Nancy Knows Madison County

We'll get to the house selling thing I mentioned in the headline in a minute, but here's something that's just for fun. I took a Facebook quiz the other day titled, "How Edwardsville are you?"

The result came back as, "Mayor Neibur." It judged me with this statement: "You are Mayor Niebur. You are a lifelong resident of Edwardsville and have served 5 terms as mayor and have done a great deal of good for the city. Unfortunately, you are not as Edwardsville as Preach..."

That made me laugh and made me think about my own list of things that make you truly an Edwardsvillian. It's really a lot more than being born here...or moving here as a toddler...or coming here for college and never leaving as I did. Note that some of the items on this just-for-fun list will only make sense if you're an Edwardsville person "of a certain age." The rest of you are forgiven for being too young.

NANCY'S LIST OF THINGS THAT MAKE YOU AN EDWARDSVILLE PERSON

• You know how to let pedestrians proceed into a crosswalk without running them down (thanks to on-campus training at SIUE)
• You understand that trick-or-treating takes place on the night before Halloween so you can go to the Halloween parade on October 31
• You adore Preach and worry if you don't see him around for a while.
  
• You took your first legal drink at The Granery -- at age 19, I might add. (I'll allow Vanzo's as a substitute.)
  
• You remember when the LeClaire water tower was actually the Jimi Hendrix water tower. 
• You know that LeClaire was a company town before it was just a neighborhood
  
• You're still longing for the long-gone lunch counter at Schwartz Drugs.
• You met your future spouse by literally stepping on him at the MRF (okay, maybe that was just me)
• You remember that the Historic Col. Benjamin Stephenson House was previously the TKE frat house
• You "attended class" at Stagger Inn (or maybe that was just the Mass Comm majors. My husband tells me that the math/comp sci folks hung out at Vanzo's)
  
• You're guilty of buying dented, label-less cans for cheap at the old National grocery store during college, thus ensuring that dinner would be a yummy surprise. Sometimes it was ravioli. Sometimes it was dog food, so you had to look for a stray dog
  
• You still grab a kid and run to Miner Park when it snows to sled down the amazing hill
• You held kiddie birthday parties at Cottonwood Bowl, Montclaire Bowl, Pantera's, Cottonwood Cinema or Skate Corral
• You shopped at the Bargain Barn
• You and Chimega were on a first name basis
• You drive through the Bank of Edwardsville on Christmas Eve just to get the huge apples.
• You remember Peter Station and Whistle Stop
• You inadvertently stampeded cows in a relative's Edwardsville pasture (again, maybe that was just me)
  

Feel free to add to the list with your comments. I'm sure there are a lot of things I'm forgetting.

Now back to the important house-selling stuff. If you're looking for a Realtor who really knows the Edwardsville area (and the rest of Madison County, for that matter)...send me a message. It will be fun to recall the good old days together while I fill you in on what's happening in the local real estate market. Or, if you're newer to E'ville or SIUE, I can tell you about some of the history and quirks you may be finding here while we talk about your real estate needs.

Can you smell the luscious cloud of sweet buttercream blanketing Edwardsville, IL?  It's likely coming from the newest specialty shop in town -- The Cupcakery. 

Located at 1057 Century Drive off 157 near Quiznos, the newly opened gourmet cupcake bakery is offering sinful selections today, including Confetti (Vanilla Buttercream on French Vanilla cake); Tuxedo (Vanilla Buttercream on Dark Chocolate cake); Peanut Butter Cup (Peanut Butter Buttercream on Dark Chocolate cake); and Red Velvet (Cream Cheese Icing on Red Velvet cake).

During my lunchtime visit I chose a Tuxedo and a Red Velvet for myself and my husband and complemented the two with a Pumpkin -- one of the bakery's changing seasonal offerings.

The taste? Magnificent -- deep and rich. Everything the beautifully decorated little cakes promise to the eye, they deliver to the mouth.

