On The House With John Armstrong
On The House With John Armstrong
(upbeat music) ♪ On the house with John Armstrong ♪ - Welcome to the weekend. You're listening to On the House with John Armstrong on cities 92.9, the news and talk of Bloomington Normal. This is the show every weekly, a blank, and I. We talk real estate. - Yes, we do. - We talk about what's going on in the real estate market and joining us today is a special one from Remax Rising. We have Heather Johnson. You may know her as Heather Witt, but she's recently became a Heather Johnson. Welcome to the show, Heather. - Oh, I'm blushing now. I forget that I said that I'm a Johnson now. - Yeah, you forget you did something kind of big there with Klai. - I did, I mean-- - Congratulations. - Thank you, thank you. Yes, it's fun to be back. I always love it. - Yes, and the real estate market, well, I was gonna kind of transition that. It's fun to have it back, but it never went away. We've had another really strong month in September that we just finished up, heading into October. I'm anticipating us having another really strong month and what's driving that is interest rates. Interest rates, I've heard people, you know, when I talk to the local lenders, they tell me, you know, don't quote anything lower than what we're quoting, but I have heard some people say they've gotten into the fives. Maybe that requires a 15-year loan. - I just closed one yesterday and I think it was 5.9. - Yeah, 5.8, yeah. Into the fives. Now, we're getting really close to a magic number. The magic number, I believe, is 5.8. If we get below 5.8, we're gonna start seeing sellers come out of the woodwork. We're gonna start seeing more listings. We've already started to see it. But it's gonna happen in full force when we can get to, I believe, about 5.8. And that's not Jon Armstrong coming up that this is a lot of industry experts that are saying. 5.8 is what's gonna get those people who have really low interest rates to act, to give up that interest rate. Because really, that's, if people wanna know, you know, in 2024, why do we have such an inventory problem? Right now, the inventory problem is we had low interest rates in 2020 and 2021, and people locked into 4% and 3.5%. And they don't wanna give that rate up for 7%. But now we get to 6. Maybe it's 5.8, the industry is saying 5.8. So if we can have that, we're gonna be looking at a really active fall, which already we're seeing a very active fall. But we may even have a spring-type market in November and December of this year. And that would be delightful. Yeah, we did have that in 2021 and 2022. That those two years really stick out to me as the years that we had really great months that we normally don't have great months. That's what made those years very special in the real estate industry. I mean, that was what was getting our inventory down. Those years we sold so many houses and we just snuck our inventory down to really dangerous levels. In Bloomington Normal, I believe at one point, we had 29 existing homes on the market. Currently today, people have some options. There are 110 existing homes. Now that might sound like a lot if you've only been listening for the last two years, but if you put it in perspective, most of my career, which spans back to 1996, has been spent with about 700 homes on the market in Bloomington Normal. So right now when I say 110, that my perspective as a veteran agent sounds really low, but a lot of our agents who joined in the last couple years are like, wow, we have a lot of houses to sell it. It's all perspective. So right now we have, you know, our price points aren't as hot as what they were in the spring, but I do think as these interest rates go down, they're still gonna pick up. We're selling a lot of homes in the last 30 days. In Bloomington Normal, we had 139 homes go pending, but some of our price points right now, 150 to 200 feel like a broken record. That's always hot. That's a 12-day market. It would take us 12 days to sell out if no new houses came on the market. An incredibly hot price point. Another hot price point is a 250 to 300. We'd be sold out in about 22 days if no new houses came on the market. 300 to 350, we'd be sold out in about 23 days if no new houses came on the market. Now, negotiating in these price points, this is something we keep track of at Remax Rising. That 150 to 200 is a super hot price point, but it also correlates to how much sellers have to negotiate. So in that price point of the homes that sold in the last 30 days, people paid 3% over asking price. They're paying 103% for that home. That's the price point where you have the least negotiating room. Information that's very important to have at your fingertips. If you want an agent who has that at the fingertips called Remax Rising, go to remaxrising.com, you're gonna meet our agents, and you're gonna find a lot of great ones who know the market, Heather. If you want to save the people to trouble, why don't we just give me your phone number right now so they don't have to go online? - Absolutely, my phone number is 309-830-1899. - All right, we got some sellers