Barbara Heise - Search for Homes for Sale in St. Louis's Blog

5 Seller Tips for Selling Your Home

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:35:53 -0800

Home selling tips

Yogi Berra once said "If the world were a perfect place, it wouldn't be". When a homeowner lists their home for sale, the perfect world would be for one showing, resulting in a full price offer and go to closing. Reality is that the phone rings while you are preparing dinner and the agent who is marketing the property might get a message that the showing was declined by the home owner. Here are a few tips that might make the process a little bit easier to bear.

1. Use the agent standard lockbox (Supra in St. Louis) that tracks showings. The only people with access to these boxes are agents/vendors (building inspectors etc) whose information is registered with the St Louis Association of Realtors. Any time the box is opened the agent will get a notification that the property has been shown and by whom.

2. If you have showing restrictions, make sure they are spelled out in the MLS. For example, if you have an elderly parent or small children, ask your agent to put this type of remark in the agent comments: One year old twins live here. Mother would prefer to be notified the day before but if this is not possible, please call the listing agent. The owner will try to work it out because they really want you to see the home.

3. Allow a sizable window for the appointment. A 2 hour window is definitely an inconvenience to a home owner but it can remove a lot of stress off the buyer and possibly result in the sale of your home. For example, when a buyer sees a home they like and it is number 3 out of 5 or 6, most buyers are conscientious about the remaining sellers and don't want to be late yet they need just a little more time in your home.

Here is the scenario for scheduling a buyer tour: First the buyer's choices are mapped to determine the ideal route. Generally speaking buyer's like to fit in 5 to 6 home viewings at a time. The agent calls for an appointment on property A which requires leaving a message. B and C say okay, D also needs verification, E is okay to show at the requested time and F needs verification. Uhoh, A calls back that the home cannot be shown at the time requested, could the agent come an hour later. F wants to change the time to a little earlier. Oops. These types of responses can lose a showing.

This is how I personally set up the tour on my iPad. Then I email the map and the times to the buyer so that they are aware of the schedule.

My personal instruction sheet (below) for the tour has all of the information I am going to need to get inside each house. The example "showing instruction" given here is the bane of an agents tour...

...because I could be standing at the door with either my iPad (or some agents have several pieces of paper) outlining the instructions. Sometimes it is raining or snowing. The buyers are standing there with me while I get the key out of the lockbox. Sometimes they have a child with them who is getting anxious or hungry.

4. Crate or remove pets.
To avoid friendly dog Murray letting out a loud bark and pushing his nose through the open door scaring the living daylights out of everyone.

5. Make sure the front door is painted, the door lock opens easily and there is no sign of deferred maintenance. The buyers are generally scoping the home as I am working with a hard to open door which has not been painted for the last 10 years. The buyer's comment "I hope this isn't an indication of what we are going to find inside."

This is certainly a stressful and frustrating time for the seller who definitely wants to sell their home and yet have a life and also for the agent who is spending a lot of time marketing the home to get the showings. The bottom line is that the potential buyer has to see it to buy it.

Provided courtesy of Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty
Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality
Call or text 314-677-6046 for information on buyer or seller representation
Search the mls at Barbara Heise.com

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Top 7 Home Improvement Projects for Return on Investment

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:14:14 -0800

The 2013 Cost vs Value report proffered by Remodeling Magazine compares the average cost for 35 popular remodeling projects with the value of those projects for resale. St Louis home improvement projects are itemized in their report and here are the top 7 cost vs value projects for STL home improvements for 2013:

1. Steel entry door replacement - 88.2%

2. Vinyl window replacement - 72.3%
3. Minor kitchen remodel - 71.3%
4. Wood deck addition - 70.5%
5. Vinyl siding replacement - 69.6%
6. Garage door replacement - 69.2%
7. Attic bedroom remodel - 66.8%

According to Remodeling Magazine, trends indicate that replacement projects are more popular than remodeling projects. Their comparison also showed that the cost vs value ratio improved nationally for every project in this year's survey and is higher than it was 2 years ago for both remodeling and replacement projects. As a matter of fact, in some cities some of the projects were actually showing a return of over 100%.

The report also determined that homeowners are continuing to scale back their plans by not adding on but repurposing the spaces they have. The findings indicated that they are planning the home remodel in phases to spread the cost over time, being conservative when choosing fixtures and finishes and transferring the savings to be able to afford higher priced items that are more essential or desirable.

Here are a couple of small projects for adding storage to a small kitchen in a minor kitchen makeover. See Houselogic for more ideas for small kitchen projects.

As you consider any home improvement projects, it is very important to try to work with the footprint you already have to stay reasonably priced. Moving plumbing gets expensive. For creative ideas in any remodel project you are doing, I would suggest following Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House and other books that are filled with great ideas for large living.

If you are contemplating some changes in your home, please contact me to arrange for a private consultation or a complete copy of the cost vs value list for St Louis. With all of the houses I see and show to clients, I have a "feel" for the trends and improvements that would add value to your home when it's time to sell.

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality
Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046
www.BarbaraHeise.com

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Is the STL Market Experiencing Low Housing Inventory

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:07:05 -0800

The biggest impact of low inventory in the marketplace is upward pressure on home prices.

The graphs on this page show the last ten years in St Louis City and St Louis County through December 31, 2012. The graphs pictured are: the number of new listings, number of solds and months of inventory. These numbers show that in St. Louis county the number of new listings in November dropped from 1211 to 895 in December. In 2012, the number of sales in November was 1,011 and dropped to 860 in December.

The months of inventory (absorption rate) for St Louis County dropped to 4 in June in the county but averaged 5.58 for the year which is considerably lower than 2011 at 7.08. The term Seller’s Market and Buyer’s Market is based on the months of inventory. The generally accepted barometer in the Real Estate Profession is: 0-4 months is a Seller’s Market; 5-7 months is a Balanced Market; 8+ is a Buyer’s Market. Comparing 2012 to the boom years puts a better perspective on today's market.

This information is obtained from MARIS and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

The St Louis Market overall is suffering from a slight drop in new inventory but not as significantly as the national average which was 4.4 months of inventory compared to our 5.58. A word of caution, these numbers vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. Some areas of our metropolitan area are "hot" and "needy" for some new listings. For a look at trends in your neighborhood go to my Market Insider webpage and enter your zip code. It’s interesting. You can also contact me to give you specific information for your area.

