This is a picture of our client --and now friend -- Laura in front of her new home.
Her smile really says it all, doesn't it? She closed this week on the first place that will truly be a home of her own.
Both my teammate Kristina and I are thankful for clients like Laura who remind us why we began careers in real estate in the first place: to help people find their piece of the American dream of home ownership.
Women going through a life transition are a special group of clients. Whether it is divorce, the death of a spouse, a sudden empty nest or relocation to a new community, they often are setting out on their own for the first time and finding that life can be both exciting and a little scary.
So it's especially heartwarming at this time of year to know how to help someone navigate the process of loan pre-approval, home search, contract negotiations, inspections and closing with no bumps or glitches.
As Laura said, "You guys made it painless!"
Laura's goal was to close on a home by November 30, 2009 to take advantage of the federal tax credit for first-time buyers. Now that the deadline has been extended to contracts accepted by April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30, 2010, we hope more buyers will take the same leap that Laura has taken. She's now building equity in a home instead of paying her landlord's mortgage. (And, as a bonus, buyers often find that their house payment -- with principle, interest, taxes and insurance included -- is equal to or less than their former monthly rent payment.)
I know we'll be thinking of Laura and her new home when we give thanks at this year's celebration with family and friends. Pass the turkey and raise a glass to all the Lauras you've helped this year.
About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a REALTOR with the GoshenRealtyGroup at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Kristina Pratt help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs with special emphasis on homes for sale in Madison County and the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville, Troy, Bethalto and surrounding areas.
Goshen Realty Group takes its name from the earliest nickname for Madison County, Illinois -- the Land of Goshen -- coined when the region's first settlers compared their new home east of the Mississippi River to the biblical land of peace and plenty.
For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
Please note that individual listings periodically mentioned in this blog are accurately described in terms of availability and price at the time of the posting. Because properties are constantly coming on and off the market, please contact Nancy for the latestinformation on those that are of particular interest to you.
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
The poet T.S Eliot, who was born in St. Louis, called the Mississippi River, "a strong, brown god." The river, he said, had a more profound influence on his life and his work than anything else in his past.
Here in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs we don't always embrace the "strong brown god," which is the overwhelming geographic feature of our region, as closely as we should.
Sure we drive across the bridges to and from the neighboring state of Missouri, but aside from remarking that the river looks high or low, we don't pay much attention to the amazing big river that has inspired poets like Eliot, writers like Mark Twain, musicians like W.C. Handy and artists like John James Audubon down through the centuries.
Let's change that, shall we? Next beautiful day this fall, take a drive out to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and the Low Water Dam.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has created a terrific parking area at the Low Water Dam on the Illinois banks. To get there, just take I-270 west to the Route 3 exit. Head south on Route 3 and turn west on Old Chain of Rocks Road. You'll cross over a canal onto Chouteau Island and from there will enter the Low Water Dam site. (My husband's family once owned farms on the river island before it was federalized for construction of the canal, so the spot is very special to us.)
You'll see people enjoying themselves fishing or --as I did -- just watching the swirls and ebbs of the swift currents passing by. This portion of the Mississippi is closed to navigation. Barges and boats bypass the area in the Chain of Rocks Canal.
We saw large fish jumping around the shore and a red fox dashing off through the woods. The Mississippi hosts resident and migrating birds all through the year and the bird watching is great here and at the conservation areas near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers just a bit north.
Looming over the Low Water Dam is the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. This structure was the original Old Route 66 span across the Mississippi River. It opened in 1929 as a toll bridge and became part of Route 66 in 1936 to carry cars traveling the Mother Road from its origin in Chicago to the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California.
Today the National Historic Landmark bridge is open as one of the largest pedestrian and biking bridges in the world. It is owned by the city of Madison and operated by Trailnet, the non-profit organization that promotes active living, maintains and develops trails and anchors projects along the confluence of America's great rivers. You can learn more on Trailnet's site at www.trailnet.org.
Annual events on the bridge include the St. Louis Route 66 Festival on the first Saturday in October, Eagle days in January and a wide variety of bike rides that make use of the bridge. Individuals are welcome to use the bridge for recreation.
Park at the entrance to the bridge on the Illinois side for easiest access. Parking is open on the Missouri side for special events.
You can spot two of St. Louis' most interesting architectural features from the brige deck or from the parking lot at the Low Water Dam -- castles in the middle of the Mississippi.
Built to look like Roman fortress and a Roman villa, the "castles" are actually water intake towers for the City of St. Louis' municipal water system which is located on the Missouri side of the river.
