Blog
Tales, Tips & Trends from the Ozarks
Market updates, buyer and seller guides, and local real estate insights from Kathryn Cole in Springfield, Missouri.
Springfield MO Market Updates
2026 Housing Market Outlook for Springfield, MO
The 2026 housing market is not headed for a crash like 2008. Persistent housing shortages, strong household formation, and tighter lending standards support stable prices. In Springfield, home values are expected to rise modestly, around 2 to 4%, while inventory stays tight but improves slightly.
Read article →Local Real Estate News
October 2025 U.S. Housing Market Update
October 2025 brought modest cooling from summer highs but demand remained stronger than a year ago. Median existing home prices held near $411,000 nationally while mortgage rates ticked slightly higher. The Ozarks showed steadier, heartland-style growth compared to fast-moving southern metros.
Read article →Selling a Home
Is Now a Good Time to Sell Your Home in Springfield, MO?
Springfield's housing market has leveled out after rapid price jumps. Median sale prices near $225,000 to $236,000 and moderate days on market suggest a balanced market for well-prepared sellers. The right time to sell depends on your equity, next-home plans, and pricing strategy, not headlines alone.
Read article →real estate
What Is Seller's Agency?
Once you list, seller's agency is the work of pricing, marketing, showings, and negotiation for the seller. How a written agreement creates agency, including customer versus client and dual agency, is on the What Is Agency page.
Read article →real estate
What Is Buyer's Agency?
Buyer's agency, once the agreement is in place, is the search, the showings, the offer, and the inspection negotiations done for the buyer. How Missouri creates that agreement, including dual agency, is on the What Is Agency page.
Read article →Home Buying Tips
FHA Rehab Loans (Fixer-Upper Financing)
An FHA rehab loan (203(k)) lets borrowers finance both the purchase or refinance of a home and the cost of repairs in one mortgage. The standard 203(k) covers major renovations; the limited 203(k) covers smaller projects. Kathryn Cole connects buyers with lenders experienced in 203(k) financing.
Read article →home equity
Tap Into Your Home's Equity Using a HELOC
A HELOC is a revolving line of credit secured by your home equity. Lenders set a credit limit based on appraised value minus your mortgage balance. You draw funds during a draw period, then repay principal and interest during the repayment period, often at a variable rate.
Read article →