Sandie Hea - St Louis Real Estate News

Meet Me at the Boathouse (Again)

By Sandie Hea, on March 6th, 2026

If you’ve lived in St. Louis very long, chances are you have a Boathouse memory. I know I do. The Boathouse in Forest Park has been part of this city since 1876. The current building was rebuilt and expanded in 2003 so it could be both a restaurant and a place to rent boats. That’s when it really became more than just a stop by the water — it became a destination.

It sits on Post-Dispatch Lake, renamed in 1913 after the St. Louis Post-Dispatch helped fund improvements to the lake. You’re not just looking at water — Continue Reading →

STORM DAMAGE IN 2025? You May Be Owed Up to $5,000 Back on Your Missouri Taxes 💰

By Sandie Hea, on March 5th, 2026

If you own a home in Missouri and your home was hit by the March 2025 hailstorm — the one that left roofs and siding looking like they’d been blasted by a machine gun — or the devastating May 7, 2025 tornado, there is a significant tax opportunity you should not overlook.

Missouri offers a HOMESTEAD DISASTER TAX CREDIT AFFIDAVIT for homeowners who incurred an insurance deductible on their primary residence due to a qualifying 2025 disaster. The form is Missouri Department of Revenue Form 5926 – Homestead Disaster Tax Credit Affidavit

Here is what matters.

If you Continue Reading →

The Things That Trip Up Home Sales – Part IV

By Sandie Hea, on February 19th, 2026

Home repairs not to code and not installed properly.

Real Life Examples: Can You Spot the Improper Installation?

After nearly 40 years in real estate, I have learned that one of the biggest concerns when we sit down to talk about selling is this: “Am I going to have to bring my house up to code and what costly repairs might a buyer ask for?”

Sometimes the most expensive issues are the ones that look completely fine.

Below are real examples from a recent St. Louis County occupancy inspection. Everything in this home was working properly. Nothing had failed. The issue was not function. The issue was compliance.

Example Continue Reading →

The Things That Trip Up Home Sales Part III

By Sandie Hea, on February 18th, 2026

The Same Things Get Flagged Every Time—Here They Are

After nearly 40 years in real estate, I’ve learned that one of the biggest concerns when we sit down to talk about selling is this: “Am I going to have to bring my house ‘up to code’—and what costly repairs might a buyer ask for?”

While every inspection is different, the same categories of issues appear again and again—especially in older homes.

Commonly Flagged Items Life-Safety Missing or non-working smoke detectors Missing carbon monoxide detectors Stairs & Handrails Missing handrails Handrails not securely mounted Insufficient stair lighting Electrical Open junction boxes Continue Reading →

The Things That Trip Up Home Sales Part II

By Sandie Hea, on February 17th, 2026

Why Your House Was “Fine”…Until You Decided to Sell It

One of the most confusing parts of selling a home is realizing that issues which never mattered while you lived there suddenly matter once you decide to sell.

Why This Happens

In many municipalities, enforcement is tied to ownership transfer, not day-to-day occupancy. When a Continue Reading →

The Things That Trip Up Home Sales Part I

By Sandie Hea, on February 16th, 2026

What up to code really means when selling a house.

Before You Panic: What “Up to Code” Really Means When Selling

This concern comes up in nearly every selling conversation, especially with long-time homeowners and seniors who have lived in their homes for decades. The phrase Continue Reading →

If Radon Is So Dangerous, Why Do We Only Talk About It When You Sell Your House?

By Sandie Hea, on February 14th, 2026

A balanced, investigative look at the science, skepticism, and real-world decisions facing homeowners

Section 1: The Radon Paradox — Why Does This Only Come Up When You Sell a House?

If radon is truly the second leading cause of lung cancer, why don’t we hear about it the way we hear about smoking, air pollution, or even mold? Why does the topic seem to surface mostly during home inspections and real estate transactions — then disappear from everyday conversation?

Many homeowners notice this contradiction. During a purchase, radon suddenly feels urgent, technical, and sometimes expensive. Outside a sale, it Continue Reading →

Missouri Becomes the First State to Eliminate Capital Gains Taxes for Individuals

By Sandie Hea, on September 10th, 2025

Missouri Eliminates Capital Gains Tax - First state to do so

In July 2025, Governor Mike Kehoe signed House Bill 594, a groundbreaking reform that retroactively eliminates all Missouri state capital gains taxes for individuals, effective January 1, 2025. With this law, Missouri becomes the first U.S. state imposing an individual income tax to completely exempt personal capital gains from state taxation. Now, all capital gains—whether short-term or long-term, from sales of stocks, bonds, real estate, cryptocurrency, or businesses—are fully deductible from Missouri taxable income, thanks to a 100% subtraction for individuals.

This tax shift delivers powerful incentives across the board:

Real estate investors—especially those holding rental properties—face less friction when Continue Reading →

Why a Vacant House Won’t Sell Itself — And What to Do About It

By Sandie Hea, on May 19th, 2025

Benefits of staging your home when listing it for sale

After 38 years in real estate, I’ve seen the same pattern again and again: vacant homes don’t just look empty—they feel empty. And they don’t sell as well.

When buyers scroll through listings online, they’re not just looking for square footage or appliance brands—they’re looking for a feeling. They want to imagine their life in the space. And that’s nearly impossible when a home is empty, stark, and echoing.

Without furniture, every flaw screams louder. Wall dings, floor scratches, awkward corners—they stand out because there’s nothing else to catch the eye. There’s no warmth, no sense of scale, and no Continue Reading →

Missouri’s New Homestead Property Tax Credit: Relief for Senior Homeowners

By Sandie Hea, on September 5th, 2024

Senior Property Tax Freeze - St Louis, MO

A significant change in property tax law took effect in Missouri on August 28, 2024, offering financial relief to many of our senior residents. The newly implemented Homestead Property Tax Credit is designed to help senior citizens manage their property tax liabilities more effectively. Here are the key points of the new law:

Eligibility: Missouri residents who are 62 years or older, own their home, and are liable for real property taxes. Credit Amount: The credit equals the difference between the current tax liability and the tax liability during the taxpayer’s initial credit year. Local Adoption: Counties can adopt the Continue Reading →

Most Consumers Who Sold to Opendoor Lost Money According to FTC Complaint

By Sandie Hea, on August 3rd, 2022

Maybe you’ve received an unsolicited offer recently to buy your home via email or postcard from Opendoor, a home buying firm. OpenDoor will make an offer on your house, bypassing the traditional method of selling your home via a REALTOR® using the MLS (which reaches 13,000+ REALTORS®) and entices you with catchy phrases on their website like “Get an instant offer and get paid” and “Skip showings and repairs”. It can sound good and SIMPLE but, according to the FTC complaint against OPENDOOR LABS, Inc. (Opendoor) and the agreement and consent order, “…consumers who sold to Opendoor have lost money Continue Reading →