the center’s remaining retail space.

Tracing its roots to a country store founded in Creve Coeur, Mo., in 1854, Dierbergs Markets is a fourth-generation, family-owned chain of 24 supermarkets with more than 4,000 Associates. The company’s 25th store opens April 24 in Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks; it is Dierbergs’ first store outside the metropolitan St. Louis market.

Source: http://lakeexpo.com/news/lake_news/article_8e881e44-a872-11e2-a3cc-001a4bcf887a.html

The Foreclosure Crisis is Drawing To a Close

The number of new foreclosure filings in August hit its lowest level in nearly eight years, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed properties.

Soaring home prices and a big decline in underwater borrowers -- those who owe more on their mortgage loans than their homes are worth -- have helped drive the trend.

August's initial foreclosure filings fell 44% to 55,575, just below the 56,063 that were recorded in October 2005. The foreclosure crunch began in summer 2006, at about the same time that housing prices hit their peak.

"This is a strong indicator that the crisis is over," said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. "The foreclosure floodwaters have receded in most parts of the country, although lenders and communities continue to clean up the damage left behind," he added.

The mopping-up process continues, however. In August, for example, the number of homes repossessed by lenders rose 6%, compared with July, to 39,277. But that still represents a drop of 25% year-over-year, and is more than 60% below the peak of repossessions in September, 2010.

The state with the highest rate of foreclosure filings was Nevada, with one for every 359 homes. According to Blomquist, many of those filings had been delayed by recent state legislation there that required lenders to redo their paperwork.

In Florida, one of every 383 homes had some kind of filing, the second highest rate among states. Ohio, Delaware and Maryland filled out the top five.

Florida cities accounted for six of the 10 hardest hit metro areas. Port St. Lucie topped the list, with a filing for one out of every 201 homes. Jacksonville, Miami and Ocala were also hard hit. Las Vegas reported the third highest rate and three Ohio cities -- Toledo, Cleveland and Akron -- also made the top 10 list.

If you are looking to list your property, or if you're looking for your new property at the Lake of the Ozarks please call the "Spouses Selling Houses" team at 572-302-2313. Until next time... Ebbie :)

6th Annual Real Estate Symposium

Please join us for the 6th Annual Real Estate Symposium sponsored by RE/MAX Lake of the Ozarks.  As in previous years, this event has attracted area lenders, appraisers, the media, and others with a vested interest in real estate at the lake.  Information presented will focus on Sales Trends, Changes in Property Values, Foreclosure Activity, Market Trends and Absorption Rates.

Because of the limited seating, reservations are required for this event.  There will be no charge for admission.

To register for the seminar click here:

http://resymposium2013-eventful.eventbrite.com/r/eventful

Hope to see you there!! Ebbie :)

Small Home Improvements Offer Big Returns

Even in a housing market where inventory is low, buyers still want a move-in ready house and are willing to pay more for one that's turn-key. Sellers can increase their listing price and decrease the time their home sits on the market just by doing a few home improvement projects, experts say. But not all projects carry the same return.

"A big mistake a lot of home sellers make is they upgrade the kitchen thinking they will make so much more money on the house. But the rest of the house still needs upgrading or repairs," says Michael Corbett, Trulia's real estate expert. Home sellers have to look at repairs as a whole rather than a sum of parts, he says.

For a kitchen renovation, Corbett says the return on the investment is typically 78 percent, which may not make financial sense for all homeowners. However, if other improvements and upgrades are made, the seller is more likely to recoup the money spent, and then some.

The home improvement priority list depends on the seller's time frame. For those looking to list in the next couple of months, they can take on bigger projects than those looking to sell in a few weeks. However, every seller can increase the interest and price tag of their home by investing in increasing the curb appeal.

"Buying a house or selling is kind of like dating," says Corbett. "A pretty face gets them in the door." Since a buyer can make a decision about a home without stepping out of the car, real estate experts say the landscaping has to be pristine, the front door painted and the windows cleaned. But it shouldn't stop there.

Don't overlook the garage. "Have the floors painted with garage floor epoxy. It's amazing how many people comment on a clean crisp garage with a painted floor."

He adds that removing the window screen and cleaning the frames can also boost curb appeal. "Most window screens darken a home and trap dirt. Removing them and cleaning all windows before the home has been photographed will give it a much brighter appearance, inside and out."
Inside the home, there are numerous improvement projects of varying price tags that can speed up the selling process.

Painting is a low-cost way to make a home look more fresh and clean and show an owner's commitment to maintenance. However, choose the paint carefully. Red walls or wildly-patterned wall paper can limit the appeal of a home as buyers are more drawn to neutral wall colors.

"Paint freshens everything up and provides a clean and crisp feel," says Officer. "If you aren't an interior designer by trade, this is not the time to play designer. Find a reputable designer and pay them a consulting fee to pick your colors."

