The Cup, one of Springfields sweetest niches yet.  Have you ever wanted something different for a birthday, needed something with fantastic flare for your office party or simply wanted a sweet treat? The Cup is for you. Located in Springfields historic downtown The Cup is serving up fantastic creations one cake at a time! Cup Cake that is, that’s right the cup specializes in grand creations of a more personal size. 

 Available in a multitude of flavors and decorations it makes for a terrific treat to share with friends and family.  The Cup offers dine in seating with a coffe house feel.  A great place to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a book or even surf the internet on their free WiFi as you enjoy.  Buy them one, two, twelve at a time every one is a work of art.

Stop by today and try one for yourself. The Cup is located at 325 E. Walnut

Click HERE to lean how they came to Springfield

Billy Sims Boomer-Q

 Wow what can I say!
I like to consider my self quite the self proclaimed Brisket and Rib BBQ Conisour therefore anytime I find a new place to enjoy BBQ I am there.  Last week my wife calls me and asks if I am going to take her and my daughter to dinner at the new BBQ joint. I ask “what BBQ place”, “the one where Boston Market used to be on South Glenstone”. “Sure why not”. When I arrived I noticed a sharp looking building and nice landscaping, then I noticed the drive thru window.
I thought to myself hmmmm drive thru BBQ, this should be interesting.  WOW was I totally suprised.
We walked in to a warm welcome from the staff behind the counter and a wonderful menu to select from.
The prices were good and in line with most BBQ resturants.  That is where the similarity ended.
This BBQ was not only smoked but smokin’ !!! The friendly staff was happy to engage in conversation and I learned that the meat derives its tremendous flavor from true smoke.  The meat is placed in the smoker every evening at 5 and smoked till the next day to be served. The bricket was so juicy and flavorful it fell apart as I picked it up with the fork. Served with great sides and a friendly smile I look forward to many future family suppers at Billy Sims.

Check out these other sites for more reviews and information.

http://bobswhineanddine.com/?p=872

http://sbj.net/main.asp?SectionID=18&SubSectionID=23&ArticleID=87394

http://billysimsbbq.com/

Jimm’s Steakhouse and Pub now resides where the Steak and le was once located on South Glenstone.  Has a formerpatron and fan of Steak and Ale I was very anxious to see what would become of such a neat building.  I was all too happy when I finally had the opportunity to patronize Jimm’s.  Though there are clearly changes I am happy to see that the feel of the building is still very much the same.  Warm and inviting, I feel as though I could be sitting in a neighborhood pub in Europe.  The staff is friendly and attentive while the food is very good and well priced. 

My favorite part is the salad bar.  With plenty to choose from and so far always fresh and crisp I enjoy stopping in for a regular lunch or a night out with the family for supper.  If you are looking for a nice resturant for a date night, or a family night Jimm’s is a great choice.

You can also find further reviews at http://bobswhineanddine.com/?p=445 , http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/293/1499677/restaurant/Jimms-Steakhouse-and-Pub-Springfield , http://www.417mag.com/Blogs/417-Blog/December-2009/December-21-Try-Jimm-039s-Steakhouse/ , and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Springfield-MO/Jimms-Steakhouse-and-Pub/352859875005

Pictures from 417 online mag and Jimm’s Facebook Page.

7 Reasons to Own Your Home

1. Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home.

2. Appreciation. Real estate has long-term, stable growth in value. While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, median existing-home sale prices have increased on average 6.5 percent each year from 1972 through 2005, and increased 88.5 percent over the last 10 years, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. In addition, the number of U.S. households is expected to rise 15 percent over the next decade, creating continued high demand for housing.

3. Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home.

4. Savings. Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan. And when you sell, you can generally take up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) as gain without owing any federal income tax.

5. Predictability. Unlike rent, your fixed-mortgage payments don’t rise over the years so your housing costs may actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will increase.

6. Freedom. The home is yours. You can decorate any way you want and benefit from your investment for as long as you own the home.