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality
Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

If you have a question about the content of this article please add a comment below or send an email (see tab at top of blog).

To search for properties in St Louis

Statistics from the National Association of Realtors

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Full Service Condominium Communities are a Rare Luxury

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 07:58:15 -0800

A full service condominium community is a rare luxury these days. Hanley Towers, 900 S Hanley Road in Clayton, is one of a few full service condominium communities in the St Louis Metro area. It's such a pleasure to be welcomed by the doorman saying, "I haven't seen you for a while, how have you been." It's a feeling similar to the times you treat yourself to a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich - a real comfort.

Here are just a few of the other treats in this building that are included in the monthly condo fee at 900 S Hanley Road: heating and air conditioning; elevator; exercise room; full daytime maintenance staff; in house property manager; reception at front door takes care of incoming parcels, mail, messages, announces visitors; reception/security person in garage M-F from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; a pet exercise area; gracious community rooms; pool; a picnic area with gas grills; trash removal; security monitoring (exterior perimeter, garage and basement. This and more is included in the monthly condo fee of $1138.

Unit 14 E in 900 S Hanley just came on the market. It is topped only by the penthouse on the 15th floor. The unit has just over 2000 square feet and a view of the arch. It is south facing so that all of the rooms have sunshine streaming in the windows. The wall of windows across the living room dining room invite you to just sit a spell and maybe read a book with the sun warming your face.

Other amenities in this unit are a utility room that is large enough for an extra refrigerator and many storage areas. Each of the 3 bedrooms have their own baths and good storage. The 2 smaller bedrooms have custom made walnut cabinets and one has a wet-bar. It is a split bedroom floor plan. There is a jet-tub in one of the baths. The entry is flanked by custom mirrors and decorative shelving and marble floors.

The master bedroom suite has a walk-in closet and VIEWS of the St. Louis Gateway Arch. It is 18x13. Wow!

Unit 14E is a lovely condominium in Hanley Towers which is a unique full service condo community offering many amenities & personal touches which put you in the lap of luxury. It's hard to leave once you get used to it.

Slideshow

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Some Significant Changes in the Mortgage Loan Process

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 09:10:03 -0800

The home mortgage industry has realized significant changes in the past few years resulting in closing delays and an increased number of homes going "back on the market" due to the buyer not getting loan commitment. When buyers and sellers have a better understanding of the mortgage loan underwriting process many of the delayed closings or lost deals can be more easily avoided.

Robert Fishel, a mortgage broker with Paramount Mortgage summarizes the changes in a recent article:

Documentation –Needless to say, the “No-Doc/Low-Doc loan is a thing of the past. Typically, your lender will ask for paycheck stubs, W-2’s and bank statements. Additional documents may be needed to prove residency, income, financial soundness or even identity. A couple of examples of additional documentation could include sourcing “large” deposits and identifying any and all credit inquires for the last 120 days.
Updated Documentation –If it takes longer than 30 days to close your loan, your lender will likely ask you to provide updated bank statements and paycheck stubs so that all documentation is up to date and current. Just before closing, the lender will update and review your credit to make sure no new accounts were opened or significant changes were made since application; the lender will also contact your employer to make sure your employment situation and compensation have not changed since the verification was complete.
Tax Returns Don’t Lie –In the past lenders typically did not request a copy of your tax return unless you were self employed or had “other” income outside of employment that was necessary to count to qualify for the loan. Lenders now are required to obtain a copy of your tax returns for the past two years (in some cases 3 years) directly from the IRS.
Slow Down –Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for financing. It is now mandatory that seven days must lapse between the time of your loan application and the closing of the loan. This is not necessarily problem for most transactions. Most loans take considerably longer to close, but it could be an issue if you are in a time crunch and waited too long to start the process. In addition, if there are changes to the terms of your home purchase and/or loan, the closing could be delayed by three days; the lender is required to update their disclosures and give the borrower period of time to review these changes prior to closing.

It is not uncommon for a glitch in one of these processes to cause a delay or lose the sale. Yogi Berra's famous quote "It ain't over til it's over" is a fair warning to sellers and buyers after reaching price agreement. However, a better understanding at the beginning of the process by both buyer and seller can possibly thwart some of the disasters and inconveniences that are besetting both buyers and sellers in our current economy.

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

STL Real Estate Market Overview indicates Winter Sales Have Merit

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 05:54:54 -0800

Statistics indicate there are some advantages to buying and selling real estate in the winter months and it can be fun too:

In the winter with the shorter days, you can't ride your bicycle in the evening - so why not look at homes.
In the winter, it's like an adventure when you look at homes in the dark. You bring a flashlight with you and looking at homes takes on a whole new "feel".
In the winter, it feels so homey to walk in and feel that blast of warm air give your body some relief from the cold of the winter. (Yes, we are going to get some cold air this year.)

Looking at the current STL stats may also spur both buyers and sellers into action. Buyers, when you look at the sale price to list price column, it tells you that sellers are more realistic in their pricing which makes it a lot easier to consider making an offer. Sellers, the inventory is low. It may be time to make an appointment for a consultation with a qualified real estate professional to discuss the possibilities of listing your home for sale.

Shown here are the numbers for December 3, 2012 and the numbers for October 27, 2012. The most telling columns are the months of inventory and the sale price to list price ratio. At this time we are in a neutral market according to the statisticians - meaning not a buyers market or a sellers market. The perfect spot to be.

October stats:

I am ready, willing and able to help you in your real estate endeavors. It's ideal timing for a seller consultation to review the selling process and a great time for buyers to write an offer. Let's get together.

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality

Barb Heise

Keller Williams Realty STL

(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Functional design makes a small home live large

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 06:38:43 -0800

Renovating older homes with an awareness of functional design and quality finishes is becoming more and more important to homeowners. A small home is kinder to our planet by using fewer natural resources in construction and requires less energy for heating and cooling. A well designed small home generally requires less maintenance and feels cozier. These features are very popular with the baby boomers and eco boomers.

The owners of this small 90 year old home purposefully chose living in a small home in a well established and convenient neighborhood of larger homes. Their goal in purchasing a home was to direct their money to quality and comfort and be able to afford the extra touches that are becoming more and more important to smaller families.

