St. Louis New Homes - St Louis Real Estate News

Myth: A Finished Basement Is Worth the Same as the Rest of the House

By Karen Moeller, on March 24th, 2026

Reality: Lower-level space adds value, but it is priced differently

That beautifully finished basement may help sell the home, but it is not valued the same way.

“I mean, it’s basically another level.”

If you’ve ever walked through a well-finished basement in St. Louis, you’ve probably heard some version of that comment. And to be fair, some of them feel like it. Full bars, theater setups, extra bedrooms, even second kitchens can make the space feel like a natural extension of the home, but when it comes to value, the market draws a clear line between above-grade and below-grade space.

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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 →

The Real Test of a Development Isn’t Opening Day

By Karen Moeller, on February 14th, 2026

Delmar Divine - Bob Clark, Maxine Clark, Build a Bear, Clayco, St Louis Affordable Housing

How to tell if the Delmar Divine redevelopment truly works

When a new housing project is announced in St. Louis, most people do not start by reading the details. In a city where redevelopment projects have often carried big expectations, reactions tend to start with comparison rather than celebration. They start by remembering. This region has seen ambitious redevelopment before. Some helped. Some faded. So when a project like Delmar Divine is introduced, the real reaction is not excitement or negativity. It is evaluation. The question is not whether St. Louis has tried to stabilize neighborhoods before. The question is Continue Reading →

When Washington Tells Builders to “Build More,” St. Louis Tells a Different Story

By Karen Moeller, on January 12th, 2026

When a federal housing official publicly tells homebuilders to “build more,” it sounds simple enough. More homes should mean more supply, and more supply should ease affordability pressures.

That logic works at a national level. On the ground in the St. Louis region, the story is far more complicated.

Recently, **Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte called on builders to accelerate construction on lots they already control, arguing that housing affordability will not improve without increased production. The message was clear and widely shared.

What matters just as much is where Continue Reading →

The Small-Lot Shift: What St. Louis Homeowners Need to Know About the City’s New 1,500 Sq Ft Minimum Lot Size

By Karen Moeller, on November 26th, 2025

tiny lots - City of St Louis approves smaller lots

The City of St. Louis has approved a major change that will quietly reshape how land is valued, bought, and sold inside the city limits. The minimum buildable lot size, previously set at 4,000 square feet, has now been reduced to 1,500 square feet. It is one of the biggest zoning shifts the city has made in decades, and it affects far more than developers. Homeowners, sellers, and buyers should understand how this change works and what it means for property value.

This update creates new possibilities, but it also introduces new considerations for anyone involved in a real estate Continue Reading →

The Silent Supply Squeeze: Why Tear Down Lots Are Drying Up in St. Louis

By Karen Moeller, on November 24th, 2025

St. Louis buyers, builders, and longtime residents have been asking a quiet question over the last few years: Why does it feel like there are fewer tear down opportunities in the older suburbs?

You would think that with aging housing stock, the supply of buildable lots would naturally increase over time. But the opposite is happening, and the reason has nothing to do with builders, zoning boards, or construction trends. It starts inside the homes themselves.

Homeowners in their seventies and eighties are staying put longer than any previous generation. They have stable tax Continue Reading →

Real Estate Mythbusters: “New Construction = No Problems” — The Hidden Headaches Behind a Brand-New Home

By Karen Moeller, on November 7th, 2025

The Myth of the Perfect New-Build Home

Few things feel more exciting than walking through a brand-new home. Fresh paint. Perfect grout lines. Not a fingerprint on the fridge. For many buyers, it’s the dream — a house no one has ever lived in, with that new-home smell and the promise of zero surprises.

But here’s the myth worth busting: new construction doesn’t mean problem-free. It just means different problems.

The Hype

When buyers hear “new,” they often picture worry-free living — no leaky roofs, no ancient HVAC systems, no mid-century electrical panels Continue Reading →

What That Model Home Won’t Tell You: 5 Hidden Costs of Buying New Construction in St. Louis

By Karen Moeller, on July 14th, 2025

That new-home smell? It’s intoxicating. Brand-new everything, sparkling finishes, no mystery stains from owners past. For many first-time buyers in St. Louis, new construction feels like a dream in drywall. A clean slate. A chance to create something that’s all yours.

