SHELL KNOB, EAGLE ROCK, GOLDEN, MISSOURI SALESNovember Residential Real Estate Report November sales numbers reflected the end of the Fall season with 12 homes closed in Shell Knob, Eagle Rock and Golden.  The average list price was $155,893, with the  closed price average coming in at $133,416.  This is another drop from October's $221,621.  The highest individual sale in November was $250,000, leaving the higher end homes unable to attract buyers at this time.There were also seven lots sold.  The highest lot sale was $89,000.  The lots averaged $26,583. 12/03/2007

SHOW ME THE MONEY Missouri is known as the "Show Me" state, so this Shell Knob real estate agent was a little puzzled when I read a short paragraph in the newspaper that the State Treasurer had returned more than $3.5 million in unclaimed funds and property. And after this disbursement, the state still is holding more than $220 million in unclaimed property and funds in more than 1.5 million owner accounts.  Who are these people who forget where their money is?  I can understand not finding your car keys, or even where you parked your car in a large shopping mall, but a large sum of money?According to the treasurer's office, most unclaimed property consists of cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned.  It can also include uncolle... 12/03/2007

IS HIGH SPEED INTERNET AVAILABLE IN SHELL KNOB? A question I frequently get ,as a Shell Knob real estate agent, and the answer is YES.  You will be  being able to receive high speed Internet.  This is an important concern in todays world, and when you live in a rural area, with the closest town 30 miles away, and that town being cut off at times by high hills made of rock?  Well........ reception of Internet, cell phones and even TV can be spotty at best.  And where you live can play a part in what is available to you. That is no longer a problem, thanks to satellites.  We are serviced by Century Telephone here, and they offer some residents service via their phone-line if you live close in to town, but that is not available to everyone.  You must live within 3 miles of one of their tra... 12/02/2007

911 CENTER IN CASSVILLE   Shell Knob residents live in either Barry or Stone County.  Confusing at times?  Yes, but it works out surprisingly well most of the time.    Stone County residents have had 911 service for more than two years, which has confused Barry County Shell Knob residents.  All that will be remedied this week with the new 911 Center for Barry County beginning to transmit from their Cassville County Seat location.  All dispatchers have been trained on the radios and dispatchers from the Barry County Sheriff's office have been hired as part of the team. The Master Street Address Guide is still planning to have all the data to interact this week.  New street signs should be appearing soon to replace the old rural route addresses.  12/02/2007

 ADORATION PARADE One of the many joys of living in Shell Knob, is living on the quiet side of Table Rock Lake, but still being convenient to the fun and activity in Branson.  Branson will be holding it's 59th annual Adoration Parade Sunday, December 2, at dusk, starting with the lighting of the largest area nativity scene on Mount Branson overlooking Lake Taneycomo. Businesses and organizations in the Branson Lakes Area will provide floats.  The charming parade will travel through downtown Branson and the Branson Landing.  The parade is recorded and shown on The Vacation channel.     The Branson community gathers to celebrate the true meaning of the Christmas season.  It is a chance to stop and relect on the beauty of the Christmas story that still inspire people today.   12/02/2007

 WINTERIZE YOUR BOAT IN SHELL KNOB, MISSOURI Unless you are one of those rare fish-a-holics, who claim to fish 365 times a year, which IS possible on Table Rock Lake, it is time to winterize your boat.  I have heard stories that the lake did freeze over once, but that was many moons ago. We enjoy a fairly mild and moderate winter season. Most boat owners winterize before now, but we did have 68 degree temps this morning,December 2, so there are some perpetually hopeful or procrastinators among us. Some take the easy way out and haul their boat into one of several professional service companies in Shell Knob that will do it for you and run a thorough check, plus maintenance needed, before storing it inside for the winter.  Others with boat slips in covered docks, do a quick drain of the ... 12/02/2007

EAGLE DAYS FOR TABLE ROCK AND ROARING RIVER Eagle spotting is a big plus to  living around Shell Knob on Table Rock Lake.  These great birds winter by the water, which provides easy fishing for them.  I am regularly impressed as I see them cruise by my waterfront.Nearby Roaring River State Park invites Bald Eagle watchers to join them in looking for wintering Eagles on Saturday, December 15 and January 19, 2008 at 3 p.m.  The program will begin at the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center.  A video will be shown, followed by a short walk to look for eagles that roost along the stream in the park.  The Bald Eagles have been winter visitors to the park for hundreds of years.  They have found a hillside above the river for a night-time roost. Bring your binoculars for getting up-close views of th... 11/24/2007