This home at 7496 Teasdale in the University Hills area of University city spoke to their creative and energy conscious design ideas. They recognized that the first floor could be reconfigured into a very usable space by removing a wall between the kitchen and the dining room. Here is the before:

Now the kitchen and dining room are open and light. They are used every day by the family and no eating in the living area. Also the kitchen door leads to a nice screened porch that is great for additional outdoor living space during most of the year.

Partially due to the size of the home, this couple was able to spend more of their budget on quality items for the finishes: porcelain tile floor, glass tile backsplash, quartz counters, stainless appliances and a custom built bamboo wine cabinet.

The home had a 50 year roof and newer argon filled insulated windows when they purchased it but they added more energy saving features: new energy efficient hvac, tankless hot water heater and layers of blown-in insulation in the attic and walls throughout the house. They also installed an automatic solar powered gate into the back yard, a rain barrel and an irrigated garden.

Living large in small homes is a matter of well designed floor plans and abundant and strategic storage spaces that keep the owner's stuff out of sight.

The owners of 7496 Teasdale in University City MO are being transferred with their job and the home is now on the market for $290,000 - a very affordable price.

Slideshow for 7496 Teasdale

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality
Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046
www.BarbaraHeise.com

If you have a question about the content of this article please add a comment below or send an email to UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com.

If you would like to search for properties in St Louis, click Search for Properties. For best results click on the school district tab and use the drop down to choose your school districts of choice.

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Seller Consultations Are An Important Step Towards A Successful Sale

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:22:12 -0800

Know current real estate market conditions

Knowing current real estate market conditions can help homeowners through what is becoming a conundrum for some sellers. With a purchase date between 2005 and 2007 (even back to 2002 in some cases), some sellers may owe more than the current market will bear, want to avoid a short sale, yet need to sell.

Sheridan and Thomas are aware that they may be in just this scenario. We are meeting regularly to lay out a strategy. In our first consultation we went over the total market overview and then did a tour of their house to list repairs that need to be addressed prior to marketing the property. We then met about 3 months later and did a quick review of the total market overview, talked about the projects that were completed and addressed the projects that still need to be done.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday we had another consultation precipitated by new activity in their subdivision. We wanted to discuss the possibility of putting their home on the market over the holidays and piggyback onto the activity created by the new listings.

Our first step was looking at the homes for sale, under contract and sold in their subdivision. We looked at the price per square foot, the amenities, garages, updates, etc. We scrutinized the pictures. We guestimated our price point.

Then we looked at the total market overview in 2 price points. For example, in the $300,000 to $349,999 there are currently 160 homes on the market in St Louis County vs 142 in the higher price range. So there is less competition in the higher price range but less homes under contract and, a good thing, less days on the market. Looking at the months of inventory (absorption rate), it is actually a sellers market in the $300000-349,999 market with a 3.72 (months it would take to sell all of the homes currently listed).

This in depth analysis sent us back to look more closely at the homes that had sold in the last six months in our specific market place/location. We looked at all of the amenities, item by item, in the homes that most closely resembled our home. We took a picture of the kitchen in our home, looked at it on the ipad to see what it would look like online. Whoa, Sheridan said, "What can we do?" Umm, the kitchen needs a plan with a strict budget.

We then looked at the days on market to set our expectations. Another statistic we reviewed was the ten year history of homes sales, month by month, in St Louis County. This helped us in determining a pattern and expectations.

This may seem tedious and time consuming but it is definitely the most important step to achieving a successful sale. Knowing the current market real estate market conditions helped Thomas and Sheridan make their decision to wait.

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality

Barb Heise

Keller Williams Realty STL

(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

If you have a question about the content of this article please add a comment below or send an email (see tab at top of blog).

If you would like to schedule an appointment to set up a seller consultation, please contact me or register on my website.

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Congratulations, Andrew! You own a home.

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:36:58 -0800

This was Andrew's first home and he was very excited about it. We got very lucky because he absolutely loves this home and with good reason - it fits his personality. The other great aspect of this transaction was that we discovered an up and coming revitalized urban area that is exciting and walkable.

He was very excited when he first called. He was pretty stuck on a house that he found on the internet. That's when he got the house buying bug and decided to get pre-qualified for a loan. When the lender told him that "Yes indeed, you can get a loan for this house and we can keep your payment under $1000/month", was the first time he turned pale.

We put "the house" on his list as the first one to see. When he opened the door was the second time he turned pale.

It was even better than the pictures. It is on a whole city block, has a three season room with separate heating and cooling, original glass blocks, the kitchen and baths are updated, the basement is finished. Oh, Wow!, we were both shocked. I looked at him though and immediately said that some people think one of the cardinal rules of real estate is that you cannot buy the first house you see. Those words almost cost him the house.

We looked at about 15 additional houses before we wrote an offer on 7430 Virginia. We almost lost it because by that time another buyer was interested. That was the third time Andrew turned pale when he thought he might lose the house.

After much negotiating we reached price agreement; then spent some time working with the seller to repair a few flaws of the house and !Walla! Here is Andrew at the closing table. After signing, the lender said "Congratulations, Andrew! You own a home." Andrew looked at the lender and then turned very pale.

Andrew purchased this home for $120,000 in September 2012. It's one of those St Louis "finds." It is somewhat out of the box, has many quality updates and takes up a whole block. At one time it was a doctors building.

This home is located in the eastern portion of Carondelet, just east of Holly Hills and is only 2 blocks from the Ivory Triangle. This Ivory Coast neighborhood includes a quaint coffee shop called Melt, Mama Gustos Pizzas, and the Carondelet Bakery (one of a very small number of stand alone bakeries and voted best gooey butter cake in STL last year) which is the oldest bakery west of the Mississippi. Going just a few blocks further south on Michigan is the old Coca Cola building which is home to Perennial Artisan Ales (their sign says "established 2011") and the Temtor Lofts.

In my opinion, this neighborhood (here is a small virtual tour of some of the attractions) is a miniature NY Greenwich Village without the price tag. Worth checking out for sure. I would love to sell some more homes in this neighborhood. If you think you might enjoy living in this area click here to see some of the homes that are currently for sale near the Ivory Triangle. Then call me and let's start the home buying process.

Congratulations Andrew! Enjoy!

