Fantastic Caverns Springfield MO ; All Weather Attraction

Fantastic Caverns is located in the Branson-Springfield area of Southwest Missouri. This region is one of the most beautiful in the United States ... above as well as below the ground! Its rolling hills and sparkling streams are the natural counterparts to the magnificent limestone caverns found beneath the surface.

The famous Branson music shows, Silver Dollar City and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World offer visitors even more to see and do. Complete area information is provided at the Fantastic Caverns Visitor's Center. 

Fantastic Caverns America's only ride-through cave  lies beneath the rolling Ozarks hills just north of Springfield, Missouri. The surrounding countryside doesn't look like a typical tourism area - rather than rows of roadside attractions and bumper to bumper traffic, visitors traveling the quiet country roads are more likely to see a farmer cutting hay or the neighborhood kids riding bikes. Once they reach the caverns, however, they'll be introduced to a unique underground world, its natural splendor, and its environmental lessons.

(417) 833-2010  4872 North Farm Road 125
Springfield, Missouri (USA)  65803

Restaurants in Springfield MO ; Zio's Italian Kitchen

An extensive menu of Authentic Italian Dishes and high quality fairly inexpensive wines put Zios ahead of the crowd. The service is normally prompt even when they have a full house.
Located just off James River Fwy and Campbell you'll find plenty of parking and a cordial staff.

The atmosphere is inviting and looks authentic. The kitchen is open to the dining room which adds a European flair.

1249 E Kingsley Springfield 417 889 1919http://www.zios.com/site/

Home Energy Credits are still out there and they are HUGE.

When our furnace started having issues I called a HVAC Technician.  It turned out to be servicable but is suffereing from old age.  I told the technician it's too bad the Fed Tax credit just ended.

That's true he said but our County and your Electric Co have huge rebate programs that still have money.  The key is to have an Energy Audit that shows the house could be 25% more efficient and our County will pay 70% of the upgrade cost and our Electric Co will kick in additional rebates as well. 
I especially like the fact that getting more efficient includes not only furnaces and A/C units but also windows, insulation and more.
For an devoted penny pincher like me this is great new and my Energy Audit will be done tomorrow.

Springfield MO area Home Prices are Stabilizing, I don't care what they say

In general non- distressed homes for sale in Springfield Mo and homes for Sale in Branson Mo are selling for 96% of asking price which is a bit of a shock for out of state buyers.  Our economy is strong, we're putting in new infrastructure, new business, new homes and some employers are hiring hundreds at a time.  That's great for those of us who are already here but means we Realtors have to play counselor for our out of state buyers.   

also:  www.hashbarger.remax-midstates.com and www.Hashbarger.biz

Greek & Mediterranean Cuisine in Springfield and Ozark MO

The variety of restaurants in Ozark is astounding.  Apart from the usual plethora of Mexican and Chineese establishments you'll find an outstanding restaurant featuring Mediterranean Cuisine.
Greek born Nick & Barbara Pappas found their way to Ozark via Philadelphia.  The variety on the menu is wonderful and includes authentic Greek Dishes, Gourmet Pizza, Hoagies and Phily style cheese steak.
If you happen to be driving betweeen Springfield and Branson take the Jackson St exit in Ozark; go East to the town square and find Pappas Kitchen on Brick St.
Great food at great prices.     Bob Hashbarger  417 209 4480

for local Real Estate trends:  www.hashbarger.remax-midstates.com  or www.hashbarger.biz

Kitchens sell houses but be careful where you spend $$

It happens over and over.   John and Jane spend $25K on their kitchen and think that makes their home worth $25K more.   I have lectured and lectured and it sometimes falls on deaf ears.  When buyers look at homes they expect them to have a reasonable modern functioning kitchen (and baths)  When a homeowner spends $10K on deferred maintenance that money just went to bring the house up to where it should have been kept.  That $10K is money the homeowner should have been spending over the years to keep current on repairs.  Now if they spend an additional $15K on the right upgrades they'll probably get some of that back when they sell.
With the cold weather upon us, creating a warm and inviting kitchen can make a big difference in a home's overall appeal. With a few well-chosen finish updates, you can shift tone and mood and purchase interest. Fit and finish in a room convey quality - or lack thereof - so it's important to look around and pay attention to details.

