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Edwardsville, IL Real Estate News

By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
Did you know that May is National Bike Month? Every child should have the opportunity to hop on a bike, strap on a helmet and enjoy the feeling of freedom that comes from flying down the road under their own power.  Sadly not all kids in our area have access to bikes they can call their own. That's why the Just Ducky Homes Team is participating in Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors' bike drive. For the next several weeks, you contact me to make arrangements to donate your new or gently used bike. The bikes will be repaired as needed by our great friends and partners at The Cyclery in Edwardsville, Illinois. Once they're in tip-top shape, the bikes will be stored in a unit on loan from The Mobile Attic at our office on State Route 157 until donation day. In May, the collected bicycles will b...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
If you're new to the Edwardsville area, or anywhere in Madison County, get ready for a treat on your radio dial. WSIE 88.7 FM is the on-air gathering place for jazz lovers in the St. Louis metropolitan region. Operated by Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, WSIE brings a full schedule of jazz programming to dedicated listeners, including the always terrific Jazz From Lincoln Center program with Wynton Marsalis each Sunday at noon. The station is located in Dunham Hall on the university campus. (When I was an undergrad at SIUE, it was called the Communications Building, so you old-timers can get your bearings.) It's staffed by a combination of broadcasting professionals and students from the university's respected Mass Communications department. Tune in, kick back and let me kn...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
Neruda is recognized as one of the finest restaurants in Madison County and nothing could be finer than joining Madt Mallinckrodt and his crew, including Chef Rick Counts, for one of the Edwardsville establishment's official winemaker's dinners. On Thursday, April 16, 2009, Neruda will host a five-course dinner featuring the wines of Cosentino Winery of Napa.  Trust me. You will need this after Tax Day, so book your space now by visiting their web site at www.neruda2dine.com. According to Madt, Maggie Bolin --Cosentino's key account manager -- will be in Edwardsville to host the event.  Two white wines and three red wines will be featured during the evening. They are:  Cosentino "The Novelist" (Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon) paired with Smoked Missouri Trout with Crab Horseradish Sauce C...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
As I write this blog post, there are 245 new and resale residential properties listed for sale in Edwardsville, Illinois, the county seat of Madison County, site of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and -- not coincidentally -- the location of Just Ducky Homes. The homes for sale range from a low of $29,900 for a two-bedroom handyperson special to $3,000,000 for a luxurious four-bedroom beauty with more than 8,500 square feet of living space. Clearly it's a diverse market with something for everyone. Throwing out the low and the high, the average home in Edwardsville is listed for $271,478 and the median home price (half are priced higher, half are lower) is $220,950. Homes for sale have been on the market an average of 119 days. Eighty properties are currently under contract...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
Are you researching your ancestry or your family's history in Madison County, Illinois? If so, you'll want to click on this link: http://www.kindredtrails.com/IL_Madison.html Our region -- known as The Land of Goshen -- has a long and interesting history. At one time, the county stretched northward to the Canadian border and several governors hailed from the county seat of Edwardsville.  Kindred Trails provides users with some amazing pathways into the past in our county's cities including Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Collinsville, Maryville, Troy and many others. The site can link you to the state's vital records database, Madison County birth and death certificates and marriage licenses. It also offers access to census data from as early as 1810 and both military and land records. Addit...
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By Kristina Pratt, REALTOR - SFR - GoshenRealtyGroup.com
(St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - RE/MAX Preferred Partners)
Did you know the odds of selling your home in Edwardsville or Glen Carbon are only 42%? In the past six months, 138 houses sold in Ed/Glen - while 323 were put on the market.  There is currently 13 months of inventory on the market right now.  Prices have held relatively stable, with a 7% decrease in the sales price from 2008 to 2009. The market is tough right now, but it doesn't mean you can't sell if you need to.  The following five steps will help increase your odds. 1.  Price it right.  Don't price your house higher than the market will bear - or even worse - higher than your competition.  You must price your home competitively or buyers won't even bother to look at it.  There used to be a time when you could build-in a lot of wiggle room for negotiations - those days are gone.  Pri...