But while it may look like smooth sailing, the new construction journey comes with its own set of speed bumps—some financial, some emotional. This guide is here to help you move forward with eyes wide open, heart full, and budget intact.

Let’s explore five unexpected costs that can sneak up on new construction buyers—and pair them with a few Continue Reading →

McBride Homes Just Took a Legal Gut Punch. Here’s What It Means for Buyers

By John Donati, on June 10th, 2025

McBride Homes, the largest builder in St. Louis, is in hot water. A St. Louis County judge just denied their attempt to stop Builder’s Bloc, a major contractor, from going after them for more than $10 million in unpaid work. The result? Legal chaos spilling over onto unsuspecting homebuyers.

The Fight: $10 Million, Dozens of Homes, and No Resolution

Builder’s Bloc claims McBride didn’t pay up. In response, they’ve filed liens on homes in multiple McBride communities. These aren’t empty threats. Some buyers have already closed and now own homes with liens attached. Others are under contract and facing serious Continue Reading →

New Home Construction Slows in St. Louis—Five of Seven Counties See Double-Digit Drop in Permits

By Dennis Norman, on May 12th, 2025

In the 12-month period ending March 31, 2025, there were 3,492 permits issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area, a 16.55% decrease from the 4,070 permits issued during the prior year, according to the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri. Five of the seven counties in the report showed double-digit drops in new home permit activity. However, Franklin County and Warren County saw double-digit increases, indicating continued strong interest in those markets.

This data is one of the many reasons buyers and investors rely on the expertise and insights from MORE, REALTORS®

See Continue Reading →

St. Louis Home Building Surges in Key Areas—What’s Driving the Growth?

By Dennis Norman, on April 3rd, 2025

New home construction activity in the St. Louis area shows mixed results for the 12-month period ending February 2025, compared to the previous year. According to the latest data, single-family home permits across the region totaled 3,993, marking an increase of about 13.3% from the 3,525 permits recorded in the prior period.

Notably, St. Louis County experienced a significant increase of 30.4%, rising from 506 to 727 permits. St. Charles County also saw healthy growth, increasing permits by 11.88% from 1,328 to 1,507. The City of St. Louis similarly showed robust growth, jumping 43.48% from 322 to 462 permits.

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St. Louis County Sees Sharp Decline in New Home Permits, While Lincoln County Booms by Nearly 82%

By Dennis Norman, on January 10th, 2025

St Louis MSA Building Permits for New Homes Data for November 2024 compared with year ago

During the 12-month period ending November 30, 2024, a total of 3,756 building permits were issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This marks a 2.47% decrease from the previous 12 months, which recorded 3,851 permits. According to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA), four of the seven counties covered in the report experienced an increase in permits. Lincoln County continues to show great growth in new construction with an increase nearly 82%.

Search St Louis Homes For Sale Search St Louis New Homes For Continue Reading →

St. Louis County Faces 38% Decline in New Home Permits, Lincoln County Booms

By Dennis Norman, on December 13th, 2024

During the 12-month period ending October 31, 2024, a total of 3,789 building permits were issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This marks a 3.64% decrease from the previous 12 months, which recorded 3,932 permits. According to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA), four of the seven counties covered in the report experienced an increase in permits. Lincoln County continues to show great growth in new construction with an increase of a whopping 154%.

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St. Louis Building Permits Rise in 4 of 7 Counties, with Lincoln County Seeing Over 100% Growth Again This Month!

By Dennis Norman, on November 13th, 2024

During the 12-month period ending September 30, 2024, a total of 3,855 building permits were issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This marks a 1.28% decrease from the previous 12 months, which recorded 3,905 permits. According to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA), four of the seven counties covered in the report experienced an increase in permits. Lincoln County continues to show great growth in new construction with an increase of a whopping 154%.

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The First-Time Homebuyer Dilemma: Why Builders Aren’t Meeting Demand for Smaller Homes

By John Donati, on October 31st, 2024

New Construction Red Tape and Regulation

Let’s get into why builders aren’t producing the smaller, affordable homes that so many first-time buyers are seeking. It boils down to a mix of profit margins, rising costs, regulatory roadblocks, challenges from local architectural review boards, and the need for more efficient construction methods.

