Peoria Area Real Estate Blog

If you have recently relocated to Peoria, IL make sure you mark your calendar for the 20th Annual Illinois Blues Festival scheduled for August 29 - 30 2008. This outstanding event will be held at the fabulous Riverfront Park in Peoria, IL. If you’re considering a move to Peoria and need an excuse to checkout our area with a Peoria house hunting trip, by all means schedule it for this upcoming weekend. Yes, I know it’s coming soon, but this is one event you will not want to miss especially if you are a blues fan! If you need help locating a hotel for this event, checkout these Peoria hotels.

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If so, you will want to become familiar with our cultural scene here in Peoria along with all the great things to see and do here in our area. In fact, why not cruise on over to our “Things To Do” page on this blog or maybe catch a glimpse of the local flavor of Peoria by reviewing our “Experience Peoria” page on our Peoria real estate website. To help make it easier for you to find just the information you are searching for, here is a list of helpful Peoria resources available:

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Confessions of a Peoria Real Estate Agent with a Shoe Fetish

To know me is to know I love fashion. Yes - I also love my shoes. I admit it - shoes are my weakness. I love all kinds of shoes from casual strappy sandals to dressy stilettos and everything in between. How do those famous shoe designers like Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik get away with asking so much money for their product? It’s really all about marketing 101. Obviously those high-end shoe designers know their stuff! According to a 2006 global luxury fashion survey, consumers voted “shoes” the most important designer accessory in their wardrobe.  So what do designer shoes and luxury Peoria real estate share in common?

Designer Shoes - Designer Peoria Homes?

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Plan to Attend the Grand 4th of July Events Planned for Peoria, IL

If you have recently relocated to Peoria, you must join everyone for the upcoming Red - White & Boom! 4th of July holiday event. This special celebration will light up the Central Illinois skies. Planned for this Friday evening from 5pm to 11pm, we recommend you come early as this event is expected to draw upwards of 200,000 of your closest friends, family and area neighbors from the greater Peoria area. It’s a great way to kickoff your 4th of July holiday celebration.

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We’ve all read the national headlines, real estate values nationwide are falling, gas prices are escalating, the economy is more nervous than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs and the stock market is taking a beating. Consumers have forgotten what having confidence in the national economy means.

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Tomorrow, Saturday, June 28th and Sunday, June 29th are the last two days to take advantage of this year’s Peoria New Home Extravaganza! This event is sponsored by the members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Peoria. The 2008 edition of the 17th Annual Parade of Homes Tour is billed as the largest collection of new home construction in the Tri-county area. You can take a free-style cruise to your choice of one or all of the homes on parade. Just remember, the event is FREE!

Showcase Parade Homes versus Featured Parade Homes?

There are two types of homes on the parade - Featured Homes and Showcase Homes. If you are wondering what the difference is between a Featured Home and a Showcase Home, here is a brief description of the two categories. “Featured Homes” are homes that are almost completed and provide visitors an opportunity to recognize the stages of home construction. Featured homes also allow you the Peoria home buyer to select grades of flooring, including hardwoods, carpet along with choices of cabinetry.

Showcase Homes on Parade

When you visit a “Showcase Home“, you will immediately notice the construction process on these parade homes is complete. Many builders have “staged” their homes with accessories and furniture. Builders of Showcase Homes have also created outstanding curb appeal with landscaping to really make these Peoria properties POP!

The Knell Group Hosted Homes on Parade

Members of The Knell Group will serve as host at the following Peoria properties:

• 2414 West Augusta Drive in Augusta Estates. Builder- Sam Hoerr Builders. Price $1,085,000
• 1830 Autumn Ridge (Kingswood Custom Builders) in Oak Creek. Price $439,500
• 5510 N Mooring Way located in The Cove at Charter Oak (Showcase #30). Built by Signature Homes. Price $329,900

Remember, all Peoria Homes on Parade will be open from 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday. We look forward to seeing you at this final weekend of this outstanding event!

Download your Peoria Parade of Homes Map here!

Attractive Peoria, IL

In the world of Peoria real estate, a good deal of our time is involved in providing relocation information and assisting The Knell Group clients move to the wonderful area of Peoria. With so many exciting events, great attractions to visit and things to do, it’s difficult to tell new families relocating to Peoria what to experience first. Because we have many large corporations and desirable employers located in Peoria like Caterpillar, LR Nelson Corporation and Allstate Insurance, the area is always attracting new people.

Peoria is a Picture Perfect Place to Call Home

If you happen to be one of the newer residents to our area or maybe you’ve lived in Peoria for a good while you’re sure to enjoy the “Photo Documentary of Peoria, Past to Present” by Lynn Swigart currently being presented at the Peoria Art Guild. Photographs by Ms. Swigart currently on displayed in this show reveal many secrets of Peoria’s history and cover a wide range of subjects. No doubt, you will acquire a better appreciation of the history and character of Peoria by attending this event.

The Peoria Art Guild Information

Dates of the Photo Documentary of Peoria, Past to Present: 05/16/2008 to 06/21/2008
Location: Peoria Art Guild, Gallery 1
Hours of the exhibit: Mon-Thur 10am-6pm; Fri & Sat 10am-5pm
Admission: $2
Phone: 309-637-2787

If you have attended the exhibit, be sure to let us know. If you plan to attend and have additional questions, you are welcome to leave a comment.

Until my next post,

Mary Ann

Join us on June 21st-22nd and June 28th-29th for the Greater Peoria 2008 Parade of Homes!  We have quite a special offering this year featuring 3 beautiful properties constructed by some of Peoria’s most reputable custom home builders.

Peoria Home Office Listings on Parade

Be sure to visit us in Augusta Estates at 2414 West Augusta Drive to preview a detailed custom gem.  Built by Sam Hoerr Builders, this $1,085,000 home is waiting for a special owner.  Make the trip over to Washington and stop in at 1830 Autumn Ridge (Kingswood Custom Builders) (Showcase #40).  Built by Kingswood Custom Builders, this $439,500 home is one of Oak Creek’s finest offerings.  Last, but not least, we have 5510 N Mooring Way in The Cove at Charter Oak (Showcase #30) open to the public.  Built by Signature Homes, this $329,900 home boasts stunning features.

Hours of the Greater Peoria Parade of Homes

All of these Knell Group listings will be open from 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday.  You are welcome to stop in and enjoy these beautiful homes…they will truly thrill you!  Don’t forget to contact The Knell Group at the real estate resource for Peoria at PEORIAHOMEOFFICE.COM.   We look forward to seeing you at the Greater Peoria Parade of Homes soon!

Your Greater Peoria Parade of Homes Map!

Your Feedback!

Which home on the Greater Peoria Parade of Homes was your favorite?

Stop The Car - We Must See This House!

Did you know Peoria home buyers long to say those words? Too often home sellers forget to address the little details of curb appeal that combine to create significant objections to selling their homes. In today’s competitive Peoria real estate market, the goal should be to have your home really stand out in the crowd. We’re taking “creampuff”.

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It was another great year for The Knell Group. 2007 was a year unlike any other. Considered by some one of the most toilsome years in residential real estate, The Knell Group prospered through their commitment to provide a superior level of service to existing and new clients. Because The Knell Group places their clients’ best interests above all else…success follows. It is very clear why The Knell Group is the Peoria Area Premier Real Estate Leader. Respectively, the accolades The Knell Group received for 2007 include:

• #1 Peoria Area Real Estate Team
• #1 Coldwell Banker Team in Illinois
• #3 Coldwell Banker Team in the entire 19 state Northern Region