Color and light are the easiest, most cost-efficient elements to add warmth to the kitchen, and you need go no further than the vegetable bin or spice cabinet for inspiration. A scheme of natural greens, yellows, mustards and russets washed with dimmable overhead and under-cabinet lighting can add energy as well as create a level of calm...a kitchen for any mood. If the existing cabinets are sturdy but the finish is sending out a distress signal, a well-executed paint job can turn it around . Mismatched appliances and worn flooring are other leading visual cues, so if the budget permits, replace them.     Bob Hashbarger 417 209 4480

Real Estate in Ozark MO : 256 Empire Ozark MO $215,000

The Real Estate Market in Ozark MO remains brisk mostly because our market doesn't suffer from the roller coaster/whiplash aspect that seem to affect the rest of the country.

To search homes for sale in the area click on  http://hashbarger.remax-midstates.com/

See also  http://www.hashbarger.biz/
A great example of offerings in our area is 256 Empire.  Convenient to Branson & Springfield in South Ozark. Hardwood Floors, Split Floorplan, Gas Fireplace. Formal DR could be 2nd living area. Pristine Country Setting on acreage. 3 car garage on 2.86ac with room for a shop. Like new condition; move in ready. Dining room could be 2nd living area. Offered at $218,000 Watch the virtual tour then call for a showing   417.209.4480

Cajun and Creole Cooking in Springfield MO ; Maque Choux

Here's a great cold weather receipe from our Cajun and Creole cousins.
Not only does it taste great and warm the soul but it also contains the ideal mix of protein, vegetables and starches.

Maque Choux (receipe from Southern Living Magazine July 2010)
The name is purported to be the French Acadian (Cajun) pronunciation for the name Native Americans gave the dish.

Start with a large iron skillet and melt a small amount of bacon grease.
 As an entree' start by browning 1/2 lb. spicy sausage, shrimp or white fish.
 Add 1/2 cu sweet onion,  1/2 cu green pepper, 2 cloves garlic
 Cook until meat or fish are browned and onions are translucent.
 Add 3cu fresh corn, 1cu sliced okra, 1cu peeled diced tomatoe.
 Add a pinch of sea salt and about 1/2tsp ground black pepper.

To use it as a side dish just leave out the sausage or seafood.

Buying a Home in 2011 ; What you need to know

Buyers: Qualify for a mortgage to buy a home.  Many would-be buyers have mentally disqualified themselves, despite the great economic climate for buying a home, because they have heard it is so difficult to get a mortgage. 
The fact is, with a 620 credit score and a 3.5 percent down payment (plus closing costs, in some cases), an FHA loan can finance the purchase of your home.  Start with the basics - pull your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and check them for errors, following the instructions to dispute any inaccurate information that might drag your score down.  Then, get referrals to a local mortgage broker who can pull your credit score - the same ones the banks will look at - and let you know where you stand, as well as giving you some tasks to boost your score to where you need it to be, if it's too low.  Don't talk yourself out of even applying for a home loan; instead, get a professional's opinion about your purchasing power and their help in getting yourself ready to buy.

The other big to-do list item is saving up  "cash to close" - the money you need for your down payment and closing costs.  Again, work with a real estate broker or agent and the mortgage broker or professional - local to your area - to help you figure out about what your target savings amount needs to be. Then, get started going through your last month's bank account statements to see where you can eliminate expenses and direct those funds into savings, automatically and every paycheck, ideally.

 

Restaurants in Springfield MO Vietnamese

Bambu is a family owned Vietnamese restaurant which aims to enrich the lives of its community, family, and friends with delicious, fresh and richly infused traditional dishes. All the stocks here are made on premise over twelve hours and have marvelous depth in flavor. Most dishes come with a side platter of fresh green herbs, lime, bean sprouts and fresh chili for you to customize your dining experience further. This all contributes to a sense of eating a healthy meal. Beware though, the chilies are fiery and you need to play with your food and slurp your soup! Well kindly provide bibs upon request because its hard not to get the soup spattered all over you. Enjoy your meal!