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality
Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

If you have a question about the content of this article please add a comment below or send an email (see tab at top of blog).

If you would like to search for properties in this area, click the tab Search for Properties. For best results click on the school district tab and use the drop down to choose your school districts of choice.

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Our St Louis Community is Great Because of Our Unsung Heroes

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 13:03:27 -0800

St Louis Public Library System Ranks in Top 4 in the Country

To all those who have contributed in any way to the success of our St Louis Public Libraries, we thank you and salute you as some of the many unsung heroes of our community.

Three facts about St Louis Public Libraries:

our St Louis Public Library has been ranked in the top four urban libraries in the US for seven straight years (#2 for 5 out of 6 years)
our city finished number eight in overall literacy in 2011
the doors of Central Library in downtown St Louis will reopen on December 9, 2012, after a two year restoration and modernization project

The study was conducted at Central Connecticut State University, Dr. Jack Miller president. Ranked #2; Most Literate Cities

Pictured here is the old front and soon to be the new back of the Central Library in downtown St Louis.

Central Library was originally funded by Andrew Carnegie in the early 1900s and designed by architect Cass Gilbert. Cannon Design has been responsible for the renovation of the landmark, St Louis' George Nikoloajevich being one of the design principals.

The restoration and modernization of Central Library which began in 2010 is not just about the beautification of the brick and mortar but also about modernizing the content. The children's area will double in size with a technology section designed to encourage hands-on experiences. A teen area will offer meeting areas and feature technology specifically designed to foster young adult learning. The Library's genealogy collection will double. (My co-worker, Janie, has told me that Central Library is renowned for its genealogy and is a great resource for African Americans to trace their roots.)

The St Louis Public Library dates back to 1865 and currently has 17 locations around the city. It is free and open to all.
So here's a shout out to some of the people in our community who contribute to the enormous success of our St Louis Public Libraries:

The St Louis Public Library Foundation was organized in 1989 and is a charitable organization. In 2009 the Board initiated a $70 million restoration and modernization of three of its downtown buildings with Central Library as the centerpiece and they commited to undertake a $20 million capital campaign on behalf of this modernization and restoration.

The Friends of the St. Louis Public Library have an annual fund raiser to support education programs like Homework Helpers, Summer Reading Club and GED workshops.

In 2011, 237 volunteers donated 10,197 hours to St Louis Public Libraries.

Workers on November 19th were scurrying around inside and out getting ready for the opening of Central Library on December 9, 2012.

To make a donation to Central To Your World: the Campaign for the St Louis Public Library, click here or contact Rick Simoncelli at 314-539-0359 (he answers his own phone). To become a Friend of the St. Louis Public Library click here.

www.BarbaraHeise.com

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Urban Living Reminiscent of the Turn of the Century

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 06:23:16 -0800

St Louis has mant vibrant neighborhoods

The Skinker-DeBaliviere Neighborhood is located at the western edge of the St. Louis City limits and just north of St Louis' wonderful Forest Park. The neighborhood was founded in 1908 when spirits were high on St Louis as a result of the 1904 World's Fair which took place in Forest Park and spurred housing development in the area.

The community is very active and has its own Council which offices at 6008 Kingsbury Avenue which is sandwiched in between Gregory Freeman Park and Joe's Cafe. There are events throughout the year for the neighborhood, the most recent being the Halloween Party at St. Roch's Church and the next being the Wintermarkt which takes place at Gregory Freeman Park on December 1, 2012, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

A few of the businesses in the neighborhood include: Atlas Restaurant which is donating 10% of all revenue generated from their Saturday brunches in November to the Skinker-Debaliviere Community Council; Tavern of the Fine Arts which describes itself as a perfect place for neighbors to come together and share a bottle of wine in an atmosphere of art and music; The Kitchen Sink a unique cajun/creole menu which just opened and is being welcomed by the neighbors. These are just a few of the many places to go in this neighborhood.

The walk score for the neighborhood is among the highest in St. Louis.

The housing stock is diverse and includes single family homes (and some mansions), condominiums, apartments and is interspersed with some newer homes and town homes. The featured condominium at 5367 Pershing Avenue, #3, was just listed for sale. It is an example of the gracious style that is prevalent among residences in the Skinker-Debaliviere neighborhood. The condo is 2598 square feet of living space which doesn't include the fabulous screened porch/deck that is off the master bedroom sitting area. It was renovated in 1995. There are a total of 9 units in the building. The condo fee is only $283 per month.

The condo has a large eat-in kitchen, 2 light filled sun rooms (one facing north and one facing south - wow), spacious living and dining rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and garage parking.

These pictures depict the gracious feel and some of the special features of the unit. For more detailed photos, click on the virtual tour attached to the last picture.

The steps are the original marble. The floor of the landings and the stair rail are also original features of the building.

The rooms reflect the gracious lifestyle of the early 1900s. The sun room shown here faces south.

The deck is screened - even the roof!

Please contact Barb for a private showing of this property.

If you have a question about the content of this article please add a comment below or send an email (see tab at top of blog).

If you would like to search for properties in St Louis, click the tab Search for Properties. For best results click on the school district tab and use the drop down to choose your school districts of choice.

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Benton Park Neighborhood Is An Art Gallery of Life

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:00:13 -0800

Three examples of what makes Benton Park a great place to live

Do you get a smile on your face and a tug on your heartstrings when you drive into your neighborhood? To me, this is one of the driving factors in choosing a home. It's part of the curb appeal that gets talked about so much in real estate.

Which brings me to this "pitch" about another one of our city neighborhoods that should not be overlooked - the Benton Park Neighborhood. The Benton Park Neighborhood was an undeveloped pasture land at the western boundary of the St Louis city limits in 1850. But as early as 1875 it was an urbanized district noted for its many breweries and natural caverns. This system of caves had a constant 55 degree temperature which is ideal for beer storage and was an attractive amenity for German immigrants who settled in the neighborhood. Their superb craftsmanship and imagination accounts for the wide variety of residential architecture that is still standing today.

Today we are highlighting 3 spots, and there are many more, that embody the "Gallery of Art" that exists in the Benton Park Neighborhood.

Pictured here is the alley behind the Venice Cafe. The Venice Cafe was started as a coffee house in the 1980s and has become one of the "places to go" in St. Louis. The alley behind it gives you an idea of the wonders inside the building and garden.