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By Kristina Pratt, REALTOR - SFR - GoshenRealtyGroup.com
(St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - RE/MAX Preferred Partners)
Introducing Real Estate 101 From Just Ducky Homes For anyone considering selling their home with agent representation, this is going to be a crash course in the world of real estate.  Check back in over the next few weeks, as I'll be adding more information.  I know, you're already saying "Why would an agent help me sell my home for free?"  I'll answer that question in a second. The first thing you need to know is that it is not impossible to sell your home without an agent.  I've known some owners that really take on the job of doing it themselves and the results are fabulous.  You just have to be willing to make a large commitment to marketing your home effectively.  A simple rule of any type of marketing is that the more people your product (in this case, your home) is exposed to the...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
The metropolitan area's online newspaper, the St. Louis Beacon, is doing a great job covering the regional real estate market in a series of in-depth reports. The most recent entry included comments from yours truly about the mindset of the terrific buyers my partner Kristina and I have been working with in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, O'Fallon, Collinsville, Granite City and communities across St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties. Here's a link to Mary Delach Leonard's story: "Wanted: First-time homebuyers willing to turn the market around." The Beacon has added much to the independent media voice in St. Louis. Many of its editors and reporters are former St. Louis Post-Dispatch staffers who have a passion for news and information and the long-term knowledge that...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
This is an update to a post from last fall noting that the St. Louis area's top sushi restaurant was about to open an outpost in Edwardsville. I am happy to report that Wasabi is now open in Edwardsville and the stylish space located across from the park and Library to the west and St. Boniface to the north, is filled with long-time sushi lovers and those new to the cuisine. Tonight two of the tables were occupied by members of my family who made separate plans and ended up with the same idea.  On one side of the room, our daugter Katie and friends Jenny and Katie K. were enjoying Okonomi Aki (an egg-based pancake dish somewhat similar to a fritatta). My husband and I started our meal with Gyoza, a Japanese version of potstickers including a sauce with toasted sesame seeds. Our sushi or...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
This week my real estate partner, Kristina, and I helped our customers close on an investment property at 407 Sanner in Edwardsville, Illinois. They purchased a cute two-bedroom bungalow is located not far from N.O. Nelson grade school and Hoppe Park. It has refinished wood floors, new paint and new tile in the kitchen. A roomy two-car detached garage is located behind the house and updated landscaping provides curb appeal in the front. Congratulations to the new owners. It was a pleasure helping you locate and negotiate for your property.  Are you thinking about adding a rental property to your investment portfolio? Call me at 618-791-8007 or drop an e-mail to Send2Nancy@Charter.net. We can discuss your real estate goals and how to reach them in 2009.
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
If doors could talk, what do you think your home's front entrance would say? Would it say, "Hi, Boo Radley's not here right now, but you can wait right there under the cobwebs."  Or would it say, "I'm a clean and stylish owner who cares deeply about my home because even the entrance is gorgeous." I suspect most front doors here in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties actually fall somewhere in between scary and scintillating. But if you're planning to get your home ready for the market, you'll want to try to get closer to one than the other.  Here are a few door-decor tips: Get some Windex (or the window cleaner of your choice) and remove the doggy or kitty nose prints from the inside of the glass. Outside, spray the glass and wipe away the streaks. Tighten or f...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
Those of us who enjoy Japanese food know that a little wasabi -- that firey green horseradish-based condiment that comes with sushi -- goes a long, long way. That's not the case with the restaurant called Wasabi -- with popular outposts located on Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis and in Clayton's central business district. Just a little bite there leaves you happily wanting more and visiting again and again. The Goshen Gourmet is happy to report that Wasabi will be opening a restaurant in Edwardsville, Illinois in October. (Note the photographic evidence from the Goshen Gourmet's spy satellite on this page.)  The sign is on the door of the new plaza at the corner of Buchanan and Vandalia, across from the Library and park on the west and St. Boniface on the north. CVS and Buffet ...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
Get up early next Saturday morning and check out the freshest weekly event in Edwardsville -- the Land of Goshen Community Market. This is where savvy locals go from 7 a.m. until noon to buy some of the best vegetables and fruits in Madison County. The market is open throughout the growing season, so you have plenty of time between now and late October to enjoy the experience. In addition to summer's best produce, many of Madison County's finest cooks bring their baked goods and canned items to the market site just south of the Madison County Courthouse. Fresh flowers raised in local gardens are joined by homemade doggie treats, frozen lemonade slushes and the tastiest flax seed cookies ever baked (from Mills Apple Farm). These are just some of the items shoppers can snag at the weekly ...
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By Laura Kombrink
(RE/MAX Alliance)
Edwardsville, Ill.] - As a homeowner, you have a lot of responsibilities. From mortgage payments to home improvements, finally calling a place "home" can be both exciting and overwhelming. This tax season, we take a look at property taxes, a local tax on homeowners based on the value of the property they own. According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, homeowners should know some basic information about property taxes to ensure that their property is assessed fairly.             "Property taxes are used to finance the majority of services provided to citizens within a community," said Kay Wirth, president of the Illinois Association of Realtors. "There are about 6,900 local governments in Illinois that use property taxes to finance their budgets. That's why REALTORS® are tax watchd...