who are taking advantage of this market, and hopefully you're gonna sell this weekend. - All right, we have 2010 Trotter Lane in Bloomington. It's listed for $474,900 by Noelle Burns, and you can return 309-830-2404. - All right, Trotter is in Tipton Trails, which is a very special neighborhood. It's beautiful, two story home. Large two story entry allows for easy entry and exit for the large groups. The family, or the house includes a first floor laundry, custom drapes, gas fireplace, recent updates. They put a roof on in '17. Furnace and air were in '18, so you've got some pretty important things that are fairly new on this. If you're not familiar with Tipton Trails, there's a neighborhood park, there's walking trails, just a lot of amenities for this neighborhood. There's also Trotters very close to a little pond you can walk around, and I think they have swans in it, so I'm painting that picture of how people would live in the house if you're wondering what I'm doing there. - It's a really nice area. - It is. - All right, up next we have 2513 Pampas Lane in Bloomington. It's listed for $400,000 by Sean Caldwell. You can reach him at 309-846-0528. - So this one is a stunning new construction home by Jodi Construction in partnership with Vision Ventures Construction Remodeling. They always do a fantastic job. - Yes, they do. - It is in the Fox Lake Subdivision three bedroom two bath home. It is a ranch layout, which is awesome. Modern elegance meets functional design. You'll be greeted by a wide two-tone, a light tone, a hardwood floors that flow throughout the main living area, has a gorgeous kitchen with quartz countertops, an entertaining island, and custom white cabinetry. There's also a vaulted ceiling in the living room. Unfinished basement gives you the opportunity to customize and design however you see fit, and there's a rough in for a full bathroom down there as well. - That's a nice house. - All right, up next we have 85-62 North 1900 East Road in Bloomington, listed for $350,000 by Jennifer Krainer. You can reach her at 309-212-3375. - All right, this is a beautifully renovated three bedroom two bath, residents located in the highly sought after Trivalley School District, sits on a generous 0.88 acre lot, that's 0.88, offering stunning country views with a piece of local history. This is originally the old Gillom Schoolhouse. This home has been meticulously taken down to the studs, except for two charming rooms, and completely updated with the modern amenities. This is a great house that also has a four-card detached garage, and a 25 by 40 shop that is equipped with both are equipped with wood burning stoves for year-round comfort. A lot of great stuff here for 350,000. All right, up next we have 812 East Taylor Street in Bloomington, it's listed for 100,000 and 45, or 100,000, 45. - I'm sorry, why? - I'm sorry, why? - 145, I had to look at my books. - I'm like, what am I saying? Well, that's listed by Jane Snodgrass. You can reach him at 309-706-86-110. - And that's $145,000. - Thank you. - We're gonna practice it. - Time toister. (laughing) - So, Jane has this well-maintained three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Bloomington, enjoy morning coffee or evening drinks on the spacious, screened-in front porch. This charming bungalow offers an open floor plan, two main floor bedrooms that updated bathroom, featuring tiled shower and tub, spacious third bedroom upstairs and a sizable basement for all your storage needs. Various updates over the past 10 years, featuring most of the floor coverings, bathroom remodel, kitchen remodel, some electrical updates, some plumbing updates, vinyl siding, replacement windows, central AC was added in '22 and a new evaporator coil also for the AC in '22. So, check it out. It is a super cute house and that was at 812 East Taylor in Bloomington. - You're listening to On The House with John Armstrong on Sydney's 92.9, the news and talk of Bloomington. Well, we have a great show for you. We're gonna talk doors in the next part of the show. We have Jared Thompson from Childers Door Service. I love when he's a guest. I kind of geek out on garage doors, which is one of my favorite things about a house. It's one of the my things I love to talk about. But first, something I also love to talk about is, if you don't know who the worst neighbor in your neighborhood is, it might be you. - I do not like that statement at all. - Let's talk about it, let's talk about it. - Yeah, we're gonna talk about what makes someone a bad neighbor, and we can kind of figure it out together if we're all bad neighbors or not the first-- - I know I am. - You're a bad neighbor? - I'm a bad neighbor. I have two dogs that bark and we love being outside. - Yep. - We're bad neighbors. - I have one on the list. - It's us. - So the first one I have is the noise. - Yep. - The noise, so late night. - Two kids are two dogs and four kids. I mean, maybe we are the bad neighbors in our-- - It's fine. - Yeah, we're two dogs and four kids. And we have a pool and we're outside a lot. - We're trampling, yep. - Yeah, we're loud. - Okay, but like the