Another spot of renown in the Benton Park Neighborhood is Blues City Deli for good food and live music almost every Thursday (usually Blues). An old time store front that houses a great deli menu which draws lines most lunch hours. It's on my bucket list at the corner of Victor and McNair.

The third example of the joys of the Benton Park neighborhood is a sample of the housing stock. This home at 2122 Victor Street has just been renovated and will be on the market for sale soon.

It is certainly not a cookie cutter house on a cookie cutter subdivision street. What first grabs your attention as you stand in front of this home at 2122 Victor Street, is the row of decorative front yard iron fences as you look up and down the street and the bevy of unique architectural styled homes.

One surprise that was uncovered during the renovation of this home: behind the drywall in the bay wasan exposed brick wall and a windowed roof. There are a total of 5 fireplaces in the home. The fireplace in this room is marble. The pine floors on the first floor are an added delight.

Other unique features are the signed mural on the wall going up the staircase. The staircase is original to the home and goes all the way up to the third floor. The wall painting was also unearthed during the renovation.

Please contact me if you would like to schedule a private showing of this home or just talk about buying or selling a home in the Benton Park Neighborhood.

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality
Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Neighborhoods are what St Louis is all about

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 06:07:05 -0800

The Skinker-DeBaliviere Neighborhood

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality
Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

Please contact Barb for a private showing of this property.

If you have a question about the content of this article please add a comment below or send an email (see tab at top of blog).

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

First On My List of 2013 Goals Is Unparallelled Customer Service

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:42:20 -0800

Good Customer Service Comes from the Heart

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I popped into Frank Papa's Ristorante with no reservations. We had not been in for several months and got a warm "welcome back" as we walked in. Frank Papa usually welcomes all of his guests at the door. Frank Papa's was hopping on Friday with a steady stream of visitors (with reservations). There were also two parties going on in the wine room: a wedding and a rehearsal dinner.

Frank gave us his warm smile, then a nod indicating that, yes indeed, he would be able to seat us - just give him a moment. He leaned over and whispered to one of his servers who immediately scurried off. Frank continued ushering his guests to their tables and within less than ten minutes had ushered us to a table for two. (Frank even changed the napkins to black from white because I was wearing black.) A waiter immediately greeted us (Shar's young son) telling us about the specials and taking our drink order. He suggested we start with the crostini - mouth watering on a thin piece of toast with fresh-from-the-oven goat cheese and pine nuts. Ohhhhh, my goodness.

As the waiter walked away from our table, my husband and I exchanged grins. While waiting to be seated he and I had both noticed a couple of servers struggling to bring a table in the back door of the restaurant. We immediately recognized that the table was set up for us. UNSURPASSED SERVICE, is what they say on their website. Truly this is an understatement.

Frank Papa's Ristorante is definitely a destination restaurant. It sits on the west side of Brentwood Boulevard about halfway between Highway 40 and Manchester Road. Frank and Diana Papa are the proprietors.

Frank Papa's mentors were his grandparents and his eyes light up if he has an opportunity to talk about them with you. He worked for them in their restaurant growing up and says they showed him how to cook "from the heart." More importantly, Frank learned about service "from the heart" too.

By the way, the food is as excellent as the service. My mother-in-law's favorite was the cannelloni.

This experience at Frank Papa's Ristorante had multiple benefits for me. It made me "feel" good for many days but more importantly it reminded me to review the attitude that I proffered my customers, vendors, family and friends this year. Did they always feel better after having interacted with me? Did I give them the best I could during our interaction? And, most of all, when we sat at the closing table, did they feel that my service was the best that it could be and from my heart?

One of the best rewards in life is to feel that you are as important to the people in your life as they are to you. So in keeping with the spirit of the month of Thanksgiving, a big thanks to everyone who was a part of my life in 2012 and may we all say the same thing at the end of 2013.

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality

Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

If you have a question about the content of this article please add a comment below or send an email (see tab at top of blog).

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

City Museum Celebrates 15 Years Open

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:37:20 -0800

World Aquarium at City Museum St Louis

It's been a little over a year since the unique and creative Bob Cassilly died. One of Bob Cassilly's creations is the whimsical St. Louis City Museum which is housed in the old 250,000 s.f. International Shoe Building in downtown St. Louis.

In August of this year, I was privileged to go on a field trip, courtesy of my niece, to City Museum. She had tickets for all of us to go on a tour of the World Aquarium at the museum. I am happy to report that the City Museum is still carrying on the tradition of Bob Cassilly. Here are the kids at the entrance to the museum waiting for our tour guide for the morning. In the background is the slide that goes from the 3rd floor - very popular way to start the day.

The City Museum believes in hands-on-learning-through-doing and wants children to become immersed in and captivated by the museum's many offerings.

The World Aquarium at the City Museum has established itself as an expert in the fields of aquatic and marine biology worldwide. Their guided educational tour is designed to impart a knowledge about aquatic ecosystems and important environmental facts.

The children were given a chance to experience animals firsthand with a hope that they would gain understanding and concern for their local and oceanic aquatic ecosystems and become concerned about conservation actions for their preservation.

Take a look at this video for more pictures of our tour. Our guide was a student who aspires to be a veterinarian (if memory serves me). He was informative and great with his audience.

The St. Louis City Museum has many other opportunities for adults and children alike. They have group activities for classrooms, open exploration and they have Circus Harmony which teaches the art of life through circus education. Some of the children from this school are currently performing at Grants Farm for the Halloween Tours.

End result: St Louis City Museum is a very unique experience and a place to put on your bucket list.

Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

World Aquarium Tours

Education

City Museum - Where the Imagination Runs Wild

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

St Louis Rated B Plus in Housing Affordability

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 06:16:54 -0700

Good News for Buyers and Sellers in St Louis

The Center for Neighborhood Technology defines the cost of housing as: For homeowners housing costs include mortgage payments, property taxes, home insurance, utilities, and, where applicable, payments for home equity loans, condominium fees, or mobile home costs. Transportation costs encompass all the trips that households make as part of their daily routine, including commuting, errands, and other travel. For car owners this includes the full costs of auto ownership, such as car payments, insurance, maintenance, and gas. For transit riders it includes the price of transit.

