In the Wednesday, October 10, issue of the South Suburban Journals, there were articles by two leaders in the St Louis real estate market.  These were great articles, and I just wanted to share the main points. The first article was written by Dennis Norman, 2007 President of the St. Louis Association of Realtors.  His main point of the article was that all real estate is local, and there are a number of local factors that affect home prices.  He pointed out that Detroit is suffering with the major layoffs from the big three auto makers, and their real estate market is not in good shape.  Seattle, on the other hand, has a surplus of jobs and is still in a real estate boom.  He continued that here in St Louis, we are not faring that bad.Mr Norman talked about the recent news that Centene... 10/16/2007

This past June, Dennis' two neices and their children (they each have a daughter and two sons - so six kids total) stayed with us for a couple of days.  Talk about a house filled with activity - this place has never seen so busy.  After two days, this normally tidy house was trashed.  It was great, though, and we really enjoyed having them here.On June 14, we took them to the St. Louis Zoo.  It had been years since I had visited the zoo, and I enjoyed it as much as the kids.  The St Louis Zoo has been around a long time.  Since the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904 (the 1904 Worlds Fair), the Zoo has grown to be one of the top attended zoos in the nation, with 3 million people visiting each year.  The zoo is home to 22,805 exotic animals, many of them rare and endangered.   The zoo ... 10/16/2007

In the September 27 issue of the Riverfront Times, their Best of St Louis issue, our very own Tower Grove Park Neighborhoods received the pick for the Best Place to Live in 2007.These neighborhoods that surround Tower Grove Park - Tower Grove South, Tower Grove Heights, Tower Grove East and Shaw neighborhoods - have become a popular place to call home for many St Louisans, including my partner and myself.  We moved to Tower Grove South in 1998, and we have witnessed the transformation and blossoming of this area.  It is so neat to sit on our front porch and see all the people walking their dogs, bikeriding, or just stolling down the sidewalks.   We are close (we can walk) to all the shops and restaurants on South Grand Blvd.  To our west, the Morganford Business District is experiencing... 10/14/2007

Among the many things to experience in Tower Grove Park are the many pavilions throughout the park.  This park was designed as a Victorian urban park, and still endures today.  These pavilions represent much of this Victorian architecture.  Henry Shaw commissioned their construction for the formal opening of the park in 1872.  From ideas gathered from Shaw on trips to Europe's parks and gardens, three St. Louis architects designed these pavilions.  They are each unique in style and color, and we are lucky to enjoy them today.I've created a virtual media presentation from pictures I took on an afternoon walk in the park.  I hope you enjoy...http://www.realestateshows.com/218792http://www.timtanzhomes.com  10/13/2007

The September 27th issue of the RFT (Riverfront Times) was their Best of St Louis issue - their readers' choices of the best of St Louis.  I think it's the largest issue of the paper for the entire year.  Everything was listed, from the best food & drink to the best tatoo parlor...Our own Tower Grove Park garnered two Best Distinctions.  The first was for the Best Place to Bird Watch - the Robert and Martha Gaddy Wild Bird Garden.  According to the article, spring and fall bring large numbers of migrating birds, and the park is the perfect place to spot them.The second was for Best Tennis Courts.  Tower Grove Park hosts 12 hard courts and three grass courts, with day passes available for $4 - $6 for two persons.Aside from those two distinctions, Tower Grove Park is one of the best parks... 10/13/2007

Ever wondered what it would be like to live in a loft in downtown St Louis? This is the weekend to take a peek inside some of the city's premier lofts and apartments. The loft at 1619 Washington, #603, was professionally staged by Transitional Designs, LLC and will be a featured loft on the tour. Here is the information on the tour:Fall Downtown Living TourOctober 13 -14, 2007Noon to 5 pmRegistration at: 9th St. and OliveCost: $7 Hopefully everyone will have the opportunity to visit these unique spaces.  Shuttle service will be provided to move from neighborhood to neighborhood and the weather will be spectacular. Come see what city living has to offer.  10/12/2007