late night karaoke sessions are like power tools. - That's us. - Okay. - Yeah, you're not helping my cause here at all. - Guilty, guilty, yeah. You're making Heather and I feel really, really bad right now. - No, I get it. We have a dog too and at 6 a.m. she's barking. And I'm like, I'm so sorry. She loves it, but-- - Yeah, the noise is, if it's in the house, then we have to listen to it. If it's outside, it's quieter for us. - That is very valid. - Very valid. - I'm sorry guys, but I mean, it helps. Okay, so we are bad. - Yeah, I always say, I am a bad neighbor in this account. And as soon as the show is over, I am gonna go door to door and I'm gonna apologize to everybody. - Get some cookies. - Yeah, literally. So do you guys think they're ever like overreacting or you think, yes? - No, nobody has said anything to me, but I know. - Okay, good. - I know, I know. - Yeah, I'm the same. - Yeah, I know. - That's good. - I'm aware. - I'm aware. - Yeah. - Next, I think yard disasters. Do we have any of those people? - Okay, does it count if we've been working on a retaining wall for like a year and a half now? - Oh, the project. You got the wheelbarrels. - I think not at all. - Okay, well the wheelbarrels under the trampoline. We're good on that front. - Okay. - And that's fine, but like weeds, like you don't know your lawn. - We said, I got a question. Do you move the wheelbarrel when you're jumping on the trampoline, I hope? - Well, I don't jump on that. Are you kidding me? - Okay, I was gonna say, the kids do. - You'd have to have a weight limit, 'cause that trampoline can end up in the wheelbarrel. - Yeah, now that's an older one too. So they could just use it as a trampoline pool, 'cause I think there's probably water in it, so. - So I'm always that neighbor though. If you're talking about the yard disasters, I look at my neighbors and I wanna be number one on the left and the right, and if somebody mows their yard, I'm like, okay, well I need to mow my yard now. - Yeah, it's the competition, adult peer pressure. - Yeah, it is. - Yeah. - I mowed it yesterday, but this looks shorter than mine right now, and I'm gonna jump right on that. So I kinda use my neighbor on each side to be my gauge. - Right, that makes sense. - That's my compass. - Also like the holiday lights, or like the holiday decorations, are we leaving up our Christmas lights to like March? - That's why I don't put them up, because they would still be up in like June, and then I just wait for July and do Christmas in July, so I just don't do it. - Yeah, I agree. - So I was talking with an exterior light company. We have never done it, but I'm like, I just wanna look into what this is all about. You get it cheaper if you put it up in October. - Oh. - But so, you know, I don't know. - So it's kinda nice though, because I've seen those, and you can do any color. - I was gonna say that you can like put it all up, and just change it for the holidays. - Yeah, so I could do my orange and black, that I do love me some Halloween. - Yeah, so that can work. But like the string lights and Santa's still out in your yard, like that's a little sad. - So am I going with orange and black then all the way through Christmas? - No, I mean, I don't know what. - Can we check, we check out-- - I don't know what? - We check out on Browning. - That's a lot of bulbs to go up there and change. - Well, there's an easier way, I feel like. There's some light, yeah, there's-- - I'll joke that. - Yes. - L.A.D.s, you can just push it back. - People would do that maybe, so either way. I mean, it's fine. - Yeah, you just gotta change. What are you doing Saturday? I'm just gonna replace 40,000 light bulbs. I'm taking it from orange to red and green. - Oh my God, that would be terrible. - All right, you know what, it's giving me anxiety, thinking I'm gonna have that much work. We're gonna take a short break, and we're gonna come back, and we're gonna recap, and I'm gonna count all the bulbs, and how long it would take me to replace them. - Thank God. - We'll be back, and Jared Thompson from Childers Door Service will be our guest, so keep it right here, we'll be right back. (upbeat music) ♪ I'm the house with John Armstrong ♪ - Welcome back, you're listening to On The House with John Armstrong. I'm gonna sit, he's 92.9, the news and talk. Oh, Bloomington Normal. Heather Johnson, the new Heather Johnson was Heather Witt. - I still am not, I'm gonna have to keep you. - Yes, you are. - I don't say, I live with you, and I'm like, there's Heather Witt. - Right. - I'm not there yet with the Heather Johnson. - No, I'm trying to ease people into it, so. - Yeah, I've known you a long time as Witt, and so this is a change we have to make. - Yes, you can't grow in your comfort zone, so. - That's right, Leah, and I said Heather joins us, and I didn't even say, Leah's still here. - Hey guys, I'm still here. - You're still here, and we're talking real estate, we're talking about what's going on in the market. I feel like this is a little extension of summer right now, what we're getting, we have still expectations for sellers that you're gonna sell your