St Louis Real Estate News - Page 15 of 109 - Daily St. Louis real estate news, market analysis, home prices, and mortgage rate updates from local industry professionals.

Big Trouble for NAR? DOJ Just Hired the Guy Who Took Them Down

By Dennis Norman, on April 3rd, 2025

Roger Alford - DOJ vs NAR - Clear Cooperation

There’s been a significant appointment at the Department of Justice that should grab the attention of everyone in the real estate industry. Roger Alford, a Notre Dame law professor with deep antitrust experience and a key expert witness in the 2023 Sitzer/Burnett case against NAR, has been named Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. That’s a strong signal of where things may be heading.

Alford has made his views on NAR’s practices clear—particularly the Clear Cooperation Policy and MLS rules that tie access to REALTOR® membership. In his testimony and published work, he’s 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.

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 →

Delayed Marketing Exemptions Introduced by NAR—Real Solution or Band-Aid?

By Dennis Norman, on March 25th, 2025

Today, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) announced significant changes to its controversial Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP). After months of debate and scrutiny—from brokers, MLS leaders, agents, and legal experts—NAR introduced the new “Multiple Listing Options for Sellers” policy, which aims to address concerns around consumer choice and market fairness.

I’ve written extensively on why the original CCP faced such strong opposition, notably in my recent article highlighting attorney Michael Ketchmark’s explicit warning to NAR brokers: repeal CCP or face legal action. Ketchmark, lead counsel in the landmark Sitzer lawsuit, clearly indicated that maintaining the CCP could Continue Reading →

St Louis City Real Estate Market Update for February 2025

By Dennis Norman, on March 21st, 2025

The latest data from the St Louis City real estate market shows a decrease in home prices compared to the same time last year. According to the chart below, exclusively available from MORE, REALTORS®, the median sold price for homes in the St Louis City update was $200,000 in February 2025, a 4.74% decrease from February 2024 when the median sold price was $209,950. This also represents a 10.91% decrease from January 2025, when the median sold price was $224,500.

In addition, the median list price for homes in the St Louis City update was $199,900 in February 2025, a 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 →

St. Louis County Real Estate Market Update for February 2025

By Dennis Norman, on March 19th, 2025

The real estate market in St. Louis County is continuing to show strong growth, with the median sold price for homes reaching $250,000 in February 2025. This represents a 13.64% increase from February 2024, when the median sold price was $220,000. The chart below, available exclusively from MORE, REALTORS®, illustrates this upward trend.

The median list price in February 2025 was also up, reaching $249,900. This is a 16.23% increase from the previous year, when the median list price was $215,000. Despite this increase, the market remains competitive and homes are selling quickly.

In February 2025, there were 641 home 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 →

Attorney Michael Ketchmark Warns NAR Brokers: Repeal Clear Cooperation or Face Legal Action

By Dennis Norman, on March 12th, 2025

Legal Counsel Behind Billion-Dollar Verdict Vows to Enforce NAR Settlement Strictly

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is on the verge of making a pivotal decision about its controversial Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP)—a rule requiring listings to be submitted to a multiple listing service (MLS) within one business day of public marketing. Now, attorney Michael Ketchmark, lead counsel in the landmark Sitzer lawsuit, has issued a stark warning: if NAR brokers vote to maintain the rule, he may take legal action against them.

Ketchmark, in an interview with Inman News, made his stance clear: “It’s my expectation that after this meeting, when this comes to a NAR 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 →

Metro East Update: February 2025 Real Estate Market Update

By Dennis Norman, on March 9th, 2025

The metro east real estate market continues to show steady growth in February 2025, with a median sold price of $180,000. This represents a slight increase of 0.06% from the same time last year, when the median sold price was $179,900. However, there was a decrease of 3.74% compared to January 2025, when the median sold price was $187,000.

The median list price in February 2025 was $189,900, a 5.56% increase from February 2024’s median list price of $179,900. This indicates a strong demand for homes in the metro east area.

According to the chart below, provided exclusively by MORE, Continue Reading →

St Charles County Real Estate Market Update: February 2025

By Dennis Norman, on March 8th, 2025

The real estate market in St Charles County continues to show strength, with a median sold price of $362,559 in February 2025. This represents a 1.87% increase from the same time last year, when the median sold price was $355,900. Additionally, February’s median sold price is up 2.13% from January 2025, when it was $355,000.