7. Stability. Remaining in one neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in community activities, lets you and your family establish lasting friendships, and offers your children the benefit of educational continuity.

Online resources: To calculate whether buying is the best financial option for you, use the “Buy vs. Rent” calculator at www.GinnieMae.gov.

When it comes to selecting a Realtor there are many questions that need to be answered.  The first one is simply where to start.

Personal referrals are the best.  Ask your friends if they have any Realtors they have done business with. What did they like or dislike about them.  What can they recall that the Realtor or Agent did to market their house that possibly seemed above and beyond?

If you can get no referrals the next calculated step would be to pick up your Sunday paper and look to see what company has the most homes for sale.  You may also research on the Internet by simply doing a GOOGLE search for Real Estate Companies in your area.

If you are coming from another town you may stop in to your local brokerage and ask them if they have a referral network with any agencies located in the town you are looking to move to.

Contact the selected companies and ask them about how they educate their Realtors. Look for a company that holds regularly scheduled structured classes.  It is important to work with well trained professionals that are kept up to date on industry changes and the latest marketing techniques.

Ask about their fee schedule, are they percentage based or flat rate. Look for the upcoming article ”Percentage vs. Flat Rate”

The largest company may not always be the right one for you, however when you are starting with no information it is a calculated step to making an informed decision rather than simply throwing a dart at the phone book.

  Set up appointments to interview at least three Realtors preferably from different companies with quality training.

 If you do not feel comfortable with any of them, keep interviewing even different ones from the same company until you find the one for you. 

 The time you spend interviewing today will pay off tomorrow. 

If you enjoyed this article look for the up coming “How to interview a Realtor” what to look for and questions to ask also “Percentage vs. Flat Rate” Which one may be right for you and how might it affect the sale of your property.  You can have these and more automatically delivered to your inbox by signing up for our free updates located in the top right corner.

One of the many reasons Springfield Missouri continues to rank as one of the more sought after places to live is it’s diversity in culture.

While the general atmosphere when walking around town is one of a more simple tranquility, Springfield offers many great metropolitan amenities. Many of these amenities can be found downtown.

Toss Across is a great example of a metropolitan enrichment here in Springfield.

Located just off the corner of Jefferson and Pershing, Toss Across offers amazing healthy food in a fast food fashion, offering delicious Soups, Salads, Wraps and Smoothies that are prepared fresh right in front of you when you order.

While many restaurants proclaim freshness, Toss Across delivers . Every thing from the lettuce to the cheese is chopped and cut when you order, rather than sitting in a bag somewhere pre cut drying and wilting.

By preparing the food in this manner not only do you receive a exceptional meal but the produce lasts longer leading to very minimal waste, leaving them not only green in product but green to the environment.

Owner and National Franchiser Keith Lawson has not only brought a fantastic service and product to Springfield, offering a convenient solution to staying healthy on the go, he keeps his focus on supporting our local economy by purchasing his fresh produce form local growers when in season.

Toss Across is a true gem located downtown in the heart of our city, with great food, great prices, and friendly service.

When it comes to a barber shop some traditions should never change.  A great barber shop is a man’s sanctuary, a place he can relax.

I can recall as a young boy growing up, spending Saturday mornings in the barber shop with my father.  Men would come in and get a trim then stay long enough to share a couple of stories and a few good jokes.  Jokes were like trading cards, you always needed a few to pass around.

As I grew older and moved around with my career, it has always been a challenge in each new town to find this atmosphere.

It always reminded me of the hair cut song by Ray Stevens.

Arriving to Springfield in 2001 I again began on my quest.  I went through dozens of different shops before a friend referred me to Wedgewood Barbershop.

As soon as I entered the door, I knew I was home.   Filled with friendly faces, loyal patrons, and great conversation I quickly found my barber and added my self to the loyal patrons list and have stayed there for over four years now.

