St Louis Real Estate News - Page 21 of 109 - Daily St. Louis real estate news, market analysis, home prices, and mortgage rate updates from local industry professionals.

St. Louis Metro Real Estate 2024: Key Trends and Market Analysis

By Dennis Norman, on May 7th, 2024

The St. Louis Metropolitan real estate market has experienced notable shifts in its latest 12-month cycle ending April 2024, as compared to the previous year. Firstly, the total number of homes sold in the St. Louis Metro area has seen a decline. Over the past 12 months, ending April 2024, St Louis home sales totaled 32,220 homes, a decrease of 6.58% from the previous year’s 34,490 homes. This reduction in sales volume may reflect a variety of market factors including economic shifts or changes in buyer sentiment.

Conversely, the median sold price for homes has edged upwards, indicating a resilient Continue Reading →

Mortgage Rates Ease to lowest level in over three weeks

By Dennis Norman, on May 3rd, 2024

Interest rates for a 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage declined to 7.28% today, down from their five-month high of 7.52%, reached just over a week ago. Today’s rate marks the lowest since April 9, when the interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage stood at 7.06%.

Although the accompanying chart traces the trajectory of interest rates over the past 40 years, extending back to 1980, it does not predict their future movements. The direction of mortgage rates is influenced by a myriad of factors including, but not limited to, Federal Reserve policies, inflation expectations, and global economic conditions. Currently, experts 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

Continue Reading →

On-Time Rent Payments By Tenants Declines In April

By Dennis Norman, on May 1st, 2024

According to the latest Independent Landlord Rental Performance Report by Chandan Economics, April 2024 witnessed a decline in on-time rental payments in independently operated rental units nationwide, dropping to 85.2%. As illustrated by the chart below, this marks a decrease from 87.0% the prior month and 87.8% a year ago. Western states, notably Utah, Alaska, and Colorado, continue to lead the nation with the highest on-time payment rates. However, it’s worth noting that here in Missouri, only 82% of tenants paid their rent on time in April, resulting in Missouri ranking 43rd in the country for on-time rent payments.

Continue Reading →

Lease Options: An Innovative Path to Home Ownership

By Dennis Norman, on April 27th, 2024

In today’s real estate market, characterized by low inventory and somewhat high interest rates, the idea of buying a home can be daunting for some, especially those who are undecided about their long-term plans. Lease options present a compelling solution, offering flexibility and a strategic stepping stone toward owning a home. This approach is ideal for individuals who are still considering their options in terms of location, saving for a substantial down payment, or waiting for potentially lower interest rates.

A lease option allows tenants to live in a property with the option to purchase it at the end of Continue Reading →

HomeServices of America Settles Commission Lawsuits, Bringing Total to Over $943 Million

By Dennis Norman, on April 26th, 2024

Home sellers have reached a momentous $250 million settlement with HomeServices of America and its subsidiaries, including Long & Foster Companies, BHH Affiliates, LLC, and HSF Affiliates, LLC. This settlement, disclosed in a recent press release by the law firm representing the plaintiffs, resolves class action claims as part of a broader dispute over commission costs in the real estate industry.

In a landmark case held on October 31, 2023, a Missouri jury found HomeServices of America, along with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Keller Williams, culpable of conspiring to inflate commission fees, resulting in nearly $1.8 billion Continue Reading →

Mortgage Interest Rates Slightly Ease Today, Falling from a Five-Month High

By Dennis Norman, on April 26th, 2024

Interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate conventional mortgage hit 7.52% yesterday, the highest rate in five months, since November 13, 2023 when they were 7.58%. Today, however, they eased and the 30 year fixed rate mortgage interest rate dropped slightly to 7.45% and the interest rate for a 30-year FHA loan slipped below 7% to 6.95%.

The chart below shows interest rates for over 40 years, back to 1980 and shows about as much change as we’ve seen in fashion and technology during the period — from an astronomical high of 18.29% in October 1981 to an unbelievable low Continue Reading →

St. Louis YTD Home Sales Rise Over 2023 But Lag Behind Earlier Years

By Dennis Norman, on April 25th, 2024

The St. Louis 5-County Core market, encompassing St. Louis City County, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Franklin County, and Jefferson County, reported a total of 4,518 home sales Year-to-Date through March 2024. This reflects a 4% increase in St. Louis home sales for the same period last year, which had 4,340 home sales. However, as the chart below—available exclusively from MORE, REALTORS®—shows, this represents varied performance compared to earlier years. In March 2022, there were 5,218 sales, a notable peak compared to 5,803 in 2021 and 5,216 in 2020.

