Jim and Linda's Blog

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Sun, 10 May 2009 12:13:14 -0500

I saw this video on Yahoo and bookmarked it for Mother's Day. You must watch this video if you are a mom, have a mom, know a mom or have heard of moms. Listen carefully and turn up the volume. I don't know who she is but she certainly gets everything in her song in less than 3 minutes. I enjoyed this so much I wanted to share this with everyone. This one is a winner!

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/ver/223/popup/index.php?cl=4274384

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Easter Bunny visit and Egg Hunt

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:01:46 -0500

Yesterday, we had past clients and neighbors over to visit with the Easter Bunny and hunt for Easter eggs. There were plenty of eggs, activities, fun and treats for all - even the parents. The Bunny entertained everyone and helped the kids find eggs. The Bunny also showed off some unexpected prowess on the basketball court! After the egg hunt, kids created sidewalk art on our driveway and cooled off with juice boxes and snacked on cookies. A lot of fun was had by all. It turned out to be a great way to connect to neighbors and reconnect with past clients. We certainly plan another hunt next year!

It was a beautiful day for an Easter egg hunt. Happy Easter to all!

Photos from Florida

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:00:10 -0500

I know that our blog is about St. Louis and real estate but couldn't resist sharing photos from our recent trip to Ft Myers and Sanibel Island Florida. We have a second home there and my dad lives there. We try to visit as often as we can which turns out to be four or five times per year. What a hardship to have to visit such a beautiful place! You do what you have to do :)

The city of Chesterfield offers so much!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:05:15 -0500

I recently received the newest issue of the Chesterfield Citizen and was reviewing all of the activities that the city of Chesterfield has planned for the summer. Wow!

The activities include National Trails Day, the summer concert series, a 4^th of July fireworks celebration, and free movies on the Plaza. The Family Aquatic Center has tons of activities of it's own including swim team, swim lessons, river walk club, pool parties and a K-9 Splash for the canine friends. There are youth sports organizations for baseball, softball, soccer and football, adult softball leagues and track and field events. Chesterfield Arts offers a full calendar of events including dance and art. There are also parks that are scattered around the city many of which have play equipment for kids. Overall, this city is maturing and growing by leaps and bounds. The quality of the programs is outstanding. Chesterfield residents should be proud of their city and take advantage of all that it has to offer! For more information and details, check out http://www.chesterfield.mo.us/site/includes/main/citizen.jsp

A New Form Of Identity Theft--Agents AND Consumers BEWARE of Craigslist Scam

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:30:06 -0500

We wanted to spread the word that Craig's List provides a new avenue for identity theft. This is definitely worth reading!

Via Debe Maxwell Talk Charlotte with Charlotte's Realtor® (Helen Adams Realty):

A New Form Of Identity Theft--Agents and Consumers BEWARE of Craigslist Scam

PLEASE: RE-BLOG to spread the WORD!

I post all of my listings on Craigslist from my website, among many other sites. I began receiving calls about my 'rental' that was on Craigslist. It was regarding a brand new listing that was posted there and the home was NEVER listed for rent and won't be--it is strictly FOR SALE. Several callers had seen 'my ad' for $800/month rent with a $400. security deposit and wondered if they could see the home! They find my number when they drive by the home for sale, grabbing it off of the sign.

I finally was able to get one of the callers to email me the information that the 'other' Debe Maxwell had sent her and the DebeMaxwell06@gmail.com that was being used for correspondence. When I check for the ad on Craigslist, it has been removed. I received another call yesterday and the ad had been removed once again.

The 'other' Debe Maxwell is reporting that he and his wife have had to leave their home to do mission work and are renting for only $800/month with a $400 security deposit to be sent following a brief lease application that is included in the body of the email. Here is the scammer's contact information:

"The rent is $800 and 400 for Security Deposit.
For this 3BR/2BA. Below is my contact,
0112348082008226 or +2348082008226
DebeMaxwell06@gmail.com"

I do NOT have a DebeMaxwell@gmail.com account (with ANY numbers after my name!)--If you respond to an email like this, it is NOT me! Consumers BEWARE!

