Thank you for your interest in purchasing a home in the St Charles St Louis
metropolitan area. Please contact Dwight Puntigan at River City Real Estate in
order to receive your FREE personal Listingbook account!
Buying a home is one of your most important financial decisions! You want to
make the right choice - an informed decision. Why not use the best service
available - the service that gives you the ability to find the perfect home at
the right price? Listingbook is the most efficient,
effective, and satisfying home buying experience
available.
An Informed Decision
With Listingbook you have it all! 24/7 access to in depth
property details and all photos, area sales report, loan data, price history,
tax data, location maps, school info, and virtual tours. You have the freedom to
search for homes like a real estate agent; yet your agent's expertise and
knowledge is a click away. Your agent customizes your search and creates your
personal Web site. Want to change criteria? It's easy and only takes a few
moments!
Up close and personal
Finally, you know what's happening. Store your favorite homes in a special
list you share with your agent. If there is any relevant change, you are
immediately notified. No more sifting through 100's of listings - you are
now up to date.
If your curiosity is ever piqued, Listingbook's Quick Search
is the answer. Find how many homes have "workshops" or "open floor plans."
Investigate a favorite sub-division or street. This is your personal
site - it works for you!
Keep in touch
Only two clicks of a mouse and a message to your agent is on its way. No
fumbling for an email address, no frustrating phone tag, no virus concerns;
communication is easy and convenient. Home details are automatically included in
the message - just click and view! What could be easier?
You and your agent are a team. Listingbook allows you to quickly get
your teammate's answers and stay informed.
Get what you want, when you want it
Seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, Listingbook delivers your
information. Whether you are at your home, your office, or on vacation, you can
access your Morning Report, property information, and messages.
Contact:
Dwight Puntigan
River City Real Estate
636-219-6242
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly when it comes to buying a
home. Features that attract one home-buyer may repel another.
However, the one feature of interest to every home-buyer is price. Getting the
most home for your money is paramount. The real problem is figuring out whether
that fixer-upper on one street is a better buy than the home in next-to-new
condition two blocks away. That’s why knowing what to look for before you buy
can save you time, energy and money down the line.
The first step is figuring out what kind of house you need. A good buy is only a
good buy if it meets your current and future living requirements. Before
shopping for a home, decide how much space you and your family require. How many
bedrooms, bathrooms? Is a family room necessary? Do you need a layout that will
accommodate a lot of entertaining? Do you prefer a spacious or compact work
space in the kitchen? If you have small children, can the house easily be
childproofed?
Evaluate the front and back yards. Is there enough space to accommodate your
children? Do you want a park-like or garden setting? Do you enjoy yard work and
gardening, or do you want a low-maintenance yard? Take into consideration the
cost of extensive landscaping and upkeep. Bigger Home
Next, determine how much work is required to make the house you are considering
livable. Make an honest assessment of your fix-it abilities. How much work are
you willing to do or pay someone else to do? Do you have basic decorating,
carpentry and plumbing skills? If you plan to learn as you go, make sure you
have accurately determined what you are getting into. Ask an experienced friend,
family member or your real estate agent for their opinion, and be sure to
consider how much remodeling inconvenience the rest of the family can handle.
Unless you are ready and able to tackle a major remodel, look for a house or
condominium that needs only cosmetic improvements. These include painting,
wallpapering and replacing items like flooring, window treatments, bathroom and
kitchen fixtures, light fixtures, cabinet and interior door hardware and
appliances. Remember that even these simple changes can be costly if you have to
make many of them.
Financing
Beware of improvements that seem easy enough at first glance buy may turn into
major headaches and require a lot of money once you’ve moved in. Remodeled
kitchens and bathrooms, changes to the floor plan, room additions and redesigned
landscaping are examples of seemingly minor changes that can easily eat away the
money you thought you saved by selecting a so-called “bargain priced” home. Of
course, you may be perfectly willing to spend whatever money is needed to
customize the house to match your tastes and needs. Graphs and Charts
Make sure major systems in the house are in good working condition. The furnace,
air-conditioning and plumbing should be up to date, since repairs can be costly.
Your agent can arrange to have a professional inspector determine whether the
electrical wiring and any room additions are to code. Local utilities often
offer free or low-cost inspections to tell you if the house is energy-efficient.
Home
Inspections
Look for a house with universally popular selling points. If you’re impressed,
the next buyer down the line is bound to be, too. For example, a roomy, modern
east-to-clean kitchen is the best selling point a home can have. A house with
only one bathroom is less desirable than a house with two or more. Many buyers
expect at least three bedrooms, with a master bedroom that offers a feeling of
privacy. Lots of storage space and closets, especially walk-in closets, will be
a real selling point. Family rooms or “great rooms” also are desirable. On
closer examination, a house that looks like a bargain may lack some of these key
features.
