At Home in KC : The Real Estate Blog of Kansas City Realtor, Sarah Snodgrass

Is Trader Joes coming or not?

sarahkc — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:53:46 +0000

What is it with Trader Joe’s? It gets more traffic than anything else on my blog - seriously, check out the comments. People are always talking, writing about it on facebook, and I hear and read about it everywhere. It’s just a grocery store, people! I haven’t been paying too much attention (been too busy shopping at Cosentino’s I guess), but what I have been able to piece together is that they are coming in the next year and a half, or maybe not, and if they come to KCMO, they will be in the Katz Drugstore on Westport and Main, or it will be in the shopping center called the Uptown Shoppes on Broadway next to the Uptown Theater that the owner is working on cleaning up. I assume it will be where that dirty Apple Market was located - big improvement (I heard this from a very reliable anonymous blogging commenter). Or it may be in Johnson County. But officially, a Kansas City location is not in the two-year plan for Trader Joe’s. Looks like Kansas City can continue our obsessive commenting and wooing of the ever-elusive Trader Joe’s Grocery Store. Dang, and I really want some 2-buck-Chuck - sike!

In the mean time, check out this crazy Trader Joe’s Delivery service (courtesy of BlogKC).

Pick of the Week

sarahkc — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:29:26 +0000

So many unique homes to choose from in Kansas City. First there is this remodeled mid-century ranch in beautiful Roanoke, then there is this brick bungalow in Columbus Park (looks like it is straight out of Brookside, but downtown), and finally, a brick Georgian style Ward Parkway mansion built for Tom Pendergast’s daughter that needs someone with money and passion for decorating and architecture to come along and make it as fabulous as it once was. I wish it could be me - I adore the symmetry and the brick construction of this incredible house. It was a lovely day on Realtor Tour.

Example of a modern Georgian Style Home

Outstanding Debut of the Fishtank

sarahkc — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:51:11 +0000

Just got home from a great performance at the Fishtank Theater called Sorry, Wrong Number. It is a new spin on theater, wherein the play occurs just inside the building with sound pumped outside to the audience who was seated on the sidewalk watching the play through the windows. Luckily it was a gorgeous evening, which complimented the play and added to the experience. The star of the show, Corrie Van Ausdal, recently opened this experimental theater/performance/cultural space in the Crossroads, and if this is any direction the theater will take - we are in for many pleasant surprises. Bravo, Corrie!

Airplane House

sarahkc — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:23:59 +0000

Check this place out… This has got to be one of the coolest tree houses in the world. The photos have been floating around the internet today, but without any sort of description of what it was. With a little digging, I learned that this is actually a two-bedroom suite at a hotel in a coastal rainforest area of Costa Rica. This is officially on my wish list.

Pick of the week

sarahkc — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:51:40 +0000

It’s hard to pick reasonably priced homes for my pick of the week for obvious reasons. Here we have a story and a half home in Sunset Hills which is a gorgeous, upscale, established neighborhood in the hills just south of the plaza. I would buy this home in a heartbeat because of the first floor layout, the sunken living room, location, backyard and pool. It has a large first floor with two bedrooms plus two more bedrooms upstairs. It feels like a big ranch just like I want, but if you had kids or guests you have more space upstairs.

LINK TO THE PICK OF THE WEEK

(listed by Gail Cluen with Reece and Nichols)

I didn’t say anything about local school rankings…

sarahkc — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:50:37 +0000

As a realtor, there are many things I can’t talk to people about. I am not allowed to speak about schools, religion (including location of churches around town), crime, or pretty much the most important things people want to know when they are moving here from another location. It’s part of our fair housing rules and the code of ethics… So I won’t say anything that can get me in trouble, but I will direct you to some pretty interesting/surprising rankings posted on BlogKC. Weird that they didn’t cite or link to the source - hope it is reliable.

Pick of the Week - Green Modernist KU Studio 804/Dan Rockhill Home

sarahkc — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:54:27 +0000

Brand new KU Studio 804 home near KU Med was just listed for sale. This is the first time they have ever listed a new one for sale so get quick before it is snatched up! This is one of the most impressive homes I have ever been inside. It is a platinum LEED certified, off-the-grid home with a water sistern and even its own sculptural-looking windmill in the back yard. But step inside, and you quicky forget about the green qualities once you see the high-end finishes, clean lines, and contemporary decor.

Home listed by Annie Premis & Ford Kistler of Prudential.

The West 18th Street Fashion Show

sarahkc — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:17:19 +0000

Tomorrow I will be spending the day down in the Crossroads at 18th and Baltimore preparing for the 9th Annual West 18th Street Fashion Show. This year, I am one of the show’s official producers along with Ashlee Broome, Peregrine Honig, Corrie Van Ausdal and Ryan Gove. If you aren’t familiar, this is the premier fashion show event in Kansas City because of the high level of production and the caliber of designers we accept. Also, it is just a fun and artsy event which takes place outdoors in the street - so our crowd tends to be very diverse both in gender, age and color, and everyone always has a great time.

Below is a video of last year’s show:

Coming Soon - New Arts and Crafts Listing in Brookside

sarahkc — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:56:08 +0000

View photos of a lovely home I will be listing very soon in Brookside. It is a classic shirtwaist with beautiful stone trim on the exterior, and the interior features some of the prettiest arts and crafts woodwork I have seen in a long time.

Contact me for more details.

Pick of the Week - My New Listing in Leawood

sarahkc — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:19:13 +0000

I have a shiny new listing in Leawood, but I am having a hard time communicating to people what a special house this one is. Lately, when I use a term like perfect, gorgeous or beautiful - nobody believes me because these words get overused and abused daily by realtors trying to puff up their listings. Well, I’m not puffing - it is perfect, gorgeous and beautiful. The decor is very appealing - I guess I would say it is a Crate and Barrel sort of style if I had to choose. Many agents use the term “Pottery Barn Perfect”, and while this house is perfect - it is way cooler than Pottery Barn; it is a sort of modern/traditional style. Every single room is updated and all the mechanicals, roof, exterior, foundation type stuff is in great condition and all updated or replaced in the last 5 years. Inside and out, top to bottom - this one is a keeper. It is near Town Center off Mission Road just south of 119th. Great location - easy to zip up State Line and be in the city, or stay close to home and enjoy all that Leawood has to offer…. Also, it is a established neighborhood with trees(!) and landscaping, a private pool, sidewalks, and friendly people. $419,000.