According to a report dated October 2012 issued by the Center for Housing Policy and the Center for Neighborhood Technology, housing and transportation costs rose faster than income during the 2000s. They also concluded that the places with the highest absolute costs are not necessarily the least affordable housing markets.

In this same vein of thought, interest.com created a Home Affordability Study to analyze the possibility for a family making a median household income to afford a median-priced home in 25 cities across the country. St. Louis ranked in the top 5 and was graded with a B+. Interest .com factored in home prices and incomes, average property taxes, insurance premiums and consumer debt and mortgage rates to calculate affordability.

(You can use the same calculators on interest.com to determine how much you can afford to borrow and how much you must make to afford any home.)

There are many affordable homes and neighborhoods in the St Louis Metropolitan area. Here is a link to some homes in the southwest portion of St Louis currently being offered for sale. These pictures are an example:

Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046
www.BarbaraHeise.com

Sources:
interest.com
Center for Neighborhood Technology

If you have a question about the content of this article please add a comment below or send an email (see tab at top of blog). If you would like to search for properties in St Louis, click the tab Search for Properties, click on the school district tab and use the drop down to choose your school districts of choice.

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Maybe it was the heat....

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:05:10 -0700

Real Estate Statistics for St Louis through September 2012

Closed sales reflect the business written in the previous month. The stifling heat in August in St. Louis is still fresh in my mind and looking at homes during that month was a challenge for sure. This may be one of the factors causing the downturn in sales for September 2012. Looking back over the last ten year period, however, there have been several other Septembers that showed a significant drop in the number sales.

The average days on the market is remaining stable even though it is higher than the bubble times. The months of supply (aka months of inventory and absorption rate). This number tells you how many months it would take for all the current homes for sale to sell, given a monthly sales volume. Four to five months of supply is average (this number varies from source to source). If the number is smaller, the buyers are dominating the market; greater the number, there are more sellers than buyers.

Here are a couple of examples of homes that sold in our metropolitan area during the month of September.

This brick bungalow at 9018 Powell in Brentwood was bought by a young professional family with a child. They moved to STL from out of town and chose Brentwood for its central location and School District. The house sold in September 2012 for $160,000. It was on the market for 86 days. They can walk to school and Carl's Drive-In. It was in move-in condition.

This downtown loft district condo at 1010 Saint Charles sold on October 1st (so we cheated a little) for $416,800 and sold with 0 days on the market. The 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo features exposed brick, 12 foot ceilings, 60+ feet of huge windows, gourmet kitchen, walk-in pantry and laundry room.

16 Cedar Crest sold in September. It is located at the end of a cul-de-sac. This one-story traditional home has an open floor plan with 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms; a formal dining room, an eat-in kitchen and a 2-car garage. On the market for 53 days, this home sold for $410,000.

If you are throwing around the idea of buying or selling your home, please call me for a consultation about the market overview as it relates to your unique needs.

Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

If you would like to search for properties in St. Louis, click the tab Search for Properties. For best results click on the school district tab and use the drop down to choose your school districts of choice.

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Mid Century Modern Home Designed by Isadore Shank

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 09:36:36 -0700

7 Graybridge Drive St Louis MO 63124

This home at #7 Graybridge Drive in Ladue was built in 1940 and designed by Mid Century Modernist Isadore Shank. It was the towards the beginning of the career of architect Isadore Shank. The home is currently being offered for sale at $499000. Shank's designs evolved through the years in his search for harmony tetween built and natural environment as well as interior and exterior spaces.

Shank's philosophy, which isn't thrown in your face at all, was a precursor to the philosophies of Christopher Alexander (A Pattern Language) and Sarah Suzanka (Not So Big House): respecting the individuality of the people who will be living in the home; giving the common areas of the home a modest, Modernist spaciousness; making the private spaces small and enveloping.

Isadore Shank designed many modestly scaled homes that hug the earth and are not pretentious from the street. As in the house at 7 Graybridge, his designs were set apart by his style of airy openness of common areas and the cozy intimacy of private quarters. Many of these homes are being threatened today by the McMansionitis attitude of bigger is better.

Shank had a sense of protection with respect to the relationship between the street and the house. He used walls and layers compositions that didn't reveal the entire house at first glance. He also incorporated his sense of privacy into the design of porches and outdoor spaces. Here is a view of the patio on the southwest side of 7 Graybridge showing the ivy covered brick wall which shields the patio sitters from the street. See articles in St. Louis Magazine and Architectural Ruminations.

There was a feeling inside this home that intrigued me. Don't know if it was the light, the room distribution or the window over the kitchen sink, but I really felt good in there. I didn't want to leave the common spaces. I didn't take pictures because there is no way to capture the essence. And you can't dismiss it without standing inside for quite a while. I wonder for whom Isadore built this home and how they used the common space: to entertain? to have poetry readings? to discuss the news of the day.

Isadore Shank graduated from Washington University in 1925 and worked in STL from the 1930s through the 1960s and into the !970's. He was a virtuoso of single-family design. He was a man of progressive ideas and optimism and had a productive and brilliant career. He has about 140 buildings to his credit and both national and international acclaim. His homes bond with the earth and have an airy openness of common areas. His use of layers of brick, wood, stone and glass set his homes apart.

If you would like to consider purchasing this home, please set up an appointment with me for a private showing.

Unique Needs/Unique Solutions - Respecting Individuality
Barb Heise
Keller Williams Realty STL
(314) 677-6046

www.BarbaraHeise.com

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

A Unique Haunted Place in St Louis MO

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:54:08 -0700

Unique places in St Louis Mo

Whilst researching unique places in the St Louis area for Halloween this year, I found the Al Foster Trail in west St. Louis County which may be the place for a real ghost sighting. The Al Foster Trail is considered a wonderful place for a run...

but a portion of the Al Foster Trail is the old Lawler Ford Road, commonly referred to as Zombie Road. Zombie Road is about 2 miles long through a valley of forest oak land hills and ends near the Meramec River.

This road's history includes being used by native American Indians as a foot path and later as a path in the early 1800's that led to a ferry to get across the Meramec. Local legend tells a variety of eerie tales on this stretch of road and of those who have met their peculiar demise and whose souls are still roaming the woods along Zombie Road.