house very quickly. We're not seeing the multiple offers where there's 10, 15 offers, but we are seeing multiple offers. We're seeing two, three, I heard of one this last weekend that had five, and we're not seeing the crazy, crazy over asking price offers where somebody's asking 400,000 and they're selling it for 475. No, but they might get 415. So, we're still seeing that kind of a market if you're a seller. Now, I get asked and we talk about it a lot, what is the best time to be a seller? The best time to be a seller is a combination of two things. When you have the lowest amount of competition and you have the most amount of buyers. So, these are things that we can kind of tell at rematch rise, and we can see the numbers on how many buyers are out there. We can see how many win, but what you can't see by looking at the MLS is how many showings, how many people are out there that actually didn't win. We have that technology. We can see that at rematch rising. So, if you're thinking, is now the time, maybe it is. Maybe we wait 'til spring, but there's gonna be, 'cause there's gonna be more buyers, but there's also gonna be more competition at that point. So, those are the things that we're looking at at rematch rise, and we're getting a lot of these calls right now of is it my time, should I do this? And in many cases, we're telling people, waiting 'til spring is your best way to maximize. In many cases, we're telling people, hey, now is the time, 'cause there's no other house likers. For example, right now in the county and outside, in McLean County, outside of Bloomington Normal, there is a hole in the inventory that goes from $250,000 all the way up to $350,000. I'm sorry, all the way up to $399. There's only one house on the market, and $150,000 price point, there's only one house on the market, and that's not a town. That's a county. So, if you've got something maybe in that $300 or $275 price point, this is the time to put your house on the market, because right now, I'm gonna tell you, you're gonna have more competition next year. - And there are people looking for those houses. - And there are buyers out there. And we've got some listings. Actually, we're gonna talk about quite a few here, 'cause rematch rising listed about 20 houses last week. - All right, we're looking at 303 Beacon Circle and Bloomington is listed for $265,000 by Kelly Riel. You can reach our at 309-287-6795. - All right, this is a fantastic four bedroom, two and a half bath, and highly desirable North Point subdivision. It's got a partially finished date basement. Solid history with no water issues in this house. The home has peace of mind with extra living. Major updates include new furnace, AC, and roof all replaced in 2015. Plus, enjoy the comfort of a whole house fan. I do love me a whole house fan. - They are the best. They're so great for times like this, where it's really cool at night. - Yep. - They're awesome. - I love them. If I'm picking a house and I get to have that one little side thing that people aren't thinking about, I'm taking a whole house. - Absolutely. All right, up next we have 1-9-1-3-7 Briar Drive in Bloomington. It's listed for $345,000 by Ryan Kendrick. You can reach him at 309-840-4533. - All right, this house is in Tri Valley. Everybody loves Tri Valley. - Yes, they do. - Charming four bedroom four bath all brick, walk out ranch in Southeast Bloomington with mature tree lined lot and no immediate backyard neighbors. It's been meticulously updated. The kitchen features a quarter swan oak cabinets. Okay, I am not that fancy. - Yeah, there's a lot of things I'm like, I'm learning and I'm learning when we do the show. Yeah, I just Google it afterwards. - So yeah, I'm going to have to do that, but it also has quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, under cabinet lighting and ceramic tile flooring. Spacious deck has French doors and a large patio that offer perfect outdoor living spaces. Recent updates include a new garage door and opener in '22, completely remodeled master bath with new floors and shower in '23, newer HVAC with heat pump and three additional baths that have been updated. The roof was replaced in 2006. This home offers comfort, style and outstanding views. - All right, up next we have 104 Tanner Street in Bloomington. It's listed for $260,000 by Melissa Sorenson. You can return it 309-261-4081. - All right, I love the looks of this. It's kind of an L-shaped ranch. It's brick on at least two sides. Well, actually it's an all brick ranch. Three bedrooms, three full baths, completely updated kitchen in 2019 with granite tops, custom cabinets, under cabinet lighting, subway tile backsplash and a pantry with pull out doors. Updates include new fridge, new dishwasher in the last few years. Even they even did insulation in the garage and a new garage door. We're gonna talk a little bit about garage doors here in a little bit. And if you don't know where Tanner is, this is out there in the South Morris six-point roads area. - All right, up next we have 725 South Twanda Avenue in normal. It's listed for $224,900 by Ashley Brownfield. You can