First off, for builders, the bottom line is key, and smaller homes simply don’t bring in the same returns as larger projects. The costs of materials, labor, and especially land have been climbing steadily, making smaller homes harder to build profitably. Land in decent locations can be incredibly pricey, sometimes feeling as valuable as gold Continue Reading →

St. Louis Building Permits Dip Slightly, but Lincoln County sees Over 100% Growth again this month!

By Dennis Norman, on October 9th, 2024

During the 12-month period ending August 31, 2024, a total of 3,865 building permits were issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This marks a 3.38% decrease from the previous 12 months, which recorded 4,000 permits. According to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA), four of the seven counties covered in the report experienced a decline in permits. Lincoln County continues to show great growth in new construction with an increase of a whopping 109%. Conversely, the City of St Louis continues to show the largest Continue Reading →

St. Louis Building Permits Dip Slightly, but Lincoln County Booms with Over 100% Growth!

By Dennis Norman, on September 11th, 2024

During the 12-month period ending July 31, 2024, a total of 3,877 building permits were issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This marks a 2.93% decrease from the previous 12 months, which recorded 3,994 permits. According to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA), four of the seven counties covered in the report experienced a decline in permits. Lincoln County continues to show great growth in new construction with an increase of a whopping 103.39%. Conversely, the City continues to show the largest decline in new Continue Reading →

St. Louis Sees Slight Decrease in Single-Family Home Permits Over the Past Year

By Dennis Norman, on August 13th, 2024

During the 12-month period ending June 30, 2024, a total of 4,017 building permits were issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This marks a 2.34% decrease from the previous 12 months, which recorded 3,923 permits. According to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA), four of the seven counties covered in the report experienced a decline in permits. Lincoln County saw the largest percentage increase at a whopping 88.69%. Conversely, the City of St. Louis experienced the largest decrease, with an 27.93% decline.

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St. Louis Continues to See Increase in New Home Construction Over the Past 12 Months

By Dennis Norman, on July 19th, 2024

During the 12-month period ending May 31, 2024, a total of 4,004 building permits were issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This marks a 2.72% increase from the previous 12 months, which recorded 3,898 permits. According to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA), four of the seven counties covered in the report experienced an increase in permits, two of which were in double digits. The leading winner and loser were the same this month as last, with Lincoln County seeing the largest percentage increase at Continue Reading →

St. Louis Sees 4.87% Rise in Single-Family Home Permits Over the Past Year

By Dennis Norman, on June 11th, 2024

During the 12-month period ending April 30, 2024, a total of 4,071 building permits were issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This marks a 4.87% increase from the previous 12 months, which recorded 3,882 permits. According to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA), four of the seven counties covered in the report experienced an increase in permits, three of which were in the double digits. Lincoln County saw the largest percentage increase at 37.66%. Conversely, the City of St. Louis experienced the largest decrease, with Continue Reading →

St. Louis New Home Buyers: Why Partnering with a Real Estate Agent Matters

By Dennis Norman, on June 4th, 2024

When considering the purchase of a new construction home in the St. Louis Metro area, it’s crucial to have a professional real estate agent on your side from the very beginning. Here’s why you shouldn’t work directly with the builder and the benefits of engaging an agent with extensive knowledge and experience in new home construction.

Why Not Work Directly with the Builder?

Builders often have sales agents on-site who are well-versed in their product, but these representatives work for the builder. Their primary goal is to protect the best interests of the builder, not to advocate for the best Continue Reading →

Three Counties In The St Louis Area Experience Double Digit Growth in Building Permits

By Dennis Norman, on May 2nd, 2024

During the 12-month period ending March 31, 2024, a total of 4,070 building permits were issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area, marking a 3.83% increase from the previous 12 months, which recorded 3,920 permits. According to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA), four of the seven counties covered in the report experienced a decline in permits. The City of St. Louis saw the largest decrease, with a 13.31% drop. Conversely, the three counties that experienced an increase in building permits all reported double-digit growth

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St Louis Area New Home Building Permits Decline In All Counties Except St Charles