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By Kristina Pratt, REALTOR - SFR - GoshenRealtyGroup.com
(St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - RE/MAX Preferred Partners)
The first day of school in the Edwardsville School District is just around the corner - August 19th.  The first day will be a half day. If you are new to the area, the district website is a great place to start. www.ecsud7.org Online you will find information to register your child for school. Registration forms are available at www.ecusd7.org  You will also find a list of dates, times and locations to register your child.  High School registration fees for 2008 are $90 for high school (athletics, music programs, and drama are an additional $50), Liberty and Lincoln Middle school fees are $80 ($25 participation fee for extra cirricular activities),  elementary fees are $70.  Financial aid is available.  For more detailed information please call or visit the district website. School supp...
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By Kristina Pratt, REALTOR - SFR - GoshenRealtyGroup.com
(St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - RE/MAX Preferred Partners)
I've always had a love of history.  Living in Madison County has allowed me to enjoy numerous historical landmarks such as the Lewis and Clark trail, Cahokia Mounds and The Benjamin Stephenson House. My favorite area that relates to real estate is the charming Leclaire Historical District in Edwardsville. State Route 159 cuts through the Leclaire District.  It's lined on both sides by mature trees and creates a beautiful scene in the summer, spring and fall. For lovers of historic homes, the Leclaire district has quite a story.  It was founded in 1890 by N. O. Nelson, and was chosen as a location for Nelson's plumbing company.  Nelson's vision was a "utopian" village, where each employee had not only their own home, but a host of other amenities.  Access to schools, parks, and recreatio...
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By Nancy Milton Holtzscher, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Illinois Broker, REALTOR
(RE/MAX Alliance in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs)
Since it's the time of year for fireworks, I thought I'd muse today about the explosion of restaurants here in Edwardsville Illinois (which is in Southwestern Illinois/Suburban St. Louis, Mo). A few years ago, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon residents had to drive miles to reach a variety of dining options.  Now, it's a quick spin down two of our major highways -- 157 & 159 -- and you can choose from just about anything your rumbling tummy desires. Chains are great, but many places across America are starting to look just the same. Take any highway exit and it's hard to know where you are. A friend of mine calls it "Generica."  So my props in this post go to those local restaurateurs -- some brand new, some older -- who have taken a chance on Edwardsville and have been rewarded with gratef...
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By Kristina Pratt, REALTOR - SFR - GoshenRealtyGroup.com
(St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - RE/MAX Preferred Partners)
The seat of Madison County Government and the home of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, this charming city was first settled in 1805.  Edwardsville, named for Ninian Edwards, the first governor of the Illinois Territory, was established in 1809. Five Illinois governors came from Edwardsville. In addition to Edwards, they were Edward Coles, John Reynolds, Thomas Ford and Charles Deneen. Visitors and residents enjoy many attractions including the Children's Museum, the Madison County Historical Society, the St. Louis Street Historic District, the LeClaire Historic District, the Col. Benjamin Stephenson House and an abundance of hiking and biking trails. Edwardsville is located on a popular stretch of historic Old Route 66. Known as The Mother Road, the mythic highway stretches...
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By Kristina Pratt, REALTOR - SFR - GoshenRealtyGroup.com
(St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - RE/MAX Preferred Partners)
Be sure and enjoy the annual Route 66 Festival this Friday and Saturday in Edwardsville. Enjoy the poker run, car cruise, live entertainment, a variety of food, local artists and more. The festival features free parking, and handicapped accessible shuttle service.  The shuttle will run from 5:00 to 10:00 PM June 13th & 14th.  Other events include a 10k run, bike ride, wellness information, and a washers tournament. The weather is great this time of year for outdoor festivals.  So get up, and get out and enjoy one of the summer's great events right here in Edwardsville!  For more information visit www.route66festival.org
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By Tammy Anderson, Owens, Broker/Owner
("The Gateway Home Team" of RE/MAX Alliance)
For 24-HourRecorded Information & Current PriceCall 1-800-928-2892Enter Recording 1292 8609 Maple Grove Rd., Edwardsville                  Home Features •Ø      5 Spacious Bedrooms•Ø      4 Baths•Ø      4300 Sq. Ft.•Ø      Unbelievable Custom Hardwood Floors•Ø      7+ Acre Wooded Lot   •Ø      Stocked Lake w/Fountain•Ø      3-Car Garage•Ø      Covered Deck•Ø      Six-Panel Doors•Ø      Central Vac•Ø      The List Goes On And On...  http://www.metroeastliving.com/ Presented by:Tammy Anderson-Owensand the "Metro East Home Team"RE/MAX PreferredCell: (618) 581-8729Tammy@MetroEastHomeTeam.com          
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Edwardsville, IL Real Estate Professionals