HOW CAN I SELL YOUR HOUSE?So tell me, what can I do to sell your Shell Knob house?  Help me.  Just what was it that attracted you to it?  What was the biggest draw?  When did you know that this was THE perfect home for you?  What is THE biggest feature that clicked for you?  Of all the changes and improvements you have made to the house, what will be the one the prospective buyer will like best?  Will it be the orange walls in the living room, or the worn carpeting going up the stairs?    Maybe the main bathroom with the rust stained sinks and torn shower curtain? Perhaps the kitchen with the buckling linoleum floors, and stove that has two burners that work? Ok - I'm messing with you - guilty as charged.  We all know that the home that is clean, updated and gives a great first impressi... 11/23/2007

MID NOVEMBER HOME SALES DRAB FOR SHELL KNOB, MISSOURIShell Knob residential home sales, in the third week of November, show lukewarm numbers.  There have been eight closings for an average price of only $138,050.  The listing price average was $158,675.  The highest escrow closed was $206,000, which confirms October's report of homes priced over $250,000 largely sitting unsold. The average list price for these recent sales was $158,675, including both the Barry and Stone County houses in the Shell Knob area.This is a good market for sellers with waterfront homes valued under $200,000.   For additional information on Table Rock Lake or Shell Knob Homes, Call Joan at: 417-858-2209  11/19/2007

GOOD TIME OR BAD IN OFF- SEASON?This CAN be a good time to sell your home or land in Shell Knob.  Granted, it is considered the 'off season' for lake property, and there is little question that the talking-heads on the evening news love to drone on and on about the real estate crash, foreclosures, etc.  We have been affected in Shell Knob.  There is little question there.  The phones are quieter, but we don't have to pick them up and check for a dial-tone to see if they are actually working yet.The key to selling a home on Table Rock Lake in the winter, is the price.  You need a sharp real estate agent who will help you  price it right.  I am not talking about selling it under value, but we all tend to think our homes are worth more than they might actually be. There was a daytime tv sh... 11/16/2007

SHELL KNOB FISHING REPORT, NOVEMBER 7 There have been reports of some impressive catches around Shell Knob, with one happy fisherman showing off his 8 lb,12 oz largemouth bass that he caught on spinner bait.  Another gentleman got a 19" Kentucky and an impressive small mouth bass.  Bass fishing has picked up in several locations around Table Rock Lake and Shell Knob.  Fish are still migrating and following shad.  Temperatures have dropped into the mid-60's.  Lake level is 910+ and clear. There seems to be a good mix of largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass this year.  Roaring River opens November 10th for catch and release for the winter trout season.    For additional area information, Call Joan - 417-858-2209  11/07/2007

HOME SALES DOWN IN  TRI-LAKES AREAThe Tri-Lakes Multiple Listing Service with 641 Realtor members, covers a large portion of the southwest Ozarks in Missouri.October sales show  189 homes closed in October.  This is down by 40 from the 2006 figures of 229 closings in the same month.The average sales price however,  was up this October at $189,712, compared to $133,242 in the same month last year.October 2007  did not show a great difference with 156  average days on market (5 months), versus 145 in 2006.There also was little difference in the number of new residential listings.  This October 790 homes were listed,  a slight increase of 26 more homes over the 764 new listings in October 2006.The Shell Knob to Eagle Rock area of Tri Lakes had 14 of the 189 closed, with 19 new residential ... 11/07/2007

 There is no red kettle or Santa ringing a bell, but organizers of the venison donation program in Missouri, hope to put more than 333,000 pounds of meat on the tables of less fortunate Missourians.  They want hunters to call local Share the Harvest organizers when they have venison to share with needy Missourians.  In its 16th year, the Share the Harvest Program allows Missouri hunters to donate all or part of deer they bag to local food banks.  Last year the program channeled more than 322,000 pounds (161 tons) of lean red meat into local charities to feed the hungry. STH coordinates the efforts of hunters, local organizations and meat processors to get ground venison to people in need. The success of the program is due in part to efforts of conservation agents who promote the program... 11/05/2007