According to the chart below, provided exclusively by MORE, REALTORS®, the median list price also saw a slight increase, going from $359,800 in February 2024 to $360,000 in February 2025. However, there were 233 home sales in February 2025, a decrease of 18.25% from the Continue Reading →

St. Louis Real Estate Market Update for February 2025

By Dennis Norman, on March 7th, 2025

As of February 2025, the St. Louis real estate market continues to show strong growth. According to data from MORE, REALTORS®, the median sold price for homes in the stl msa update was $250,000, a 5.71% increase from the same time last year when the median sold price was $236,500. However, this month’s median sold price also represents a slight decrease of 2.53% from January 2025, when the median sold price was $256,500.

The median list price for homes in the stl msa update was also on the rise, with a 4.21% increase from February 2024, reaching $250,000. This indicates Continue Reading →

Franklin County Real Estate Market Update as of March 2025

By Dennis Norman, on March 6th, 2025

As of March 2025, the median sold price for homes in the Franklin County area was $255,500, according to the latest data from MORE, REALTORS®. This represents an 8.72% increase from February 2024, when the median sold price was $235,000. However, there was a 6.92% decrease from January 2025, when the median sold price was $274,500.

The median list price for homes in Franklin County was $258,500 in February 2025, a 12.39% increase from the previous year when it was $230,000. There were 67 home sales in February 2025, a 16.25% decrease from February 2024 when there were 80 sales.

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 Interest Rates Update: Opportunities for Homebuyers

By Dennis Norman, on February 22nd, 2025

The latest interest rates as of February 21, 2025, bring good news for homebuyers in St. Louis. The 30-year fixed rate has dipped to 6.89 making it more affordable for potential buyers to secure a mortgage. The 15-year fixed rate is now 6.37%, offering even more savings. Jumbo loans have seen a significant drop, with the 30-year jumbo rate7.7.227.22 by 0.08%. Adjustable-rate mortgages like the 5/1 and 5/6 SOFR ARM are relatively s5.52 with minor decreases. FHA and VA loans have also seen reductions, making them attractive options for For the St. Louis real estate market, these changes present opportunities Continue Reading →

St. Louis City Real Estate Market Update for January 2025

By Dennis Norman, on February 21st, 2025

The St. Louis City real estate market continues to show strong growth in the new year. According to the latest data from MORE, REALTORS®, the median sold price for homes in the St. Louis City update was $224,000 in January 2025. This represents a 12.03% increase from January 2024, when the median sold price was $199,950. Additionally, last month’s median sold price of $224,000 saw a 1.21% increase from December 2024, when the median sold price was $221,325.

The median list price for homes in the St. Louis City update also saw a significant increase, rising to $225,000 in January Continue Reading →

Missouri’s Zombie Foreclosures Rise 85%—Still a Small Slice of the Market

By Dennis Norman, on February 21st, 2025

Zombie foreclosures—homes abandoned during the foreclosure process—remain a rare issue nationwide, according to ATTOM’s latest Q1 2025 report. Nationally, only one in every 14,700 homes sits vacant due to foreclosure, holding steady from last quarter and slightly improved from a year ago. While overall foreclosure activity has declined for five consecutive quarters, the share of zombie foreclosures remains a fraction of the U.S. housing market.

In Missouri, the number of zombie foreclosures rose 85% over the past year, from 27 to 50 homes, while St. Louisrecorded an 8.9% zombie foreclosure rate among properties in foreclosure. Peoria, Continue Reading →

St Louis County Real Estate Market Update for January 2025

By Dennis Norman, on February 19th, 2025

The St Louis County real estate market saw a strong start to the new year, with a median sold price of $234,450 in January 2025. This represents a significant increase of 17.81% compared to January 2024, when the median sold price was $199,000. However, there was a slight decrease of 9.79% from December 2024, when the median sold price was $259,900.

The median list price also saw a substantial increase, reaching $235,000 in January 2025. This is a 20.51% increase from January 2024, when the median list price was $195,000.