This data highlights the fluctuations in the real estate market Continue Reading →

March 2024 Mortgage Update: Serious Delinquencies Drop to Lowest Since Mid-2006

By Dennis Norman, on April 24th, 2024

According to the latest report from Intercontinental Exchange, the U.S. mortgage market showed promising signs of stability in March 2024. The national delinquency rate decreased to 3.20%, marking a modest drop from February but remaining slightly higher than the record low observed in March 2023. Notably, serious delinquencies, which track loans 90+ days past due but not in active foreclosure, decreased significantly. These serious delinquencies fell by 24,000 cases—a 5.2% reduction from February, reaching their lowest level since mid-2006. This improvement is particularly significant as it occurred during a month that historically sees fluctuations due to its conclusion on a Continue Reading →

Beware of Unjust Fees: Insights from the Latest CFPB Mortgage Report

By Dennis Norman, on April 24th, 2024

Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Spring 2024 report on mortgage servicing reveals critical issues that prospective and current homeowners should be aware of. The report highlights a troubling trend of unauthorized charges and deceptive practices in mortgage servicing, which could impact a homeowner’s financial stability and property rights. For instance, some services were found to be charging illegal property inspection fees, particularly on Fannie Mae loans, despite guidelines clearly prohibiting such fees when certain conditions are met. These unjust fees, ranging from $10 to $50, were imposed even when borrowers were actively engaging with their servicers, highlighting a significant Continue Reading →

Court Grants Preliminary Approval in Major Real Estate Settlement Involving National Association of Realtors

By Dennis Norman, on April 23rd, 2024

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

In a significant development in the class-action lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and several major real estate entities, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri has granted preliminary approval for a proposed settlement. This lawsuit, led by plaintiffs Rhonda Burnett, Jerod Breit, Jeremy Keel, Hollee Ellis, and Frances Harvey, represents a class of U.S. homeowners who paid commissions to brokers upon the sale of their homes through multiple listing services during specific periods spanning from 2014 to the present. The court’s decision, as detailed in the document “Sitzer v NAR – Motion for Preliminary Continue Reading →

Missouri Homeowners Insurance Holds Steady Amid National Crisis Concerns

By Dennis Norman, on April 18th, 2024

The St. Louis Business Journal today published an article with the headline “A hidden cost of homeownership is mounting — and approaching crisis levels”. The article began with “homeowners across the country are facing an insurance crisis — and it’s driving up housing costs”, and then quoted a study indicating that 72% of U.S. homeowners said the cost of their homeowners insurance had increased over the past year. Well, sometimes it’s better to not have ocean views, mountains, and the like, and to be situated in the middle of the country like we are here in St. Louis—and this would Continue Reading →

St. Louis Area Home Sales Stabilize to 2015 Levels

By Dennis Norman, on April 17th, 2024

The St. Louis metro area’s real estate market has demonstrated significant fluctuations in home sales over the past fifteen years, revealing interesting trends for both homebuyers and sellers. Analysis of the 12-month home sales data chart, exclusively available from MORE, REALTORS®, illustrates a series of peaks and troughs that correspond closely with various economic factors impacting the region. St Louis home sales fell to the lowest point during the 15-year period in June 2011 when the 12-month period had 23,194 sales. Since hitting that low home sales have steadily increased until the 12-month trend hit 43,689 sales for the period Continue Reading →

Steady Increase in Commercial Real Estate Foreclosures Over the Past Year

By Dennis Norman, on April 17th, 2024

Based on the data from the recent ATTOM report on U.S. commercial foreclosures, there is a noticeable trend that highlights the challenges and changes in the commercial real estate market over the past decade. The report indicates a significant increase in commercial foreclosures, rising to 625 in March 2024 from a low of 141 in May 2020—a time characterized by pandemic-induced economic shocks and responsive fiscal interventions. This sharp rise represents a 117% year-over-year increase and underscores a broader economic narrative where, despite short-term stabilizations, long-term market corrections have been a constant presence.

States like California, New York, and Florida Continue Reading →

Slowest Selling Zip Codes in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on April 16th, 2024

The St. Louis Metro area (MSA), which spans parts of Missouri and Illinois, has a diverse real estate market with some zip codes seeing properties sell slower than others in spite of the low-inventory market we are in. Based upon the report below, available exclusively from MORE, REALTORS®, the slowest selling zip code in the St Louis metro area is 63131 in St Louis County, Missouri where the current average days on market for active listings is a whopping 201 days. Next is 62249 in Madison County Illinois with an average of 152 days on the market.Notably, 8 of Continue Reading →

Will the NAR Commission Lawsuit Settlement Change Real Estate Practices in St. Louis?

