Business growth affects local, area real estate

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As the Springfield area continues to expand, national retailers and local start-ups are filling new shopping centers. The market is becoming increasingly competitive as businesses seek to attract the local consumer dollars. New centers are being built with architecturally interesting materials and special themes that make the centers more unique.|ret||ret||tab|

In the past, when a business was advertising its location, it usually gave just a street address. Now it gives its proximity to a landmark, the shopping center and even the city. Services once offered only in Springfield are now in bedroom communities like Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Rogersville and Willard. |ret||ret||tab|

The phenomenal growth of these areas gives local consumers even more choices. Commuters can now use the dry cleaner in their own neighborhoods rather than make an out-of-the-way stop at a main location in Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

Building permits are keeping local offices humming with activity. Springfield's number of commercial permits issued was up 6 percent for the year 2000. Of the surrounding communities, Nixa and Ozark had the most commercial permits issued. Nixa had 87 percent more permits issued than Ozark. |ret||ret||tab|

According to the Missouri Census figures, Republic was the fastest growing community in Greene County.|ret||ret||tab|

Commercial expansion feeds growth into other areas such as residential real estate. People are relocated to this area and the local employees have more opportunities. This increases the demand for housing. In Greene County, 58.7 percent of the residents own their own homes and 74.1 percent of residents in Christian County are homeowners. This is a great area in which to own a home. Springfield's cost of living is lower than the national average and many consumers who relocate here are pleased at how much house their dollar can buy. Homeowner's insurance and real estate taxes are often lower in this area, and buyers are able to use more of their housing budget for an actual house. Mortgage payments usually include real estate taxes and insurance and when a buyer has a budget for a house payment and these variables are kept to a minimum, more of the total can be spent for actual housing.|ret||ret||tab|

It's exciting to see the continued growth of southwest Missouri and to be a part of all the wonderful things that are to come. This area has shown steady growth rates and does not endure the peaks and valleys like other markets such as the state of California. Local consumers will be the winners with more choices and more opportunities.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Peggy Davis is a Realtor with Murney Associates Realtors.)|bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

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