This is the market report for the city of St. Louis for the past week.  This covers areas 1 (East of Grand), 2 (South City), 3 (Southwest City, CWE, North).  This is for single family residential homes.There were 139 new Active listings, with list prices ranging from $16,900 to $1,699,000.There were 26 listings that went under contract (Contingent/Option), with list prices ranging from $23,500 to $369,900.There were 49 listings that went Pending, with list prices ranging from $239,900 to $429,900.There were 34 listings that Sold, with sold prices ranging from $15,600 to $295,000.95 listings Expired, with list prices ranging from $14,900 to $785,000.40 listings went Inactive (Withdrawn/Cancelled), with list prices ranging from $19,900 to $845,000.Even though the market has softened, thin... 10/12/2007

The campground we go to hosts a Halloween decorating contest every year.  Prizes are given for first, second and third place for camps that are decorated for Halloween.  Last year, I won first place.  The prize was a spider blow-up decoration.  I wasn't going to decorate this year.  The entire bed of the truck was loaded with Halloween decorations, with little room for camping gear.  Then we had to unload, set up the decorations, take them down, load them back up and then unload when we got home.  It was too much work.Well, a day before this year's trip, I started thinking about what I could do differently this year.  Long story short, I again loaded the truck down, and even strapped some decorations to the top of the camper.  We must have looked like the "Beverly Hillbillies" driving d... 10/11/2007

I love the Ozark country scenery.  I got tired of just sitting around the campground, so we spent an afternoon driving around the countryside, exploring graveled roads.  I could spend days doing that.  It's amazing how much beautiful scenery there is, if you just look for it.  The local people probably take it for granted, but they truly live in one of the most beautiful areas of Missouri.  There are miles and miles of rolling hills.  There are woods as far as you can see.  I've been to the mountains of Colorada (and they are amazing), but I still love the Missouri Ozarks the best. Just a few of the trees are starting to turn colors - the persimmon and sassafras trees.  I think everything is late this year.  It's been so hot and dry, we probably won't see much color until the end of Oct... 10/11/2007

We spent a few days this past week in the Ozarks.  We left Wednesday and came back Monday evening.  The campground we stayed at is several miles outside Ava, MO.  I was looking forward to cooler weather, but we were still having June/July heat.  Too bad the pool had already been shut down for the season.  I waded in Bryant Creek, though.  Springs feed the creek, and the water is COLD.  We lit a campfire at night, not because we needed to for heat, but because you have to have a campfire when you camp.  When we camped here last year, we needed sweatshirts, coats and the fire to keep warm.  Below are some pics of an old barn we stumbled across.  It looks like it hasn't been used in years.  http://www.timtanzhomes.com   10/11/2007

Saint Louis Central West End Real EstateWe here at the Coldwell Banker Gundaker-CWE continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find St. Louis Central West End real estate statistic for the 2nd week of September 2007.New homes on the market: 8Number of homes entering escrow: 74Number of homes closing escrow (sold): 1Number of homes expiring: 10Avg Days on Market: 100To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.VictoriaSmall.biz.If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Saint Louis Central West End or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then gi... 09/27/2007

Saint Louis Forest Park Southeast Real EstateWe here at the Coldwell Banker Gundaker-CWE continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find St. Louis Forest Park Southeast real estate statistic for the 2nd week of September 2007.New homes on the market: 6Number of homes entering escrow: 0Number of homes closing escrow (sold): 0Number of homes expiring: 0Avg Days on Market: 0To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.VictoriaSmall.biz.If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Saint Louis Forest Park Southeast or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers ... 09/27/2007