One of the highlights of fatherhood for me has been sharing this atmosphere with my three boys, like a right of passage I know that they will always seek the same as they grow older and have their own children.

Having been in business since 1954 in the same location many of its patrons can recall the day the doors opened.  To me that says it all.

If you want a great hair cut and good conversation, come on home.  I look forward to seeing you there.

For more information about the Wedgewood Barber Shop review the recent article in the Springfield Business Journal.

So you have decided to find a new home, you have searched every housing site you can find on the internet, looked through every news paper and magazine that you can find and you have found the homes you want to see.

You have met with your lender and been prequalified for your purchase, sat down and preplanned your budget with your comfort zone along with your maximum comfort amount and now you call your Realtor; add a few others he knew about and you are out the door to preview.

This is the exciting part, driving around seeing new parts of town or a whole new town if you are not from here. Walking through new and amazing houses all with thoughts of making them yours!

Now a great Realtor will do their best to show you only five to six properties per day. This is not to build your anticipation. It is to allow you to digest every thing that you have seen in this day and make a calm and well thought decision before moving on to more properties.

One of the best things that you can do at the end of each day is to take the properties that you have seen and treat them like and eye exam. Better 1 or better 2 now better 2 or better 3….Eliminating choices down to no more than 2. The same with day 2, 3, 4 however many days it takes to view all that you have chosen. By the end of your shopping bonanza you have found one that you like.

Now it is time to make an offer. This is the emotional part. All the time and emotions that have built up from the moment you decided to buy until now have a magical way of clouding the mind when it comes to finance.

The seller is asking $155,000 for this property. The bank has qualified you for a loan of this size however, when you worked out your budget you know that within your budget for closing costs and monthly payments your decided comfort range maximum is $149,000. So you offer $147,000 and the seller counters with $152,000. What do you do?

This is where the emotion kicks in to really high gear. “all that time invested in shopping”” I just know we would never find another like it”” It’s only $5000.00 more and the bank said we could afford it”. BOOOM this is where the bomb hits the ground. Right after that last thought!

Banks look at numbers and guidelines. Good banks will even get to know you on a personal level and help you plan your budget, explaining to you that just because you are qualified for an amount does not mean that it is in your best interest to spend that amount.

It’s time to stop, breath, down shift the emotions and Know Your Limits!

Purchasing real estate is an investment, not only a huge financial investment but also an investment in your family’s future and should always be treated as such. Struggling to make payments or simply spending that extra cash that you used prior to take family outings will have a negative effect on your finances and happiness.

Know your limits, once you have found your maximum comfort number stay below it or be prepaired to walk away.

The extra time spent finding the PERFECT property that not only meets your personal needs but also your financial needs will yield the best return on investment you could ask for.

The Medical Mile in Springfield Missouri is a site to see, with buildings that dazzle the skyline and span whole city blocks, they are monsters of industry.

Health Care is one of the many large industries that not only keep our citizens healthy but our economy as well.  Employing over 30,000 people and offering every specialty listed by the American Medical Association it’s no wonder Springfield was recognized by the World Health Organization in 2007.

St. John's Hospital

Springfield is home to six hospitals two of which have been recognized as being in the top 100 hospitals in the US.

St. Johns and Cox Health are two behemoths that continue to grow by leaps and bounds with constant expansions, new clinics, and specialty centers located all over the city in a race to see who can provide the best medical care.

Talk about your healthy competition.

St. Johns and Cox Health are also tasked with providing the city with its Emergency Medical Services; they are two of only a few hospital based services in the State of Missouri.  Contact me for more information about industry and the Springfield economy.

Cox Hospital

*Featured Photo Courtesy of Elite Photoart

What is Curb appeal? You hear it mentioned every where you go yet no one ever seems to have a good description of it. If you ask 10 different people you are liable to get ten very different ideas. These ideas may include many different types of flowers, plants, retaining walls, and so much more. People start to describe it and suddenly we feel overwhelmed and a bit like our head is going to explode trying to absorb all of the information.