return it 309-287-8383. - This house is super cute looking. It says step into this beautifully updated three bedroom, one and a half bathroom home featuring a stunning remodeled kitchen, fresh paint, brand new flooring throughout in 2024. The main level offers a spacious dining room, large family room and fully finished walkout lower level with the second family room and convenient half bath, perfect for entertaining or relaxing. Enjoy the convenience of a two-car attached garage and outdoor living in the expansive fenced backyard. I deal for pets, kids and gatherings. With updates galore, this home is moving ready and waiting for you. - All right, up next we have 1911 Galey Lane in Bloomington. It's listed for $499,900 by Danny Carcassen. You can reach him at 309-310-5949. - All right, this is in Tipton Trails. As I mentioned earlier in the show, it's a very special neighborhood. Five bedrooms, three and a half baths, perfect custom floor plan that features three spacious living areas, a kitchen with a huge island and Eden area, open to the family room and separate office and dining rooms on the main floor. Cherry wood floors throughout the family room, high ceilings on the main level, large master bedroom with extra space for the nursery office or exercise room. Fully finished basement with game room, two bonus rooms currently used as a cat, one of them used as a craft room. Roof was replaced in 2023, 499, this is a beautiful home. - Up next we have 25, 13 box trot trail in Bloomington. It's listed for $219,000 by Jaden Snodgrass. You can reach him at 309-706-8610. - This is a awesome house. It's actually part of an HOA, it's a attached house. Spacious four bedroom, two and a half bath home, featured with awesome HOA amenities, open main floor features a sizable living room, half bath and an updated kitchen dining room area. The second floor features three large bedrooms with a huge primary suite with dual closets and private bath with a walk-in shower. The second floor, oh sorry, the basement boasts a finished gaming room office and the fourth bedroom that is currently functioning as a second living room. Two laundry hook up locations, both in the basement and on the main second floor. Great location, private backyard space with a berm and no backyard neighbors. Recent updates include basement flooring in 2021, kitchen dining room in '22, kitchen cabinet paint in '24, new fence in '22, new furnace in '23. HOA includes community pool, clubhouse, pond, lawn care and snow removal. And I was really very impressed with that. The HOA is only $47 a month on this one. - Oh, that's cheap. - That is amazing. - You're listening to On the House with John Armstrong in City's 92.9, the news and talk of Bloomington Normal, Jared Thompson from childless door service chair. Welcome back to the show. How you doing? - Doing good. Thanks, John. - I appreciate you coming out. 'Cause I am anticipating you telling me this is probably peak season for you guys. - Yeah, we're busy. We're real busy. - Yeah, and the reason I'm saying that is people as they head into winter, looking at that garage door, you can get some R value. Have you done any studies on how people's utilities and how their garage went or spawns with a new garage door? - Oh yeah, I've been there for quite some time now, about 15 years, and we have a lot of repeat clients and a lot of times I'll go and sell them a garage door and then I'll come back and we'll talk about a front entry door or a back door. And so just the testimonial feedback I get from previous clients saying, man, that garage door made all the difference in my daughter's bedroom above the garage. - Yes. - The shared wall to like the kitchen from the garage to the kitchen. I mean, people notice the difference of the quality and the R value of the door. - Yeah, if you have any living space above your garage, a new garage door can be, whoever's sleeping in that room is gonna thank you. - Yeah, and the operator, the noise level too. - Yeah. - Some of those old AC chain drive operators, it sounds like a train, you know, when you run it up and down, but the newer DC drive or the belt drive operators, it makes all the difference in the world as far as noise reduction. - Yeah, and I can give a testimonial to that. We did, the chalers did our, the door that I use, and the other two doors, you can hear, it almost sounds like the house is shaking. - Yeah, in my door, you can't even tell I came home. The dogs don't even bark because my door doesn't make any sound at all. - So having a new garage door is making you a better neighbor is what I'm hearing. - It's making me a better neighbor. - There you go. - They're gonna bark when they see me come in the door. There's not bark until I come in the door. - Got it. - But now with that, my new door, I got some cool technology. Let's talk about some of the security and some of the ways that we're using garage doors. - Sure. - To help us. - Yeah, so all the new operators that we sell even from like the base chain drive all the way to the premium belt drive have the built-in Wi-Fi MyQ technology. So you just download a simple