Saint Louis Shaw Real EstateWe here at the Coldwell Banker Gundaker-CWE continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find St. Louis Shaw real estate statistic for the 2nd week of September 2007.New homes on the market: 1Number of homes entering escrow: 3Number of homes closing escrow (sold): 0Number of homes expiring: 2Avg Days on Market: To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.VictoriaSmall.biz.If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Saint Louis Shaw or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then give me a call at:Victoria A. SmallRemember... 09/27/2007

Saint Louis DeBaliviere Place Real EstateWe here at the Coldwell Banker Gundaker-CWE continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find St. Louis DeBaliviere Place real estate statistic for the 1st week of September 2007.New homes on the market: 3Number of homes entering escrow: 3Number of homes closing escrow (sold): 1Number of homes expiring: 2Avg Days on Market: 35To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.VictoriaSmall.biz.If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Saint Louis DeBaliviere Place or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then gi... 09/27/2007

Saint Louis Skinker-DeBaliviere Real EstateWe here at the Coldwell Banker Gundaker-CWE continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find St. Louis Skinker-DeBaliviere real estate statistic for the 2nd week of September 2007.New homes on the market: 0Number of homes entering escrow: 4Number of homes closing escrow (sold): 1Number of homes expiring: 0Avg Days on Market: 78To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.VictoriaSmall.biz.If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Saint Louis Skinker-DeBaliviere or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, t... 09/27/2007

Saint Louis Upper West End Real EstateWe here at the Coldwell Banker Gundaker-CWE continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find St. Louis Upper West End real estate statistic for the 2nd week of September 2007.New homes on the market: 4Number of homes entering escrow: 2Number of homes closing escrow (sold): 0Number of homes expiring: 1Avg Days on Market: 0To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.VictoriaSmall.biz.If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Saint Louis Upper West End or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then give me a ca... 09/27/2007

I'm not confused anymore by Doug Aegerter, Keller Williams Realty Southwest, St. Louis, Missouri I quit reading the paper, listening to T.V. and radio broadcasts and perusing magazines - online or hardcopy - when it has anything to do with Real Estate. Especially - ST. LOUIS REAL ESTATE.Why you ask - here's one reason!  Dateline 9/20/2007 - CNNMoney.com - "Most overvalued housing markets" "Latest analysis of 299 markets: See how your hometown ranks."  OMG - St. Louis Real Estate is 9% overpriced.Wait hold on there is a red flag and the market is under review.Dateline 9/25/2007 - Business 2.0 - "How to play the real estate bounce-back""The housing market may be melting down, but Business 2.0 worked with Moody's Economy.com to identify 10 cities that have just about hit rock bottom - and ... 09/26/2007

We went to the Cardinals ballgame last night with our friends, Kim and Gary.  It was an evening game, 7;00 pm, but we got down there almost two hours early.  They were giving away free "Bobbleheads" to the first 25,000 who entered the stadium, and Gary had to make sure he got one.  This "Bobblehead" was of Tony LaRusa.  Gary now has four of them (we gave him ours - the least we could do since they paid for the tickets)...This was the last home game of the season for the Cardinals.  I thought it was a pretty boring game until the ninth inning.  In the ninth inning they got three runs and won 4 to 3 over the Astros.  There was a pretty good crowd.  The weather was perfect.  http://www.timtanzhomes.com   09/24/2007

I've just secured a price reductions on 2546 Coppergate Square Drive, Unit E (63129).  We are now priced at $110,000.  Other condos in this complex are priced at $129,900, $132,000, 134,900, $144,900.  We have a motivated seller. This is a fantastic price on this condo in the Coppergate Square Condominium Complex! Check the comps! What a great location, too; close to everything. This upper level unit is a large one, with 1008 square feet of space. It is immaculate & well maintained. It features 5 rooms, with 2 bedrooms & 2 baths. The livingroom has a ceramic tile entry & opens to the maintenance-free deck with views of common ground & additional storage. The diningroom leads into the bright, updated kitchen with ceramic tile floor with stove, microwave, dishwasher, and refrigerator. A n... 09/24/2007

      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... 09/20/2007