Real Estate Market - St Louis Real Estate News

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

By Dennis Norman, on April 13th, 2025

If you’re considering buying or selling a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area, understanding the local real estate dynamics can greatly influence your decision. The fastest selling school district currently is Pontiac-W Holliday DIST 105 in Fairview Heights, IL, showcasing an impressive average market time of just 5 days for its listings. With only 3 homes listed, and an average list price of $261,633, this district is a hotspot for rapid real estate transactions. Following closely is Richwoods R-VII in Missouri, where homes average just 6 days on the market, and Valley Park in Valley Park, MO, with homes Continue Reading →

Zillow’s New Listing Policy Raises Bigger Questions About Control and Competition

By Dennis Norman, on April 12th, 2025

Zillows listing policy vs Clear Cooperation, Compass, NAR and the consumer??

Zillow’s new policy, set to take effect in May 2025, takes a hard stance against listings that are marketed publicly without being listed on the MLS and displayed via MLS feeds. Zillow says it’s about fairness and protecting consumers. But is it? Or is it about consolidating control of listing visibility under the guise of transparency? And with Zillow now operating as a licensed brokerage—and a member of many MLSs—is this policy actually benefiting consumers, or simply solidifying Zillow’s role as a gatekeeper?

Zillow claims alignment with NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy, but that claim Continue Reading →

Spring Surge: Contracts Soar as Buyers Snap Up St. Louis Homes

By Dennis Norman, on April 11th, 2025

St Louis Housing Market Snapshot March 2025 - St Louis Realtor

The St. Louis metro area housing market saw a meaningful uptick in activity this March, driven by rising inventory and strong buyer engagement. New listings rose 11% year-over-year, reaching 3,301 compared to 2,987 in March 2024. This increase was met with even more robust buyer response—newly accepted contracts surged by 26%, jumping from 3,503 to 4,424.

This demand-side strength is translating into higher prices. The median sold price over the past 12 months climbed 6.55% to $270,000. Even with slightly more inventory (a 1.5-month supply and 7,547 active listings), homes are still moving quickly, Continue Reading →

Mortgage Rates Rebound After Brief Dip—Here’s What It Means for St. Louis Buyers

By Dennis Norman, on April 10th, 2025

Mortgage interest rates have bounced back after briefly dipping earlier this month, but there’s more to the story—especially for St. Louis home buyers. One key factor keeping rates from climbing even higher? The recent postponement of tariffs, which has helped ease economic pressure and may be keeping mortgage rates from surging faster.

As of today, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate conventional loan is around 6.95%, with FHA loans at 6.42% and VA loans at 6.45%. These numbers reflect an uptick from the recent low of about 6.40% on April 4th, but still sit below the 7.16% average we Continue Reading →

Survey: Market Pressures Still Weigh on Buyers, But Outlook Is Cautiously Upbeat

By Dennis Norman, on April 2nd, 2025

Consumers concerned about the real estate market

A new national survey of experienced real estate agents sheds light on what’s really happening in the market—and what it means for St. Louis buyers, sellers, and investors. According to the data, affordability remains the single biggest concern agents face when looking ahead. Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) say it’s the top challenge over the next five years. With elevated interest rates and prices still outpacing income growth, the path to homeownership is tougher than ever for many buyers.

But it’s not just affordability. Inventory shortages remain a pain point, with 42.8% of agents citing low housing supply as Continue Reading →

The Growing Push for Private Listing Networks: What Home Sellers Need to Know

By Dennis Norman, on March 20th, 2025

A growing number of real estate brokerages are steering sellers toward private listing networks rather than listing homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). According to a January 2025 Harris/Zillow poll, this shift is happening despite a lack of consumer awareness about what private listings mean—and how they can impact a home sale.

The survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults highlights an alarming trend: most sellers aren’t being given all the facts about listing options. Here’s what you need to know before deciding where to list your home.

Most Sellers Are in the Dark About Private Continue Reading →

Discover the Hottest Zip Codes for Buying and Selling Homes in St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on March 16th, 2025

Are you looking to buy or sell a home in the St. Louis metro area? If so, you’ll want to pay attention to the fastest selling zip codes in the region. According to recent data, the top three zip codes with the shortest average time on the market are 63021 in St. Louis, MO, 62095 in Madison-IL, IL, and 63050 in Jefferson, MO.

In 63021, homes are selling at lightning speed with an average of only 13 days on the market. This zip code also boasts an average list price of $527,146, making it a desirable location for both buyers Continue Reading →

Discover the Top 3 Fastest Selling School Districts in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on March 12th, 2025

Are you looking to buy or sell a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area? If so, you’ll want to pay attention to the fastest selling school districts in the region. According to recent data, the top three school districts with the fastest home sales are Valley Park in Valley Park, MO, Wood River-Hartford DIST 15 in Wood River, IL, and Crystal City 47 in Crystal City, MO.