Other low cost improvements include decluttering the home, getting rid of old fixtures, particularly if they are brass, and ridding the home of personal artifacts and pictures. "You want to create the feeling of stepping into a hotel. It should be nice and appealing for everyone.

For homeowners who have the time and the budget, remodeling the kitchen and baths will go a long way in boosting the list price. But sellers have to know their market before they start making the upgrades. Sellers living in an area where granite countertops are the norm, they better follow suit. If laminate countertops are more commonplace, then it doesn't make sense to pay for the more expensive materials.

Another more costly upgrade that is sure to get more bang for the buck is upgrading kitchen appliances. "Appliances that bling, bring the cash," says Officer. "Every homebuyer at every price range wants new or updated appliances. ... No one wants old and outdated appliances."

If you are looking to sell your property, or looking to purchase in the lake area please give the "Spouses Selling Houses" team a call. Until next time! Ebbie :)

Home appraisers say market is strong!

Real estate appraisers generally believe their local real estate markets are stronger now than a year ago –

particularly local residential markets. Demand for real estate valuation services has increased markedly in the past 12 months especially for residential valuation services. 

Overall, appraisers have a positive outlook for their businesses because they are cautiously 

optimistic that demand for appraisal services will remain strong for the next one- to two years. 

The survey findings show that opinions vary on the strength of the real estate market 

and direction of future demand for appraisal services depending on whether an appraiser 

focuses primarily on commercial or residential appraisals.

If you are looking for a home at the lake, please call the Spouses Selling Houses at 573-302-2313

Until next time!! Ebbie :)

Bagnell Dam Floodgates Open

Four to six inches of rain between midnight and 6 a.m. Wednesday forced the Osage out of its banks and flooded the town and surrounding region, closing Route V — the main road to the area.

According to Miller County 911 Director Michael Arnold, all low-lying areas on the banks of the Osage River including the cities of Bagnell and Tuscumbia, were advised to seek higher ground as Ameren Missouri opened the spill gates at Bagnell Dam late Wednesday morning.

According to Ameren Missouri, Lake of the Ozarks reached full pool about 6 a.m., and the staff wanted to open Bagnell Dam’s floodgates at 8 a.m. However, Lake Ozark fire and police departments advised them to wait until the low-lying areas on the Osage River were given warning to evacuate.

Presiding Commissioner Tom Wright declared a state of emergency for Miller County, and Gov. Jay Nixon deployed 50 National Guardsmen to assist local authorities in flooded areas throughout the Mid-Missouri Ozarks region. He also deployed marine operations troopers and a rescue helicopter to assist local emergency responders.

The following roads were closed due to flooding in Miller County:

• Missouri 52 between Missouri 17 and Route PP near Tuscumbia;

• Route A between route 17 and Route 42;

• Route K over Little Traven Creek;

• Route V, off U.S. 54 to Bagnell.

• Missouri 42, east of Iberia to Route TT and Route A, west of St. Anthony to Route TT.

In Camden County, Route T at Route H and Route BB at Baranowski Drive were also reported closed.

Lake Ozark Police Chief Mark Maples said an officer who was responding Wednesday to a local house fire possibly caused by a lightning strike at about 4 a.m. found a low-water area in the Osage National Golf Resort community was not passable and firefighters had to take a less direct route.

Maples said he received numerous calls between 4:30-5:30 a.m. of water over roads and debris blocking the road. He also said numerous rocks fell on the north side of the dam, making travel difficult as drivers crossed the dam and headed toward Route W in Lake Ozark.

“We checked all the lower areas along the river and warned residents of flash flooding concerns to include the Bagnell Dam Campground and the Riverview RV Park, and a few other areas,” he said.

Spectators watched as creeks and hill water run-off flooded the Osage River with water creeping up the floodgates of the dam. Once the dam floodgates were opened wide, onlookers even blocked traffic flow.

The Missouri Department of Conservation also closed the Osage River access area below Bagnell Dam because of concerns of fast-rising water.

Floodwater run-off on U.S. 54 early Wednesday morning caused several vehicles to skid off the road. In Bagnell, a Lake Ozark Fire Protection District fire truck was stuck in the water and flooded its engine.

In Tuscumbia, the Osage River stood a few feet from the roadway before the dam’s floodgates opened. On Route 17 west of Tuscumbia, Saline Creek was also flooded. MoDOT employees assisted in excavating ditches and trying to control run off that was filtering water, mud and debris over Missouri 17. Saline Road, which runs alongside Saline Creek, was also completely under water in many areas.

Individuals living along the rivers and tributaries were warned to remain vigilant to the river’s actions and to keep a close eye the weather conditions.

According to the Osage Beach city administrator, the extreme rainfall over the past few days has caused damage to the Osage Beach City Park, which is located off Hatchery Road in Osage Beach. It currently is closed until further notice with no one allowed in except city employees.

The American Red Cross set up a shelter Wednesday at Christ the King Lutheran Church on Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark for victims of the recent floods. The shelter will remain open until flooding in the lake area recedes.