MLS Search
Don’t forget the old adage: location, location, location. Unless you’re looking
for a fixer-upper, the house should be in a condition that is comparable to
other homes in the neighborhood. Avoid buying the biggest or fanciest home on
the block. Consider the amount of traffic or noise. Homes located in a quiet
area away from a busy street will command a higher price. Make sure the schools
in your district have a reputation for quality education and safety. Nearby
supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and theaters also will make a location
more desirable. Down Payment
Programs
Good community facilities also add appeal; pools, athletic fields, community
centers, libraries and hospitals all add to a neighborhood’s value and
desirability. Transportation needs also should be considered. Is local public
transit available? How long are typical commutes to places of current and
potential employment? Are there several alternate route? How close is a major
airport? All of these can affect a home’s pricing.
Home Buyer's Guide
Consider the cost of living in a home. It’s important to consider not only
purchase price but the monthly cost of living in a home. Estimate your utility
and maintenance costs. For example, will the house need to be painted on a
regular basis and will you need to spend money maintaining a swimming pool? Ask
your agent about the property tax rate and whether increases are anticipated.
Will you have to pay special assessments for a homeowner’s association? Consider
the point in the life cycle of major household systems, such as the furnace, air
conditioning, roof and kitchen appliances.
You can find a bargain! Your first step should be to seek out a knowledgeable
real estate agent with experience in the market areas where you wish to purchase
a home. Your agent can help you locate those properties that truly are
“bargains” and help find the home that most closely matches your desires and
needs.
St Charles county is offering an incentive program to gain new St Charles County home owners. The county provides $500 which is matched by the lender, builder, or seller to provide a one thousand dollar assist with your closing costs. Joe Calcaterra at 314-368-9515 is cooperating with this matching fund program. See http://www.homestcharles.org./ While there also look at the tab for down payment programs available from the cities of St Charles, St Peters, and O'Fallon.
Remember, your least expensive money to purchase housing should be conventional financing. However, this will also require your credit to be at its best, and adequate down payment. FHA mortgages help fill this gap. Read this comparison http://www.fhainfo.com/fhavsconventional.htm
Bankruptcy, foreclosure, unemployment are normally what keeps you out of the housing market. There are tools that often can be used to avoid this if used soon enough. I can't keep you from losing your job, but possibly foreclosure and bankruptcy. Thank you,
I am Designated by my office to work for my client as a buyer's agent if they are shopping for property. One of the very first things I do is is hand my client the Missouri Brokers Disclosure and explain the methods of agent representation. Read http://www.stcharleshousing.com/buyers.htm
Ask if you would like a report on the recent activity of what is for sale, what has sold, at what price, how long it took, and the difference between sold price and list price for any given subdivision.
If you are a renter and would like to recieve a free report call or email me and I will forward it to you.
Please contact:
Dwight Puntigan River City Real Estate 1014 Country Club Road SSt. Charles, Mo. 63303 636-219-6242
I look forward to assisting you to meet your goals and needs.
Retiree from Colorado needs 10 acres or more fenced, with barn, utilities,
small house for 55k to 110k with seller financing or rent to own or lease
purchase. Location almost anywhere the land lays decently and perhaps has
pond or such with year around water.
If you are retiring to the city and need income or if you are an out of
state owner that needs an exit capability call me at 636-219-6242 or email
dpuntiga@charter.net
Fall colors are at the brightest this time of year. The setback for your house is in the general area of the tree line. There is more than 380 feet of road frontage. The roads are laid out so that there is no through traffic. Ask to have me send you the plat map of the subdivision which shows all the lots, and location of the lake across the street. Plan your dream home, put in your septic, drill the well, thin the brush and trees to enjoy a park like setting for your new home.
Recently there were 76 active listings for homes in Town and Country, at an average price of $1354,820 with an average size of 4,536 square feet. This is an average cost of $262 per square foot. Sellers the average property here has been on the market for 168 days.
If you are considering relocation to or from the Town and Country area call 636-219-6242 or reply to my email address.
I provide free information: Home Buyers Guide, Hiring the Right Agent, How does the Agent Represent You - Agency, Is now a good time to buy, Should I think New Home - Resale - single family - condo - villa, What type of loan is best for this situation - who specializes in those, there are several ways to get down payment assistance. http://www.StCharlesHousing.com
Recently there were 93 active listings for homes in Creve Coeur, at an average price of $879,422 with an average size of 3,424 square feet. This is an average cost of $226 per square foot. Sellers the average property here has been on the market for 125 days. There have been 112 houses sold during the past 12 months. Thus , the existing supply of housing is about 83% of a years supply. However, the average days on market for houses sold is only 127 days. That is not bad at all in todays market.
If you are considering relocation to or from the Creve Coeur area call 636-219-6242 or reply to my email address.
I provide free information: Home Buyers Guide, Hiring the Right Agent, How does the Agent Represent You - Agency, Is now a good time to buy, Should I think New Home - Resale - single family - condo - villa, What type of loan is best for this situation - who specializes in those, there are several ways to get down payment assistance. http://www.StCharlesHousing.com
I provide free information: Home Buyers Guide, Hiring the Right Agent, How does the Agent Represent You - Agency, Is now a good time to buy, Should I think New Home - Resale - single family - condo - villa, What type of loan is best for this situation - who specializes in those, there are several ways to get down payment assistance. http://www.StCharlesHousing.com
For first time home buyers, growing families, relocations, investing, recreational living, downsizing, and to assisted living with attention to the creation, growth, and maintainence of family wealth.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.