I'm assuming that this fraudulent scammer is giving a false address and a real but, temporary banking account in which the tenant-not-to-be will transfer the $1,200 funds when the Craigslist customers call. I don't have the time nor the bandwith to phone this guy and 'catch' him and I'm hoping that the government agency to whom I've reported this DOES! I have warned my Seller and my agents who hold open houses here as well. I want every bit of information that the potential tenants can gather for me to report these frauds!

It's a crazy world out there--identity theft is a bear if you're scammed! BEWARE!

About the author:

Debe Maxwell is a Charlotte Residential Real Estate Broker, Certified Neighborhood & Relocation Specialist, ABR & e-PRO who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Charlotte NC Metro Area. If you're relocating to or from any other area of the country, Debe connects you with any member of her team of relocation professionals in your destination or exit city of choice. The destination service is of no cost to you! The Maxwell House Group's quality service guarantee puts this team far ahead of the competition; providing unsurpassed customer service is their #1 priority! Debe Maxwell -- Helen Adams Realty -- 704.491.3310

Copyright© 2009 By Debe Maxwell, All Rights Reserved...**A New Form of Identity Theft--Agents and Consumers BEWARE of Craigslist SCAM!**

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is strictly an opinion, is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.

Check out the schools, then let's go shopping for Charlotte NC homes for sale!

The end of spring break is torture!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:51:41 -0500

Late last night, we returned from a trip out of town for spring break. Actually, we went to Florida to visit my dad but got caught up in all the spring break madness at the airport, restaurants, the beach... everywhere!! Anyway, our routine flight back to St. Louis was delayed 2 hours due to mechanical difficulty in St. Louis where the plane originated. The only good thing about the delay was being able to get caught up on two contracts that we were working and getting to answer about 40 emails and voicemails. Getting away for a week is wonderful which we all need for our sanity! The problem is that when you get home, especially at this time of the year, tons of work is waiting. The clients willing to wait until you get home to list are ready THIS MORNING. The suitcases aren't even unpacked yet but off to the office we go. Luckily, our office is in our home, but nevertheless, it is time to crank up the computers and get to work. Thank goodness there are clients ready to list this morning!!

Spring is finally here!!!!!!!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:53:47 -0500

Winter has been harsh in Chesterfield this year. We are so happy to see warmer temperatures with the upcoming onset of spring. Everyone loves St. Louis in spring because we have such delineated seasons with spring being one of the most beautiful (every city says that don't they??) Already, the tree leaves are budding and a haze of green in forming in the woods alongside of roads in the area. Yesterday, the temperature was in the 60's - you gotta love that! We took the dogs out and they couldn't walk far enough. Welcome spring! We are ready!!! Gotta love those pansies...

Who do you see Making a Difference in your community?

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:05:13 -0500

I am so touched by some of the stories that NBC's Nightly News is presenting on it's evening newscasts. They are focusing on those of us who are "Making a Difference" in the lives of others during these rough economic times. This link leads to a video that describes what a local car dealer did to make a difference in St. Louis. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29744260#29744260 I would love to hear stories from everyone about people who are making a difference in your community. Please share yours!

Chesterfield, MO foreclosure rates

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:41:49 -0500

In doing some research, I identified data that shows foreclosure rates for each zip code in the Chesterfield, MO area. Chesterfield has 2 different zip codes so the information is separate for each zip code.

For 63005:

The population is 18, 293.

The number of households is 6110

The median income is $172,424

The average home value is $559,626.

Foreclosure rates have been on the increase. In 2005, there was less than 1 foreclosure per 1000 households-only 4 for the whole year. In 2006, there were 9 for the year. In 2007 there were 20 foreclosures. In 2008, through the third quarter, there were 43.

For 63017:

The population is 45,252.

The number of households is 16,572

The median income is $105,916

The average home value is $362,348.

Foreclosure rates have been on the increase. In 2005, there was less than 1 foreclosure per 1000 households-only 6 for the whole year. In 2006, there were 28 for the year. In 2007 there were 35 foreclosures. In 2008, through the third quarter, there were 58.

We are still not out of the woods yet. Many of those who have been able to hold on to their homes have taken a hit financially in other arenas while continuing to try to pay the mortgage. Some of these families will declare bankruptcy from this financial stress. That may lead to more foreclosures. The other factor continuing to haunt the economy is the number of subprime adjustable rate mortgages that are still due to reset in the year 2009. Job losses across many segments of the economy continue to contribute to the problem. Where will it all end???

