Historic Springfield Home Auction

[iloveionia]

Our plan is to hold an auction during the summer for our home at Walnut Court.  A traditional stand on the steps auction.

We have MANY details to finalize to make it a successful auction for the home and the neighborhood, this detailed information will be shared with everyone sometime in May/June.

We are scheduling the auction for Saturday, August 4, 2012 at 10 a.m.
With an open house the weekend before: Sunday from 3 - 5 p.m.

I wanted to get what I could out there publicly so interested parties could mark their calendars. 

[pastorandprof]

Are you using Williams & Williams?

[MusicMan]

Why are you auctioning the home? Aren't you living in it? Are you leaving Springfield? I showed a home on Walnut Court last week,. In my opinion that is not one of the better streets in Springfield.

[sheclown]

The home is owned by the non-profit.  It was a donation to us.  We have used this time to mothball it and deal with some of its legal issues (the house has been fined $250 a day for years and years). 

As far as the street goes, I have spent a lot of time there over the last 90 days.  It is a tight group of neighbors, diverse and friendly.  Nothing happens on that street without dozens of eyes watching.  Folks sit out on their porches and in their yards and share the daily news.

I think it is a fine street.

And I'm quite sure I know the house you showed.  It looks charming.  Utilize that alley to 8th -- we placed Nicole's sign right there. 

[avs]

MusicMan, why do you assume Walnut Court is not one of the better streets in Springfield?  Everytime I have been over there it has been quiet and the neighbors are very friendly.  It isn't a through street so it doesn't get a lot of trafffic.  Several of the homes have been renovated over there too.

[MusicMan]

To be honest, that was the initial impression of the buyers I took over there. I have sold 3 homes so far in Springfield,  submitted another offer for a place on Silver Street Tuesday. I am very bullish on Springfiled, no offense was meant. On Trulia the other day a comment was made by a Buyer prospect about whether or not Springfield was "safe."  I replied that it was just choose your location carefully. Another agent said "Choose another neighborhood." That guy is a dingbat.

If Human Resources at Shands actually got behind Springfield as a great place to live that would go al ong way
toward  solving one of Springfields biggest issues. I have been told by numerous sources that they actually go out of their way to discourage new hires from moving there.

[Bridges]

What's the address?

[avs]

I have been selling real estate in Springfield for about 8 years now, I have sold more than I can count.  5+ years ago Springfield was more spotty.  But there are so many people who live here now that that really doesn't hold water anymore.  You can't judge a street by how many homes have been renovated either.  Most of the homes on my street aren't renovated, but I have great neighbors.  My husband travels for a living so I am alone a lot.  Springfield is about perception.  If a buyer feels unsafe by the "feel" of a street then Springfield in general probably isn't for them.  People who buy in Springfield get it and if someone doesn't feel it then its just not the neighborhood for them and one street versus another isn't going to make a difference for someone who feels nervous.  In the end, someone who feels nervous about the neighborhood will usually back out of the contract for one reason or another. 

Walnut Court has some great people living on it now and the home that was saved to be auctioned will be another great addtition to a buyer who gets it. 

[iloveionia]

The address is 423 Walnut Court. 
Betting my BFF will post a picture here later for me.

Why an auction?  Why not!!??  It will be a fun neighborhood event and quite a memory for a new owner. 

Additionally, we are hoping to have a "collection" of homes to auction on this day.  Not just Walnut Court, but one or two more.  We are in the process of receiving our second home donation, and provided all goes smooth in the coming weeks, "This Place will Matter Too."  That's a great big Hoo Rah.  HOO RAH!

[avs]

That's AWESOME!  Can't wait to see what other gems you have in the works!

[sheclown]

[MusicMan]

All I can tell you is they would not even walk up to the second floor of the home on Walnut but submitted an offer on the other one.  I have friends who live there and they would disagree with you. Block to block  and street to street do matter.  Location matters in real estate. YOU KNOW THAT. And which block a property is on directly impacts the price you can get and the number of showings a place will get. If you are trying to say that every block and street in Springfiled are "equal" that is simply not true.

[iloveionia]

Sounds like your clients would be happier in another neighborhood.
Best of luck house hunting to you both!

It's extremely unfortunate Shands pushes people away, Springfield is a great neighborhood. Though not for everyone, but yet is there any one place that is?

The house you showed is pretty pricey in this market. It's cute, but no real character, and small considering other great deals in Spfld with far more square footage, yard, and original character.  I think unfortunately this house will sit for awhile as it is over priced.

We will host our auction in August and look forward to placing the home in the right hands.

[sheclown]

Springfield isn't for everyone. 

One must have a Springfield mind-set, an adventuresome spirit, an open-mind, a willingness to engage in conversation and rub elbows with folks, exotic and unique.  And in exchange for the effort of being saturated by this one square mile of historic homes and tenacious humanity, one is changed forever.

A small price to pay.

You don't buy a house in Springfield, you earn a new world view.

[avs]

You don't buy a house in Springfield, you earn a new world view

Exactly.  And its too bad some people make assumptions about Springfield that just aren't true.  Location does matter and Springfield simply isn't for everyone.  And that is fine.

I love that you guys are going to auction these homes.  It is a great thing to do and it has worked so well in so many other communities.  This is a great thing for our community