The green-roofed tower was built in 1894 and the other followed in 1915. Originally crews lived in the quarters inside the towers and reached them via a dyke from the shore.Today the unstaffed towers provide water to the waterworks via a pipe system.
(A couple of years ago, St. Louis was voted as having the best tasting municipal water in the nation, so the river castles must be doing something right!)
Enjoy our natural heritage along the Mississippi River. And come back to the blog to let me know what you find along the shores and trails.
About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a REALTOR with the GoshenRealtyGroup at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Kristina Pratt help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs with special emphasis on homes for sale in Madison County and the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville, Troy, Bethalto and surrounding areas.
Goshen Realty Group takes its name from the earliest nickname for Madison County, Illinois -- the Land of Goshen -- coined when the region's first settlers compared their new home east of the Mississippi River to the biblical land of peace and plenty.
For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
Please note that individual listings periodically mentioned in this blog are accurately described in terms of availability and price at the time of the posting. Because properties are constantly coming on and off the market, please contact Nancy for the latestinformation on those that are of particular interest to you.
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
Founded in 1890 by industrialist N.O. Nelson, the Leclaire area was named for the Frenchman who developed profit sharing and inspired Nelson to create a place where his workers could experience the best possible living and working conditions.
The model town he built provided easy-to-afford housing, a park for recreation and schools for the workers at Nelson's plant which manufactured plumbing materials. Nelson's vision also encompassed his factory's architecture which was designed to provide natural light and fresh air for the workers -- amenities unheard of at a time when sweatshops were more the norm.
The streets in Leclaire were named for the presidents, writers, social reformers and other famous people who had inspired Nelson's new village. The streets maintain their names and their historic homes today.
Leclaire was incorporated into the city of Edwardsville in the 1930s and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
If you would like to know about Edwardsville's Leclaire homes as they come on the market, just sign up for a property manager account on our web site at www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com.
About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a REALTOR with the GoshenRealtyGroup at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Kristina Pratt help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs with special emphasis on homes for sale in Madison County and the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville, Troy, Bethalto and surrounding areas.
Goshen Realty Group takes its name from the earliest nickname for Madison County, Illinois -- the Land of Goshen -- coined when the region's first settlers compared their new home east of the Mississippi River to the biblical land of peace and plenty.
For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
Please note that individual listings periodically mentioned in this blog are accurately described in terms of availability and price at the time of the posting. Because properties are constantly coming on and off the market, please contact Nancy for the latestinformation on those that are of particular interest to you.
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
Wide, tree-lined and dotted with lovely homes, St. Louis Street marches through the heart of Edwardsville, Illinois and into the hearts of most residents of the Land of Goshen.
Buyers often ask us to keep an eye out for properties as they become available on or near this lovely neighborhood.
Originally a farm road, the street was renamed Fairgrounds Road when a long-forgotten agricultural fair site was built on the outskirts of town. Later the thoroughfare became known as St. Louis Street.
Edwardsville began seeing the construction of stately homes along the route as early as the 1850s.
Today, the homes along the street reflect popular architectural styles from the Victorian period through more modern times. You'll see Federal, Queen Anne, Dutch Colonial, Greek Revival and Italianate sharing the neighborhood with a Prairie-style home built just after the turn of the 20th century and more contemporary offerings from Tudor Revival to classic suburban ranches.
Just off St. Louis street, buyers will find a wide range of affordable homes on both the north and south sides of the historic street. Those areas are reflected on the above link as well.
About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a REALTOR with the GoshenRealtyGroup at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Kristina Pratt help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs with special emphasis on homes for sale in Madison County and the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville, Troy, Bethalto and surrounding areas.
Goshen Realty Group takes its name from the earliest nickname for Madison County, Illinois -- the Land of Goshen -- coined when the region's first settlers compared their new home east of the Mississippi River to the biblical land of peace and plenty.
For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
Please note that individual listings periodically mentioned in this blog are accurately described in terms of availability and price at the time of the posting. Because properties are constantly coming on and off the market, please contact Nancy for the latestinformation on those that are of particular interest to you.
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
First-time buyers get all of the attention, don't they? They get tax credits, have special programs designed especially for them and they have agents market directly to them. That doesn't seem fair, does it?
Well, first-time sellers rejoice! You are no longer being ignored. I get it. First-time buyers eventually turn into first-time sellers. What happens when you're ready to move-up or you outgrow your current digs?
An agent was there to help you through the buying process, but what now? Do you stick a For Sale By Owner sign in the yard? Do you call the agent that helped you buy the house? Maybe you'll check out Zillow to get an idea about what your house is worth. Should you talk to more than one agent? How on Earth do you manage the details in getting your house sold while at the same time finding a new one?