A personal experience challenging the system!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:48:37 -0500

Today is the first day that the St. Louis County assessor's office is taking calls to set up informal conferences about the property reassessment process. Homeowners interested in challenging the assessed value of their property should call 314-615-4981 to request a conference time. We did that today and talked with a very nice gentleman who identified himself as a licensed appraiser who has enough time in this market to help the county with the reassessment. He took all of our information and then asked why we thought that our home value should be reassessed. I told him that we had just purchased our current home in October of 2008 so we had a purchase contract to use as evidence of the need for a reevaluation of our assessed value. He concurred and said that we would be contacted with an ASAP conference hearing date.

For homeowners interested in pursuing an appeal, the following link provides access to a homeowner's individual property record. Link to St. Louis Co Dept of Revenue. There are also additional helpful links about the property tax appeals process. The following link is a brochure about the process also. Appeals process brochure.

We will keep you posted about our experience in trying to appeal our property's assessed value. Share your story if you are taking on the county as well!

A wordle of our blog! Check it out!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:42:29 -0500

Here is a wordle of our blog!

If you want your own wordle, just go to www.wordle.net You can wordle anything and make a word cloud. This is the tool they used on Obama's speech that was printed in our local paper. They can be personalized any way you want. Very cool!

2009 St. Louis County Property Assessments-This is going to get interesting!!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:15:56 -0500

Yesterday, St. Louis County Missouri posted the new assessed values of residential homes. This is a very sensitive topic for homeowners considering the current home values in our market after the recent market decline. St. Louis County has determined that overall, in the St. Louis market, home values have dropped aproximately 9%. Lawmakers have opined that the drop should have been steeper than that. Especially since property taxes increased an average of 22% in 2007, the last assessment year. Understandably, homeowners expect to see commensurate drops in their property taxes. But that may not be so. Hard to believe, but true. School districts who make up the largest percentage of St. Louis County property taxes may be able to minimize the impact of lower property values through a "roll up" process. This means that state law allows a school district to roll up their taxation rates to keep tax revenue flat. There are limitations to this law however, and some school districts have already maxed out their rates. The only way for these districts to raise their revenue would be to ask voters for a tax increase which would be extremely unpopular during these economic times.

Starting in May, homeowners can appeal the assessed value of their property. To schedule an informal hearing, residents should call 314-615-5000. To prepare for your hearing, refer to the online information located at http://revenue.stlouisco.com/brochures/Real%20Estate%20Appeal%20Process.pdf. This brochure gives general information about the process to appeal the value of residential real estate in St. Louis County.

It's a Price War and Beauty Pageant out there!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:50:06 -0500

St. Louis real estate in both 4^th quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009 had been a bit sluggish. Just in the past few weeks we are seeing encouraging signs. We have been doing a lot of listing, but now our listings are starting to sell. That is what we have been waiting for!! What we don't understand is why sellers have had such a hard time selling their homes. They hire experienced professionals who tell them exactly what to do: Price it right (we even tell them what that probable price is) and great condition. We tell them how buyers are out there cherry picking the best homes and looking for the best values. We call it a "Price War and Beauty Pageant". Really! That is what is going on. If the home isn't the perceived best value, it won't sell. There are so many choices out there. Buyers can afford to be, and should be choosy.

We can speak from personal experience because we put our own home on the market in October of 2008, right as the stock market was in free fall. Everyone said we were crazy for putting our home on the market then. Would it really sell?? they wondered. We figured if we couldn't sell our own home, we were in real trouble. So, on the market it went. Granted, buyer traffic was slow as the stock market tumble had paralyzed most buyers. But after only 4 showings we received a contract offer. Not exactly the price we were looking for (after all, real estate agents are sellers too!) but it allowed us to take advantage of a sluggish real estate market and purchase a home we hadn't dreamed we could have afforded just a few years before. We listened to the advice we tell all of our sellers: It must look good, smell good and be priced right. Homes that are priced right and are in good condition have, and always will, sell. Amen, brother.

