By Dennis Norman, on July 4th, 2025 
On Independence Day, we celebrate the freedoms secured by our nation’s founders, including the right to own property. St. Louis played a pivotal role in America’s westward expansion, famously known as the “Gateway to the West.” The availability of land and the chance to own a home here offered many families a tangible piece of the American dream. Today, the tradition of homeownership in St. Louis is a direct reflection of those ideals of independence and opportunity that have shaped our city and our nation.
🇺🇸 Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸
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By Dennis Norman, on July 3rd, 2025 
According to ATTOM’s Q1 2025 U.S. Home Flipping Report, home flipping remained an active segment of the real estate market in both Missouri and Illinois, although investor performance varied. In Missouri, 1,576 homes were flipped during the quarter, representing 11.0% of all home sales—well above the national average. Flippers in Missouri earned a median gross profit of $36,000, which translated to an 18.0% return on investment (ROI). Meanwhile, Illinois saw higher profitability with 2,001 flips and a 6.5% flipping rate. The median gross profit for Illinois investors reached $85,981, yielding a strong ROI of 52.8%. While Illinois investors had to Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 3rd, 2025 
As the St. Louis real estate market navigates through summer, mortgage rates continue their upward trajectory. Today, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has inched up by 0.06% to 6.73%, marking a significant rise that impacts both potential homebuyers and sellers in the area. Similarly, the 15-year fixed rate also rose by 0.06%, settling at 5.97%. These increases are part of a broader trend that sees rates steadily climbing, affecting affordability and buyer demand.
For St. Louis residents, these rising rates mean recalculating budgets and potentially adjusting their buying power. Higher rates can add considerable cost over the life of a Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 2nd, 2025 
Here’s an update on the One Big Beautiful Bill, fresh from its razor-thin Senate win and heading to the House.
Bottom line for the St. Louis market: The Senate kept nearly all the real-estate perks from the original plan and added a few new benefits that could mean lower taxes for homeowners across the metro, extra take-home pay for small landlords, and more funding for affordable housing projects.
What stayed the same:
Tax brackets and the standard deduction remain locked in and permanent. No surprise rate hikes in 2026. The tax break for small Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 26th, 2025 
ATTOM’s latest U.S. Home Affordability Report for Q2 2025 puts numbers to what many already feel: homeownership just keeps getting tougher across the country. Nationally, median home prices hit a record $369,000, and the share of wages needed for typical homeownership expenses jumped to 33.7% , well above the 28% threshold generally considered affordable. But in the St. Louis metro area, affordability is holding up better than many might expect. According to ATTOM, most of the counties making up the St. Louis MSA still fall under the 28% affordability benchmark. Jefferson County, MO, St. Clair and Madison Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 26th, 2025
In the latest financial update for the St. Louis area, mortgage rates have shown a marginal decrease, providing a slight relief to potential homebuyers. As of June 2025, the 30-Year Fixed mortgage rate has dipped to 6.79%, a small decrease of 0.03%. Similarly, the 15-Year Fixed rate has fallen by 0.02%, now standing at 6.02%. These adjustments represent a continuing trend of falling rates, albeit still hovering at higher levels, with the 30-Year rates maintaining above the 6.5% mark.
The impact of these changes on the St. Louis real estate market could be significant, particularly for buyers who are navigating Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 24th, 2025 
A new lawsuit filed this week by Compass against Zillow has stirred up serious debate in the real estate industry, and while it may sound like a clash of two corporate giants, the real impact hits much closer to home, literally, for consumers, sellers, and real estate agents across the country, including right here in St. Louis.
In the 60-page complaint filed in federal court, Compass accuses Zillow of using its massive power and reach in the home search world to enforce what it calls an “anti-competitive ban” that hurts competition and restricts how agents can market listings for their Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 21st, 2025 
The St. Louis real estate market has shown nuanced shifts in May 2025, with the median home selling price reaching $230,000, a slight increase of 0.88% compared to May 2024. This price reflects stability in the market, albeit slightly down by 4.17% from April 2025, where the median selling price was $240,000. The median list price, however, saw a more positive year-over-year growth, setting at $230,000 in May 2025, up by 3.39% from the previous year.