In Valley Park, homes are flying off the market with an average of just 1 day on the market for 4 active listings. With an average list price of $239,475, this district Continue Reading →

St. Louis Homes Requiring Fewer Showings to Sell Than Any Time in Over a Decade!

By Dennis Norman, on February 25th, 2025

January 2025 saw the lowest average number of showings before a home went under contract in over a decade—just 12 showings per pending sale. This marks a significant shift in the St. Louis real estate market, signaling strong demand and motivated buyers. To put this in perspective, the average number of showings needed in January has historically ranged from 13.1 in 2024 to as high as 15.9 in 2022 and 15.8 in 2015. This downward trend suggests that buyers are acting quickly and decisively, making it a prime time for sellers to enter the market.

For Continue Reading →

St. Louis Housing Market Outlook: What 2025 Price Forecasts Mean for You

By Dennis Norman, on February 19th, 2025

St Louis Realtors - St Louis Real Estate

According to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index (HPI) Forecast, U.S. home prices are expected to rise 4.1% year-over-year through December 2025. Nationally, home prices rose 3.4% from December 2023 to December 2024, showing a steady upward trend despite affordability concerns. In Missouri, home values have already reached record highs, and with mortgage rates still elevated, local buyers and sellers should prepare for a competitive market.

In the St. Louis metro area, the median home price was $255,000 in December 2024. Applying CoreLogic’s 4.1% projected price increase, that would push the median home price to approximately $265,500 by December Continue Reading →

Discover the Hottest Zip Codes in St. Louis: Where Homes are Flying Off the Market in Record Time

By Dennis Norman, on February 16th, 2025

Are you looking to buy or sell a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area? If so, you’ll want to pay attention to the latest real estate data. According to recent statistics, the fastest selling zip codes in the area are 62035 in Madison-IL, IL, 63021 in St. Louis, MO, and 63055 in Franklin, MO.

In 62035, homes are selling at lightning speed with an average of only 15 days on the market. This district boasts 6 active listings with an average list price of $324,250. Close behind is 63021, where homes are selling in an average of 17 days. Continue Reading →

Discover the Top 3 Fastest Selling School Districts in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on February 12th, 2025

Are you in the market for a new home in the St. Louis metropolitan area? As you search for the perfect place to call home, it’s important to consider the school district that your future home will fall under. Luckily, we’ve done the research for you and have compiled a list of the top three fastest selling school districts in the area.

Topping the list is Wood River-Hartford DIST 15 in Illinois, where homes are selling at lightning speed. With only 2 listings on the market, the average time on the market is just 4 days. This district boasts an Continue Reading →

From Record Peaks to New Norms: January Home Sales Trends in St. Louis

By Dennis Norman, on February 10th, 2025

St Louis YTD Home Sals January 2025 by St Louis Realtors

St. Louis, take a look at our live, interactive chart for January YTD home sales—a snapshot that tells quite a story. Here’s a breakdown of what the numbers are saying and why they matter to you.

A Look at the Data

January 2025: YTD home sales came in at 1,674. That’s an 8% drop from January 2024’s 1,820 sales. Recent Year-Over-Year Shifts: 2020 to 2021: Sales surged from 2,060 to 2,539—a jump of roughly 23%. 2021 to 2022: A cooling set in with a decline of about 7.7% (from 2,539 down to 2,343). 2022 to 2023: We saw a dramatic Continue Reading →

What’s Driving Home Insurance Increases—and Why St. Louis Is in a Good Spot

By Dennis Norman, on February 5th, 2025

Homeowners in the St. Louis metro area might be hearing about skyrocketing insurance premiums, but there’s some good news—our region is in a much better position than many others. A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) shows that while homeowners insurance costs are up 33% nationwide since 2020, much of that increase is hitting high-risk disaster zones and areas heavily reliant on reinsurance. Unlike coastal states dealing with hurricanes and wildfires, Missouri and Illinois have far less exposure to these risks, and insurers here aren’t nearly as dependent on expensive reinsurance policies. That means while we’re Continue Reading →

How Many Homes Are Agents Really Selling?

By Dennis Norman, on January 27th, 2025

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) recently released its 2024 Member Profile, offering valuable insights into the business activity of REALTORS®. One of the most compelling findings is in Chapter 2, particularly Exhibit 2-6, which sheds light on the number of residential transaction sides completed by agents. Here’s what the data reveals and why it matters.

