Dennis Norman - St Louis Real Estate News

Missouri Insurance Department Halts Cancellations for Storm-Damaged Homes

By Dennis Norman, on October 14th, 2025

Insurance Protection Storm Damaged Homes in St Louis and Missouri

Missouri Insurance Department halts cancellations for storm-damaged homes

If your Missouri home was damaged in the spring 2025 storms and you’re still working through repairs, your insurer cannot cancel or non-renew your policy because of the storm damage or related claims. In a new directive, DCI ordered companies to keep coverage in force for storm-affected residential properties statewide for weather losses occurring after March 1, 2025. The department also told insurers to reverse any cancellations or non-renewals already sent out for this reason. Normal exceptions still apply, such as cancellations for non-payment and properties that weren’t damaged. The bulletin notes Continue Reading →

Discover the Fastest Selling School Districts in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on October 12th, 2025

In the bustling St. Louis metropolitan area, finding a home in a top-performing school district can be a competitive endeavor. Currently leading the charge is the Wood River-Hartford DIST 15 in Illinois, where homes are being snapped up in an average of just 18 days. With seven active listings, the average list price stands at an attractive $117,814, making it a hotspot for families looking to settle quickly in a vibrant community.

Not far behind, the Bayless district in Unincorporated, Missouri, boasts 15 listings with homes averaging 25 days on the market. Meanwhile, BUNKER HILL DIST 8 in Illinois Continue Reading →

October 2025 Metro East Real Estate Market Update: Rising Home Prices and Sales Volume

By Dennis Norman, on October 9th, 2025

The Metro East real estate market has shown significant growth as of October 2025, with home prices and sales volume both on the rise. In September 2025, homes sold for a median price of $215,000, marking a 7.47% increase from September 2024, when the median price was $200,050. This upward trend continued from August 2025, with a 4.88% increase from the previous month’s median price of $205,000.

The median list price in September 2025 was $219,000, up 8.42% from $202,000 in September 2024. Additionally, the region saw 677 home sales, an 11.35% rise from 608 sales in September 2024. These Continue Reading →

October 2025 St. Charles County Real Estate Market Update: Trends and Insights

By Dennis Norman, on October 8th, 2025

The St. Charles County real estate market has shown a slight upward trend in home prices as of September 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $355,000, marking a 1.43% increase from the median price of $350,000 in September 2024. However, this also represents a 1.39% decrease compared to August 2025, when the median sold price was $360,000. The median list price for homes was $353,769, reflecting a 2.54% rise from $345,000 in September 2024.

In terms of sales volume, there were 453 home sales in September 2025, which is a 3.00% decline from the 467 homes sold in Continue Reading →

Nearly Half of REALTORS® Say Solar Makes Homes Harder to Sell

By Dennis Norman, on October 8th, 2025

Solar Panels May Complicate Home Sales in St Louis

Solar panels are becoming an increasingly common feature in homes, but according to the 2025 REALTORS® Residential Sustainability Report, they may not always be a clear selling point. Nearly half of REALTORS® said they believe having solar panels makes it more difficult to sell a home. For buyers and sellers in the St. Louis Metro area, where energy costs and resale value are major considerations, this is an important insight to be aware of.

Adding to the uncertainty is how solar impacts the transaction itself. The top two challenges REALTORS® reported in dealing with sustainable properties were understanding how solar Continue Reading →

October 2025 St. Louis MSA Real Estate Market Update: Prices and Sales on the Rise

By Dennis Norman, on October 7th, 2025

The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market continues to show robust activity as of October 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $283,000 in September 2025, marking a 4.81% increase from the median price of $270,000 in September 2024. However, this represents a slight decrease of 0.70% compared to August 2025, when the median sold price was $285,000. The median list price in September 2025 was $285,000, a significant increase of 7.55% from $265,000 in the same month last year.

Sales activity has also picked up, with 3,041 homes sold in September 2025, an increase of Continue Reading →

Government Shutdown Puts Some Real Estate Closings at Risk….St. Louis Buyers Could Feel the Impact

By Dennis Norman, on October 2nd, 2025

Government shutdown and the St Louis Real Estate Market by St Louis REALTORS

On October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government officially shut down after lawmakers failed to reach a deal to fund operations. The shutdown affects a wide range of federal agencies and services, many of which are relevant to the residential real estate market. One immediate impact is the lapse in authority for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which prevents new or renewed flood insurance policies from being issued. This directly affects home closings in flood zones, including parts of the St. Louis region where flood insurance is mandatory for federally backed loans.

While Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue Continue Reading →

FTC Lawsuit Alleges Zillow-Redfin Deal Stifles Competition and Hurts Renters

By Dennis Norman, on September 30th, 2025

FTC Lawsuit Alleges Zillow-Redfin Deal Stifles Competition and Hurts Renters

In what could be a major shake-up for the rental housing market, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Zillow and Redfin, claiming the two companies struck an illegal agreement that essentially kills off competition in the online rental advertising space. According to the FTC, Zillow paid Redfin $100 million earlier this year to abandon its multifamily rental advertising business, hand over key customer data, and even help Zillow poach Redfin employees. The result? Redfin stopped selling rental ads and now only displays Zillow’s listings on its Continue Reading →

September 2025 St. Louis City Real Estate Market Update: Home Prices Rise Amid Fewer Sales

By Dennis Norman, on September 21st, 2025

The St. Louis City real estate market in August 2025 saw notable changes compared to the previous year. Homes sold for a median price of $235,000, marking a 7.55% increase from August 2024’s median of $218,500. However, this figure reflects a 5.05% decrease from July 2025, when the median sold price was $247,500. The median list price in August 2025 also rose to $235,000, up 6.82% from $220,000 in August 2024.

Despite these price increases, the number of home sales in St. Louis City decreased. In August 2025, there were 285 sales, a 6.25% drop from the 304 sales recorded Continue Reading →

Class Action Alleges Zillow Misleads Home Buyers and Hides Fees

By Dennis Norman, on September 20th, 2025

Class Action Lawsuit Against Zillow over Premier Agent Referral Fees

A federal class-action lawsuit filed September 19, 2025, claims Zillow uses its dominant position in online real estate to mislead home buyers and conceal referral-based payments. The complaint states that Zillow “tricks [buyers] into signing up with a Zillow agent,” describing a system that hides Zillow’s involvement behind user-friendly website buttons and misleads consumers into thinking they are contacting the listing agent.

The lawsuit states: “Zillow’s website has a big button in bright blue lettering posted next to the house listing that says ‘Contact Agent’… Buyers, however, naturally believe they are contacting the listing agent. Instead, they are routed to Continue Reading →

Franklin County Real Estate Market Sees Significant Growth in August 2025

By Dennis Norman, on September 19th, 2025

The Franklin County real estate market experienced notable growth in August 2025, with homes selling for a median price of $293,000. This marks a 14.90% increase from August 2024, when the median sold price was $255,000, and an 11.62% rise from July 2025, which saw a median sold price of $262,500. The median list price also climbed to $289,900, up 14.81% from $252,500 in August 2024. Additionally, the number of home sales increased by 3.33%, with 124 homes sold compared to 120 in the same month last year. For a visual representation of these trends, please refer to the chart Continue Reading →

September 2025 St. Louis County Real Estate Market Update: Prices Rise, Sales Stabilize

By Dennis Norman, on September 19th, 2025

In August 2025, the St. Louis County real estate market experienced notable changes, with homes selling for a median price of $290,000. This represents a 5.07% increase from the median sold price of $276,000 in August 2024. However, it marks a 2.36% decrease from July 2025, when the median sold price was $297,000. The median list price also saw growth, reaching $289,900, up 5.42% from $275,000 in August 2024.

The number of home sales in the region was slightly down, with 1,297 transactions in August 2025, a 0.46% decline from the 1,303 sales recorded in August 2024. For a Continue Reading →

Discover the Fastest Selling Zip Codes in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on September 16th, 2025

The St. Louis metropolitan area is experiencing a dynamic real estate market, with certain zip codes in both Missouri and Illinois standing out for their rapid sales. Leading the pack is zip code 62014 in Macoupin County, Illinois, where homes are selling at an unprecedented pace. With an average of 0 days on the market, the 7 active listings in this area have an average list price of $231,157. This swift turnover highlights a robust demand for properties, making it an attractive prospect for both buyers and sellers looking to capitalize on the current market conditions.

Close behind, zip code Continue Reading →

Jefferson County Real Estate Market Update: September 2025

By Dennis Norman, on September 15th, 2025

The Jefferson County real estate market continues to show dynamic shifts as we move into September 2025. In August 2025, homes sold for a median price of $300,000, marking a 7.53% increase from August 2024, when the median sold price was $279,000. However, this figure represents a slight decrease of 1.64% from July 2025’s median sold price of $305,000.

The median list price in August 2025 was $295,000, an 8.88% rise from $270,950 in August 2024. Despite the increase in listing prices, the number of home sales experienced a downturn. There were 253 home sales in Jefferson County in Continue Reading →

Discover the Fastest Selling School Districts in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on September 12th, 2025

If you’re considering buying or selling a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area, keeping an eye on the fastest selling school districts can give you a competitive edge. Leading the pack is ASHLEY DIST 15 in Illinois, where homes have been flying off the market at an unprecedented pace. With an average of zero days on the market and an average list price of $194,450, this district is attracting considerable attention from families looking for quick transactions and competitive pricing.

