Welcome to St. Louis Real Estate Market Information Central.  We welcome any inquiries concerning the Real Estate Market in St. Louis.  Please post your question and I will respond promptly. John Powel Walshjohnpwalsh@aol.com   www.LinkedIn.com/in/JohnPowelWalsh  03/01/2008

Following is the weekly Condo/Loft Market Report for the City of St Louis (areas 1,2,3).  These statistics were gathered from the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).There were 33 new Active listings, with List prices ranging from $42,000 to $500,000.Only 3 listings went under contract (Contingent/Option), with List prices ranging from $184,900 to $319,000.11 listings moved closer to closing (Pending) with List prices ranging from $82,400 to $595,900.Only 3 listings Sold, with Sold prices ranging from $199,900 to $330,000.21 listings Expired, with List prices ranging from $114,900 to $620,000.And 9 listings went Inactive (Withdrawn/Cancelled), with List prices ranging from $164,900 to $599,000.http://www.timtanzhomes.com 02/29/2008

Following is the market report for single family homes for the City of St Louis (areas 1,2,3) for the week of February 19, 2008.  These statistics were gathered from the local multiple listing service (MLS).There were 109 new Active listings, with list prices ranging from $7,500 to $575,000.24 listings went under contract (Contingent/Option) with list prices ranging from $26,000 to $1,499,000.53 listings move closer to closing (Pending) with list prices ranging from $7.500 to $429,000.44 listings Sold, with Sold prices ranging from $5,000 to $355,000.100 listings Expired from the market, with list prices ranging from $5,900 to $1.900,000.And 58 listings were removed from the market (Withdrawn/Cancelled), with list prices ranging from $9,900 to $599,000.For the 44 Sold properties, 30.2% ... 02/29/2008

Yesterday I attended a Keller Williams Mastermind Class.  It's a six-week series titled, "Power Perspectives - The Six Attitudes of High Achievers."  This week we covered the first attitude:   Commit to Self Mastery.  Following are some notes I've taken from the class:What is it that you want to do and what will you have to master in order to accomplish what you want to do.There are three things we have to do to be successful in Real Estate:1.  Learn how to ask for business.2.  Learn to say things in a powerful way.  Instead of saying, "I will put your home in the Multiple Listing   Service," say, Once we list your home, I will immediately notify all the agents who work in the area about your home, tell them the features that make your home special, and why they should show your home to... 02/28/2008

I got another contract accepted this afternoon.  This one was with some buyers with whom I have been working for a while.  It's a really nice home in Fenton, perfect for these first-time home buyers.  It really was a surprise to hear we had an accepted contract this afternoon.  I didn't think we were going to come together on price.  We wrote the offer on Monday evening; I felt it was a low-ball offer.  The home had been on the market for over 200 days.  The sellers submitted a counteroffer on price yesterday.  The buyers countered somewhat higher - as high as they were willing to go (so they said).  When the listing agent called me this afternoon, she told me the sellers had sent her another counteroffer, but later called and said they had reconsidered and would accept our counteroffer... 02/27/2008

                                                    St. Louis' Forest Park                                                    Much more than just a park- Forest Park is home to  region’s major cultural institutions—the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, Science Center and the Muny Opera.             St. Louis is home to many parks, but it is indisputable that Forest Park is one of our finest assets. Forest Park was created in 1876 out of land just west of downtown St. Louis. In 1904 it was home to the St. Louis' Worlds Fair.The summer of 1904 it hosted the Summer Olympics. This was the first Olympics hosted by an English speaking country. At close to 1300 acres it is 500 acres larger than Central Park.                                                   The Saint Louis Zoo                  ... 02/26/2008

Following is the Weekly Condo/Loft Market Report for the City of St Louis (areas 1,2,3).  These statistics were gathered from the local multiple listing service.There were 23 new Active listings, with list prices ranging from $90,000 to $918,000.There were 3 listings that went under contract (Contingent/Option), with list prices ranging from $184,500 to $562,396.10 listings went Pending, with list prices ranging from $89,900 to $1,699,900.5 listings Sold, with Sold prices ranging from $105,000 to $235,000.9 listings Expired, with list prices ranging from $134,500 to $395,000.5 listings went Inactive (Cancelled/Withdrawn) with list prices ranging from $84,900 to $893,000.Of the 5 units sold this week, 20% were on the market 0-30 days and 40% were on the market 120+ days.  Of the 0-30 day... 02/22/2008