(However, in the spirit of full disclosure, a car pulled out in front of me as I was leaving the parking lot. My accident-avoidance maneuver knocked the Cupcakery box on the car's floor, merging the three flavors into something I am going to have to call "Con-Tux-Velvet" or "Red-Tux-Fetti." Delicious nontheless.)

You can mitigate a cupcake disaster like mine by eating your treat inside the lovely lounge area of the bakery. It's decorated with calming colors, hip modern fabrics and clean-lined furnishings. There's also a Party Room for larger groups. It would be a perfect dessert stop for the LWL (Ladies Who Lunch) crowd.

The Cupcakery in Edwardsville also serves a few additional sweet treats such as Frosted Sugar Cookies, a Cakewich filled with buttercream, and a Double Decker which is two oatmeal chocolate chip cookies filled with buttercream. Are you getting the "buttercream" theme?

Hot drinks on the menu give the bakery a coffee house feel with espresso, cappuccino, mocha, chai latte and hot cocoa available along with regular coffee, latte and hot tea.  Cold drinks designed to complement a tasty cupcake include milk, organic chocolate milk, iced chai latte and, of course, juice, soda, tea and water.

If you'd like to place a large order, just give them 48 hours notice. The bakers can create up to 24 cupcakes in a same-day order if necessary. Individual cupcakes are $2,75 each, but well worth it when you compare the taste to the usual made-from-a-cardboard-box version found at my house.

The Cupcakery is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.; and it is closed on Sundays.

You can learn more on The Cupcakery's web site at www.CraveTheCup.com.  The phone number is 618-656-2287.

Stop by and welcome The Cupcakery to Edwardsville. And don't forget to tell them that the Goshen Gourmet sent you.

Hey, Buyers, Pull up a chair and let's have a heart-to-heart chat for just a couple of minutes.

Face it. Sometimes buying a house is hard. Especially if you're out there on your own.

But that's why your professional Realtor -- your buyer's agent -- is here. If you listen to your Realtor, you can get into a new home with the least amount of hassle possible at the best price possible.

All you need to do is follow a few simple rules and you'll be getting those house keys before you know it.

1.) Choose Your Realtor -- As a buyer, you deserve to have an agent who is looking out for your interests in a home purchase transaction. Did you know that the person whose name is on the sign outside of that cute house you just drove by is working for the seller -- trying to get the best deal for the seller? Think about that. If the seller has an agent, shouldn't you? This is a professional relationship built on mutual respect and loyalty between the buyer and the agent. You owe each other honesty and integrity to form a great team with one goal -- to get you into a new home.

2.) Get Pre-Approved -- There is no point in looking at homes before you know how much you can afford and in many areas you can't even submit an offer without an attached pre-approval. Go to your lender. They will ask you a variety of questions and -- if you're qualified -- will issue a pre-approval letter. Get a copy for yourself and a copy for your Realtor. Don't know a lender? Ask your Realtor to give you two or three names of lenders who have successfully closed buyers for her this year. Your agent also can tell you if there are city and county grant programs that can help with your purchase. Don't expect your Realtor to show you homes until the pre-approval letter is in hand.

3.) Make a List and Check it Twice -- Decide in what part of the region you'd like to live, how many bedrooms you need and what other "must-haves" are on your list for the home you'd like to find. Make sure you understand the difference between "needs" and "wants." You might "need" three bedrooms, but you might "want" four. Do you "need" a two-car garage, or do you "want" one. Do you want a large yard or a small one? It's easiest to develop this list in a consultation with your Realtor.

4.) Now Look at Houses -- I like to play "Bracketology" with my buyers. We'll look at four or five possibilities and the buyer will choose the one that best fits his needs. When we go out again, he'll choose the best from that lot. Then we'll pit the two top candidates from each outing against each other to get a "winner." We'll repeat if necessary, continuing to compare and contrast the top houses from each round.

5.) Make an Offer -- Your Realtor will research the home you've chosen to see what recent comparable sales tell you about its listing price. Is it overpriced based on recent sales? Is it already underpriced to elicit a quick sale? She also will check the seller's disclosures to make sure there are no red flags about the property's condition. She'll prepare the offer to purchase and will contact the seller's agent to begin negotiations.