Following closely is the Bayless district in Unincorporated, Missouri, which also boasts an average of zero days on the Continue Reading →

St. Louis Housing Market Remains Tight in August as National Trends Shift

By Dennis Norman, on September 9th, 2025

St Louis August 2025 real estate market trends

The August 2025 housing data from Realtor.com® shows the national housing market gradually shifting toward balance, but here in St. Louis, we continue to stand out as one of the tightest markets in the country. While inventory is rising across much of the U.S., St. Louis saw just a 13.6% increase in active listings year-over-year—well below the national 20.9% gain. Even more telling, our market had only 2.9 months of supply in June, a strong indicator that sellers still have the upper hand locally, despite the broader cooling trend.

Across the 50 largest metros, St. Louis ranks among those with Continue Reading →

September 2025 Metro East Real Estate Market Update: Rising Prices and Increased Sales

By Dennis Norman, on September 9th, 2025

The Metro East real estate market continues to show robust activity, as evidenced by the latest data from August 2025. Homes in the area sold for a median price of $210,000, marking a 5.00% increase from the median sold price of $200,000 in August 2024. However, this figure represents an 8.70% decline from July 2025, when the median sold price was $230,000. The median list price also saw an uptick, reaching $209,900, which is a 5.11% rise from $199,700 in August 2024.

Home sales volume has also increased, with 675 homes sold in August 2025, up 3.53% from 652 sales Continue Reading →

St. Charles County Real Estate Market Update: September 2025 Insights

By Dennis Norman, on September 8th, 2025

The St. Charles County real estate market experienced notable shifts in August 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $357,195, marking a 1.55% increase from the median price of $351,750 in August 2024. However, this figure represents a 2.80% decrease compared to July 2025, when the median sold price was $367,500. The median list price remained stable at $350,000, unchanged from August 2024.

In terms of sales volume, there were 475 home sales in August 2025, reflecting an 8.30% decline from the 518 homes sold in August 2024. For a visual representation of these trends, refer to the chart Continue Reading →

September 2025 St. Louis MSA Real Estate Market Update: Prices Rise Year-Over-Year

By Dennis Norman, on September 8th, 2025

The real estate market in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) experienced notable changes in August 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $285,000, marking a 5.24% increase from the median price of $270,800 in August 2024. However, this represents a slight decrease of 2.56% from July 2025, when the median price was $292,500. The median list price saw a similar trend, rising to $284,900 in August 2025, up 5.52% from $270,000 in August 2024.

In terms of sales volume, there were 3,306 home sales in the St. Louis MSA during August 2025, a slight decrease of 1.52% Continue Reading →

August 2025 St. Louis City Real Estate Market Update: Rising Prices Amid Decreasing Sales

By Dennis Norman, on August 21st, 2025

The St. Louis City real estate market has experienced notable shifts as of August 2025. Homes in the area sold for a median price of $247,250 in July 2025, marking a 9.89% increase from July 2024 when the median price was $225,000. However, this figure also represents a 4.52% decrease compared to June 2025, when the median sold price was $258,965. The median list price in July 2025 was $248,950, up 13.16% from $220,000 in July 2024, indicating a robust increase in seller expectations.

Despite the rise in prices, the number of home sales has decreased. In July 2025, there Continue Reading →

August 2025 St. Louis County Real Estate Market Update: Rising Prices Amid Slight Sales Decline

By Dennis Norman, on August 19th, 2025

In July 2025, the St. Louis County real estate market saw a notable increase in home prices, with homes selling for a median price of $299,250. This represents a 6.78% increase from the median price of $280,250 recorded in July 2024. However, the median sold price in July 2025 shows a slight decrease of 0.75% from June 2025, when it was $301,500. The median list price in July 2025 was $289,900, marking a 5.42% rise compared to $275,000 in July of the previous year.

The number of home sales in St. Louis County experienced a minor decline, with 1,310 homes Continue Reading →

August 2025 Franklin County Real Estate Market Update: Median Home Prices Dip as Sales Surge

By Dennis Norman, on August 19th, 2025

In the latest update for the Franklin County real estate market, July 2025 saw homes selling for a median price of $260,000. This marks a 5.80% decrease from the median price of $276,000 recorded in July 2024. Additionally, the July 2025 median price represents a slight decline of 0.57% compared to June 2025’s median of $261,500. The median list price for homes in July 2025 was $269,000, down 3.76% from $279,500 in July 2024.

Despite the decrease in prices, home sales in Franklin County have seen a notable increase. In July 2025, there were 119 home sales, a significant rise Continue Reading →

Discover St. Louis’s Fastest Selling Zip Codes: 63012, 63074, and 63126

By Dennis Norman, on August 16th, 2025

The St. Louis metropolitan area is experiencing a vibrant real estate market, with certain zip codes leading the charge in rapid home sales. Topping the list is zip code 63012 in Jefferson County, Missouri, where homes are flying off the market with an average listing duration of zero days. This area currently boasts nine active listings, with an average list price of $376,089, making it an attractive option for families seeking swift transactions and competitive pricing.