A new listing in Chesterfield, Missouri

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:07:40 -0500

We just listed a ranch home in Baxter Ridge Subdivision - Chesterfield, MO. This great room ranch is priced at $350,000. This popular open and bright home has tons of beautiful updates. Owner updated with long term stay in mind. The kitchen offers 42" cabinets, ample counter space, upgraded appliances, and center island. Updated features include all newer lighting, water heater, air conditioner, sprinkler system. The huge great room features a floor to ceiling tiled wood-burning fireplace, large windows and a wet bar. The main floor master features a walk-in closet, Vaulted Ceiling, and a luxury size bath. The finished lower walkout to patio allows for extended living. A huge rear entry 3+ car garage offers a work area, lots of storage in unfinished area. This is the deal you have been waiting for. All Baxter amenities include: Swimming pool, clubhouse and tennis courts. Hurry to see this one! Check it out on our website: www.LindaandJim.com

Social Networking is here to stay!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:12:19 -0500

Today I decided that we needed to jump headfirst into social networking. I did start to dabble with our blog about a year ago but realize now that it is time to ramp up our efforts. So today, I joined Twitter. A few days ago, we joined Linkedin. Follow us on both, if you wish. We will establish more of a presence as we go along. Historically, I haven't been very dedicated to our blog but my new year's resolution ( well, one of a few) is to be more connected this year on a variety of fronts.

I have to admit, being a relative newcomer to social networking, the whole thing is a bit overwhelming. We attended the annual Coldwell Banker Gundaker International Business Conference in San Antonio earlier this week. It seemed like every session we attended addressed the need for an online presence. Blogging, tweets, networking... we are ready to join in!

While I know how to type, do I really know how to blog or tweet?? Time will tell on both!

The shoe is on the other foot!!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:22:06 -0500

I have been a real estate agent for over 8 years. During that time, I have not personally sold my home. Well, with all of the great purchasing opportunities out there, Jim and I have decided to put our home on the market and see what happens. I have to tell you though, I have gained such an incredible seller perspective by really doing what all of our sellers do. I now really understand a seller's frustration with not getting feedback. An agent showed our home about 4 days ago and has had the gall not to 1) answer an email requesting feedback, 2) answer his phone to give the feedback directly or 3) respond to my voicemail asking for feedback. I am starting to wonder if this agent is a ghost?!

I now understand how difficult it is to keep a house show ready. Vacuum marks, beds made, no laundry or cleaning supplies in sight.... I am a perfectionist so I am literally almost afraid to "live" in our house for fear an agent might pull up to our home and want to show it on short to nearly no notice. I am happy for any showing and we will accomodate anyone. We are trying to do this with two dogs and the two of us. I can't believe the impossible chore it is to keep a home immaculate with four kids ( we have such a client right now.)

The preparation for sale alone almost killed us. Knowing how a house "should" look, we took to cleaning out every closet, every cabinet, decluttering, cleaning the home to within an inch of it's life, adding higher wattage light bulbs, cleaning vent covers and staging, staging, staging. Despite a slow market right now and all the work that it took to get us here, we feel confident that doing all of the right things will pay off in the end. There may not be a lot of buyers out there this month with the market roller coaster, but we feel confident that when the roller coaster stops and buyers start buying again, we will be the bride and not the bridesmaid. I have to say that I know that I will be a better real estate agent after this experience.

Selecting a Real Estate Professional

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:00:48 -0500

Selecting a Real Estate Professional

Purchasing real estate is a big decision and the most important part of the process is selecting a real estate professional. The following are some tips that are helpful in selecting a seasoned professional.

It is important to conduct a preliminary needs assessment. What are your goals with your real estate transaction? Home purchase, investment for income, second home, etc?

2. You should research your candidates. Familiarizing yourself with the candidates' history and background is essential. References and letters of recommendation are also great tools.

3. Schedule an interview to evaluate your compatibility with the candidate. Look for signs of enthusiasm, confidence and market knowledge. Ask the candidate about their area of expertise and/or specialization. If you are interested in a particular geographic area or type of home, make sure the candidate is familiar with homes in that area and in your price range.

Once you have narrowed down your pool of candidates, make an appointment to sit down with your favorite and develop a plan of action to help you find a home. Discuss needs, wants and desires, and specific criteria that will be critical in your decisionmaking process. Discuss school district, geographic area, your time frame, how real estate professional agency works in your area. The more your real estate professional knows about you and your goals with your real estate purchase, the more valuable your agent will be to you. The stronger the partnership, the better the outcome of your endeavor.