Residential Sides: A Snapshot of REALTOR® Activity

In 2023, the median number of residential transaction sides completed by REALTORS® was 10, a decline from prior years, reflecting the challenges of the current housing market. The breakdown of residential sides highlights the disparity in activity Continue Reading →

Is Your St. Louis Home Protected from Fire? Essential Insurance Tips for Homeowners

By Dennis Norman, on January 24th, 2025

What homeowners insurance covers in the case of a fire to a home in St. Louis?

As wildfires devastate parts of Los Angeles, it’s a sobering reminder to St. Louis homeowners to assess their own fire insurance coverage. While wildfires aren’t a concern here, house fires caused by electrical malfunctions, kitchen accidents, or lightning strikes are an ever-present risk. Ensuring you have the right coverage in place can make all the difference in protecting your home and your financial future.

What to Know About Your Homeowners Insurance Policy

Fire damage is typically covered by most homeowners insurance policies, but understanding the details of your coverage is critical:

Policy Limits: Are the coverage limits sufficient to rebuild Continue Reading →

Are Home Prices Really Soaring? A Look Behind the Numbers

By Dennis Norman, on January 22nd, 2025

When it comes to understanding home prices, many consumers focus on the dollar amounts they see in headlines. However, these numbers don’t always tell the whole story. A fascinating perspective emerges when we compare home prices not just in U.S. dollars but in terms of gold, a historical store of value. The chart below reveals that when measured in gold, home prices have remained relatively stable since the late 1980s, with the exception of the housing bubble and its subsequent crash.

While the dollar-based chart shows an upward trajectory in home prices, surging over 250% since the year 2000, the Continue Reading →

High St. Louis Home Prices: What Buyers and Sellers Should Expect Next

By Dennis Norman, on January 22nd, 2025

Recent data from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) charts below reveal interesting insights about St. Louis home prices in relation to the M2 money supply. Over the last several years, St. Louis home prices, represented by the red line, have steadily risen, reaching their current index value of 302.78 in Q3 2024. At the same time, the M2 money supply, shown by the blue line, has seen a more dramatic fluctuation, particularly during and after the pandemic, with a current value of over $21 trillion.

Historically, as the M2 money supply increases, home prices tend to rise as well, Continue Reading →

St. Louis Housing Inventory: Where Buyers and Sellers Can Win

By Dennis Norman, on January 21st, 2025

The latest months supply data for the St. Louis metro area reveals a tale of two markets: cities with high inventory signaling better opportunities for buyers and areas with low supply creating an advantage for sellers. For homebuyers and investors flexible on location, cities like Breckenridge Hills and Gerald, each with 8 months of inventory, could offer more negotiating power. In contrast, fast-moving areas like Webster Groves and Ballwin, with less than one month of supply, reflect strong demand and competition.

For sellers, being in a low-supply market is good news. A tighter inventory means fewer homes for buyers to Continue Reading →

Discover the Hottest Real Estate Markets in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on January 16th, 2025

Are you in the market to buy or sell a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area? Look no further! According to recent data, the fastest selling zip codes in this region are 63630 in Washington, MO, 63044 in St. Louis, MO, and 62095 in Madison-IL, IL. These zip codes have an average of 8-11 listings on the market for just 25-30 days, making them prime locations for buyers and sellers alike.

If you’re a potential home buyer, these zip codes offer a competitive market with a variety of options to choose from. And for sellers, the fast turnover rate Continue Reading →

Discover the Top 3 Fastest Selling School Districts in St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on January 12th, 2025

Are you looking to buy or sell a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area? If so, you’ll want to pay attention to the latest data on the fastest selling school districts in the area. According to recent statistics, the top three districts with the shortest average time on the market are Wood River-Hartford DIST 15 in Wood River, IL, Kingston K-14 in Unincorporated, MO, and Pontiac-W Holliday DIST 105 in , IL.

With only 6 active listings and an average of 19 days on the market, Wood River-Hartford DIST 15 takes the top spot. This district boasts a diverse Continue Reading →

Off-Market Listings: A Curious Conflict in Real Estate Practices

By Dennis Norman, on January 10th, 2025

Off Market Listings - Broker or Office Exclusive Listings

In the world of residential real estate, there’s an interesting contradiction that’s worth exploring. Investors spend significant time, money, and effort targeting homeowners before their properties ever reach the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). Why? Because off-market properties often yield the best deals, allowing investors to avoid competition and negotiate favorable terms. Yet, at the same time, we see a growing trend among listing agents—professionals with a fiduciary duty to act in their clients’ best interests—choosing strategies that keep properties off the MLS as well. This curious alignment of methods raises important questions about the motives and implications of such practices.

Continue Reading →

Happy New Year from St. Louis Real Estate News!