Despite the high prices, there were 624 home sales in 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 →

Jefferson County Update: Median Home Prices Continue to Rise in 2025

By Dennis Norman, on February 15th, 2025

The real estate market in Jefferson County, as of February 15, 2025, is showing promising signs of growth. According to the latest data from MORE, REALTORS®, the median sold price for homes in Jefferson County during January 2025 was $270,000, up 2.27% from the same time last year when the median sold price was $264,018. This also marks a 1.89% increase from December 2024, when the median sold price was $265,000.

The median list price for homes in Jefferson County also saw a significant increase, rising 4.69% from $257,900 in January 2024 to $270,000 in January 2025. This indicates a 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 →

Metro East Real Estate Market Update for January 2025

By Dennis Norman, on February 9th, 2025

The real estate market in the Metro East area continues to show strong growth, with the median sold price for homes reaching $186,000 in January 2025. This represents a 13.59% increase from the same time last year, when the median sold price was $163,750. The chart below, available exclusively from MORE, REALTORS®, illustrates this upward trend.

In addition to the increase in sold prices, the median list price for homes in the Metro East area also saw a significant jump, reaching $187,450 in January 2025. This is a 14.51% increase from January 2024, when the median list price was $163,700.

Continue Reading →

St Charles County Real Estate Market Update for January 2025

By Dennis Norman, on February 8th, 2025

The real estate market in St Charles County saw a slight increase in median sold price during January 2025, according to the latest data from MORE, REALTORS®. Homes sold for a median price of $350,000, which is a 3.40% increase from the same time last year when the median sold price was $338,500. However, this also represents a 2.78% decrease from December 2024, when the median sold price was $360,000.

The median list price also saw an increase, rising to $350,000 from $339,999 in January 2024. This shows a 2.94% year-over-year increase in list price. In terms of sales, there Continue Reading →

St Louis Metro Area – January 2025 Real Estate Market Update

By Dennis Norman, on February 7th, 2025

The real estate market in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) continued to show strong growth in January 2025, according to the latest data from MORE, REALTORS®. Homes in the stl msa update sold for a median price of $256000, representing an 11.33% increase from January 2024 when the median sold price was $229950. This also marks a 0.39% increase from December 2024, when the median sold price was $255000.

The median list price for homes in the stl msa update was $250000, a 9.17% increase from January 2024’s median list price of $229000. Despite the increase in prices, Continue Reading →

Buying Still Beats Renting in St. Louis for 2025—Here’s the Data to Prove It

By Dennis Norman, on February 6th, 2025

A new interactive map making the rounds shows cities and counties across the country and whether it’s more affordable to buy a home or rent in 2025. So, how does the St. Louis metro stack up? Let’s break it down.

The data highlights three key counties in our area—St. Charles, St. Louis County, and St. Louis City—and in all three, buying is still the better financial move. However, affordability varies significantly:

St. Charles County Median Home Price: $358,698 Home Affordability: 40.6% of income Rental Affordability: 45.9% of income Weekly Wages: $1,115 With solid wages and better affordability, St. Charles Continue Reading →

Austin’s MLS Opens to Non-REALTOR® Agents—Could It Happen in St. Louis?

By Dennis Norman, on February 6th, 2025

Big changes are coming to Austin’s real estate market, and while they might seem far away, they could signal future shifts in St. Louis. The Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR), which owns and operates Unlock MLS (formerly ACTRIS), has announced that starting in June 2025, real estate agents will no longer be required to be REALTOR® members to access the MLS. This means agents in Austin can now choose whether or not to join the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) while still being able to list homes on the MLS. Could something like this happen in St. Louis? Not without Continue Reading →

Franklin County Update: January 2025 Real Estate Market Report

By Dennis Norman, on February 6th, 2025

The real estate market in Franklin County, Missouri continued its upward trend in January 2025, with a median sold price of $280,000. This represents an impressive 18.64% increase from the same time last year, when the median sold price was $236,000. The chart below, available exclusively from MORE, REALTORS®, illustrates this significant jump in home prices.

Not only did home prices increase year over year, but they also saw a 13.15% increase from the previous month. In December 2024, the median sold price was $247,450, making January 2025 the third consecutive month of double-digit price growth. This is great news Continue Reading →