It's confusing, overwhelming and frustrating, isn't it? That's why hiring an agent is your first step. But not just any agent... an agent that understands the specific needs of first-time sellers.
Agents that have experience with your particular situation are an invaluable ally to have on your side. When helping first-time sellers, I realize that you have lots of questions and need me to devote more of my time to you. I won't just list your house, stick a sign in the yard and never speak to you again. I'll return your e-mails, texts and calls. I love connecting with you on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. And when your house goes under contract, I'll be there with you step by step through financing, inspections, appraisals and closing.
By the way, I didn't mention that you might be eligible for the expanded home buyers tax credit. You could qualify for a $6,500 tax credit to purchase your next home. Cool, huh? Want details? Text, e-mail or call me anytime.
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
Ken Cook, a lender in Georgia explains the FHA 203K loan in a way that makes sense. Thanks so much for allowing me to share this information on my blog, Ken!
So you or your client have found a home in a great area in the client's price range. Only one problem: it's in bad shape. The HVAC system is 50 years old, the roof is 40 years old and the windows may as well not even be closed. Plus the kitchen has vinyl floors in 3 different patterns and the counters are all laminate with burns and holes and scars.
Not to fear! Meet the FHA 203K Streamlined renovation loan.
Eligible Improvements Virtually any kind of improvement is eligible provided it becomes a permanent part of the real property and adds value.
Additions to the structure
Kitchen or bath remodels
Finished basement or attic
Patios, decks or terraces
Roofing and landscaping
Safety, energy efficiency and electrical upgrades
Handicapped accessibility improvements
Luxuryitems are not eligible
Swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, gazebos, barbecue pits, saunas or alterations to support commercial use
The maximum loan amount must be within the FHA loan amount maximum for the MSA where the home is located and must include the purchase price and the renovation amount. The maximum renovation amount is $35,000 and the minimum is $5,000. Under $5,000 we can do with an escrow of repair funds. A minimum of 10% contingency reserve is required and must also fit into the FHA loan maximums for the area where the property is located. (Any balance remaining on the contingency will be applied to the principal balance and may not be used for additional repairs.)
Yes, it takes a little longer to close an FHA203k Streamline loan than it does to close a standard FHA loan. If you are an agent and you are concerned about that extra couple of weeks just think of it this way: You may make a sale you would not have otherwise made. You may help a buyer get into a home in the area where they wanted to live instead of where they "had" to live. You can be a real hero for someone.
If you are in Georgia I can help you with the necessary paperwork and give you a short class in how to use the FHA 203K Streamline Rehab loan to purchase, sell or represent homes in today's economy. Never hesitate to call me at any time and I'll be happy to answer your questions.
Ken Cook - Georgia - FHA, USDA, VA and Conventional Home Loans (678) 439-8683
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
Everything was perfect. I had a first time buyer that was pre-approved and motivated to find their dream home. We spent countless hours together. He relied on my expertise and market knowledge, and I happily showed him house after house. We met for consultations.
Then we wrote two offers together. One finally got accepted, but the whole house inspection turned up sour, so we began the process over again. I thought everything was going great. Until the phone call...
John: "Hi, Kristina? This is John Doe. Did I sign anything with you saying I had to buy a house through you?"
Me : <stunned silence> "Umm, well not specifically. Why?"
John: "Well, I knew you had family obligations today so I was driving around on my own. I drove past one of the houses you e-mailed me, and I really really liked it. So, I called the agent on the sign. She came out right away and showed it to me. And you know, what? She told me I could actually get a better deal if I bought directly from her. We went straight to her office and wrote an offer and guess what? It got accepted by the sellers! Isn't that awesome? I just wanted to tell you thanks for all your hard work. I'll send you a Christmas present."
<click>
I felt like the wife that just found out her husband cheated on her. Did the buyer know any better? Probably not. He wasn't trying to keep me from getting a paycheck. He simply didn't know - because I didn't tell him any different. He thought I would be sincerely excited that he got the house he wanted. Did the agent know better? Probably, or he wouldn't have asked me if he had signed anything.
This was back in 2005, when I first got my license. Since then, I've found that I have to be the one to educate my buyers. Although I've still had a few buyers get cold feet, their financing falls apart, or they just flat out change their minds - I rarely have a buyer call the agent on the sign.
So how do you keep your buyer from straying? It's simple - just educate them about the process. If you don't focus on building a relationship with your buyer and explaining to them that they have responsibilties in the process too, who will? The answer is either no one or another agent. Remember, most buyers (especially first time buyers) don't know the inner workings of real estate. These are the five key points I tell all of my buyers.