As a former landscape designer and contractor I can tell you curb appeal is as simple as it sounds. It is the feeling and emotion that a person derives from standing at the curb and looking at your house and landscape. No more, no less.

Notice that I used the word Landscape, this word also tends to bring up many mental pictures and ideas that tend to overwhelm people with thoughts of gardeners and great expense. Landscaping is no more that the shaping and care of dirt, grass, plants, bushes, and rock. The following 7 tips will help you to achieve a nice curb appeal and attractive landscape

1. Turf care: When mowing your yard be sure to set your deck height no lower than 3.5 to 4.0 inches this allows for a taller thicker blade and results in a healthier turf. Try mowing in lines rather than squares, if you have a small yard mow in lines from the house to the road. This will give the illusion of a larger yard. You can also use a diagonal line starting from the corner of the house and driveway going to the opposite diagonal corner of the yard.

Fill any bare spots with a quality grass seed, cover with straw and water liberally. Remember that fescue takes 21days to germinate so if you need results quicker for showing then choose a blend with a higher content of rye grass in it.

Watering: If you are looking for great results irrigation is key. Your yard needs water, it likes water it longs for water! Give it water! If you have an in ground irrigation system the best time to set your system to irrigate is so that it finishes it’s last zone about 30 minutes before sun rise and starts a shorter cycle about 30 minutes after sun down. This allows the water to absorb and not sit creating mold and fungus. If you are the lucky one who has but a sprinkler and a hose you might consider the type of sprinkler that you can link 3-4 together and cover a much larger area at one time. Get a timer for your hose and set a similar start time and if you need to then water the 2nd half of the yard in the evening just after sundown. Never water in the direct heat of the day! Along with poor water conservation due to evaporation, water can also act as a magnifying glass for the sun and damage your turf.

2. Edging: A clean cut edge on a lawn is simple to do and gives it a well manicured look. Most trimmers’ today gas and electric are designed to be turned on their side in order to facilitate this. Simply go along the edges of the yard along the driveway, sidewalk and curb and cut a clean line to the dirt along them not much wider than the string it’s self.

3. Trees: With all of the rock in the Ozarks trees tend to spread a lot of roots across the top of the soil. A good method for hiding these roots is mulch. Pick your favorite color and create a circle around the base of the tree. A good rule of thumb is take the widest point at the bottom of the tree and divide by 2 make a circle that size and fill liberally with mulch. Be sure at the base of the tree you create a bowl effect. This will help to hide the unsightly spreading roots and spice up the yard.

4. Shrubs and hedges: Using a hedge trimmer you can trim these nice and neat. Draw a mental line where you envision the bulk of the foliage to be and trim off the excess. This will leave you with a nice clean line. Be sure that they are trimmed away from the house with at least a few inches clearance. Try to keep them below windows unless they are designed to be tall. Avoid trimming too much at a time or you will end up with bare spots until they fill in again.

5. Flower beds: Cover them with fresh mulch or clean the rock in them very well, smooth it out again and clean out any dead plants.

6. Survey your yard, straighten any falling retaining walls, timber walls, etc. remove any dead plants, fallen limbs, dead limbs from trees, leaves and any other yard waste. There are plenty of city provided dumping sites.

7. Make sure that your front door and garage door are nicely painted and welcoming.

Step back to the curb and take a look. These 7 simple tips will make a world of difference in how your buyer will feel about their soon to be new home when they pull up to see it for the first time.

I highly recommend using your local landscape suppliers as a powerful resource for this project. Take some good photos of all around your house and present them for ideas. These professionals are a wonderful resource for just such a project. They can help you choose a good color mulch to bring out colors in your house; they can recommend replacement plants, tree care ideas, just so much which will assure that you get maximum results for your efforts. If you would like further information about curb appeal or how it will increase the salability of your home please contact me.