Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Around St. Charles County

October 2009 Calendar of Events

Saturday, October 3
Augusta Bottoms Beer Festival
Noon - 5 pm
Enjoy tastings, live music, and brewery items for sale plus a commemorative glass.
$25.00 www.augustabottomsbeerfest.com

October 4-October 31
Pumpkin Fantasyland, Centennial Farms, Augusta
10-5 p.m. daily/11-5 p.m. Sunday
The farmstead is turned into "Pumpkin Fantasyland" with a whimsical collection of pumpkin figures dressed as farm folks, storybook characters and aliens. Hundreds of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and other fall decorations add to the color. Also apple picking and farm market.

Wednesday, October 7
Staying Healthy This Flu Season
6:30-8 p.m.
Progress West HealthCare Center Community Room
How much do you really know about the flu bug? Discuss transmission, symptoms, treatments and who should be vaccinated. Learn the difference between epidemics and pandemics.
Call 636.344.2273 to register.
FREE

Friday, October 9 - Saturday, October 10
Fall Festival and Craft Bazzar in O'Fallon with live music, children's activities, arts, crafts, and Log Cabin Museum tours. At the Civic Park 5-9 pm. Friday, 9am - 4pm Saturday.
FREE

Friday, October 9-Sunday, October 11
Builders Home & Remodeling Show
Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
St. Charles Convention Center
Find what you need for your home. More than 200 exhibitors and special presentations from free antique art appraisals to childrens’ activities and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
FREE


October 9 - October 11
BICENTENNIAL CULTURAL HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Bicentennial Cultural Heritage Festival
St. Charles
Various locations throughout the city.
During the second weekend in October, St. Charles continues its Bicentennial celebration with a Cultural Heritage Festival based on a series of parties, parades and concerts in local parks. The city's official anniversary weekend will feature a wide-range of fun, free, family-friendly events as follows:
Friday, October 9 in Frontier Park, 500 S. Riverside Drive - an evening event complete with live entertainment, food & beverages will kick-off the Bicentennial along the banks of the Missouri river.
Saturday, October 10 in Blanchette Park, 1900 W. Randolph Street - the St. Charles Bicentennial parade begins at noon with an old-fashioned picnic to be held in the park from 2 pm to 6 pm.
Sunday, October 11 in Wapelhorst Park, 1875 Muegge Road - this afternoon event will have an arts and culture theme featuring local talent. Visitors will also have an opportunity to take historical tours aboard the St. Charles trolley.

FREE

For more information call 636-255-6154 or visit www.stcharlescitymo.gov

Sunday, October 11, 2009

10 am - 5 pm daily
Old Settler Days
Riverside Park, Kampsville, IL

This event on the banks of the Illinois River depicts the life and times of the early Calhoun settlers. Civil War re-enactment, carriage rides, fiddle contest, mountain-man activities, apple-butter making and other period demonstrations, food, crafts, and live entertainment.

FREE

Friday, October 16
NEW! Old Time Radio Mystery Shows
10 a.m.-12 noon
Java G’s Coffeehouse CafĂ©, 2031 Old Hwy 94S
Sponsored by the St. Charles Community College and OASIS, learn about the popular radio shows in the 1930s and 1940s, especially mystery shows. Discussion and audio examples
$9/age 50 and over

Friday, October 23 – Saturday, October 24
QUILT & CHURCH TOUR 
10 am - 4 pm
Calhoun County Communities, Brussels, IL

Take a relaxing drive through Calhoun County to see displays of beautiful quilts, exhibits and activities. Visitors can also take part in quilt demonstrations, quilt appraisals, supplies and sales. As a bonus, attendees will be able to take a driving tour of the county to see 20 barn quilts.

$8 in advance, $12 at the door
For more information call 618-576-2293

Friday, October 30
Trick or Treat on Main
3-5 p.m.
Enjoy a safe afternoon of trick or treating at various businesses for costumed children 12 years and younger. Stay for the Halloween Children's Theater in Frontier Park from 5:15-5:45pm. Main Street

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Buyers are looking for homes during the autumn season

Spring and summer may be the traditional time to buy and sell homes, but autumn and the beautiful fall palate could be your time for a successful sale.

Autumn is traditionally a season of recovery and reflection, a time to burrow in after the frantic pace of summer. For sale signs pop up on lawns during spring and summer, as families with children want to get settled before school starts.

But buyers are still out there during the fall season, looking for a good deal. And there’s more good news. A recent survey by Relocation.com found that 50 percent of those surveyed moved to improve their living situation, whether a bigger house or to a better neighborhood. A previous survey in March 2009 indicated the recession played a major part in selling and buying decisions.

Here are some tips to help you get maximum dollars for an autumn sale.

  • How your house appears during a drive-by is the first step. Trees have great appeal, especially in the fall with the brilliant red, gold, yellow and green palates showcasing your house. Continue tending to your outside upkeep. Trim back shrubs, remove dead or almost dead annuals and trim dead limbs from trees. Add color with freshly planted annuals like mums, pansies and petunias. Rake leaves, or shovel snow, making a clear path to your home and one that is not fraught with dangers.
  • Light and bright on the inside is the way to go. Let abundant sun shine in. Consider replacing heavy drapes with lighter ones to show off your house and avoid that gloomy look.
  • Give your potential buyers that cozy feeling. If you have a fireplace, make sure it’s in working order, and have a nice fire burning. The glow really sets off the richness of hardwood floors and offers the viewer an at-home feel. Temperature control is important too. Not too hot and not too cool.
  • Decorating is a nice touch, but take it easy on the holiday decorations. Potential buyers are not impressed when they have to work their way through dangling spiders, ghosts, witches and giant turkeys. Prepare you home for the season, certainly, but use some restraint.
  • Speaking of spiders, wee little critters do come in your house in the fall, and that’s normal. Be vigilant and eliminate cobwebs and insects. Check corners and closets so that a buyer doesn’t have any unpleasant surprises.
  • Be flexible. The housing market is in the recovery stage, but we’re not at the robust stage. Give serious consideration to your price and negotiable points, such as closing costs and inspections.