1. Don't call the agent on the sign. I will do everything in my power to be available during the times that you need appointments, but I'll need some notice. If I can't show you homes at that time, my partner can.
2. I'm your advocate. I'm looking out for your best interests, and I want to get you the best deal. I'm on your side in this process and we are a team.
3. I don't get paid a salary, or per house I show. I only get paid when you buy a house.
4. I'm making a commitment to you to share my time, expertise and market knowledge. I need you to make a commitment to me that I am your agent. (After a few showings or when it's time to write the first offer, this is when I bring out the buyer's agency agreement.)
5. If we work together, we can have a successful outcome.
The key point is this - Never forget that although we do this every day, not everyone does. It may seem simple to us, but to others it's not. Help your buyers understand how the process works - it's not just for your benefit, but for theirs.
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
As if the first round of tax credits for first time buyers wasn't confusing enough, now the credit has been expanded to include some move-up buyers. (Also, great news for our military currently serving overseas - you have a longer time frame to use the tax credit).
If you have questions about how the tax credit works, check out this video from RE/MAX. Then, give me a call or shoot me an e-mail to talk about your next place.
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
32 homes sold in Glen Carbon in September and October of '09. 4 of these homes were new construction with an average sales price of $194,317 and average days on the market of 152. 28 resale homes had an average sales price of $187,729 with 142 days on the market.
Address/List Price/Sell Price
7028 AUGUSTA DR $205,000 $203,000
110 BAYHILL BLVD $165,000 $163,000
212 BAYHILL BLVD $170,000 $165,000
107 BAYRIDGE $179,000 $168,000
134 BIRGER $109,900 $108,500
2809 BRISTOL WAY $294,900 $250,000
78 DEPOT DR $157,000 $152,000
6 DUNSTON TR $224,900 $165,000
7027 GABLE $239,900 $235,000
110 GINGER CREEK PKWY 9 $126,900 $123,000
6 GINGER WOOD ESTATES $600,000 $592,500
731 GLEN CROSSING RD $209,900 $179,500
182 HILLCREST DR $159,900 $155,000
14 JENNIFER DR $189,900 $186,000
6 JULIE DR $184,900 $182,500
195 S MAIN ST $99,900 $101,000
100 MARK TRAIL DR $129,000 $125,500
924 MARK TRAIL DR $179,500 $179,500
17 MATTERHORN DR $199,999 $185,000
157 MUNZERT $144,900 $141,500
35 NORSPUR $133,150 $133,150
110 OAK RIDGE ESTATES $199,500 $195,000
9 OAKDALE LAKE $169,900 $168,000
26 W OAKSHIRE DR $243,000 $232,500
51 RED BUD LN $179,900 $177,000
31 SUNSET DR $54,900 $50,000
47 WATERFORD LN $210,000 $200,000
128 WILLOW BEND DR $249,900 $238,000
45 WOLFE CREEK CT $310,000 $290,000
308 ABERDEEN DR $219,900 $209,000
7 CAROLYN $179,900 $176,000
109 WALDEN $409,900 $389,000
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
As part of our Goshen Realty Group neighborhood updates, here is a list of all Edwardsville homes that sold in September and October of 2009.
85 homes were sold. The average sales price was $210,856 and the average days on the market was 141.
