I moved from Eagle Harbor to Riverside after being talked out of buying in Springfield. However, my heart still yearns for the kind of community in Springfield. Are there particular streets that have friendly neighbors? I love entertaining friends and neighbors with planned and impromptu parties. Any suggestions for where I should look?
Hey luvjax, I am a Realtor specializing in Springfield. I would suggest looking for the house you love - there are great neighbors all over Springfield now. I would say in the old days it was more block by block. And don't just look for blocks with renovated houses - I have one of the only renovated houses on my blocks but I have great neighbors, you can never tell. The neighborhood in general is great and if you start socializing in Springfield you will meet people who live all over the neighborhood. Find the house you love and the rest will fall into place.
Oh yeah that awesome i live in riverside and will buy in the springfield neighborhood too soon i think. the www.myspringfield.org website is great and has much helpful information and photos. they have realtor information and a bunch of other things too you know maybe we ll be neighbors!
haha both of your enthusiasms are exactly the kind of people that move to Springfield! that is great! yes, def check out the springfield forum at www.myspringfield.org
There are lots of social and community activities and events to get involved in in Springfield. Jump into them, meet people, which will get you into the neighborhood and you will feel what area is best for you. Honestly, it's really small and lots of people know each other no matter the quadrant each lives in.
SACARC is hosting an event this month and SOS has a beautification project this Saturday.
Contact avs, or any one of Springfield's other Realtors who specialize in Springfield. . .and live there too!!!
We moved to Springfield last year and love it. There are regular planned and impromptu parties, we have never lived in such a sociable neighborhood. You quickly get to know people, so just find a house that appeals to you and make the move! ;D
As both a Realtor and a Springfield resident I can tell you everything you are reading is correct. We moved here a year ago from Riverside. I loved some of the things that were so convenient in Riverside but we never met a soul in over a year. Within one month in Springfield we'd met dozens of people who immediately became friends.
You can contact one of the resident/Realtors on MySpringfield.com, you can drive the neighborhood, you can come to some of the businesses in the neighborhood we all frequent, like Sweet Pete's, Three Layers, Tres Leches, Uptown Market, and others, you can come to the next First Friday.
Whatever you do, you'll be hooked on Springfield. Prices are great right now and so are interest rates. There are even renovation loans available if the home you fall in love with needs more than a little elbow grease.
We're all here for you. Let us know how we can help.
No one place is any better than another. Look at a house, sit on the porch for a while. See if it calls to you.
Wherever you end up, you'll be in walking distanct to the dog park, sweet treats on Pearl, coffee & breakfast in a cup on Walnut, great island food on 8th, a beer in a neighborhood bar. Cool vintage store on Main.
Welcome to the land of the wonderfully diverse and powerfully passionate.
Springfield is cool, quircky, a bit crazy. But definately the home of serious
value in real estate. I am also a Realtor who has sold a few things over there.
There is a flat out awesome home for sale on W 10 St. Not my listing
but a super home. Close to Main, the second block in. Red brick. beautiful
restoration, super comfy not too fancy.
Lots and lots of deals. If you have the time $$ and patience buy a fixxer upper, make it beautiful and you will be shocked how many folks will come up and thank you for saving a structure and a neighborhood.
Quote from: Springfield Chicken on February 15, 2011, 05:53:52 PM
As both a Realtor and a Springfield resident I can tell you everything you are reading is correct. We moved here a year ago from Riverside. I loved some of the things that were so convenient in Riverside but we never met a soul in over a year.
Where exactly were you hiding in Riverside for a year that you "never met a soul"? Seems odd to me. I think both neighborhoods are very similar in terms of friendliness, diversity, architecture and overall character. Regarding areas of Springfield, one of my favorite areas is the NW quadrant. Then again, I like Craftsman style homes and they tend to be a little more prevalent in the area of the n'hood.
Luvjax, just look at houses until one speaks to you. You will know as soon as you walk in..."This is the one." I'm not kidding.
If the house has yellow tape on it and a condem post on the front door, its a good bet that you will not be able to save it.
QuoteThis is the most ridiculous thing that Ive ever heard.
You must not be listening. ::)
Many of the restored houses were condemned at one time. They can be condemned for something as small as if the plumbing doesn't work, because that makes them unfit for human habitation. That doesn't mean they can't be rehabbed.
If you want to save one of our old beauties, bless you. Get a very good home inspection, ask a contractor to look it over with you during the due diligence period, and add 10% to 20% to the approximate cost you come up with for surprises.
It's a good feeling to save an old house. But if you are not up to it, there are already rehabbed homes available as well. We were actually looking for a rehabbed home, but then a fixer upper chose us instead.
Technically, practically every vacant home in Springfield is condemned. I exaggerate, but I am not far off. MCCD definition of condemned and the true definition of condemned to me are different. Point I am making is don't let it deter you.
