When a good deal comes along in the area you’ve set your sights on, it makes sense to check it out. After all, who knows what you could be passing up if you don’t take the time to explore all your options? In this case, we’re talking about a fantastic opportunity for those seeking homes in Springfield, Missouri and the nearby community of Branson. The community, Villas at Branson Hills, is an amazing European-inspired community of gorgeous one-story villas and cottage homes, where the sense of community is as genuine as the quality that surrounds you.

So, what’s the great deal? For a limited time, the Villas at Branson Hills has authorized the Best Offer Bid™ company to open five (yes, only five) of their remaining Phase I patio homes to bidding, with bids starting at just $199,900. When you consider that these Branson homes were originally for sale at $340,000…well, you can’t deny that it’s a pretty good opportunity!

At your Villas home, you'll enjoy beautifully landscaped grounds, luxury floor plans with private garden patios, and amazing styling. Residents enjoy around-the-clock access to the community clubhouse, which features a state-of-the-art fitness center, heated swimming pool, a 54" TV, and even a kitchenette. Want convenience? Centrally located just north of downtown Branson, you're just minutes to the gorgeous Table Rock Lake, eight golf courses, and plenty of shopping and restaurants in the new Branson Landing.

Now, there is one catch: The Best Offer Bid program is only good through January 17. In other words, you must make your offer this weekend! Contact the Villas at Branson sales office now for details, at (417) 739-2800. A representative can be reached by mobile phone at (417) 860-0380.

Lots of factors are driving homebuyers to Springfield, Missouri in the coming year. Recent honors, such as "Best Performing City" for creating and sustaining jobs by The Milken Institute, "Top 20 Mid-Sized Metros for Recruitment and Attraction" by Expansion Management magazine, "The Best Cities for Relocating Families" by Worldwide ERC, and a "Safe Community" by the World Health Organization among them; it seems there are a variety of reasons to consider a new home purchase in this great American city.

If you’re a young professional, small family, or empty nester, you’ll no doubt look at condominiums as an option once you get there. Fortunately, there are some remarkable new condos in Springfield, MO. They’re called The Villas at Hickory Hills, and they offer beautiful floor plans and maintenance free living in an idyllic setting. Rather than multi-story apartment style homes, these single level structures appear to be one large, prestigious home from the exterior. So far, the owners have expressed nothing but pride and contentment about the appearance of this community. Of course, each homeowner has their own entrance, so these condos are very private and still retain the feel of a single family dwelling.

Best of all, the exterior of your home will be kept in picture-perfect condition, so you will have time to play. Homeowners may travel for months at a time without worrying about cleaning gutters or mowing the lawn. This is truly a "lock it and leave it" lifestyle. Located adjacent to Hickory Hills Country Club, where neighbors gather to share a cup of coffee or a glass of wine over cards or conversation, this exclusive setting is a perfect place to socialize and enjoy life. For more information on these luxury condos in Springfield, MO, contact the Hickory Hills sales office at (417) 575-1208.

Located in The Crossroads of Ozarks (Nixa), one of the fastest-growing cities in Christian County, The Villas at Wicklow is a brand new condominium community from Epcon Communities that continues to carry the torch for everything that one of the nation's largest builders stands for- thoughtful planning, careful execution, and tireless attention to the details.  With the unique concept of single-story living, The Villas at Wicklow are all about preserving traditional charm and aesthetics, while still providing residents with the cutting edge of home features and community amenities.  With an outstanding location, a extraordinarily low cost of living, and convenient access to fantastic amenities and attractions, The Villas at Wicklow is a truly sublime place to live, have fun, relax, and ultimately call home at the end of a busy day!

One of the premier aspects of The Villas at Wicklow is the passion of Epcon's single-story living concept- The Great Room! Boasting cathedral ceilings, distinctive fireplaces, divided light windows, and much more, the Great rooms provide a welcoming open space in your new condo, and that spaciousness sets the tone for the entire condo.

The social centerpiece of The Villas at Wicklow, the community Clubhouse is a fantastic place for all kinds of social, recreational, and fitness activity. Residents also get the benefit of enjoying a heated pool, and many other resort-style amenities that one would only expect to find in a community that is twice the price of The Villas at Wicklow.

The Villas at Wicklow maintains an air of quaint coziness that only exists in smaller towns, yet it is geographically close to both Springfield, as well as Branson, providing residents easy access to all of the wonderful shopping, dining, and entertainment of bigger cities without corrupting small-town charm. The third largest city in Missouri, Springfield was only recently voted by America's Promise Alliance as one of the "100 best communities for young people" for the third year in a row; it was also ranked as the "Best Performing City" by the Milken institute, and Springfield was also ranked as one of the "Best Cities For Relocating Families." Springfield is also listed by the World Health Organization as a "safe community."

The Villas at Wicklow Springfield new condos for sale are now available in multiple expertly-designed floorplans, which range in size anywhere from 1,300 to 1,900 square feet. New condos are available with between 2-3 bedrooms, 2-2.5 baths, are sure to provide enough options to fit almost anyone's preferred new condominium size. To learn more about The Villas at Wicklow, and to learn about available pricing options, please call 417-725-2881.

St. Louis offers so many things to see and do that you’ll probably run out of time before you run out of options. Unique attractions, historic sites, charming neighborhoods and exciting entertainment, it's all offered in St. Louis. St. Louisans love their city’s history and many are moving back to the downtown core to live. Urban revitalization is transforming historic warehouses and factories into chic lofts, hotels and must-try restaurants.

St. Louis' signature attraction, the Gateway Arch, opened in 1965 to honor President Thomas Jefferson and his vision of a continental United States. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is made up of the 630-foot tall Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, the historic Old Courthouse, and a National Park Service site hugs the banks of the Mississippi River.

When Jefferson sent explorers Meriwether Lewis & William Clark from St. Louis to chart the new Louisiana Territory in 1804, more than 1,000 people, mostly French, Spanish, and Indians lived in the city that was the center of the fur trade in America. After the triumphant explorers returned from the Pacific with their Corps of Discovery, St. Louis became the last stop for mountain men and trappers heading to the newly opened frontier. St. Louis’ booming fur trade lasted until 1840, but the westward movement of Americans through St. Louis – “the gateway to the west” – was to last for many more years. For decades, entrepreneurs would make fortunes in St. Louis by selling goods to pioneers and adventurers who gathered their supplies and headed west for land, gold and glory.

Nothing has changed much since then when St. Louis was known for selling goods to travelers, now major shopping malls, top name department stores, and unique specialty shops are just three reasons that shoppers love St. Louis shopping. Add in a varied assortment of antiques stores, vintage clothing shops, trendy boutiques and brand name outlet malls make St. Louis a must shopping location.

Once you had shopped till you drop and need some energy, no worries. St. Louis has always been home to a mix of cultures and the proof is in the myriad of ethnic eateries located throughout St. Louis. From Italian and German to Bosnian and Vietnamese cuisine, there’s something to satisfy every craving at the hundreds of one-of-a-kind restaurants located in St. Louis culinary landscape.

After your bellies are full and your energy is restored there are three unforgettable experiences in one convenient downtown location to burn up those calories and put useful use to all that energy. Dance at Banana Joe's, catch the luck of the Irish at McGarvey's, or check out private Club V with even more great food and drinks with patio and sidewalk dining.

St. Louis city is also brimming with homes for sale all around the downtown area. Many well-know builders such as Arbor Homes, Mayer Homes, and McBride & Son Homes are taking advantage of this sought out city. So take a look to see if buying a new home or new condo in St. Louis would be a good investment for you.