Following is the Weekly Single Family Home Market Report for the City of St Louis (areas 1,2,3).  These statistics were gathered from the local multiple listing service.There were 88 new active listings, with list prices from $18,000 to $2,200,000.There were 33 listings that went under contract (Contingent/Pending), with list prices ranging from $19,900 to $2,200,000.There were 53 listings that went Pending, with list prices ranging from $7,900 to $345,900.37 listings Sold, with Sold prices ranging from $22,000 to $345,000.64 listings Expired, with list prices ranging from $17,000 to $465,000.And, 23 listings went Inactive (Withdrawn/Cancelled), with list prices ranging from $42,900 to $375,000.Of the 37 sold listings this past 7 days, 18,9% were on the market from 0-30 days and 37.8% w... 02/22/2008

What a day.  The weather is miserable - sleeting most of the day.  They are calling for 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice before it's over.  Spring, hurry up and get here, already!I'm really aggravated with a lender right now.  My closing on Ray, scheduled for tomorrow, will probably not happen tomorrow.  During the deal, this loan officer always insisted that everything was fine.  Now, here it is a day before closing, and I had to call him to find out what was going on.  Apparently, underwriting is slow, bla, bla, bla.  It may take a few more days, bla, bla, bla.  Excuses.  He tells me he has stayed on top of things, but I've had a suspicious feeling throughout most of the deal, that he didn't know what he was doing.  He is a friend of the buyer (that is why the buyer went with him), so I did not... 02/21/2008

I attended a mastermind group at the office today.  We watched a Keller Williams video titled, "Power Perspectives - The Six Attitudes of High Achievers," presented by Dave Jenks.These attitudes are not just important for us Realtors, but are important for any profession, or life in general.  That's why I wanted to pass them along:Attitude is an inner state of mind; it's not personality.1.  High achievers make a commitment to self mastery.  They have to master a certain number of things (time management, for example) to become great.  They are not looking for a quick fix.2.  High Achievers focus on the 20/80 rule.  20% of the things you do will lead to 80% of the things you want.  You cannot do everything; not everything will bring the same amount of return.  Never let the 80% take over... 02/20/2008

I attended at class yesterday titled, "Tales from the  Inside - Horrors of the Broker's Office."  This class counted towards three hours of core instruction for our required continuing education.  The instructor was Joe Sahrmann, and he was an excellent instructor.  These classes are usually boring and seem to drag, but the afternoon seemed to fly by.  Some of the topics included:--The five types of rules and regulations that govern our business are: (1) Local, state and federal rules and laws; (2) Missouri Real Estate Commission - MREC - rules and regulations; (3) common law; (4) REALTOR code of ethics; (5) Broker's policies and procedures.--The MREC and the Code of Ethics are clear on disclosure:  You must disclose material facts about the property or the transaction (conditions or de... 02/19/2008

I just got an offer accepted on a home in St Ann with my buyers.  We presented the offer on Saturday, and the sellers counteroffered yesterday.  It is a really nice home; the seller has done a great job with the updates and maintenance.  You could eat off the floor - the home was so clean, and it showed beautifully.  Here's the thing - the home has been on the market 130 days, and from what I understand, the listing agent has been holding it open regularly.  The buyers are pre-approved and on the contract we asked for help with closing costs, pretty normal, right.  I get a call from the listing agent on Saturday night berating me because our closing cost assistance request was "exorbitant" and someone was trying to "get rich" off the seller.  I tried to explain that according to FHA rul... 02/18/2008

Following are the weekly market statistics for Condo/Lofts in the city of St Louis (Areas 1,2,3).  These statistics were gathered from the local multiple listing service.There were 37 new Active listings on the market, with list prices ranging from $92,400 to $575,000.There were 2 listings that went under contract (Contingent/Option) with list prices ranging from $199,900 to $299,900.12 listings went Pending, with list prices ranging from $92,400 to $928,800.7 listings Sold, with sold prices ranging from $128,000 to $295,000.26 listings Expired, with list prices ranging from $126,900 to $667,955.And 3 listings went Inactive (Cancelled/Withdrawn), with list prices ranging from $155,000 to $275,000.There were 791 total active listings on the market.  Of the 7 Sold listings, 28.6% were on ... 02/15/2008

Following are the weekly (past 7 days) market statistics for the City of St Louis (Areas 1,2,3) for residential single family homes.  These figures were gathered from the local multiple listing service.There were 88 new Active listings, with list prices ranging from $19,900 to $2,200,000.There were 18 listings that went under contract (Option/Contingent), with list prices ranging from $33,000 to $2,200,000.62 listings went Pending, with list prices ranging from $8,900 to $624,999.34 listings Sold, with Sold prices ranging from $17,500 to $390,000.49 listings Expired, with list prices ranging from $9,500 to $349,000.18 listings went Inactive (Withdrawn/Cancelled), with list prices ranging from $$39,900 to $675,000.Total active listings on the market were 1750 residential listings.Of the ... 02/15/2008