app to your smartphone, sync it to the operator, it just takes a few minutes. And then from anywhere as long as your Wi-Fi is connected, you can monitor your garage door, open and close it from your phone. You can see when it was last opened or closed. Some of the newer operators have built-in camera feature as well. That I am told is being used more so on East West Coast, but it's coming to the Midwest for Amazon delivery specifically. I believe UPS, FedEx may be linked up with it as well. But so like just say you're in San Francisco and all the houses are side-by-side-by-side and your main entrance is your garage door. Well, if they're gonna drop a package in there, they have ability to open the garage door via the app. You can see them right on the camera, set the package down, close the door behind them. - And it's nice to know that it was done and you have the technology. It's gonna let, my wife has done it many times where either the kids, she's like, oh, they're home because I know they came to the garage door or that person who was gonna come over and let our dogs out. I know that they were there and it gives you peace of mind versus wandering. It's a really nice thing. - Or the teenager, when did you come home last night? Oh, I was home by midnight. Oh, well. - The garage door says two or five days. - That's not right. - Yeah, that's right. - Yeah, it's a good affair. There's some accountability issues with that. So you guys do, you mentioned that you're doing front doors. You know, I think most of us think of you guys as a garage door company. Let's talk about the entry doors that you guys are doing. - Yeah, so we've done front doors and windows for about the past 20 years or so. We started in 1975. My boss's father actually started the business. So it's still very family owned and operated. - I love that. - But we sold Rainer garage door starting off and then ventured into a few other brands. And then about early 2000s started selling ProVIA as the brand we use. They're made in Sugar Creek, Ohio, Amish family owned company. And they build to spec all of our entry systems and window systems. So I've sold a lot of jobs the last several years where we'll tie in a new garage door with a new front door system. And even we've done it even where we do a front door system, garage door and windows. - And if you wanna know how that's gonna look before you spend all the money, Jared, you can show them how it's gonna look. - Exactly. Yeah, we can take a photo on site. If it's something I can't do right there on the iPad, I'll take it back to the desktop and do some little Photoshop work and plug the new product on the house to kind of give them a visual before they buy. - If somebody wants to take advantage of that, how can they get a hold of you? - 309-827-3222 or childhoodorsdoor.com. - I thank you so much for joining us on the peak time of year as my guests on in the garage door industry. So thank you very much. We're gonna take a short break and we're gonna come back and recap what's going on in the Bloomington housing market. Keep it right here, we'll be right back. (upbeat music) ♪ On the house with John Armstrong ♪ - Welcome back to "Listing to On the House" with John Armstrong on Cities 92.9, the News and Talk of Bloomington Normal. Heather Johnson is hanging out with Leah and I. We're talking real estate. We're talking about this market that a lot of people didn't see coming. As we head in, we are in October and we are in a market that feels very much like July to me. We're seeing home sell very quickly still. Last month, we had in the last 30 days, we've had 153 homes hit the market. That's more than what we typically see at this time of the year. Typically we would see about 10% less than that. So inventory is picking up. The big component of that is interest rates, as we talked about on the front end of the show. Interest rates now are sitting somewhere around 6%. Talked to Susie Nastiger from Compass Mortgage, one of our show sponsors on Tuesday and she told me it was 6% for most people, but she said, don't tell people that because some people, it could get better or some people could get worse, but we're right around 6% for a majority of people. So very good news. As we sat here two years ago at this time, we were looking at 8%. So 2% makes a big difference. If you're talking about a $200,000 loan, we're talking about $350 a month less in payment. So it makes a really big difference. So if you're thinking about making a move, why leave it to chance? You don't know what next spring is gonna look like. This is the time, and I always tell people who have really good December's in real estate, they're working with a lot of very smart buyers because buyers feel like, okay, I can come in here and I can get, I'm not gonna have a much competition. I can get a little more negotiating room. I'm not gonna be in an offer with 12 other people like I might be in May. So I always feel like the smart buyers come out in November, December, January. So if you're thinking about making a move, maybe eyeball the next quarter is the time you wanna do it. And we've got some