Housetrology

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:10:22 -0500

This is a fun little quiz...just copy and paste the link below to your browser and answer the 7 quick questions. Once you've done that there is link at the bottom of the page to take you to the state where you'd like to find your 'dream home'.

What's your house sign?Are you an Urbanist? A Contemporarian? Perhaps a Ranchero? Take the HOUSETROLOGY quiz to find out your house sign. This fun and informative application was originallybuilt for Facebook® (where you can compare your resultswith your friends), but it's now available here. Go ahead and get started....

http://www.coldwellbanker.com/home/learn/housetrology/housetrology_landing.jsp

Housetrology by Coldwell Banker®

$15,000 Makeover Money Sweepstakes

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:07:33 -0500

There's Still Time To Enter.... $15,000 Makeover Money Sweepstakes It could be a sauna in the backyard, a movie theater in the basement, or that kitchen with the new appliances you've always wanted. Whatever it is, it's your dream project, and here's your chance to get it going with $15,000 from the Coldwell Banker Network! Sponsored by Coldwell Banker, hosted by HGTV, the 2008 $15,000 Makeover Money Sweepstakes will run from August 1 through September 30. Copy and paste this link to your browser for details. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,2496,HGTV_22056_69186,00.html Be sure to let us know if you win so Jim can take before and after pictures. He's the photographer on our team & we'd love to help you show off your updates. Have any of you ever won a sweepstake like this?? I once won a hand held, just slightly bigger than a scissors, lawn edger! Ha! Never have had Ed McMahon show up at our door. Remember, you have to enter to win!!

St. Louis is a great place to live!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:32:34 -0600

I was reading an article on Forbes.com today about what a great place St. Louis is to live and live well. http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2007/11/05/daily63.html?f=et82&ana=e_du St. Louis is know for it's affordability and is ranked 15th cheapest city to live in. It follows other Midwestern cities like Cincinnatti and Indianapolis.

A high level of affordabilty translates into affordable housing. when buyers from the east or west coast relocate to St. Louis, they marvel at how much home they can afford compated to where they came from. Often, a similarly priced home in California didn't even offer much of a lot or yard.

St. Louisans are proud of their city and warmly welcome new families to the area who can share in the wealth of opportunities this city has to offer.

New construction trends

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:00:53 -0600

I just finished reading Eric Love's blog talking about new trends in new construction sales in the Dallas area. http://activerain.com/blogsview/264614/Buy-3-houses-Get">http://activerain.com/blogsview/264614/Buy-3-houses-Get</a>. The gist of the story is that a large home builder in the area is offering investors a home for free if they purchase 3 homes at full appraised value. This results in 25% equity immediately for anyone who can foot the bill for the $400-$500,000 homes. We haven't seen this trend in the St. Louis area but who knows?

New Town St. Charles

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:45:11 -0600

St. Charles has one of the most innovative planned communities in the area. New Town, located just off Interstate 370 is a large and quickly growing community with a variety of home types and styles as well as retail storefronts, an amphitheatre, post office and grocery store. The landscaping is beautiful and the community is well thought out. http://www.newtownatstcharles.com/

On a recent trip to New Town, we marveled at the bustling activity in the community. Once you enter the area off of Mueller Road, you notice commerce and construction everywhere. While many homes have been completed for many months, there is still plenty of space and new construction in progress. This area is a collaboration of several builders who are working together to create a special new home community. We observed an amphitheatre, houses of worship, a town hall, a grocery store and retail storefronts ready for occupants, all within walking distance from many of the homes.

This is a well thought out planned community where many families have, and will, call home. The spirit of small town in a large town is alive and well here. The location for many workers commuting to North County or to downtown is ideal. When you consider that for the next few years, construction on Highway 40-64 will have a major impact on county-city commuting, New Town provides a fresh opportunity for community living with a small town feel.