In terms of sales volume, St. Louis experienced a slight decrease, with 329 homes sold in May 2025, down by 3.80% from 342 homes Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 20th, 2025 
The Metro East real estate market showcased a significant increase in home prices in May 2025, with the median sold price reaching $205,000, marking a 5.13% rise from May 2024’s median of $195,000. This price also reflects a substantial 7.33% increase from April 2025, where the median sold price was $191,000. Despite the rising prices, the total number of home sales experienced a sharp decline, with only 395 homes sold in May 2025 compared to 700 in the same month the previous year, representing a 43.57% decrease.
The median list price for homes followed a similar upward trend, setting at Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 20th, 2025 
St. Louis stood out as one of the top-performing rental markets in the nation in early 2025, with single-family rents rising 6.1% year-over-year through March. That’s the second-highest increase among the 50 largest U.S. metros and well above the national average of 4.1%, according to the Q2 2025 Arbor Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
This growth comes despite national trends showing a slowdown in rent escalation and a slight dip in occupancy. Occupancy rates for single-family rentals nationwide averaged 93.7% in Q1 2025, marking the fourth straight quarterly decline. Retention rates, however, are on the rebound after dropping from a Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 20th, 2025 
According to the just-released Independent Landlord Rental Performance Report – June 2025 from Chandan Economics, Missouri finds itself far from the top in terms of on-time rental payments. The national on-time payment rate dropped to 84.3%, down 85 basis points from the month before, while the forecast full-payment rate slid to a post-pandemic low of 94.0%. While western states like Montana (93.5%) and Utah (92.3%) led the nation, Missouri did not crack the top 10 — or even top 20 — states for on-time rent performance. This matters for St. Louis landlords and property managers who rely on timely rent Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 19th, 2025 
The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (STL MSA) real estate market demonstrated robust growth in May 2025, with median home sale prices reaching $292,500, marking an 8.33% increase from May 2024. This growth is also evident when compared to the previous month, April 2025, where the median sale price was $275,000, showing a 6.36% monthly increase. The median list price also saw a substantial rise to $289,450, up 9.23% from the previous year.
Despite the increase in prices, the number of home sales experienced a decline, with 2,968 homes sold in May 2025, down 13.57% from 3,434 sales in May Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 19th, 2025 
The St. Louis metropolitan area, encompassing counties in both Missouri and Illinois, has witnessed a notable shift in its real estate market this year. As of the end of May 2025, the region recorded 12,375 home sales, marking an 8.66% decrease compared to the 13,548 homes sold during the same period in the previous year. This downturn reflects broader market dynamics and could influence both potential home buyers and sellers in their decision-making processes.
Despite the year-over-year decline, the current sales figures present a robust market scenario compared to historical data. For those interested in the specifics of local trends, Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 19th, 2025 
The St. Louis County real estate market experienced notable price increases in May 2025, according to the latest data. Homes sold for a median price of $301,900, marking a sharp rise of 9.78% compared to May 2024, when the median sold price was $275,000. This increase is also a significant 11.81% jump from April 2025’s median sold price of $270,000. The median list price followed a similar upward trend, reaching $294,900 in May 2025, up 11.28% from $265,000 in the same month last year.
Despite the rise in prices, the number of home sales in St. Louis County saw a Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 19th, 2025
In St. Louis, the mortgage landscape is experiencing a minor but welcome decrease in rates as of June 2025. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has edged down slightly to 6.87%, a decrease of 0.01%, while the 15-year fixed rate has also dropped by 0.03% to 6.13%. These changes, though modest, continue the overall downward trend in the local mortgage rate environment, providing some relief to homebuyers amidst rates that remain historically high.