In Troy Taylor's book Out Past the Campfire Light he writes of Lawler Ford Road: "Many of the people whom I have talked with about the strange happenings here speak of unsettling feelings and the sensation of being watched. They also tell of eerie sounds, inexplicable noises, and even disembodied footsteps. Many have spoken of being 'followed' as they walk along the trail, as though someone is keeping pace with them just on the edge of the woods. Strangely, no one is ever seen. In addition, it is not uncommon for visitors to also report seeing shapes and shadows of presences in the woods. On many occasions, these shapes have been mistaken for actual people until the hiker goes to confront them and finds that there is no one there."

In October of 2005, the Paranormal Task Force conducted an investigation of this road. During the investigation, several members of the investigative team observed shadow figures following them and one coming down the side of a small bluff and the appearance of a very pale male apparition. Their camera batteries which were all new prior to the investigation were all spent prior to use. One investigator had an unseen force try to kick her foot out from under her and one experienced a crushing sensation in her chest and a taste of blood in her mouth. For Task Force conclusion, go to Zombie Road - The Investigations.

Here is what Troy Taylor concludes in his book "…I have learned that there is more to this spooky place than first meets the eye and that it goes beyond mere legends linked to the old lovers' lane. For those who doubt that ghosts can be found along Zombie Road, I encourage you to spend just one evening there, along the dark pats and under the looming trees."

I'd ask you to join me in a venture there this Halloween but then I read this article and I think I'll pass.

Tales of History & Hauntings

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Unique Neighborhood in Carondelet Area of St Louis

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:42:10 -0700

Ivory Street in St. Louis MO 63111

Do you sometimes feel so proud of yourself that you almost break your arm patting yourself on the back. Well, that was me this week. I felt like I was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 1800's when I found this unique neighborhood in the Carondelet area of St. Louis MO. Many of you may have already discovered this gem but for the rest of us it may be a place to put on our bucket list of things to do in St. Louis MO.

A little history of the Carondelet Neighborhood: It was founded in 1767 (before Lewis and Clark) by Clement DeLore de Treget. The Carondelet village proper originally laid south from Bellerive Park towards the River des Peres and east from present day Broadway to the edge of the bluffs. Well into the 1840's, French Creole was the preferred language of Carondelet and French customs prevailed. In the late 1840's Jacob Steins, a German immigrant, moved into the area and brought other Germans with him starting the melting pot that describes the area still today.

On the way to my discovery, I found the Carondelet RecPlex and also stumbled across the South City Flea Market at 7500 Michigan Avenue (an event that happens every Saturday). As I hung out in this neighborhood, I noticed many families walking with their young children, I saw an owner sealing his sidewalk (he does this every fall and he lives on a corner lot, whewww!) and I saw several miniature cars (similar to the Shriners' cars) cruising the streets.

And then there is Ivory Street at Steins. It felt a bit like a short street in Greenwich Village on a smaller scale. There are two little grassy areas with park benches, Suzy's Deli, Ivory Coast, Melt and the Ivory Theatre at the intersection.

Melt is a coffee shop/diner with pin ball machines. It has wifi and looks like a very interesting place to hang out. Check them out on their facebook page.

The Ivory Coast Bistro is a small corner bar with live music, outside seating and private rooms. Here's what Urbanspoon says.

The Ivory Theatre has events scheduled throughout the year. The next production is A Raisin in the Sun in October and then a tribute to Neil Young on November 2. This building was formerly St. Boniface Catholic Church (1860-2005). It reopened as a theater in 2007.

What did Judy Garland say in the movie Meet Me In St Louis - "Don't tell me the lights are shining anywhere but there" -- St. Louis MO.

Short Tour of Ivory Neighborhood

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Floor plans evoke a "feel" in our senses

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:10:21 -0700

Time to change some of those subconscious thought patterns

Sometimes one of the first statistics we look at when narrowing the list of homes we want to see is the square footage. This habit is troublesome for us for at least 2 reasons: many times this figure is inaccurate; and even more importantly, the room, window and door placements in a home can make many floor plans work better than others. During the recent (yes, it was just a few years ago) housing bubble, McMansions were replacing manageable sized homes and our subconscious was brainwashed into the bigger is better concept leaving us with a fear of "too smallness".

20 Midpark Lane in Ladue MO has approximately 1900 s.f. of living area and is so ideal for the busy lifestyles of today's on-the-go society. The community space on the main level has the "circle flow" - no dead ends, a floor plan that works. The current owner converted the third bedroom of this home into a dining room and opened it up to the kitchen with a door. The kitchen also opens to the backyard and a brick patio for outdoor living space.

The kitchen was updated in keeping with the contemporary aura of this mid century brick ranch. It has custom metal cabinets and granite countertops. The appliances are stainless steel and the floor is slate. The living room was designed in 1951 as a living room/dining room combination. It is a spacious and light filled room with a wall of windows (thermal) and a fireplace characteristic of the fifties.

To create an even more comfortable lifestyle, the owners finished the lower level. The large media/recreation room works well for exercise equipment, a table and a media space for "settling in" at the end of a long day. There is a bathroom in this lower level and a wet bar, a bedroom/den, along with an area for the washer/dryer and storage. It is also a walkout.

This home has a sophisticated yet casual energy and a lot of versatile space. It is easy to maintain leaving the owners with play time instead of weekends filled with home projects. The space is effective and produces a comfortable atmosphere and floor plan for living and entertaining. This home gives us an opportunity to use our creativity to make smallness a very desirable attribute in a home.

For a private showing of this home, please contact Barbara Heise at Keller Williams Realty STL at 314-677-6046 or send me an email at bsheise@gmail.com.

Virtual Tour

For more ideas about not so big houses, like Sarah Susanka on facebook.

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Make Your Home Your Own Personal Art Gallery

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 06:25:09 -0700

Make your Home your Art Gallery

This is a view of the dining room into the living room at 7925 Glenside Place in University City. There are a set of skylights above the one wall. The fun part of this room though is the amount of space available for some favorite paintings, prints and/or sculptures. The current owner has a very whimsical collection and it really makes for an interesting home. (Why display artwork in your home) It is a pleasure to visit and the floor plan makes it very easy to have stimulating conversations in more than one room. Because of the design of the house it's almost a no brainer show off your style and personality with your art. How to Select Art for Your Home

Another attraction of this home is the easy maintenance aspect. The current owner transformed the backyard into a lovely patio and perennial garden so that she could spend her summers enjoying the natural progression of the season rather than mowing the lawn. There is always a new bloom to watch.