Following closely are zip codes 63074 and 63126, both located in St. Louis, Missouri. Each of these areas also sees homes selling within zero Continue Reading →

August 2025 Jefferson County Real Estate Market Update: Rising Home Prices and Steady Sales

By Dennis Norman, on August 16th, 2025

The Jefferson County real estate market continues to show strong growth as of August 2025, with significant increases in both home prices and sales activity. In July 2025, homes in Jefferson County sold for a median price of $305,000, marking a 9.71% increase from July 2024, when the median sold price was $278,000. This upward trend is further highlighted by a 7.02% rise from June 2025’s median sold price of $285,000, indicating a robust demand for homes in the area.

The median list price also saw a notable increase, reaching $299,950 in July 2025, up 11.13% from $269,900 in July Continue Reading →

St. Charles County Real Estate Market Sees Steady Growth in July 2025

By Dennis Norman, on August 8th, 2025

The St. Charles County real estate market demonstrated a robust performance in July 2025, with the median home selling price reaching $367,500, marking a 2.08% increase from the previous year. This figure slightly dipped by 0.68% from June 2025’s median selling price of $370,000. Despite the month-to-month fluctuation, the overall trend indicates healthy growth, as reflected in the median listing price of $365,000, up by 2.82% compared to July 2024.

The volume of home sales also showed positive momentum, with 577 homes sold in July 2025, an increase of 6.65% from 541 sales in the same month last year. This Continue Reading →

St. Louis MSA Real Estate Market Sees Continued Growth in July 2025

By Dennis Norman, on August 7th, 2025

The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market demonstrated sustained growth in July 2025, with notable increases in both home sales and prices. Homes sold for a median price of $295,000, marking a 5.36% rise from the previous year’s median of $280,000, and a 1.72% increase from June 2025’s median of $290,000. This consistent upward trend underscores a robust housing market in the region.

In terms of sales volume, the market remained stable with 3,484 homes sold in July 2025, slightly up by 0.09% compared to 3,481 sales in July 2024. The median list price also saw a Continue Reading →

FHA Loans Face Higher Delinquency: What Homebuyers Should Know

By Dennis Norman, on August 5th, 2025

Mortgage debt across the U.S. has continued its steady climb, reaching nearly $13 trillion by mid-2025. While this growth might seem alarming, the current lending standards remain significantly stricter than those seen before the 2008 financial crisis, reducing overall risk.

Government-backed loans from agencies such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac account for over half of the total mortgage balances, offering stability to the market. However, loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), popular for their low down payment requirements, represent a disproportionate share of delinquencies. Although FHA loans make up just 12% of all mortgage Continue Reading →

St. Louis City Real Estate Market Overview: July 2025 Update

By Dennis Norman, on July 21st, 2025

The St. Louis City real estate market witnessed notable fluctuations in June 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $259,000, marking a 5.13% decrease from June 2024, when the median sold price was $273,000. However, this figure also represents a significant increase of 12.61% compared to May 2025, where the median sold price stood at $230,000. The median list price in June 2025 was $255,000, showing a decrease of 5.52% from $269,900 in June 2024.

In terms of sales volume, the St. Louis City market experienced a growth, with 291 homes sold in June 2025—an increase of 7.78% from Continue Reading →

Franklin County Real Estate Market Sees Continued Growth in July 2025

By Dennis Norman, on July 19th, 2025

The Franklin County real estate market has shown promising growth as of July 2025, with significant increases in home prices and sales compared to the previous year. In June 2025, homes in Franklin County sold for a median price of $261,500, marking a 7.84% increase from June 2024, when the median sold price was $242,500. This increase is also slightly higher than the median sold price in May 2025, which was $259,900, demonstrating a steady month-over-month growth of 0.62%.

The median list price in June 2025 was $259,950, reflecting a 4.40% rise from $249,000 in June 2024. Additionally, the number Continue Reading →

Discover the Top Fastest Selling Zip Codes in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on July 16th, 2025

The St. Louis metropolitan area, spanning across Missouri and Illinois, is witnessing a remarkable trend in its real estate market, particularly in the speed at which homes are being sold. The zip code 62239 in St Clair-IL, IL, leads the pack with an impressive average of 0 days on the market for its 7 active listings, each at an average list price of $158,614. This indicates a robust demand in this locale, making it a hotspot for potential buyers looking for quick closings and sellers aiming for swift transactions.

Following closely are zip codes 63012 in Jefferson, MO, and 63074 Continue Reading →