By Dennis Norman, on April 16th, 2024

Since the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the plaintiffs in the following lawsuits—Christopher Moehrl v. The National Association of Realtors et al., Rhonda Burnett (originally Sitzer) v. The National Association of Realtors et al., Dawin Niel Umpa v. The National Association of Realtors, et al., and Don Gibson v. The National Association of Realtors—reached a settlement agreement on March 15, 2024, which is still pending court approval and thus preliminary at this point, the topic has dominated industry conversations. The focus of these lawsuits on buyer’s agent commissions has attracted more media attention since mid-March than it seems to Continue Reading →

Supreme Court Affirms Property Rights in SHEETZ v. COUNTY OF EL DORADO

By Dennis Norman, on April 16th, 2024

The Supreme Court has rendered a unanimous decision in the landmark case SHEETZ v. COUNTY OF EL DORADO, involving petitioner George Sheetz and the imposition of a traffic impact fee by El Dorado County, California. The key points of the decision are as follows:

Background: George Sheetz was mandated to pay a $23,420 traffic impact fee as a condition for obtaining a residential building permit, which he contested as an unlawful exaction under the Takings Clause.

Court’s Decision: The Supreme Court, in an opinion delivered by Justice Barrett, vacated the ruling of the California Court of Appeal. The decision clarified Continue Reading →

St. Louis Metro’s Hottest School Districts: 5 of the Top 10 Located in St. Clair County, Illinois

By Dennis Norman, on April 14th, 2024

As of 2023, according to data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Illinois State Board of Education, there are roughly 135-145 school districts within the 17 counties of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This figure includes public school districts but excludes private and charter schools. These districts vary significantly in size, home prices, and demand for homes. While strong school districts and top-rated schools are major attractions for home buyers and may reflect in the prices homes fetch compared to those in lesser districts, they do not guarantee quick sales. However, it is Continue Reading →

St. Louis Home Sales Drop 25% in Latest 12-Month Review Compared to Previous Year

By Dennis Norman, on April 12th, 2024

There were 31,960 homes sold in the St. Louis metro area during the 12-month period ending March 31, 2024, as the chart below from MORE, REALTORS® exclusively illustrates. This represents a 25% decline from the number of sales for the same period a year ago. While this is a slight increase from the 12-month sales low of 31,775 homes for the period ending December 31, 2023, it’s the lowest sales volume for this period since March 2015. Based on the chart, it appears that the trend of declining home sales has ended, as it has remained fairly flat over the Continue Reading →

Luxury Living In St Louis: The Top 10 Cities with Highest Home Prices

By Dennis Norman, on April 11th, 2024

Top 10 Luxury Home Markets in St Louis, MO

The real estate market in St. Louis is notably diverse, featuring homes that are, on average, quite affordable. However, this affordability doesn’t preclude the existence of luxury markets within the city. Presented below is an exclusive list from MORE, REALTORS® detailing the top 10 cities in the St. Louis MSA where homes command the highest average selling prices.

Key takeaways from this list include:

Huntleigh dominates with the highest average sale price of $2,097,249 and impressively quick transactions, with homes spending an average of just 20 days on the market. It’s important to note that these figures are based on Continue Reading →

Refinance Activity Surges Despite Rising Mortgage Rates – Purchase Applications Fall

By Dennis Norman, on April 11th, 2024

Last week, the interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages climbed past the 7 percent mark. Despite this increase, as the chart below illustrates, there was a significant 10 percent increase in refinancing applications. This is in sharp contrast to a 5 percent decline in purchase applications. The growth in the refinancing segment is notable, representing 33.3 percent of the total application volume, up from 30.3 percent the previous week. This surge in refinancing interest is particularly intriguing, given the highest reported 30-year mortgage rates in over a month, at 7.01 percent.

Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist, Continue Reading →

Interest Rate Insights: Traci Everman Unveils the Latest Shifts

By Dennis Norman, on April 10th, 2024

The ebb and flow of St. Louis’s real estate market are linked to the broader economic currents, and recent weeks have witnessed a significant uptick in mortgage interest rates. In the video below, Traci Everman, Senior Mortgage Banker with Flat Branch Home Loans, does a fantastic job of explaining what is happening and why. Below the video are some highlights and a recap.