Some backyard lawn art is the ideal way to say who you are and have some fun in the process.

Here is a view of the patio and backyard of this home (early spring photo). The patio is just outside the family room and on the northwest side of the home. It is relatively secluded and totally delightful.

The price of this home located at 7925 Glenside has just been reduced to $134,900. It is located in a very walkable area of University City, MO 63130. It is close to the Green Center, Kaufman Park Tennis Courts, Ruth Park Golf Course and several Asian grocery stores and restaurants.

Have some fun in 2012. Move into a house that has easy maintenance and a lot of opportunity for adding your own style. Contact Barb to schedule an appointment, 314-677-6046.

Search for Homes in St. Louis

Virtual Tour of 7925 Glenside

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

qe3 - not a new luxury ocean liner just more $luxury$ for the banks!

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:48:01 -0700

August statistics for real estate market and more

On September 13, the Federal Reserve announced qe3. No that is not a new luxury ocean liner, it is 'quantitative easing' which is a moniker from our government for the latest stimulus program. A definition of quantitative easing is: a government monetary policy occasionally used to increase the money supply by buying government securities or other securities from the market. Quantiative easing increases the money supply by flooding financial institutions with capital, in an effort to promote increased lending and liquidity. An awesome idea if it would work but unfortunately our government has no leverage with the powerful banking institutions.

Qe3 entails buying $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month. The end date remains up in the air. Critics are arguing that the only luxury associated with this program will be in the hands of the banks as they are recording higher gains because they do not pass these savings on to the consumer. Read more: Investopedia, CnnMoney, The Washington Post, Forbes

On a brighter note the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that the national median price of homes rose on a year-over-year basis for the sixth straight month. The last time there were six back-to-back monthly price increases from a year earlier was from December 2005 to May 2006.

Locally in St. Louis MO we are holding our own. The number of sales in St. Louis County has been up every month this year over last year. The median price has been hovering close to sales in 2011. However, the months of inventory (absorption rate) has gone down showing we are still in a buyer's market but getting closer to the neutral zone where buyers and sellers are on an equal playing field.

Median sale price is where half of the homes sold for more and half for less and is a more accurate indicator than average sale price which is skewed by upper-end transactions. The months of inventory is calculated by dividing the total number of available homes by the average number of sales per month and shows how many months it will take to sell the supply of homes on the market.

Resources: NAR Research

Presented by Barbara Heise, Real Estate Sales Associate at Keller Williams Realty STL, 314-677-6046

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

Here come the Echo boomers!

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:20:42 -0700

Baby Boomers and Echo Boomers are vying for mid century ranches

How many of you remember the baby boomer generation buying up homes on the historic registers and bringing them back to life. Well now the baby boomers and the echo boomers are buying mid century ranches and doing the same thing. Yes, it's hard to believe but some of these mid century ranches are now on historic registers. (Baby boomers how do you feel about that!?!) In St. Louis MO, Ladue Estates Subdivision is a subdivision that is proud to be on this list.

So even if it isn't on your bucket list to be "trendy", you might decide it's fun to live in one of these ranches built between 1950 and 1980. If you are a purist, you may find one that has a lot of the original features; or if you love to modify and enhance, these ranches can awaken your creativity. Thay are comfortable to live in too.

This home at 539 Chalet Court in Creve Coeur, MO 63141, is just one of those homes that could trip your imagination and creativity into high gear. It is located in a cul-de-sac of 12 homes and is in St. Louis County's prime central corridor. Within walking distance of shops and restaurants, it is close to the airport, Frontenac Mall, Monsanto, and a couple of movie theaters. Close to major highway arteries makes it easy to commute to business districts downtown St. Louis, Clayton and Chesterfield. There are many schools in the vicinity; the public elementary school is Spoede Elementary and the school district is Ladue.

Every room on the main floor of 539 Chalet Court has been painted this summer. The hardwood and parquet floors have been refinished and new carpet was installed in the living room/dining room as well as the finished portion of the lower level. It has a new roof and gutters (August 2012). It has a screened porch off the kitchen and family room and a rear entry 2 car garage. It is really a move-right-in kind of home.

Now for the fun stuff:

The living room has vaulted ceilings with indirect lighting and there is a wall of windows facing east.

Sorry if bathrooms are an indelicate subject but the main floor bathrooms of 539 Chalet Court are classics for the 60's and still have many original features that are in good condition.

The family room is also classic sixties architecture with a stone fireplace and sliding patio doors. This one could easily be opened to the kitchen - oooh-la-la on that thought.

This is a view of the outside entrance to the finished lower level - ideal for a home office or extended family. The lower level has a full bathroom and the rec room has a wet bar.

More pictures in this virtual tour of 539 Chalet Ct.

See some ideas for mid century ranches on Houzz.

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com

In remembrance of 911 - St. Louis MO

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 06:32:15 -0700

911 Memorial in St. Louis, MO Metro Area

Eleven years later it is still fresh in our minds how we learned the news in horror of what was taking place in our country We heard the words from Todd Beamer as one the last groups of victims decided to fight to the finish, "Let's roll".

Today in Belleville, Il, they are having a moment of silence at Belleville Engine House 4, and those in attendance will see the 35 foot steel beam from the World Trade Center which will become the focal point of a memorial in Belleville for the September 11 attacks. The World Trade Center beam will be at the end of the memorial walkway held by two other beams, positioned to represent where the towers stood in relation to each other. The length of the walkway in feet will equal the number of firefighters who died in the rescue and recovery efforts in 2001.

3000 flags were placed on Art Hill in St. Louis, MO, last year as the brainchild of Rick Randall of Pace Properties. The flags represented each of the lives lost and each of the 3000 flags contained vital information about a victim. For 11 days in September 2011, the field at Art Hill was a place of retrospection for St. Louisans.

In the words of Viktor Frankl: "We have come to know man as he really is. After all, man is that being who invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord's prayer or the Shema Yisrael on his lips."

911 Memorial on Art Hill in St Louis MO from Barbara Heise on Vimeo.

Link to Belleville IL Memorial

"Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Respecting individuality."

Barbara Heise, Keller Williams Realty, STL.

UniqueSolutions@barbaraheise.com