By Dennis Norman, on April 10th, 2024

During the 12-month period ending February 29, 2024, there were 3,993 building permits issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This figure marks a 4.29% decrease from the previous 12-month period, which saw 4,172 permits issued, as per the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA). The downturn was observed in all counties except St Charles County, with three of them experiencing double-digit declines. Search St Louis Homes For Sale Search St Louis New Homes For Sale

St Louis New Home Building Permits – February 2024

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The Risks of Split Closings in St. Louis: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

By Dennis Norman, on March 9th, 2024

In the St. Louis real estate market, ‘split closings’—where buyers and sellers close at different title companies—are a common practice. This is in contrast to most parts of the country, where a single title insurance company manages the closing for both parties. Although rare nationally, split closings have become a hallmark of the St. Louis real estate scene.

In a split closing, each title company plays a distinct role. The buyer’s title company is typically responsible for producing the title insurance commitment, ordering buyer-related items (like surveys), and coordinating with the new lender on figures and requirements. Conversely, Continue Reading →

St Louis New Home Constructions Begins 2024 Down From a Year Ago

By Dennis Norman, on March 7th, 2024

In the 12-month period ended January 31, 2024 the St. Louis area saw the issuance of 3,996 building permits for new single-family homes. This represents a decline of 3.64% compared to the previous 12-month period, which had 4,147 permits, according to the latest figures from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA). This downward trend was noted across all counties with the exception of St. Charles County, with two counties reporting double-digit decreases.

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St Louis New Home Building Permits Continue Reading →

Smaller, Personalized Homes Dominate 2024 Trends: Insights from NAHB Study

By Dennis Norman, on February 29th, 2024

The dynamics of the new home market are shifting significantly as we advance into 2024, with a clear trend towards smaller, more personalized living spaces emerging nationwide. This evolution reflects a broader change in homeowner preferences and market conditions, according to the latest “What Home Buyers Really Want” study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Recent data points to a decline in the average size of new homes, continuing a trend that began following a brief uptick in 2021. The average new home size has decreased to 2,411 square feet in 2023, marking the smallest average size in Continue Reading →

Despite High Demand and Low Inventory, St. Louis New Home Permits Hit Nine-Year Low in 2023

By Dennis Norman, on February 8th, 2024

In 2023, the St. Louis area saw the issuance of 3,891 building permits for new single-family homes. This represents a decline of 10.78% compared to the previous year, which had 4,361 permits, according to the latest figures from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA). This downward trend was noted across all counties with the exception of St. Charles County, where five counties reported double-digit decreases. Additionally, Warren County, which had been on a four-month streak of increased permit activity, experienced a slight drop this month. The total of 3,891 permits in 2023 is Continue Reading →

New Single-Family Home Permits Dip by 14.71% in St. Louis Area; Warren County Bucks the Trend

By Dennis Norman, on January 17th, 2024

During the 12-month period ending November 30, 2023, there were 3,932 building permits issued for new single-family homes in the St. Louis area. This figure marks a 14.71% decrease from the previous 12-month period, which saw 4,515 permits issued, as per the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St. Louis HBA). The downturn was observed in all counties except Warren County, with five of them experiencing double-digit declines. Warren County notably reported an increase in building permits for the fourth consecutive month.

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Majority of St. Louis Counties Experience Drop in New Home Building Permits

By Dennis Norman, on December 6th, 2023

There were 3,932 building permits issued for new single-family homes in the St Louis area during the 12-month period ended October 31, 2023. This represents a decline of 12.60% from the prior 12-month period, during which 4,499 permits were issued, according to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St Louis HBA). Five of the seven counties covered in the report saw a decline in building permits from the previous period with 4 of them seeing double digit declines. Warren County, on the other hand, saw a slight increase in permit activity for Continue Reading →

Nearly All St Louis Counties Continue Downward Trend in New Home Building Permits

By Dennis Norman, on November 3rd, 2023

There were 3,905 building permits issued for new single-family homes in the St Louis area during the 12-month period ended September 30, 2023. This represents a decline of 13.20% from the prior 12-month period, during which 4,499 permits were issued, according to the latest data from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (St Louis HBA). Six of the seven counties covered in the report saw a decline in building permits from the previous period with 4 of them seeing double digit declines. Warren County, on the other hand, saw a slight increase in permit activity for Continue Reading →