Area home sales steady in second quarter

Home sales rose half a percentage point in the second quarter from a year earlier and are 2.2 percent higher for the year, according to the Peoria Area Association of Realtors second quarter report issued Thursday.

There were 1,710 sales in the second quarter in the Peoria region, up from 1,702 from the April-June period in 2015. That brought year-to-date sales from 2,678 through the first half of the year, compared with to 2,621 through June 2015, the association said.

Sale prices were down, however, both on a median and average comparison. The median sale price in the second quarter was $121,450, down 4.4 percent from the median price of $127,000 in the second quarter last year. The average price declined 5.6 percent, from $154,556 to $145,878.

But time on the market improved from 92 days to 86 days.

“We have had a steady pulse of activity in terms of home sale activity in the second quarter driven in large part to the incredibly low interest rates we have been experiencing. The end of the second quarter marks the height of the summer real estate market with buyers scrambling to make their purchases and get moved before fall. To date, the 2016 market has not been disappointing for many buyers seriously looking to buy a property,” said Becky Peterson, president of PAAR.  “We are seeing a larger share of first-time buyers purchasing the lower and mid-priced inventory which contributes to a lower median home sale this quarter.”

Listing activity was down 4.2 percent to 2,829 active listings compared with 2,953 listings in the second quarter 2015. But, there was an uptick in new listings during the month of June to 947 from 935 in May 2015. The month’s supply of inventory dropped to 6.2 months, PAAR said.

“The overall inventory crunch is still in play, but we are beginning to see an increase in new listings on the market to help boost inventory levels and we are hopeful that continues into late summer,” Peterson said. “Inventory was getting thin in certain price ranges especially at the lower end of the market where buyers are seizing up available properties.”

There was good news for potential buyers. For one, the U.S. Labor Department reported that job growth bounced back in June when 287,000 jobs were added nationwide, after two consecutive months of losses. This was the largest gain since October 2015.

“Good news for homebuyers is that interest rates remained low beyond all expectations and have dropped even further recently after the Brexit vote. The Brexit economic impact could bring lower interest rates, increased demand for real estate from foreign investors in the U.S. and potential job creation,” said Peterson.

A 30-year fixed mortgage rate average 3.41 percent as of July 7, the lowest in more than years.

Peterson said the low rates is boosting the purchase power of homebuyers.

“First time buyers, millennials and baby boomers are all seeing the opportunity to borrow money at these ultra-low mortgage rates to include real estate as part of their assets,” she said. “With the Peoria area inventory levels dropping those who are hedging on whether now is a good time to sell and purchase a new home should look at this time as an opportunity as there are buyers who are hungry and searching for more properties on the market. We should see a healthy number of sales in most price ranges in the next few months.”

Peoria Area Association of REALTORS®
2^nd Quarter Home Sales, Average and Median Sales Prices

CDC: Traffic fatalities can be reduced with proven strategies

About 90 people die each day from motor vehicle crashes in the United States, resulting in the highest death rate among 19 high-income comparison countries. But that can change for the good, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC’s latest Vital Signs report said that while our nation has made progress in road safety, reducing crash deaths by 31 percent from 2000 to 2013, other high-income countries reduced crash deaths even further — by an average of 56 percent during the same period.

Lower death rates in comparison countries, as well as the high prevalence of risk factors in the U.S., suggest that we can make more progress in saving lives.

Compared with other high-income countries, the United States had the:

• most motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population and per 10,000 registered vehicles;
• second highest percentage of deaths involving alcohol (31 percent); and
• third lowest front seat belt use (87 percent).

If the U.S. had the same motor vehicle crash death rate as Belgium — the country with the second highest death rate after the U.S. — about 12,000 fewer lives would have been lost and an estimated $140 million in direct medical costs would have been averted in 2013. And if the U.S. had the same rate as Sweden — the country with the lowest crash death rate — about 24,000 fewer lives would have been lost and an estimated $281 million in direct medical costs would have been averted in 2013.

"It is important to compare us not to our past but to our potential. Seeing that other high-income countries are doing better, we know we can do better, too," said Debra Houry, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "People of our nation deserve better and safer transport."

For this Vital Signs report, CDC analyzed data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). CDC determined the number and rate of motor vehicle crash deaths in the U.S. and 19 other high-income countries and reported national seat belt use and percentage of deaths that involved alcohol-impaired driving or speeding, by country, when available.

Countries included in the study were Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Each country included in the study was a member of OECD, met the World Bank's definition for high income, had a population of more than 1 million people, and reported the annual number of motor vehicle deaths and vehicle miles traveled. In addition, the difference between the country-reported motor vehicle crash death rate and the WHO-estimated rate could not exceed 1 death per 100,000 population.

"It's unacceptable for 90 people to die on our roads each day, especially when we know what works to prevent crashes, injuries, and deaths," said Erin Sauber-Schatz, Ph.D., M.P.H., transportation safety team lead, CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "About 3,000 lives could be saved each year by increasing seat belt use to 100 percent, and up to 10,000 lives could be saved each year by eliminating alcohol-impaired driving."

The researchers recommend using seat belts in both front and rear seats, properly using car seats and booster seats for children through at least age 8, never drinking and driving, obeying speed limits, and eliminating distracted driving. In addition, states can use proven strategies to support these actions that save lives, prevent injuries, and avert crash-related costs.