sellers that want it to happen quicker than that. - All right, we have 910 West Mulberry Street in Bloomington. It's listed for $137,000 by Shannon Smith. You can reach here at 309-310-9993. - All right, this is the first time it's ever been on the market that home has been owned for 60 years by the same owner. It's a three bedroom, two full bath house. It's ready for new owners to call it home. Many of the big ticket items that have been done in the last few years, the roof in 17, HVAC was done in 2024. The water heater was done last year. All the kitchen appliances were done in 2020. Two car garage was built in 2001 and can be accessed from the alley. Come take a look at this great home and make it yours today. - Up next we have 210 South Washington Street in Hudson. It's listed for $14,000 by April Buckmore. You can reach here at 309-660-7506. - So this is a vacant lot in Hudson. Setbacks are 25 feet from the street and you must have a six foot side yard. At the front door of the proposed house would need to face Washington. It is not zoned for mobile homes, large out buildings or modular units, just a single family residential. So if you're looking to build, that's a good option for you. - That's a good opportunity for a low price. I like that. - Right. All right, up next we have 25 Latier Drive in normal. It's listed for $189,900 by Jaden Snodgrass. You can reach him at 309-706-8610. - All right, another ranch house in normal. Just a few blocks from Colleen Hughes, Colleen Hughes, Jersey Park and access to the Constitution Trail. Various thoughtful updates have been done throughout this three bedroom home. You'll find beautiful hardwood floors throughout the living room and bedrooms. The full bathroom on the main level has been completely updated. The kitchen offers white cabinets, lots of counter space and stylish tile backsplash. All the appliances will remain with the home. Just a lot of updates have been done since 2021 that are gonna include fresh paint, new drywall in the basement, some electrical, new sump pump in 2022, new vinyl replacement windows in '21. The roof was done in '17 and major landscaping overhauls in the last couple of years at 189.9. I believe this will be in multiple offers this weekend. - All right, up next we have 19437 Trade Wind Drive in Bloomington. It's listed for $280,000 by Jennifer Craner. You can reach her at 309-212-3375. - So this is another one we have out in Tri-Valley. It is a three bedroom, three bathroom ranch on a half acre lot with a three car garage. It has a lot of newer updates too. Brand new roof was in 2021, new windows in '19, LVP in the living room in '21, new sump pump in '22, new water heater in '23. This is another opportunity to have a decent size a lot out in Tri-Valley as well. - You're listening to On The House with John Armstrong on Cities 92.9, the news and talk of Bloomington Normal. You know, in the market when we can't find what we're looking for, which with more inventory, we have less, our clients are finding properties, but we take a little extra hustle at Remax Rising. And if you, you might have a property that you're thinking about selling, and we may have a buyer for it, and we're gonna tell you what we're looking for. - So Jen Johnson is not related to me or my husband. - No, I'm using Johnson and Johnson. - Yes, I know, I'm working on it. But she is looking for a main floor primary bedroom with four bedrooms, two plus bath, located in District 87 for under $330,000. If you have anything like this or you know someone that you can talk into selling for these better rates, get a hold of Jen at 309-472-9687. - All right, Shannon Smith is looking for a home in Oakwood subdivision, a three bed, two bath, and nicely updated would be a huge plus. She's also looking for a home in the unit five schools, four bed, two bath, two car garage, in a nice sized yard, a fenced in yard as a plus, looking up to $300,000, but could go higher for the right home. And then lastly, she's looking for a home in Leroy or Downs up to $200,000 with a large garage would be ideal. If you have any of this, you can reach Shannon at 309-310-9993. - All right, and the last one we have is Ms. Amanda Armstrong, another one of my favorites. - Oh, she sounds cute. - She is adorable. - She's one of my favorites too. - She is looking for a three plus bedroom home on the east side of Bloomington with a three car garage and a basement bedroom and bathroom. A pool and first floor primary bedroom would be a great bonus and the budget is up to $400,000. You can reach Amanda at 309-826-1471. - All right, we were talking at the front end of the show and we were just, Heather, we were just getting, Leah was smacking us with reality. And really our topic is if you don't know who the bad neighbor is in your neighborhood, then it just might be you. - Maybe everybody in our neighborhood is like, in my neighborhood is like similar, so we're all equally bad neighbors. Nobody maybe stands out. - Yeah, we don't have a standout crepe neighbor, we'll just-- - But you guys can't reach out to their house, yeah. - Yeah, yeah. - Which, whatever. - Maybe we