By Dennis Norman, on January 1st, 2025

As we welcome the new year, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the past and set our sights on the opportunities ahead. Whether you’re planning to buy your dream home, sell your current property, or invest in the thriving St. Louis real estate market, 2025 promises to be an exciting year full of possibilities.

The St. Louis real estate market has remained a dynamic and diverse one, with opportunities for homeowners, buyers, and investors alike. From charming historic neighborhoods to bustling new developments, there’s something for everyone. As we kick off the year, now is the perfect time to Continue Reading →

Discover the Hottest Zip Codes in St. Louis for Home Buyers and Sellers

By Dennis Norman, on December 16th, 2024

Are you in the market to buy or sell a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area? Look no further than the fastest selling zip codes for your next move. According to recent data, the top three zip codes with the shortest average days on market are 63043 in St. Louis, MO, 63074 in St. Louis, MO, and 62095 in Madison-IL, IL.

With only 11 active listings and an average of 30 days on the market, 63043 takes the top spot for the fastest selling zip code in St. Louis. And with an average list price of $273,836, it’s an Continue Reading →

Discover the Hottest School Districts for Home Buyers and Sellers in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on December 12th, 2024

Are you looking to buy or sell a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area? If so, you’ll want to pay attention to the fastest selling school districts in the region. According to recent data, Wolf Branch DIST 113 in Illinois takes the top spot with an average of only 16 days on the market for its 3 active listings. This district boasts a desirable location and an average list price of $314,300, making it a hot spot for families looking to settle down.

But Wolf Branch DIST 113 isn’t the only school district with a quick turnaround time. Coming Continue Reading →

National Seller Trends Show Stability in Sale Prices and Quick Market Times for 2024

By Dennis Norman, on December 7th, 2024

For St. Louis homeowners considering selling their homes, the 2024 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers offers valuable insights into current trends. According to the report, the median time a home spends on the market remains a swift three weeks, with 49% of all homes selling within just two weeks. For sellers, this indicates that pricing your home competitively and working with an experienced agent can lead to quick and successful sales.

Additionally, the median sales price continues to align with the listing price, holding steady at 100% of the asking price. This consistency underscores the Continue Reading →

Detached Homes Still Reign: Key Trends from the 2024 Buyer Profile

By Dennis Norman, on December 6th, 2024

The National Association of Realtors’ 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers provides fascinating insights into the evolving preferences and demographics of today’s real estate market. As reflected in the charts below, buyers continue to seek homes and neighborhoods that align with their lifestyles and values, while trends in home size, type, and location highlight shifting priorities.

Key Highlights from the Report Family Dynamics in Home Purchases: The share of homebuyers without children under 18 in the home has risen significantly, reaching 73% in 2024, compared to just 41% in 1981. This trend underscores how demographic changes are shaping the Continue Reading →

First-Time Home Buyers: Now Older Than Ever

By Dennis Norman, on December 5th, 2024

The 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), provides a detailed look at the trends shaping the real estate market. One of the most striking takeaways is the continued rise in the age of first-time home buyers. In 2024, the median age of first-time buyers is 38 years—a dramatic jump from 29 yearsin 1981. This increase reflects the growing challenges young buyers face, including rising home prices, student loan debt, and tighter lending standards. The chart below vividly illustrates this trend over the past four decades.

In contrast, repeat buyers now have Continue Reading →

St. Louis YTD Home Sales Decline Slightly in 2024

By Dennis Norman, on December 5th, 2024

St Louis MSA YTD Home Sales - 1999 to Present (Chart)

As of November 2024, year-to-date (YTD) home sales in the St. Louis metro area reached 28,672, marking a slight decline compared to the 29,072 homes sold by this time last year. This represents a reduction of 400 homes sold year-over-year, a modest dip of approximately 1.37%.

While this year’s figures are down slightly, the broader picture of the St. Louis housing market remains resilient, even amidst shifting economic and market conditions. To put this in perspective, the YTD home sales in November 2024 are still significantly higher than in some prior years, particularly during market troughs like 2010.

For home Continue Reading →

Skip Black Friday Crowds for Real Estate Deals!

By Dennis Norman, on November 29th, 2024

While many rush to snag the best deals on TVs and appliances this Black Friday, savvy homebuyers know the real bargains might be waiting in the St. Louis real estate market. Homes with price reductions or fresh opportunities after a contract falls through can offer a golden chance to snag a deal on your dream home. Instead of battling holiday shoppers, consider browsing the incredible opportunities on WillingToNegotiate.com.

This website features homes in the St. Louis metro area where sellers are showing flexibility. Whether you’re eyeing a property with a recent price cut or one that’s back on the market, Continue Reading →