See Current (and historical) Mortgage Rates Get a REAL Pre-Approval Now

Here are are few highlights of what Traci’s covers in the video:

Recent Economic Impacts on Mortgage Rates:

Economic reports released over the Continue Reading →

St. Louis Area Residential Real Estate Market Report For March 2024

By Dennis Norman, on April 10th, 2024

The St. Louis MSA residential real estate market is experiencing a phase of transformation. While the sales volume has seen a downturn, median sale prices have held steady, indicating a resilient market underpinned by solid demand. The complete STL Market Reports for the entire metro area as a whole, as well as the major counties, are available exclusively from MORE, REALTORS® and are below.

Key Findings:

Sales Volume Decline: The St. Louis MSA experienced a 9.30% decrease in the number of homes sold during the 12-month period ending March 31, 2024, compared to the previous year. Median Sold Price Growth: Continue Reading →

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

Continue Reading →

Will MLS Access Be Untethered from REALTOR Membership?

By Dennis Norman, on April 10th, 2024

In the wake of recent legal developments, including a proposed settlement by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in March addressing buyer agent commissions, the real estate industry finds itself at another critical juncture. This time, attention turns to a lawsuit spotlighted in my article from a week ago, “New Lawsuit Against NAR Spotlights Tying of MLS Access to Realtor Membership in Ongoing Commission Debate“, which challenges the longstanding practice of tying MLS access to Realtor association membership. Unlike the NAR settlement that focused on commission structures, this new legal action delves into the exclusivity of market information access, a Continue Reading →

DOJ Delivers Regulatory Blow to NAR: Court Reopens Antitrust Investigation

By Dennis Norman, on April 6th, 2024

In a significant turn of events that has captured the attention of homebuyers, homesellers, and real estate professionals nationwide, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has delivered a landmark judgment that underscores the intricate balance between regulatory oversight and the operational freedoms of real estate associations. This case, National Association of Realtors (NAR) versus United States of America, et al., centers on the alleged anticompetitive practices within the real estate industry, specifically scrutinizing the policies implemented by NAR.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), through its Antitrust Division, initiated an investigation into NAR’s policies, Continue Reading →

New Lawsuit Against NAR Spotlights Tying of MLS Access to Realtor Membership in Ongoing Commission Debate

By Dennis Norman, on April 3rd, 2024

In the evolving landscape of real estate litigation, a fresh lawsuit filed by homeowner Hao Zhe Wang against the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and several major real estate brokerage firms introduces a nuanced critique of industry practices. Distinguishing itself from prior actions, this case zeroes in on the contentious policy requiring real estate agents to be NAR members in order to access Multiple Listing Services (MLS), a stipulation the plaintiff contends unfairly influences commission structures and inflates transaction costs.

The Core Allegations:

At the heart of Wang’s lawsuit is an objection to how MLS access — a critical Continue Reading →

Fastest Selling Zip Codes in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on April 2nd, 2024

The St. Louis Metro area (MSA), which spans parts of Missouri and Illinois, has a diverse real estate market with some zip codes seeing properties sell much faster than others. Based upon the report below, available exclusively from MORE, REALTORS® , the fastest selling zip code in the area is 63070 in Jefferson County, Missouri where the current average days on market for active listings is just 12 days. Close behind in second place is 63040 in St. Louis County with 9 listings averaging 15 DOM. Rounding out the top five are 63134 (St. Louis County, 16 DOM), 63038 Continue Reading →

St. Louis 2024 Housing Market: First Quarter Update

By Dennis Norman, on March 29th, 2024

As we close the first quarter of 2024, it’s an opportune moment to revisit the forecasts I made at the end of last year regarding the St. Louis real estate market. With the data from January through March now available, we can assess the accuracy of the initial predictions and adjust our outlook for the remainder of the year.

Scorecard on December Predictions:

2024 Home Sales Forecast: I projected a slight decrease in the annual sales volume to about 22,400 homes. The data from the first quarter shows a varied trend with the 12-month home sales at the end of Continue Reading →

Court Battle Pits Consumer Savings Against DOJ Objections

By Dennis Norman, on March 29th, 2024

The Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS), representing over 200 Multiple Listing Services nationwide, has filed a brief supporting the settlement reached between the parties in the lawsuit against MLS Property Information Network (MLS PIN). While this is not the settlement announced last week by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), it involves one of the several lawsuits tied to the NAR settlement.

CMLS filed their brief in response to the one filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in February, which opposed the MLS PIN settlement, arguing that it did not go far enough to change Continue Reading →