Posts by : Laura Macdonald

I recently was having a conversation with an individual I had just met. They didn't know that I worked in the Real Estate Industry. This individual was doing some future dreaming about retirement and mentioned that she may want to eventually downsize when that time comes. She continued on by saying that anytime she has purchased a home in the past, she called the agent on the sign in the front yard. Therefore, she has never worked with an actual Buyer's Agent. I would like to share some information with you about the difference in types of agents and who represents who in a Real Estate Transaction.

When you find a house for sale by driving by, the name on the for sale sign is the Listi...

If you are getting ready to list or buy a home, you might start noticing that the Real Estate industry likes their abbreviations. You start hearing things like FSBO, HOA, COMPS, etc. Some of you may know what these mean, but for a first time home-buyer, maybe not and that is ok. Today, I would like to explain HOA. 

WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR?

Home Owners Association

WHAT IS A HOME OWNER'S ASSOCIATION

It is an organization in a subdivision that makes and enforces rules for the properties and their residents.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO LIVE IN A SUBDIVISION WITH AN HOA?

HOA's are there to set and enforce rules and there is usually a small fee that homeowners have to pay either monthly or yearl...

Having been in the Real Estate Industry for several years now, I have seen many moves happen. I've seen some of those moves happen very smoothly and some seem to come together at the very last minute. A Real Estate transaction can be stressful. One way to remove some stress from your plate is to be prepared and have a plan when it comes to packing. Efficiency is key here. Here are a few tips to help get you started off right.

Avoid waiting until the last minute. The moment that you decide to sell or buy a new home should be the same moment that you start packing. Procrastination causes some of the worst stress when it comes to moving time. Keep ahead of it the best that you can. It wil...

Temperatures haven't gotten cool yet, but Fall is right around the corner, Monday actually. Time to get out the Flannels, drink some pumpkin spice lattes and cozy up with a blanket. Fall is hugely celebrated in the Southwest Missouri area. After months of a hot Summer, residents are ready for a change. To help you enjoy Fall this year, I have put together a list of Fall Events to celebrate the new season!

Silver Dollar City's Harvest Fest (Branson)

Sept 25 - Oct 26

Apple Butter Makin' Days (Mount Vernon)

Oct 11 - Oct 13

Rutledge Wilson Farm Harvest Fest (Springfield)

Sept 28 - Oct 27

I hope Fall brings you good company and good times!

Whether this is the very first home you have owned, or you have been a homeowner for years, it always seems like there is a lot of information to remember when it comes to caring for your home. Life gives us enough to do lists, so I wanted to share two of my favorite apps that let me forget about to do's and let my phone remind me instead. I have personally used these and they can really be a lifesaver.

The first one I would like to introduce you to is Happy Plant.

This app helps you care for you plants. It can remind you to water them and it also allows you to keep a record of how your plant is doing. As a plant lover,  it is so fun to look back and see how much my plants have progre...

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know this year has included a lot of plants. I now have 6 plants in my office and still want more! Luckily, indoor plants are easier to take care of in our ever-changing Missouri weather. I also have several plants outside my home. Fall will be approaching soon with cooler temperatures, but I'm just not ready to say goodbye to all of my outdoor plants. For those who are in the same boat as me, I decided to research what plants are best for surviving through the cooler Fall season. Here are a few of my favorites that I found...

Of course, the first plant that I thought of was Mums. They are super easy to take care of and bloom in the most beauti...

Here we are in August. Summer is coming to an end and it won't be long before we start seeing everything pumpkin spiced. The 417 is going to shift from colors of green to oranges and reds. Most importantly, it is back to school time! Get your school supplies, squeeze in those lost minute Summer vacations and soak up every last ounce of warm weather and sunshine that you can get. 

For your convenience, I thought I would include the school calendars for the Springfield, Nixa, Ozark and Republic Areas. Not only can you confidently know the first day of school, but you can plan ahead with the scheduled days out on each of the school calendars. You can find your calendars below.

Springfiel...

Do you want that Urban lifestyle or Suburban Lifestyle? Urban living is considered living inside city limits. The area is more heavily populated and houses are generally closer together. Suburban living is going to be those areas that surround the city. Houses are usually farther apart and living in the suburbs generally offers a bit more privacy than urban living. So which lifestyle are you looking for?

URBAN LIVING

When living inside the city/town, generally things are close by. Commutes will be shorter, you will get home from work earlier and you will most likely live in a location that makes having a social life convenient. Also, your subdivision may provide certain amenities...

Yes, you read that right, the 80's are making a comeback. Neon colors, pastels, softer lines and rounder furniture will be showing up way more in home decor, but with a modern twist. You may be imagining clashing bright colors, but with this modernized twist, things are much more cohesive and playful with simple touches of brighter colors.

A big color for the year is green. I'm talking forest green, pastel green and neon green. People used to avoid green all around when it came to home decor, but this is the one you will start seeing in your home decor magazines, blogs and even in our apparel. Not only will we see more green, but less maroon that used to be so commonly paired with a de...

If you have reached a point in your life where you are ready to buy a house for the first time, this post is for you! This can be an exciting and daunting time for first time home buyers. It is a process and it can seem overwhelming, leaving us wondering where to even begin. This is why I have put together some information to help you get started. I also developed a material packet (available at the bottom of this post) that includes checklists and reminders that you can print off and use once you decide you are ready to make your move.

Let's start at the first step that you should take...

Speak with your lender and get pre-approved.

