Local housing market not for 'faint of heart'

If you know a Realtor, it's like knowing someone who has been on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for the past few years - but the ride won't move up to its higher points.

Home sales in the Tri-Cities area soared in April, when comparing statistics to last April, according to the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors. They rose 88 percent in Batavia, 167 percent in Geneva and 45 percent in St. Charles.

While those who sell homes for a living are optimistic about the latest trend, they also know those numbers were fueled by credits that expired at the end of April for move-ups and first-time buyers.

"Most sales were geared to those first-time buyers prior to April 30," said Jamie Daniel of Miscella Real Estate in Geneva. "There are still a lot of listings, and people have a variety of choices."

Daniel said the market isn't close to what it was a few years ago, especially for what she termed "pricey homes."

"I have a 10-year inventory," Daniel said, explaining that of 111 listings, only 11 sold in a one-year period.

"No one knows for sure when things will get better, but we are hopeful," Daniel said. "I feel very sad for people who transfer or lost jobs and they have to sell now. Those who want to just downsize can wait for now."

Brian Henry of ReMax Excels agreed that sales activity has fallen off since the April rush.

"Buyers have a lot to look at right now, and it can get confusing for them," Henry said. "It's very challenging for sellers now, and not for the faint of heart."

Henry said he attended a seminar late last year in which the speaker summarized the situation well.

"He said that, for sellers, it is a price war and beauty contest at the same time," Henry said.

Fab about the Four: Had a nice chat with Steve Martin of Valley Community Bank on the opening night of Swedish Days, while waiting for the Beatles cover band "Liverpool" to perform on the Third Street stage.

Martin knew what to expect. He said he's seen "Liverpool" perform about 80 times.

But Martin is a regular at the annual three-day Beatles Fest held in Rosemont in August, and "Liverpool" performs at that event each day.

Happy about sign: As he watched the marquee at the Arcada Theatre being taken down for to make way for a new one last week, 74-year-old Jim Shaffer of Aurora was grateful.

He is sure it will be a boost to his volunteer work - caring for the theater's pipe organ - because it enhances the theater.

"I've been working on the pipe organ for the last 30 years, but for the last six or seven years, I've been ushering or doing whatever needs to be done," Shaffer said.

"Having the sign changed is going to be great," Shaffer added. "It will look really nice, and it's kind of like the trademark of St. Charles."

Shaffer said he has enjoyed volunteering at the theater, along with other volunteers - Bob Linn, Stan Battles, Lee Piper and Jane Butler.

"They are all great and help a lot and do a lot of things," Shaffer said.

He helped a lot: He acts like he didn't have much to do with it. Ultimately, he had everything to do with it.

Key players in the marquee renovation at the Arcada Theatre know that St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte was the person who made it happen.

It helps when the mayor is a hometown guy who plunked down his 50 cents to see a movie at the Arcada when he was just a kid.

It is not surprising that his leadership led to city officials and other community groups rallying around a plan to share the funding and make the Arcada's marquee become a bright, new version of a key city landmark.

He's still courting: You don't want to consider me an authority on the TV show "The Bachelorette," mainly because I've never seen an episode. But I've heard from those who watch religiously that there is a Geneva fellow named Frank who is still in the competition. Published reports just call him "Frank" because the ABC producers don't reveal last names. But his parents in Geneva are Henry and Debra Neuschaefer.

It's probably fun to be in a national spotlight, and I suppose if there's a local guy in a prominent TV reality show, we should be pulling for him.

Based on the history of the final couples in shows like this, and not knowing much about the bachelorette these gents are courting, it's hard to say if a victory would be good or bad for Frank.

On the route: Just a reminder that my service club, the Tri-Cities Exchange Club, will pass out small American flags at 1 p.m. today to kids along the Swedish Days parade route in Geneva.

This parade is the highlight of the summer for many people and one of my favorite days of the year - even though it is a pretty good hike from Center Street and Anderson Boulevard all the way to the train station and then back to my car - so let's hope the weather cooperates.

City building inspector Chuck Lencioni is the grand marshal of the parade. This longtime friend and supporter of the city deserves this honor. Think positive thoughts for Chuck, who has been dealing with serious health issues for more than a year.

dheun@sbcglobal.net