Lina Robertson's Blog: December 2009

RIVERWALK JAZZ CAFE

I had an opportunity to eat at the Riverwalk Jazz Cafe in Ozark, MO, and it has become my favorite new restaurant in Ozark!  It is located just off the historic downtown square, in a 100-year-old building which was once the home of the old Ford garage.  It's now filled with great food and music.  You can dine in the atmosphere of this charming eclectic cafe filled with antiques and memorabilia from years gone by.  Concrete floors, high-beamed ceilings and brick walls are just a few touches of this cozy cafe that will have you coming back for more.

The cafe is open Monday thru Saturday from 11:00-2:00 p.m.  They are known for their homeade soups, sandwiches served hot, and desserts. 

The sandwiches are named for famous Jazz singers, such as:

Cab Calloway - A club sandwich with ham, turkey, bacon, tomato, lettuce, red onion and swiss cheese on your choice of white, wheat or croissant.

Billye Holliday - Sundried tomato turkey, provolone cheese, lettuce, red onion, sprouts and sundried tomato dressing served on wheat bread.

The Sara Vaughn - Their famous homemade chicken salad with grapes, pecans, celery and sprouts served on a croissant.

Or try their specialty salads, such as:

Diana Reeves - Grilled chicken, red onion, artichokes, feta and a five cheese blend served with balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

The Sarah Vaughn - Their famous homemade chicken salade with raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

You shouldn't miss their specialty wraps, such as:

South of the Border Baja Wrap - Grilled chicken, salsa, southwest sauce, avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cipotle dressing and served with southwest sauce and sour cream for dipping.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Wrap - Grilled chicken, honey ham, swiss cheese and zesty Dijon mustard

Jazzy Dill Wrap - Grilled chicken, dill sauce, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and red onion.

FRIDAY NIGHTS

Friday nights are special at the Riverwalk Jazz Cafe.  Enjoy a scrumptious dinner while listening to live music, such as Chuck Fugate on the saxophone.  The cafe is open from 6:00-9:00 p.m on Friday nights.  The cafe has a City Beer and Wine License and is happy to accommodate their customers by allowing them to bring beer and wine to accompany your meal.  Some of Friday's menu highlights include:

Jazz's Signature Citrus Grilled Salmon

Famous Slow Roasted Prime Rib

Asian Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Almond Crusted Tilapia

Planning a birthday, anniversary, shower or reception?  Call (417) 840-1372 for your private party and catering information.

No, I didn't forget my favorite part of the meal....the desserts!!!!!  JJ makes her pies fresh each morning.  The coconut cream pie is to die for!  JJ always has something new in the oven.

MENTION THIS BLOG AND RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT ON YOUR ENTIRE MEAL

Lina Robertson Owner/Agent RE/MAX Solutions 1715 James River Road Ozark, MO, 65721	Mobile: (417) 844-7265 linarobertson@remax.net http://www.ozarks-realestate.com
RE/MAX - Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results!

I am a full-time REALTOR® in Springfield, MO, and a member of the Greater Springfield Board of REALTORS®, helping Buyers and Sellers with homes for sale in the Springfield MO Real Estate, and Ozark MO Real Estate markets as owner and full-time agent of RE/MAX Solutions.  Visit my website at www.ozarks-realestate.com and obtain access to search for All Springfield MO Area MLS listings, as well as current Springfield MO Area Real Estate Market Reports.

Bank of America has just released a press releasing stating it is going to refund the U.S. Government $45 Billion in TARP funds, plus interest. 

Under the terms of the TARP agreement, Bank of America is repurchasing the 600,000 share of preferred stock it issued to the U.S. Treasury.  It plans to repay the $45 Billion using $26.2 Billion in excess liquidity, as well as $18.8 Billion in proceeds from the sale of "common equivalent securities" it plans to convert into common stocks.  It also plans to increase liquidity by $4 Billion through "asset sales" by June 30, 2010.

Could this be a sign that the company most notorious for dragging their feet on short sales could possibly be in a position to improve the speed by which they handle short sales?  Does this mean we might actually see some movement?  We can only hope.  I'll believe it when I see it.

Lina Robertson Owner/Agent RE/MAX Solutions 1715 James River Road Ozark, MO, 65721	Mobile: (417) 844-7265 linarobertson@remax.net http://www.ozarks-realestate.com
RE/MAX - Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results!

I am a full-time REALTOR® in Springfield, MO, and a member of the Greater Springfield Board of REALTORS®, helping Buyers and Sellers with homes for sale in the Springfield MO Real Estate, and Ozark MO Real Estate markets as owner and full-time agent of RE/MAX Solutions.  Visit my website at www.ozarks-realestate.com and obtain access to search for All Springfield MO Area MLS listings, as well as current Springfield MO Area Real Estate Market Reports.

New construction is a segment of the industry hit the hardest in the housing market.  Builders and developers quickly became the first targets of the banks once federal regulators walked in and began trying to shore up trouble assets.  New construction in the outlying communities of the Springfield, MO, area practically came to a complete stop.  Finding a new construction home for sale in an affordable price range is rare now.

Looking at the national stats on new construction spending through October, it appears that we might just have found a bottom.  While new construction spending did not increase significantly, it also did not fall.  The graph below represents private construction residential spending v. private construction non-residential spending (courtesy of www.calculatedriskblog.com).

It appears there are two things happening here.  First, residential construction spending is leveling out.  Second, non-residential construction spending is rapidly declining.  I don't believe we can anticipate much growth in residential construction spending nationally until the current and shadow inventory of foreclosures and short sales have been absorbed. 

Much of the media is reporting an increase in construction spending for the third quarter of 2009; however, while you put this in perspective and consider that we are up about 10%, we are still down approximately 25%.  (Graph courtesy of www.calculatedriskblog.com)

These figures seemed to be much the same as our local market, except for the small increase in 2009.  So, I contacted the City of Springfield, City of Ozark, City of Nixa, and City of Republic for their numbers.  The graph below represents the TOTAL number of permits issued for each respective city, including single-family homes, duplexes, multi-family, commercial new construction, commercial infill, and industrial.

As you can see, new construction in our local market continues to decline.  I was unable to obtain any year-to-date information from the City of Nixa.  I am hopeful their information will be updated soon and I will be able to track how much of a decline, if any, that community has experienced.

What does this mean to you?  Many of the buyers I have worked with prefer newer homes.  By newer, most define that as being less than 5 years old.  Much of the new construction in our area occurred around 2005.  By next year, those homes will no longer be considered "newer."  Unless the new construction market experiences an upswing soon, it will become increasingly difficult for buyers to find newer homes.  By this time this economy improves, I suspect there will be a tremendous demand for new construction homes.

SEARCH ALL SPRINGFIELD MO HOMES FOR SALE

Lina Robertson Owner/Agent RE/MAX Solutions 1715 James River Road Ozark, MO, 65721	Mobile: (417) 844-7265 linarobertson@remax.net http://www.ozarks-realestate.com
RE/MAX - Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results!

I am a full-time REALTOR® in Springfield, MO, and a member of the Greater Springfield Board of REALTORS®, helping Buyers and Sellers with homes for sale in the Springfield MO Real Estate, and Ozark MO Real Estate markets as owner and full-time agent of RE/MAX Solutions.  Visit my website at www.ozarks-realestate.com and obtain access to search for All Springfield MO Area MLS listings, as well as current Springfield MO Area Real Estate Market Reports.