     - This is such an important step to your ho...

I don't know about you, but I began my countdown to July 4th! This is such a fun time of year to live in the Ozarks. There are lakes and rivers all within a short drive from Springfield, making 4th of July celebrations endless. For those looking to stay right here in Springfield, I wanted to give you the breakdown of the fireworks happening right here.

Hammons Field is hosting another year of a fireworks display. You can catch some baseball, enjoy the 90's cover band, The Mixtapes right from the field and then watch an incredible display of fireworks to top off the evening.

This event takes place on July 3rd. Gates will open at 5:10 with the first pitch being thrown at 6:10. 

For m...

Father's Day is this Sunday! It's amazing how quickly time goes by. It feels like Mother's Day was just yesterday. For Mother's Day, I put together some ideas to help you with last minute gift ideas for the moms out there. I figured it would be a good idea to help you out with Father's Day gift ideas as well!

It would be best, of course, to take into account what your dad is like. Does he enjoy the outdoors, electronic gadgets, sports, etc...I've put together a few different ideas depending on what your dad would enjoy.

#1 A Tree Hammock (check out Ozark Adventures)

For the dad's out there that love camping, this is such a great idea. Camping is all about relaxing and taking in the c...

It's the season for vacation fun and traveling. You may have found yourself on sites such as Air BnB or VRBO, which have become popular alternative options to staying in a hotel during your travels. These have picked up in popularity across the country. Travelers are searching for a unique experience, and staying somewhere other than a traditional hotel room adds to that experience.

With the hype of these short-term rentals, you may have found yourself curious about investing in one to host yourself. It is a way to earn some extra income on the side if that is what you are looking for. Springfield MO recognized the demand for these short term rentals and recently passed a bill covering...

It's official, the kids are out of school. I've been seeing some parents post on different social media outlets seeking ideas for some Summer fun for their kids. I thought I would put together a few ideas to help you keep them entertained this Summer. Springfield MO is a really exciting and fun place to be a kid. Not only are these places I am about to share with you fun and entertaining, but they can also be very educational!

The Discovery Center 

438 E St Louis St, Springfield, MO 65806

This is an interactive-hands on museum that will allow you and your kids to explore science and the world that we live in. I have personally been a few times and I had just as much fun as the kids...

Here is your monthly collection of events that will be taking place this June in the 417 area. Schools are out, pools will be opening this weekend and it's beginning to feel a lot like Summer. For location and more details on any of the events listed below, simply click the title.

C-Street Pupcrawl and Mutt Mile

June 6th at 4:30 pm

Wine and Floral Design Class

June 12th at 6 pm

Parties in the Park

June 20th at 5 pm

Summer Solstice Party

June 22nd at 12 pm

Night of Champions Trivia

June 27th at 6 pm

Three Dog Night

June 29th at 8 pm

For even more events taking place in the month of June, visit 417mag

If you are in the Springfield MO area, you may have noticed that homes are selling! It's been a great season so far. If you have been considering selling, it's not too late to join in on the action, which is why I wanted to provide you this FREE tool. Knowing what your home is valued at can give you an idea if now is the right time for you to sell and make your move. Simply complete the fields below and you will receive your market analysis for 2019 completely free.

Even if you are not ready to sell now, it is always a good idea to know what your home is valued at. Selling your home is a big decision, one you should be completely informed about. By knowing your homes value, you will ha...

Mother's Day is this Sunday. Who else out there has waited until the last minute to pick up a gift for mom? Me too! As I have been figuring out how I want to show my mom how much I appreciate her, I learned about some fun Mother's Day events happening in Springfield. One event that I think is such a good idea is the brunch buffet being held at Tea Bar and Bites!

If you haven't been before, this is an adorable little cafe with a Spanish style patio area, fountain included! Not only is the environment wonderful and adorable, the food is absolutely incredible!

Their Mother's Day Brunch will take place from 10am - 2pm. Reservations are not required, but seating is limited, so making one...

When it comes time to sell, some homeowners choose to go "For Sale by Owner," rather than working with a Real Estate Agent. Although I feel it is best to work with a professional, I understand that some want to try and tackle selling their home on their own. For those individuals, I have compiled these very important steps to successfully marketing your home. It is important to develop your plan, make sure you are complying with the legalities of advertising and promoting your home and working with buyers in the most effective way to start getting those offers.

For your FREE, complete and detailed guide covering all topics related to selling your own home, please feel free to call, tex...

This past week, it seemed like my lawn all of a sudden decided it was time to really grow! I mean really grow! So, of course that means it is time to fire up the lawn mower. If you find yourself in a home that requires you to care for the lawn, there are some things about mowing that you may have not realized. Even those who have been mowing for years, read below to realize some common misconceptions that come with taking care of your yard this year.

Bagging your grass clippings after mowing is a pretty common practice. It can make the yard seem more "finished" once everything is cleaned up, but here is the part you may not have realized. It is actually better for your yard to leave yo...

Have you heard? Getting rid of clutter is trending! People are starting to focus on minimizing their clutter by only holding on to items that bring significant amounts of joy. You may have heard someone call themselves a Minimalist or that they are practicing the KonMari declutter method. I can't think of a better time to practice this when we are all thinking of Spring cleaning. If getting rid of clutter is something you are wanting to try out, here are some APPS that will not only help you get started, but possibly earn you some money while you do it.

ThredUp

This is an incredible resource to sell your used clothes. You send them directly to ThredUp and they will send you money fo...