For potential homebuyers and sellers in the St. Louis area, these rate adjustments mean slightly lower borrowing costs, which could enhance buying power in a market that has Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 18th, 2025 
The St. Charles County real estate market experienced a notable increase in home prices in May 2025. The median sold price for homes reached $370,000, marking a 5.41% rise from May 2024’s median of $351,000. This increase also represents a 2.78% growth from April 2025, where the median sold price was $360,000. Meanwhile, the median list price saw an uptick to $373,950, which is 6.84% higher compared to the same period last year.
Despite the rise in prices, the number of homes sold in May 2025 slightly decreased by 3.26%, with 504 homes sold compared to 521 in May 2024. Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 18th, 2025 
Buried in a 1961 Sunday Post-Dispatch Newspaper, an ad by Income Investment Co. promised St. Louisans a new home for a price “everyone” could afford—$9,650 with just $350 down and a principal-and-interest payment of $54.31. The 3-bedroom ranches in Eureka’s brand-new “Shaw’s Garden” subdivision even came with five king-size closets and concrete streets. Chrysler’s Fenton plant was ramping up a few miles away, and the ad all but wrote the script for the blue-collar American Dream.
Fast-forward to 2025. That $9,650 price tag converts to roughly $99,000 in today’s dollars using the CPI, yet recent sales on the same streets: Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 17th, 2025 
The Franklin County real estate market witnessed subtle yet noteworthy changes in May 2025. The median sold price for homes reached $260,700, marking a slight increase of 0.27% from May 2024, when the median was $260,000. However, this figure shows a decrease of 2.81% compared to April 2025, where homes were selling at a median price of $268,250.
In terms of market activity, there were 130 home sales in May 2025, reflecting a growth of 5.69% from the 123 sales recorded in May 2024. Meanwhile, the median list price experienced a minor dip, settling at $257,450, down by 0.94% Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 17th, 2025 
The conversation around private or “off-MLS” listings is heating up again, and for good reason. With inventory climbing and more competition among sellers, maximizing exposure is more important than ever.
While private listings are sometimes positioned as a strategic move, the reality is that withholding a listing from the open market often limits a seller’s reach, potentially leaving money on the table. That’s the central warning in an Op-Ed by Realtor.com CEO Damian Eales, who writes:
“Private listings benefit agents and brokerages more than they do consumers… The more listings that are private, the Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 15th, 2025 
The Jefferson County real estate market has experienced significant changes as of May 2025, with the median home selling price reaching $300,000, a notable increase of 13.21% from the previous year. This upward trend is also evident from April 2025, where the median sold price was $290,000, marking a 3.45% rise. Despite the higher prices, the number of homes sold in May 2025 saw a decrease, with 241 homes sold compared to 284 in May 2024, a drop of 15.14%.
The median list price in May 2025 stood at $295,900, showing a robust growth of 13.81% from $260,000 in May Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 14th, 2025
The St. Louis City real estate market has shown varied dynamics as of May 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $230,000, marking a slight increase of 0.88% from May 2024, when the median sale price was $228,000. This figure, however, reflects a decrease of 4.17% compared to April 2025, when homes were selling at a median price of $240,000. The median list price in May 2025 also showed an upward trend, standing at $230,000, which is a 3.39% increase from the previous year’s $222,450.
In terms of sales volume, there were 329 home sales in May 2025, a Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 13th, 2025 
While brokers across the country argue over Clear Cooperation and buyer compensation, one group isn’t making noise — but they are taking notes. State real estate commissions, including Missouri’s, are quietly preparing for enforcement… and private listings are on their radar.
In a recent blog post titled “Private listings just got real: State regulators have entered the chat“, real estate compliance consultant Summer Goralik, a former DRE investigator, warned that off-MLS listings marketed without clear seller-driven intent could expose brokers to serious regulatory trouble. And in Missouri, that trouble comes with a very specific rulebook.
Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 12th, 2025 
Rob Hahn recently ignited an important conversation about the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) decision to significantly modify Standard of Practice 10-5, a rule initially established to prevent harassment based on protected characteristics. While NAR’s move to restrict 10-5’s scope solely to REALTORS’ professional activities has been welcomed as a step toward safeguarding free speech, Hahn highlights another critical dimension needing attention: restitution for those previously penalized under its broader interpretation.
According to Hahn, now that NAR acknowledges the overreach of the initial rule, it owes apologies and possibly reparations to REALTORS previously sanctioned under it. As Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 12th, 2025
In a modest respite for potential homebuyers, St. Louis mortgage rates have shown a fractional decrease as of June 2025, with the 30-Year Fixed Rate now sitting at 6.89%, a slight decline of 0.04%. The 15-Year Fixed Rate has also seen a minimal drop, now at 6.20%, down by 0.01%. While these changes may seem minimal, in the context of rates consistently above 6.5%, any reduction can be significant for those financing a home purchase.
For buyers and sellers in the St. Louis area, these changes signal a potentially cooling market, where slightly lower rates could enhance buying power, albeit Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 11th, 2025 
MARIS Outperforms Its Associations in Stability, Solidifying Its Role in the St. Louis Real Estate Market
In a shifting real estate landscape marked by declining membership in many markets, MARIS (Mid-America Regional Information Systems) stands out as a model of stability and strength. Headquartered in St. Louis, MARIS is the MLS for the St. Louis metro area, and surrounding counties, serving 10 local associations across Missouri and Illinois. As of year-end 2024, MARIS recorded 15,014 subscribers—a decline of just 2.1% from the previous year. Compared to the drops seen in many of the associations it serves, this is a noteworthy Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 10th, 2025 
A new federal lawsuit filed in California is challenging a long-standing National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) policy that many small and independent brokers argue has quietly stifled competition in the real estate industry for years. The suit, brought by broker John Diaz, centers on the “Variable Dues Formula” — a policy that requires designated REALTOR® brokers to pay NAR dues not just for themselves, but also for any agents in their firm who are not NAR members, even if those agents opt out of the services.
While this may sound like an administrative issue, it has real consequences, particularly for Continue Reading →
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 →
By Dennis Norman, on June 10th, 2025 
Last year saw a record-setting shift in the housing market as real estate investors unloaded homes at a pace we haven’t seen in over two decades. According to the 2025 Investor Report released by Realtor.com, nearly 11% of all U.S. home sales in 2024 came from investors—the highest level since this data began in 2001. Unlike during the pandemic boom, this uptick wasn’t about cashing in on appreciation. It was about cutting losses in a softer market with declining rents.
Missouri was at the epicenter of this trend, tying with Oklahoma for the highest percentage of investor sales at 16.7%. Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 5th, 2025 
The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors today approved updates to Standard of Practice 10-5 and Professional Standards Policy Statement 29 — both key components of Article 10 of the Code of Ethics. These long-anticipated changes, debated since 2023, aim to bring more clarity and consistency to how REALTORS® are held accountable when it comes to discrimination and harassment.
As I reported in my May 26th article, concerns had been growing over whether SOP 10-5 infringed on members’ personal free speech — especially in cases where comments or beliefs expressed outside the workplace led to disciplinary action. The revised Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on June 5th, 2025
In a welcome shift for potential homeowners, mortgage rates in St. Louis have experienced a slight decrease as of June 2025. The 30-Year Fixed mortgage rate has dipped to 6.87%, a reduction of 0.09%, maintaining a level above the 6.5% threshold but showing signs of easing. Similarly, the 15-Year Fixed rate has also decreased by 0.09%, now at 6.12%. This downward trend offers a slight reprieve for buyers in the St. Louis real estate market who have been facing high rates in recent times.
The impact of these changes on the St. Louis housing market is significant, especially for first-time Continue Reading →
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