Address/List Price/Sell Price
3003 SUNSET HILLS BLVD $620,000 $592,000
5 FOX HOLLOW $549,900 $525,000
5330 FOX CIRCLE DR $425,900 $400,000
888 MALIBU WAY $475,000 $440,000
2710 HUNTERS RIDGE $279,900 $255,000
124 CHATTANOOGA CT $334,900 $318,500
1806 LINCOLN KNOLLS DR $328,000 $316,000
104 POPLAR CT $314,900 $308,000
3 CHURCHILL CT $244,900 $241,500
7008 STONEY CREEK DR $245,000 $240,000
1398 BRITANY CT $239,900 $229,000
445 EAST LAKE DR $269,900 $275,500
225 BELDEN DR $235,000 $219,500
1404 BRITANY CT $169,900 $181,500
901 CHADERIC CT $259,900 $250,000
7007 MISSIONARY RIDGE CT $257,500 $253,000
2805 FALCON CREST DR $214,900 $205,000
567 EAST LAKE DR $235,000 $180,000
1516 GERBER RD $269,900 $250,000
2714 CABIN CREEK CT $224,000 $217,900
2606 HUNTERS RIDGE $224,900 $210,000
1508 COLES CT $225,000 $205,000
7001 STALLION DR $214,900 $205,000
7007 STONEY CREEK $229,000 $214,000
3461 MANASSAS DR $269,000 $265,500
1312 RANDLE ST $161,900 $159,000
218 CIRCLE $149,900 $146,500
7343 PIN OAK $279,900 $275,000
5017 INDIAN HILLS DR $254,900 $254,900
6820 WHITE OAK CT $175,900 $167,550
883 MALIBU $249,900 $225,000
1161 SAN JUAN $349,900 $338,500
7354 GREEN HEDGE $219,900 $206,500
1923 APPLEGATE $180,000 $169,000
31 TIMBER MEADOW PL $225,000 $210,000
7017 STONEY CREEK DR $209,900 $201,000
843 PRICKETT $199,900 $192,000
501 N BUCHANAN ST $189,900 $182,500
8 NORWOOD CT $209,900 $190,000
74 CHRISTMAS TREE PT $249,900 $230,000
847 SLIPPERY ROCK DR $145,000 $133,000
924 HOLIDAY POINT PKWY $199,900 $190,000
852 NEWPORT BAY DR $254,900 $238,000
6818 STONEY CREEK DR $209,900 $199,000
573 CLOVER DR $164,900 $155,000
139 HOLLYHOCK LN $229,900 $223,500
1284 KEYWEST DR $137,900 $137,500
8 EAGLE CT $229,900 $219,000
1207 LINDENWOOD AVE $149,900 $144,000
837 MADISON $124,900 $123,000
1322 CARRIBEAN DR $139,900 $138,900
106 MAPLE ST $154,900 $142,000
36 SW SHORE DR $234,900 $215,000
719 N BUCHANAN $134,500 $131,500
542 OAK HILL DR $147,900 $145,500
140 E DUNN ST $137,900 $137,500
4843 INDIAN HILLS RD $175,000 $175,000
1540 GRAND AVE $144,500 $140,000
925 TROY RD $109,900 $108,500
612 DEWEY AVE $149,700 $147,500
933 WHIPPOORWILL $190,000 $180,000
320 MONTICELLO PL $182,900 $173,000
1131 NASSAU DR $169,900 $168,500
4620 HORSESHOE LN $96,500 $79,800
512 GUELTIG AVE $130,000 $124,000
7577 JERUSALEM RD $145,000 $127,000
263 COVENTRY PL $164,900 $158,500
445 TAMARACH DR $134,900 $134,900
721 SHERIDAN AVE $124,500 $117,000
823 PRICKETT AVE $67,900 $66,000
739 AMHERST $141,000 $136,000
1415 MADISON $139,000 $134,000
408 N BUCHANAN $127,900 $125,000
5835 OLD POAG RD $119,900 $114,500
529 DEWEY AVE $109,900 $103,900
743 VOGE AVE $24,900 $24,000
634 VOGE $75,000 $60,000
4366 BOHM SCHOOL RD $114,900 $107,500
801 LANCASHIRE $83,900 $75,500
3608 S ARBOR LAKE $655,000 $655,000
3321 GARVEY LN $449,900 $435,000
3344 KARROS CT $479,900 $450,000
7015 ALSTON CT $329,900 $322,400
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
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.
This is a picture of our client --and now friend -- Laura in front of her new home.
About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a REALTOR with the 
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has created a terrific parking area at the Low Water Dam on the Illinois banks. To get there, just take I-270 west to the Route 3 exit. Head south on Route 3 and turn west on Old Chain of Rocks Road. You'll cross over a canal onto Chouteau Island and from there will enter the Low Water Dam site. (My husband's family once owned farms on the river island before it was federalized for construction of the canal, so the spot is very special to us.)
Looming over the Low Water Dam is the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. This structure was the original Old Route 66 span across the Mississippi River. It opened in 1929 as a toll bridge and became part of Route 66 in 1936 to carry cars traveling the Mother Road from its origin in Chicago to the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California.
You can spot two of St. Louis' most interesting architectural features from the brige deck or from the parking lot at the Low Water Dam -- castles in the middle of the Mississippi. 
What started as an innovative company town is now one of the most popular residential neighborhoods in Edwardsville, Illinois.
The model town he built provided easy-to-afford housing, a park for recreation and schools for the workers at Nelson's plant which manufactured plumbing materials. Nelson's vision also encompassed his factory's architecture which was designed to provide natural light and fresh air for the workers -- amenities unheard of at a time when sweatshops were more the norm.
Wide, tree-lined and dotted with lovely homes, St. Louis Street marches through the heart of Edwardsville, Illinois and into the hearts of most residents of the Land of Goshen.
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