Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate

CoreLogic®, a leading residential property information, analytics and services provider, recently released its December CoreLogic HPI® report. Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased on a year-over-year basis by 8.3 percent in December 2012 compared to December 2011. This change represents the biggest increase since May 2006 and the 10th consecutive monthly increase in home prices nationally. On a month-over-month basis, including distressed sales, home prices increased by 0.4 percent in December 2012 compared to November 2012. The HPI analysis shows that all but four states are experiencing year-over-year price gains. Excluding distressed sales, home prices increased on a year-over-year basis by 7.5 percent in December 2012 compared to December 2011. On a month-over-month basis, excluding distressed sales, home prices increased 0.9 percent in December 2012 compared to November 2012. Distressed sales include short sales and real estate owned (REO) transactions...

Everyone always wants to know..."What's the Housing Market look like?"  Their next question is usually "What's the LAKE's Housing Market look like?"    We all know Buying or Selling your Lake of the Ozarks Home can present some unique obstacles along with some great perks. The following information was recently  released by the Bagnell Dam Board of Realtors MLS and  sheds some light on the Local market forecast.  Homes -  Market activity continues to improve at Lake of the Ozarks.  According to MLS data the total number of transactions increased 19% since 2010 while the number of foreclosures dropped 6% during the same time frame showing market stability.   Lakefront home sales volume increased by 30% while the average sales price declined by 9% from 2010 to 2012.  Non-lakefront homes sales volume increased slightly while average sales price remained steady.  The number of foreclosures for both waterfront and non-w...

One of the basic principles of design, also called ageless design, is that it makes homes more practical and safer for everyone — not just the elderly or people with limited mobility. These days,   universal design features   are an everyday fact of life for many households, with architects and other professional designers adding universal design ideas as a matter of course.You don’t have to be a pro designer to incorporate this smart thinking into your own home. If you’re remodeling or simply adding a few upgrades, be sure to keep universal design features in mind. There are lots of that’ll give you some great starting points. Here are a few of our favorite Universal design tips: Switch out doorknobs for lever-style handles.   Doorknobs require lots of dexterity and torque to open; with levers you simply press and go. Makes sense for folks with arthritis, of course, but think about an emergency situation when everyone, including small kids, needs to exit fast: A l...

When you're talking Home Improvements, you would think ANY improvement would be a GOOD improvement right?  Well, not necessarily.  If you are trying to sell your home, there are certain "improvements" that will not yield a return on your investment and some that may even turn your potential buyer away. Here are the  Top 5 improvements to avoid if you are trying to sell your home. Pools can cost $20,000-60,000 but do not add much to the home's value.  In fact, many potential buyers will only see this as high maintenance and higher insurance costs.    Home Offices can cost approximately $20,000 but the additional work space will only get about half of that back in the resale. Sunrooms are beautiful and so enjoyable but when it comes to selling your home they will only bring 60% or less return on your investment!!   A deck is much cheaper and appealing to more buyers and will give you a higher return. Master Suites are for those people that pla...

Dogs are a man's best friend, right?  YES...most of the time this is true.  However, when you are trying to sell your home, having a dog can incur some additional work on your part because some buyers may be turned off by the idea of a dog/pet in their "future home." As a dog owner, it may be hard to imagine why anyone's decision to buy a home would be affected by a dog/pet -after all, you are selling the house not your dog/pet.  Although this is true, keep in mind that potential buyers create first impressions based on their opinions of dogs/pets and these impressions may be hard overcome.  Here are some things to consider: The potential buyer may be allergic to dogs/pets The potential buyer might be afraid of dogs/pets. The potential buyer may correlate a dog/pet with the image of a dirty, smelly home. The potential buyer may correlate a dog/pet with a yard that is dug up and messy. Don't be worried or discouraged, we are not telling you to get rid of ...

Every time I visit with a family interested in buying a home in the Lake of the Ozarks area, one of the first things they want to discuss is the school system.   The education of their children is very important and I never miss an opportunity to talk (or brag) about our school systems.  I KNOW we have some of the finest schools that any community could offer.   If you are considering moving to the area and would like more information on the local schools, check out the links and information below.  Camdenton School District The Camdenton R-III School District has a proud and long-standing tradition of excellence in the state of Missouri and has received numerous local, state, and national awards of distinction for the achievements of the community, students, and teachers.   The Camdenton R-III School District has a student population of over 4,200 students with nine school facilities on three campuses employing over three hundred teachers and over six...

On January 1 both the Senate and House passed H.R. 8, legislation to avert the “fiscal cliff.” The bill  will be signed shortly by President Barack Obama. Below is a summary of real estate related provisions in the bill. Real Estate Tax Extenders Mortgage Cancellation Relief is extended for one year to January 1, 2014. Deduction for Mortgage Insurance Premiums for filers making below $110,000 is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012. Leasehold Improvements: 15 year straight-line cost recovery for qualified leasehold improvements on commercial properties is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012.   Energy Efficiency Tax Credit: The 10% tax credit (up to $500) for homeowners for energy improvements to existing homes is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012.   Permanent Repeal of Pease Limitations for 99% of Taxpayers Under the agreement so called “Pease Limitations” that red...