CDC's Injury Center works to protect the safety of all Americans, every day. For more information about motor vehicle safety, please visit www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety.  

Vital Signs is a CDC report that typically appears on the first Tuesday of the month as part of the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report provides the latest data and information on key health indicators. These are cancer prevention, obesity, tobacco use, motor vehicle injury prevention, prescription drug overdose, HIV/AIDS, alcohol use, health care-associated infections, cardiovascular health, teen pregnancy, and food safety.

'Seussical' ready to light up Corn Stock stage

Peggy Breaux Hupp knows the musical “Seussical the Musical” as well as anybody around here. She’s directed three times.

But starting Friday at Corn Stock Theatre, she’ll finally get to see her work on the play done the way she’s long wanted – with adults in the lead roles.

“I really do love this show and I have enjoyed directing it in schools with kids,” said Hupp, who has directed it twice at Richwoods High School. “But the main reason I said yes when they asked me to direct it out here under the tent was because I would get to use adults. And the difference, let me tell you, is amazing.”

“Seussical the Musical” is the third show of Corn Stock Theatre’s 63^rd season under the tent in Upper Bradley Park. It opens Friday and continues through July 23; all performances start at 7:30 p.m.

The show features many of the characters from the beloved books by Dr. Seuss. “It weaves together memorable stories like ‘Horton Hears a Who,’ ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas,’ ‘Green Eggs and Ham,’ and, of course, ‘The Cat in the Hat.’”

The musical tells the story of a boy named JoJo as he learns from the various characters how to be accepting of all people and the importance of friendship. That, Hupp said, is what she hopes audiences will leave the tent with, as well.

“I feel the message is that every human being matters, regardless of ethnicity. This is timely with everything that has been going on. The people in this musical learn the importance of treating everyone with respect.

“I hope everyone leaves the show feeling uplifted and having hope.”

The cast is more than 80 strong playing the roles of animals in the Jungle of Nool and citizens of Whoville. Hupp is proud of the fact there are many sets of families in this production. “It enables families to do things together. That’s one of the great things about theatre,” she said.

Among the cast are Josh Hammond, who portrays the Cat in the Hat, Jessie Pilcher Hinrichsen as Gertrude McFuzz, Thomas Deters as Horton the Elephant, Kaden Micklos as JoJo, Mariah Aberle as Mayzie, Jasmyne Providence as Sour Kangaroo, Monte Mathews as Gen. Genghis Khan Schmitz, Logan Henderson as Vlad Vladikoff, and Andrew Gray as The Grinch.

“I have a great cast. I have people in this cast who were in the show the first time I directed it at Richwoods in 2004. They’re adults now and having just as much fun,” Hupp said.

The 11-piece orchestra is directed by Nick Broadcamp, who was the music director for the show. Hupp and Danny Fisher choreographed the dance-heavy production. “It’s high-energy, lots of dancing… There are 24 number in this show,” she said.

Among them are “Oh, The Thinks You Can Think,” “Horton Hears a Who,” “”It’s Possible,” “How Lucky You SAre,” “The Circus McGurkus,” “Havin’ a Hunch” and “All For You.”

The music was written by Stephen Flaherty and the lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. They co-wrote the script.

This Sunday, Corn Stock will have a family carnival from 5:30 p.m. until showtime at 7:30 p.m. There will be a magician, balloon artist and a chance to meet the cast.

Admission to the carnival is free.

Show tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students. To order call 676-2196 or order tickets online at www.cornstocktheatre.com.

Red Cross issues emergency appeal for blood donations

The American Red Cross issued an emergency appeal today asking eligible blood and platelet donors to give as soon as possible.

Right now, Red Cross blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what's needed, as well as a significant draw-down of its overall blood supply.

"We urge people to give now to help hospital patients who depend on blood and platelets being available when they need it," saidChris Hrouda, executive vice president, Red Cross Biomedical Services. "Summer is one of the most challenging seasons to collect enough blood, but patients need blood no matter what time of year it is."

Over theFourth of Julyweekend, the Red Cross had a tough time collecting enough blood donations. A recent survey of Red Cross blood donors showed more than 75 percent indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the week before and afterJuly 4. Nearly 650 fewer blood drives are held the week ofJuly 4than during an average week. That is approximately the equivalent of the Red Cross not collecting any blood donations for an entire day. However, patients do not get a summer holiday from needing blood.

Watch Mae's Story

One of the patients who depends on blood donors for help is 11-year-oldMae Rainey, who needs regular blood transfusions as part of her treatment for a blood disorder.

"It means everything to me to see people willing to give their blood," saidJosh Rainey, Mae's older brother. "There's people out there willing to take time out of their lives to do that – not knowing who it is going to affect, not knowing that it's going to be my little sister sitting in that chair every 21 days receiving that blood."

Mae's story illustrates how volunteer blood donors are needed each and every day to help save lives. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion.

Schedule an Appointment to Give Now  

Eligible blood donors are urged to schedule a donation today by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting redcrossblood.orgor calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in most states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

The Red Cross has added more than 350 hours to donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks. Donors are encouraged to make a donation appointment to reduce possible wait-times at blood donation sites.

Blood and platelet donors can also save time when they donate by completing a RapidPass, which enables donors to complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To complete a RapidPass, follow the instructions at www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.