Shell Knob, Missouri Real Estate Sales For October  Residences in the Shell Knob to Eagle Rock, Missouri area sold and closed in the month of October, would normally be the result of sales in September, the end of the summer season. There were 14 homes closed, and four lots.  The average sales price was $204,750. In this same time period there were 19 new homes that came on the market.  September and October tend to be the time when people  decide to sell and leave their summer lake life.Several lots were also listed, as well as lots for a new subdivision.   For comments or additional information on Shell Knob or Table Rock Lake, Call Joan:  417-858-2209  11/01/2007

ACORN SHORTAGE MAY CAUSE MORE BEAR PROBLEMSThe southwest part of Missouri, which includes the Shell Knob area of Stone and Barry Counties, is likely to see more black bears than usual this fall.  According to the Missouri Conservation Department, this is due to the scarcity of natural bear foods.  The record-breaking cold in early April destroyed most of this year's crop of acorns from white oak trees.  Acorns typically make up about 90 percent of the food that bears consume just before going into winter dormancy. Most bears are in hibernation by December 1.  In the two or three months leading up to that, they may spend 20 hours a day gorging on acorns, which are extremely nutritious, and during that time bears' metabolism changes to help them store extra fat. The loss of half their foo... 11/01/2007

DEER HUNTING OUTLOOK BRIGHT FOR SHELL KNOB  Deer hunters in Shell Knob, Missouri and other parts of the  Ozarks should do well this year.  The outlook is bright due largely to one weather event.There was a severe freeze in late April, which destroyed virtually all the oak tree flowers.  Acorns from trees in the red oak group are bitter because they contain more tannin.  They mature the year after flowers are set.Acorns from trees in the white oak group are less bitter and therefore are the preferred food of white-tailed deer.  They mature the same year flowers are set. There are almost no white oak acorns in Missouri this year thanks to the record breaking cold spell in April.  This means deer are going to have to make do with acorns from red oaks this year.  The scarcity of acorns will... 10/31/2007

A SHELL KNOB REAL ESTATE REPORT FOR SELLERS Four months go by without their Shell Knob agent bringing them an offer, so what's a seller to think?  Sure - there have been a couple of showings, but their agent has never shown it.  So what's a seller to think?  They haven't heard from their agent in weeks, so what's a seller to think? I found a great tool hidden inside my MLS program today.  It showed me not only how many other agents had looked at my listings, but I had their name ,company and the dates they viewed the listing. I was able to give an update to one of my sellers and mention that there were 20 agents who looked at the Shell Knob real estate listing in the first 15 days of this month.  Some of my  other water front lot listings had more than 50 looks in that same period of ti... 10/30/2007

TREES VS NATURELandscaping is an important factor in enhancing  the appeal of Shell Knob homes, but what can you do when nature steps in with Hurricanes, Ice Storms or the recent Wildfires and destroys your prized vegetation?Ozark Mountain territory has been exempt from coastal storms and drought, which can lead to savage fires, but we were host to a severe freeze and also an ice storm earlier this year.  The effects of these events will be long lasting.Shell Knob did not suffer from the ice storm Springfield did, but we were hit with the late freeze.  I noticed a maple tree in my yard looking strange recently.  We had planted several maples 16 years ago.  They don't do really well in this rocky soil, like oak, hickory, walnut or sycamores.  We were happy to see 4 surviving, with a litt... 10/27/2007

FISHING AROUND SHELL KNOBHigh temperatures going into mid-October has held Table Rock's water temperature in the low 70's.  The water remains clear and lake level bounces between 911' and 912'.  Normal is considered at 915'.Author and local fishing expert, Tom Koob, reports not seeing large shad movements, which has reduced the bass catch.TROUT REPORT - ROARING RIVERRoaring River State Park is reporting the best October they've seen in a long time.  The water is in great shape and trout are being caught on a large variety of dry flies. 10/26/2007

  Had to stop the car outside Shell Knob yesterday and let a group of 5 deer cross the road,  so  deer hunting season must be almost upon us.  There was another young buck today that just wasn't certain if he should go left or right off the road.     To assist hunters in capturing  that trophy buck,  the Missouri Department of Conservation is offering Deer Rifle Sight  In Days again from October 29 through November 9.  The range will be open longer during the two weeks before the rifle deer season starts on November 10. The Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center in Green County will be open from 9:00am - 4:30 pm daily. 10/26/2007