should live next to each other. - Right, I wanted to talk about parking, kind of like the parking drama. - Oh, there was no problem in my house since we have four, we have six people living in my house and five have cars. - Yeah, we have four drivers out of the six, yeah. - Yeah, that pose has no issues. - That'd be a little tricky too, that's the same with us, but we don't get in trouble for parking on the street. I don't know if you guys do, but-- - No. - No, we're good in our neighborhoods. - No, no, what's the proper amount of time that a car can be parked in front of your neighbor's house? - Ooh. - I mean, if you have, say you have some friends over and I mean, is it 24 hours? - Like two weeks, like, yo. - Oh, it's like when a friend's over, I'm like, you need to come get your car like next day. I feel bad, I'm like, you need to leave. - Right, yeah, absolutely. I don't know what the proper etiquette is on that, but I gotta say anything over 24 hours, Brian. - Yeah, I agree. - That's not cool. - I agree. - But if it's in front of your own house, I think it's fine, but-- - Yeah, yeah, if it's in front of your own house, I think that you're, yeah. - We're good. - Yeah, but if it's across the street in front of your neighbors, I think it should be back in front of our house. - Yeah, I agree, especially 'cause it can kind of be out there, especially if no one parks there, and then someone's car is there, it looks a little-- - Yeah, I-- - I just notice it, I'm like, oop, who is that? - I don't know if other people feel like that, but I feel like that. - Yeah, for sure. I also want to go into pets, again, kind of like the problems with pets. - Can we just not? - We already talked about dogs barking, but-- - All right. - If you ever have like roaming animals, we are guilty to this. Our dog likes to take himself on walks. I don't know if it makes us a bad neighbor. - Take himself on walks. - Yes, he will walk down the street and just be there, and we're like, "How'd you get down there?" - He opened the door? - No, he's just outside, but he just starts walking. He's like a little, he's older, so we think he's losing it. - Okay, let's play him with you. He knows what he's doing. - So he's down on leash? - And he's just walking. - Yeah. - Oh, that's cool. - And he's just like, "What's up? "We call him the mayor, the mayor of our street." And he's just like, loving everyone walking around, but I'm like, "Guys, I'm so sorry." But they don't, I don't think they care. - As long as he's safe. As long as he's safe. - He's good, he takes a sidewalk, like-- - Looks both ways before he crosses the street. - You literally see him, he's down the sidewalk, and I'm like, how? - He's the mayor. - How? It's hilarious, but I don't know if you guys have that. - No, ours is not the mayor. ours would be the town jester. He'd be the laughing, but he'd be the one with a dunce hat. That would be my dog. - Oh my God. - He's a puppy, he's just, he's awkward. He's uncoordinated. He's just not the smartest yet. - Yeah, ours is just super nosy. Like we'll get back in town and we put him down when we get out of the car. And if the neighbors were edges up and she's in there, I'm like, "Oh my God." - I'm on. - Yeah, I don't want to be in the neighbors' garage. - But our neighbors don't mind, I think, 'cause their dogs come over. We are, like, they love it. - You have like an exchange of dogs. - Yeah, it's cute, we're like, whatever. But when he's down the street and I'm like, "Oh my God, I'm sorry." - Yeah. - I'm so sorry. - Well, we're at our other place. Both of the dogs will go over and like scratch on the neighbor's door to come in. We have another neighbor who, her dog will go over to the neighbor's house. - Yeah, you're the bad neighbor. - You're the bad neighbor. - Okay, let's not up here. - Yeah. - Yeah, we're everywhere. - You're the bad neighbor. - I think it's funny, but especially if you have friends and they get out of the fence, that can be a little difficult. - Absolutely. I think we got time for one more. - Okay, well, let's see. What about the over-friendly or even versus the hermit neighbors? - Okay, so yeah, the neighbors, I thought a lady was dead that lived across the street from me for, I lived from 1989 to 1998. I lived there for a nine year period. Never saw her. In her windows, the curtains were heavy curtains and they were closed. Her car never moved out of her driveway. - Wow, yeah. - Never saw her. Never saw her for nine years, the whole time I lived there. - Wow. - Right across the street from me. - I mean-- - That would be-- - I mean, it's not good or bad, I don't know. - She wasn't a bad neighbor. - Yeah, army for me. I would probably go and knock on her door and make her my friend. - Yeah, well, I've gotta go do some knocking on doors and apologize to my neighbors for my dog. - Parking, so Heather, how can people get a hold of you if they want to make a move? - You can get a hold of me at 309-830-1899 or my website is homebyheatherwitt.com even though now I am a Johnson. - Yes. - Thank you for tuning in and remember, remaxurizing has more knowledgeable agents. (bell dings)