Monday, September 14, 2009

The FHA 203(k) loan is perfect for homebuyers who want to rescue foreclosed properties

Rehabbers can combine the loan price and improvement costs in one loan

There are homes out there, just waiting to be “adopted” by a loving family. They may be a bit on the ragged side, down on their luck, but with some tender, loving care, a qualified homebuyer and an FHA 203(k) loan, they’ll be returned to their glory.

We’re talking about foreclosed properties that aren’t in tip top shape, but deserve a chance and are manageable rehabs.

This HUD program, administered through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), is not a new idea. More than 31 years old, the 203(k) is a loan that includes both the purchase price and the rehab price for a qualified buyer to fix up the place. Because of the amount of foreclosed properties now, this type of loan is very attractive for the buyer who sees value at the end and doesn’t mind rolling up his or her sleeves.

There are two types of 203(k) loans–the full deal for major rehabs and really big projects, and the Streamline 203(k) that tops out the rehab budget at $35,000. This is an excellent way to go for properties that need some sprucing up and energy efficient improvements. It’s amazing how far $35,000 will go to transform a home. Qualifying properties include one to four-family structures.

The loans are granted through FHA lenders. When the purchaser is approved, the down payment will be 3.5%. The potential buyer is responsible for working with an approved contractor and designing a bid for the rehab. The bid must be very detailed, including plans, materials, labor, time frame, which can be no more than six months, and an estimated completion value.

This information is necessary to assemble the package and final loan amount. When the project is approved and closed, the buyer will receive up to half the rehab amount to begin work on the house. The final payout comes after the work has been inspected to make sure it conforms to the original plans.

These loans can be more involved that a conventional loan, so it’s best to work with a SCHNEDIER real estate agent who understands the complexities and can recommend a lending institution that is approved to provide the 203(k) loans.

Just think how satisfied you’ll be to rescue a foreclosed property, make a contribution to improving a neighborhood and take part in the housing market recovery.

Check out St. Charles foreclosed homes.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Cauy Clark and the Cardinals have a big day on Sunday, October 4

SCHNEIDER Real Estate agent Robert Clark’s son Cauy, who has tuberous sclerosis complex, will help raise money for research and at cure at the Cardinals’ last regular season game.

What better way to cap off a fantastic Cardinals baseball season and send the team on to the Central Division Championships than attending the very last game of the season and supporting a wonderful cause.

Sunday, October 4 is the last game and a very special day for Cauy Clark, who has tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disease that causes tumors to form in many different organs. Cauy’s dad is SCHNEIDER Real Estate Agent Robert Clark, the driving force behind finding a cure for this complex and helping not only his son, but also the approximate 50,000 Americans who have TSC.

The October 4 game will be the third annual A Cure for Cauy day at the ballpark. We urge you to snap up tickets for $25.00 each, which is a great discount, join the fun at Busch Stadium and help Cauy raise money for research. This special day is in association with the Cardinals and the goal is to sell more than 1,000 tickets, which are located in the reserved outfield terrace on the third base side. A TSC kid will throw out the first pitch when the ticket goal is reached.

Robert explains that people afflicted with TSC are at risk for tumors growing in vital organs such as the brain, heart, eyes, kidneys, skin, liver and lungs. Some people with TSC can experience autism, epilepsy and kidney and heart disease.

Cauy was diagnosed around the age of three, but Robert saw a special positive spirit and can-do attitude in his son, and with that hope decided to become actively involved in raising money for treatment and a cure.

Here are the game day details. Get a group together, help Cauy and thousands like him, and send the Cardinals off to the National League Central Division Championships.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. the Milwaukee Brewers
Sunday, October 4
Game time 1:15 p.m.
Special Cure For Cauy ticket price: $25.00

To order tickets:
E-mail Robert Clark at cureforcauy@gmail.com or call him at 636.248.6329.
Or mail your ticket request and a check payable to A Cure For Cauy to:
A Cure For Cauy, C/O SCHNEIDER Real Estate, One Point West Blvd., St. Charles, MO 63301

You can be sure the SCHNEIDER real estate team will be out in full force rooting for Cauy and the Cardinals.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Spotlight on Paragon Custom Homes





Q: Please introduce yourself?
A:
Jason Jacobs & Kyle Funk

Q: What is the name of your business?
A:
Paragon Custom Homes

Q: Where is your business located?
A:
Wentzville, MO but we service St Charles, Lincoln, Warren and St Louis Counties.

Q: Briefly describe what you/ your business does.
A:
We are a custom home builder that offers quality homes and options at our cost.

Q: How many years have you been in business?
A:
For over 1 year.

Q: What is your burning desire?
A:
Our burning desire is to build quality custom homes for clients at the best dollar per dollar value by passing on options at our cost. We want everyone loving the home they built and knowing they received and equitable deal.

Q: What’s something not many people know about you?
A:
One of our goals is to eventually donate homes to our church that can be used to help people get back on their feet from unfortunate life circumstances.

Q: Do you have a Website Address?
A:
www.paragon-home.com

Q: What’s the best way for someone to get a hold of you if they have further questions?
A:
I still believe in a phone call to intiate a personal meeting. We will communicate via email as well, but nothing takes the place of a real conversation. 314-780-0360 Jason or paragonpropertiesllc@yahoo.com