1338 E Battlefield Springfield MO  417 881 9881

Coffee Houses in Springfield MO; Mud House

While shopping for Christmas gifts we came across a great coffee house in downtown Springfield.
It was like going back in time to coffee houses on my College Campus in Bloomington Indiana
The Mudhouse at 321 E Walnut has a wide variety of gourmet coffees and teas as well as great soups and pastries.
About The Roastery                       
Freshness. When it comes to the way Mudhouse Coffee does business, one word says it all. Freshness. With coffee, and enjoying a delicious cup of coffee, freshness is the only thing that really matters. What we can guarantee to our customers is that Mudhouse Coffee will be the freshest coffee available. We micro roast our coffee in small batches when we need it, so you never have to worry about our coffee sitting and losing the crucial freshness that is so important. It doesn't matter whether you purchase our coffee inside the coffeehouse or from the website; we guarantee it will be the freshest, best tasting coffee available. Period.
417 832 1720  326 E Walnut Sprinfield MO

Home Interest Rates on Rise

I've been in the business to remember when Mortgage Rates were 17%; we wouldn't even accept that as a credit card rate now.

With rates back up in the mid to high 4% range and threatening to go higher and home prices stabilizing it seems a lot of prospective buyers are finally getting the message ;  Better buy now before rates and home prices go back up.  It's already happening in our area and the selection of desireable homes is dwindeling.

Many prospective buyers have learned the hard way that short sales and foreclosure properties are often more trouble than they're worth.  By the time they buy a house that's been trashed and fix it up they are usually over-invested for the neighborhood.

Like being splashed with icewater prospective buyers seem to be jumping off the fence and into the car to seriously look for property.  Another thing I think will help fuel buying activity the first quarter will be tax refunds which some will use to pay downpayments or closing costs.

Energy Audits; New and Improved for 2011

Today we had our home energy audit (for $350) and found out our 15yr old house could be more efficient.  We did it because we know it could be better and our furnace guy told us about local rebates up to 70% + utility company rebates on top of that.
All this makes me remember the last time we did this waltz in the 70's.   We wore heavier sweaters, turned out the lights, lowered the thermostat when leaving home and on and on.  As a result we saved energy and the utility companies revenues went down.  To compensate the companies raised rates.  Suddenly we were wearing heavier sweaters, turning out the lights and all and utility bills were the same as if we hadn't bothered.

Happiness and Success: The Parable of the Two Wolves

At the beginning of each new year I like to reflect on what makes life really worthwhile.  Being successful in business isnt it because I know several highly successful unhappy people.  I think personal and spiritual growth are the key to success and thats why I want to share the following story with you.

    An old man told his grandson about a fight that was going on inside him.

    He said the fight is between two wolves.  One is evil and filled with anger,

envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.  The other is good and is filled with joy, peace, love, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

The grandson thought about it for a while then asked, Which wolf wins?

After a long pause, the grandfather replied, The one I choose to feed

I hope we choose to feed and nurture the good wolf that lives within all of us.

Mexican Restaurants Springfield MO

The best Mexican Cuisine this side of Colorado can be found at Primas Mexican Grill.
With a location in Springfield at Chesterfield Village and in Ozark on James River Rd, this creative grill features fairly authentic Tex/Mex cuisine.
  Easy Spanish Rice:  Sautee 1 med yellow onion until translucent.  Add 1 cu white rice and cook until browned.   Add 10oz can diced tomatoes and green chilies and a 10oz can of enchilada sauce and 1/2cu water.  Cook until the rice has absorved all the liquid.  If necessary add an additional 1/2 cu rice and cook down until rice meets desired consistency.

Buying a Foreclosure in Springfield MO area

Choose an agent who has experience with foreclosures and knows the procedure.  It's nothing like selling private party properties.  Have the agent

Banks usually have their own forms and closing procedures.  Bank forecosures generally close faster than short sales.
While short sales can be bargains, they also can take a lot longer. Some banks will negotiate in a timely manner on short sales, but most will prioritize properties they have already takn back. Offering less than asking price rarely works. Most banks drop the price every 30-60days so just wait till they've dropped the price to what you want to pay then make your move.  Stay detached and have other properties in your scope in case someone else buys the property before the price drops to your level.

Ask the bank to pay your closing costs.  Every deal is different.  Banks have a bottom line number in mind.  If the estimated HUD (closing statement) shows they can make their bottom line and pay your closing costs they often will.

Show the bank you have your act together.   I recommend getting at least 2 pre-approval letters from credible lenders and include those with your offer.  Some banks require the buyers to submit pre-approval docs to thier mortgage dept as well.  It doesn't mean you have to use them for the loan; they just want to see what you're working with.