Chesterfield Real Estate Trends

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:58:31 -0500

I thought this might be a good time of the year to review trends in Chesterfield, Missouri real estate. A good way to do this is to share Trulia data for our area. See below: Clearly, Chesterfield has enjoyed greater market appreciation than many areas in the St. Louis area. The end point of the graph shows the story of our current market. Appreciation has flattened out or "normalized." Sellers in our area concerned about loss of value in their homes shouldn't worry, at least at this point. Market appreciation may have slowed to a crawl, but overall, market value has not decreased either. Sellers who list their home today will not have the luxury of expecting market values that we saw, just two years ago. Sucessful sellers selling their homes these days are pricing their homes realistically, given today's market conditions. They are also taking the time to prepare their homes more than ever. It used tobe so easy to just sign a listing contract, stick a sign in the front yard and sell the home in just days with multiple contracts. We still see some homes sell quickly, but pricing is everything. We feel confident saying to a seller that the most likely buyer for their home will have seen the home in the first 30 days of showing. If the home has not sold in those first 30 days, either price, condition or both are not right.

We are certainly keeping home improvement contractors busy with improvements made to sell a home. The savvy sellers are making the improvements before they put their homes on the market in an effort to make the best possible first impression. Others are realizing the need for improvements after they have tested the market. Sometimes, taking a home off the market and temporarily out of the MLS to save days on market is required. We currently have a listing that had a lot of wallpaper. We received a lot of "too much work" feedback which we promptly took to our sellers. After weeks of similar comments, they realized the value of the right condition to match the price. Wisely, they had the wallpaper removed, fresh paint applied and also made a market reposition to try to appeal to a new buyer pool. The home goes back on the market this weekend. We will see if all of their efforts will pay off.

Our new baby!

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:01:13 -0500

Jim and I haven't been "new parents" for a while. See the picture of our "new baby" Reesi (think peanut butter cup.) She is our family's newest edition. Reesi is a full blooded Doberman and she joined our family with gusto. Prior to Reesi's arrival, our family was fairly quiet and set in it's ways. We have a 9 year old yellow Lab named Taylor who is just a gem. We could leave the house for many hours on end and Taylor would be just fine.

Now.... we are back to puppy training. I had forgotten just how fun the biting stage is for puppies. Not to mention the strain of worrying about housebreaking a dog. Thank goodness we kept the old dog crate. It has certainly come in handy. It has provided a few moments of sanity when things got a bit crazy. I never thought I would own two dogs at one time. Taylor has always been such a princess! I wasn't sure what she would think about a new family member who would vie with her for our attention. Thankfully, Taylor who is such a sweet dog has taken the whole thing in stride. The only problem she has with Reesi is the biting. Reesi is even biting Taylor. I don't feel so special now.

I have found it difficult to make time for blog entries since this dog entered our lives. Our schedule has to be so much more tightly controlled now and in smaller blocks so that we don't interrupt our housebreaking routine. I can't wait until she is "house friendly!" At least, Reesi is causing us to take the daily walks that we need but always seem to find ways to avoid. We get "busy" and just didn't find the time. Now, we need to keep Reesi tired and work on training to keep her energy levels under control. We are all benefitting from the walks, for sure.

We hated to take a break from St. Louis, Chesterfield and Real Estate, but we did want to share our recent news and explain our gaps between posts.

A Special Night in St. Louis

Jim and Linda Arnold (Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:59:46 -0500

Friday night made us proud to live in St. Louis. Forest Park was the site of the annual Forest Park Balloon Race Balloon Glow. Seventy hot air balloons tethered in the park amongst families picnicing and enjoying the beautiful evening. What a fabulous event that is unique to St. Louis! We look forward to the "Glow" every year.

We have a friend who is a balloonist who allowed us to tag along as honorary "crew" members. We were able to get an inside look at how balloons are set up and launched. Friday provided a bit of a challenge with the gusty winds. Each time a balloon was successfuly put up, the crowd showed it's appreciation with applause. Some of the balloons really struggled against the wind and were only able to stay up for a short time. It was challenging trying to keep the balloons tied down and secure. A few times, it took some additional hands to hold a balloon in place.

Dining al fresco was also very enjoyable. Many different food choices were available including national chain restaurants and local favorites. The Forest Park golf course provided a great picnic area of smooth, soft grass.

The best part of the evening was each time the air horn sounded. That was the signal for the balloons to fire up, lighting up the balloons against the night sky. Forest Park was literally glowing with light. It was just beautiful!
Also within walking distance of the Glow was Art Hill, the fountain basin and the St. Louis Art Museum. Forest Park is truly one of the crown jewels of St. Louis.