I have personal experience buying and fixing condemned homes. I have friends who do the same as well. It's not as difficult as it may seem. PM me if you want advice.
We lived in the condos at 1661 in Riverside and it was like a gated community. Everyone stayed behind closed doors. We took walks in the parks and went shopping and attended events but people weren't as friendly as Springfield. Everyone here stops to chat. Being in real estate I kept up with the prices in Riverside but just didn't feel I was getting that much of a bang for my buck there. But in Springfield the value is everywhere. Every new listing I see I wish I could have. I love them all. New listings go up all the time so stay on the internet and continue to drive around and you'll see lots of them. Then find a Realtor who knows the area and go for it.
So how would a person interested in viewing homes in Springfield contact a real estate person like yourself? I tried to figure it out online but came up a bit short.
There are several Realtors listed on the business directory of the springfield forum http://www.myspringfield.org/Business-Directory/ (http://www.myspringfield.org/Business-Directory/)
Or send a private message to AVS or Springfield Chicken. They are probably not ethically allowed to tell you that, but I can, because I'm not a Realtor. :-) I can vouch for both of them, and if they were allowed to say so, they would doubtless tell you they can each vouch for the other. Both are well-known and VERY well respected, and not just in Springfield. There...I said it. :-)
And don't worry. Just keep looking. Your exact right house will find you. You will walk in and just know...this is it. Your house will choose you, not the other way around. Trust us on this.
Quote from: TallShip on March 16, 2012, 09:03:25 AM
So how would a person interested in viewing homes in Springfield contact a real estate person like yourself? I tried to figure it out online but came up a bit short.
He is good too http://reggiefountain.watsonrealtycorp.com/
Absolutely. Reggie Fountain is great as well. He sold us our current home. Can vouch for him myself too, as well as AVS and Springfield Chicken. Pat Nodurft too, also listed on MySpringfield, also excellent.
TallShip, besides being excellent real estate agents, all are actively engaged in the Springifeld community, with various non-profits. They know the community, our homes, and love it because they live here. A veritable wealth of people just waiting to help you find a Springfield home to love like we do.
One more piece of advice on buying a home in Springfield. Don't be scared off if you are not the handy type who wants to do the renovation yourself. There is great renovation financing (called a 203K loan) that allows you to roll the cost of the work into the overall mortgage. It can be a little or a lot. Our home was newer but it had been vandalized and had fire damage. The 203K loan allowed us to have the repairs made, painting done, carpets replaced, etc. You could buy the home Nicole has listed at $16,000 and roll EVERYTHING into the mortgage. (The restrictions on the loan are pretty reasonable and Wells Fargo has a great program.) And you've now heard of or from nearly every Realtor in Springfield so you have great choices. Hope to see you at the next First Friday!
Quote from: Springfield Chicken on March 19, 2012, 03:23:59 PM
You could buy the home Nicole has listed at $16,000 and roll EVERYTHING into the mortgage. (The restrictions on the loan are pretty reasonable and Wells Fargo has a great program.)
Thanks Chicken! After finalizing the listing I was happy to be able to place in the Private Remarks a note about mothballing. Rehabbing takes time. A 203k loan and mothballing can really make a dream come true. And a $16k house? Hoo rah.
Quote from: Springfield Chicken on February 18, 2011, 10:39:31 AM
We lived in the condos at 1661 in Riverside and it was like a gated community. Everyone stayed behind closed doors. We took walks in the parks and went shopping and attended events but people weren't as friendly as Springfield. Everyone here stops to chat. Being in real estate I kept up with the prices in Riverside but just didn't feel I was getting that much of a bang for my buck there. But in Springfield the value is everywhere. Every new listing I see I wish I could have. I love them all. New listings go up all the time so stay on the internet and continue to drive around and you'll see lots of them. Then find a Realtor who knows the area and go for it.
Completely agree about 1661. My sister lived in. Not only did I have a had time getting in, but it was almost impossible to get out. Also, the inside courtyard was an f'ying eyesore. Outside of 1661, though, I'm a complete Riverside addict.
That being said, I agree with your statement: "But in Springfield the value is everywhere. Every new listing I see I wish I could have. I love them all. New listings go up all the time so stay on the internet and continue to drive around and you'll see lots of them."
I feel the same way, every time I drive through Springfield. If I had the funds, I'd be doing exactly that: buying them up. Getting my real estate license in May and currently in law school and when it's all said and done, I plan on investing heavily in that area.
About the 203K loan. I need a referal for an Inurance Company/Agent who can help us with coverage from closing until the 203K repairs are complete. (Needs a roof and that is part of the 203K loan and contract details). Please let me know.
Thanks!!
Her name is Robbie.
(904) 783-3388
I had vacant property insurance back in the day on my Ionia bungalow.