6.) Get to Closing -- Inspections, appraisal, loan commitments, contract timelines and deadlines are just a few of the many pitfalls that must be navigated between getting an accepted offer and achieving a successful closing. Your Realtor will understand what needs to be done to protect your interests and help you hold the deal together along the way.

It can be done, my friends. Just follow the steps in order and enjoy your new home. Questions? Call, text or e-mail me.

One of the great things about living in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs is the proximity to the world-class attractions our region has to offer. For this Goshen Getaway post, we'll check out the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Getting to the Missouri Botanical Garden from most points in Madison County is a quick and easy 30-minute trip.

The 79-acre Garden has been celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Founded by an English immigrant named Henry Shaw, the attraction is recognized as one of the top three gardens in the world.

Shaw came to St. Louis on the edge of the frontier to sell his family's knives and other hardware. He quickly built a thriving business trading with the explorers, pioneers, mountain men and settlers who were passing through the the city on their way to open the American west.

Still a young man, Shaw was able to travel the world and then retire to the countryside (now south St. Louis) to indulge in his passion for horticulture. You can take a virtual tour of his Victorian home, Tower Grove House, or explore the house in person during your next visit to the Garden.

Today the place the locals still call Shaw's Garden is known around the world not just for its beauty, but for its scientists' work to catalog plants in the world's rainforests. As their slogan says, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been green for 150 years.

While the season changes, you'll find that fall is the perfect time to head out from Edwardsville, Glen Carbon or Collinsville for a visit to the Garden.

Be sure to see the whimsical Walla Walla "Onions" (pictured left) which dot the ponds near the Climatron greenhouse. They are a reminder of the popular Dale Chihuly glass exhibit that graced the Garden a few years ago.

If it's chilly outside, dip into the Climatron to warm up. Inside the geodesic greenhouse is a re-created rainforest populated with plants that may look oddly familiar. Many of them are considered houseplants here in the St. Louis region, but in the rainforest they grow to enormous sizes and reach to the top of the dome.

If you have little ones, note that the children's garden -- called A Missouri Adventure -- will be closing for the season on November 1.  The working Floral Clock, opened for the 150th anniversary, will operate through October 31. Have a favorite plant? The Kemper Center for Home Gardening offers an updated list of plants in bloom.

The Missouri Botanical Garden -- located at 4344 Shaw Ave. -- is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week. Wednesdays and Saturdays the grounds are open for walkers from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. It is closed only on Christmas Day. Admission for adults is $8 and parking is free.

Here's a map to the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Happy travels!

Thinking of building your dream home far away from the crowds?

Or maybe you'd like a large tract of land for hunting or other recreational purposes.

If you're looking for parcels between 25 and 100 acres in northern Madison County or southern Macoupin County, Illinois, you're in luck. A number of properties are currently available near the communities of Staunton, New Douglas, Livingston, Bunker Hill, Sorento, Walshville and surrounding areas.

It can take weeks or even months to find out the closing price of a home in your Glen Carbon neighborhood by scouring the traditional media for sporadically published real estate sales items. 

We humans are naturally curious, especially when closed comps will have an effect on the price we can set for our own property. So, from time to time, I'll cut out the waiting process for you and let you know what a few homes have sold for in the Glen Carbon, Illinois market.

In the meantime, if you have a question about a specific home sale, just send me an e-mail at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com and I'll get the details for you.

SELECTED SEPTEMBER 2009 CLOSINGS IN GLEN CARBON, ILLINOIS

107 Bayridge..........,.$168,000

134 Birger................$108,500

78 Depot..................$152,000

6 Ginger Woods Est....$592,500

182 Hillcrest..............$155,000

195 S. Main...............$101,000

17 Matterhorn............$185,000

157 Munzert..............$141,500

51 Red Bud...............$177,000

45 Wolfe Creek Ct......$290,000

If you'd like a professional opinion about what your Glen Carbon, Illinois home would sell for in the current market, contact me at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com or call or text 618-791-8007.