This announcement came from the National Association of Realtors, Realtor Action Center.  President Bush signed the two-year, 168-billion-dollar Economic Stimulus Package into law this afternoon, in an effort to bolster the ailing American economy.  Last week, Congress gave its final approval to the Economic Stimulus Package supported by the National Association of Realtors and Realtors across the country.  Over 85,000 Realtors contacted the Senate regarding this important issue.As a result of his signature, the government will be sending one time tax rebate checks to tens of millions of Americans in coming months. The Economic Stimulus Act also calls for tax breaks aimed at firing up business investment.This legislation includes loan limit increases, increasing liquidity in the mortgag... 02/13/2008

I showed some new buyers today.  They are relocating from Chicago.  We looked at condos in Tower Grove East, Shaw, the Central West End and the DeBaliviere neighborhoods.  In less that four hours, we looked at 13 condos.  I know many buyer's agents don't show that many, but after today, my buyers have a good understanding of what is out there for the money, especially since they are new to St Louis.  It was a good day; we found several they liked...I just watched Extreme Home Makeover.  Tonight they were building a house for a Marine who lost his leg in Iraq.  It was quite an emotional show, but then most of them are.  It's amazing to see what the team can accomplish in just a week.  Another site I found is HGTV.com.  There's an article titled:  At Home - Selling Homes - 10 Do's and Don... 02/10/2008

Following is the Weekly Condo/Loft Market Report for the City of St Louis (Areas 1,2,3) for the week of February 8, 2008.  These statistics were gathered from the local Multiple Listing Service.There were 34 new Active listings, with List prices ranging from $109,500 to $$450,000.2 listings went under contract (Contingent/Option), with list prices ranging from $161,900 to $181,900.16 listings went Pending, with list prices ranging from $104,400 to $331,167.12 listings Sold, with Sold prices ranging from $95,000 to $989,077.22 listings Expired, with List prices ranging from $164,900 to $395,566.6 listings went Inactive (Withdrawn/Cancelled), with List prices ranging from $93,400 to $299,900.For the Sold listings, Days on the Market (DOM) 25% were on the market for 0-30 days and 33.3% rem... 02/08/2008

Following is the Weekly Single Family Home Market Report for the City of St Louis (Areas 1,2,3) for the week of February 8, 2008.  These statistics were gathered from the local Multiple Listing Service.There were 121 new listings, with List prices ranging from $25,000 to $1,225,000.There were 30 listings that went under contract (Contingent/Option), with List prices rangin from $26,000 to $459,000.52 listings went Pending, with List prices ranging from $29,000 to $620,000.57 listings Sold, with Sold prices ranging from $6,900 to $620,000.62 listings Expired, with List prices ranging from $9,900 to $315,000.28 listings went Inactive (Withdrawn/Cancelled), with List prices ranging from $17,000 to $389,900.For the Sold listings, days on the market (DOM) ranged from 21.1% for 0-30 days to 3... 02/08/2008

Had the carpets professionally cleaned on the Varrelmann duplex yesterday.  Both the downstairs and upstairs tenants supposedly cleaned the carpets before they vacated, but all the stains were wicking back up and the carpets looked just terrrible.  To think they were new two years ago...Anyway, we had a company called The Yuckbusters come out and clean the carpets.  We are thrilled with the work they did.  The stains are gone, even some rust stains.  The results were amazing.  They were also competitively priced.  Not only do they clean carpets, they also clean and restore tile, grout, natural stone, garage floors, brick, vinyl and concrete.  Before the professionals at Yuckbusters cleaned the carpets, I did not want to sit on them myself.  Now, I would not hesitate to let a child crawl... 02/06/2008

What a great day for a parade.  There was snow on the ground, but it was sunny and warmer.  Compared to the cold of last year (I didn't go because of the cold) this year was like Spring.  It was a great crowd, too.  We took a shuttle to Soulard, as parking would be impossible, getting down there before 10:00 am to stake out a good spot.  The parade didn't start until 11:00. Kim, Gary, Dennis & I found a snow-free section of sidewalk on the parade route and prepared to grab beads.  Before the parade was over, we had so many, we were stuffing them in every coat pocket.  Gary was shoving them down the front of his coat, and they kept falling out the bottom.  Kim had so many stuffed down her front, she appeared to be pregnant.  Kim's mom, Jean, was on the Twister float - she was having a gr... 02/04/2008