If you're a resident of Madison County, Illinois please pay close attention to this important information. It could save you thousands of dollars on the purchase of your next home.

Did you ever wish you could find a Fairy Godmother who would swoop in with her magic wand and make your family's home ownership dreams come true? She would provide you with enough money to cover some of the closing costs and other expenses that it takes to buy a home.

Sorry to say that there's no Fairy, but there is an amazing program here in Madison County that can give you a big boost toward owning your own home by granting a portion of your minimum downpayment and closing costs.

The grant is  administered by Madison County Community Development and it provides $5,000 for households at or below 50% of median income, or $3,000 for households at or below 80% of median income in the form of a forgivable loan.

To be eligible for the grant, applicants must fall within the income guidelines, have one year of clean credit history, two years of steady income and a copy of their most recent pay stub.

The income guidelines are:

                                           HOUSEHOLD SIZE/INCOME

                                                    1 -- $38,000

                                                    2 -- $43,450

                                                    3 -- $48,850

                                                    4 -- $54,300

                                                    5 -- $58,650

                                                    6 -- $63,000

                                                    7 -- $67,350

                                                    8 -- $71,700

The property being purchased can be an existing or new construction home. It can be a single-family home or a condo. The program will not help with rental property, manufactured homes or mobile homes.

The maximum value of the property being purchased cannot be higher than $161,500.

To get started with a lender who can help you with the grant application paperwork and pre-approve your mortgage loan, contact me at Send2Nancy@Charter.net or call 618-791-8007.

There are many different reasons to love the fall season here in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs, including crisp and cool days, brilliantly colored leaves and festivals every weekend.

This week marks the annual Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and SIUE Fallfest. It's the granddaddy of festivals -- a community-wide celebration that includes a classic car parade, a 10K run, a bike ride and an amazing variety of food and drink.

You can see the entire program of events at the Fallfest web site.

Highlights for Friday, October 9, 2009 include a chili cook-off at Korte Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a blues and barbecue bash from 6 to 10 p.m. in Edwardsville City Park.

On Saturday, October 10, the third annual Route 66 run and walk begins at 8 a.m. If you'd rather carb load than run, the Kiwanis host a pancake breakfast at Miner Square in Glen Carbon from 8 until 10 a.m. The Land of Goshen Community Farmers' Market brings the fresh fall harvest to downtown Edwardsville from 8 a.m. until noon.

Beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing until 3 p.m., hayrides and family activities will be held at the Village Farmhouse across from the Glen Carbon village hall on Glen Carbon Road. The Kiwanis will feed you again from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with their famous barbecue and brats at Miner Square. And, just down the road, internationally known storyteller Bobby Norfolk will entertain with family friendly ghost stories at the Glen Carbon Centennial Library from 10 a.m. until noon. And, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the historic Yanda Log Cabin will be open for visitors on Main Street in old town Glen Carbon.

In Edwardsville, Rock-N-Wheels will bring unusual vehicles, food, music and family activities to City Park from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. The Classic Car Cruise begins at noon at Lincoln Middle School and makes tracks to City Park. Jaycees Field hosts a Vintage Baseball game between the St. Louis Unions and the Murphysboro Clarkes at noon. (If you haven't seen Vintage Baseball -- go. It's a real treat with teams playing by original rules in authentic 19th century costume.)

The Watershed Nature Center will help you explore nature in the dark with programs from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Just bring your flashlight for naturist-guided hikes.

A roving party will rock main street in downtown Edwardsville and our friends at Visions by Carol Photography will craft a free headshot for you at 6:30 p.m. during their Girls Night Out. In Glen Carbon, the fun continues at Miner Square with music, food and wine and microbrews in the garden.

Sunday is the day for history buffs. The annual 50/50 auction is held on the grounds of the 1820 Col. Benjamin Stephenson House in Edwardsville and the Madison County Archival Library will hold a special program on Abraham Lincoln and his days as a surveyor in the village of New Salem as part of the celebration of the president's 200th birthday in 2009.

Fallfest is produced by the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce.

See you there!