By Dennis Norman, on July 31st, 2025 
In a subtle yet welcome shift for prospective homebuyers in St. Louis, the 30-Year Fixed mortgage rate has decreased slightly to 6.75% as of July 2025, marking a modest drop of 0.02%. This change, though slight, contributes to an overall trend of falling rates in the region, offering a glimmer of relief in a market that has seen rates hovering above the 6.5% mark for some time. On the other hand, the 15-Year Fixed rate remains steady at 6.03%, indicating stability in shorter-term financing options.
This mixed pattern in rate adjustments could influence both buyers and sellers in the St. Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 24th, 2025
The St. Louis real estate market is experiencing a modest rise in mortgage rates this July, with the 30-Year Fixed rate now reaching 6.78%, a slight increase of 0.01%. Similarly, the 15-Year Fixed rate has also edged up to 6.04%. These incremental changes mark a continuing trend of rising rates in the region, impacting both prospective homebuyers and sellers. The increase, though minor, continues to push the rates to some of the highest levels seen this year, particularly affecting the affordability and buying power of those looking to enter the housing market.
For potential buyers in St. Louis, these rising Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 21st, 2025 
The St. Louis City real estate market witnessed notable fluctuations in June 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $259,000, marking a 5.13% decrease from June 2024, when the median sold price was $273,000. However, this figure also represents a significant increase of 12.61% compared to May 2025, where the median sold price stood at $230,000. The median list price in June 2025 was $255,000, showing a decrease of 5.52% from $269,900 in June 2024.
In terms of sales volume, the St. Louis City market experienced a growth, with 291 homes sold in June 2025—an increase of 7.78% from Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 19th, 2025 
The Franklin County real estate market has shown promising growth as of July 2025, with significant increases in home prices and sales compared to the previous year. In June 2025, homes in Franklin County sold for a median price of $261,500, marking a 7.84% increase from June 2024, when the median sold price was $242,500. This increase is also slightly higher than the median sold price in May 2025, which was $259,900, demonstrating a steady month-over-month growth of 0.62%.
The median list price in June 2025 was $259,950, reflecting a 4.40% rise from $249,000 in June 2024. Additionally, the number Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 17th, 2025
In the ever-evolving real estate market of St. Louis, mortgage rates are showing nuanced movements as of July 2025. The 30-Year Fixed mortgage rate has experienced a slight decrease to 6.83%, down by 0.02%. Conversely, the 15-Year Fixed rate has inched up by 0.01%, settling at 6.08%. These shifts reflect a broader rising trend in the market, with other mortgage types like the 30-Year FHA and Jumbo rates also climbing, indicating a mixed yet predominantly upward trajectory in rate changes.
For potential homebuyers and sellers in the St. Louis area, these fluctuations could have significant implications. The slight drop in Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 16th, 2025 
The St. Louis metropolitan area, spanning across Missouri and Illinois, is witnessing a remarkable trend in its real estate market, particularly in the speed at which homes are being sold. The zip code 62239 in St Clair-IL, IL, leads the pack with an impressive average of 0 days on the market for its 7 active listings, each at an average list price of $158,614. This indicates a robust demand in this locale, making it a hotspot for potential buyers looking for quick closings and sellers aiming for swift transactions.
Following closely are zip codes 63012 in Jefferson, MO, and 63074 Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on July 15th, 2025 
A Satirical Look at Cut-Rate Real Estate Models—and Why Smart Agents Still Matter
[Opening: Observational Humor with a Mission]
You ever notice how people will spend hours reading Amazon reviews for an $18 waffle maker but choose a real estate agent—or worse, skip one entirely—because “the website made it easy”?
Lately, a growing number of online platforms are pitching a new real estate model: a one-stop shop where you can get pre-approved, pick a house, choose an agent, and close the deal without ever leaving your couch—or, let’s be honest, putting on pants.
It sounds convenient. Until you realize the Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 15th, 2025 
The Jefferson County real estate market experienced a slight dip in home prices in June 2025, with the median sold price settling at $285,000, a decrease of 1.48% from June 2024’s median of $289,295. This price also reflects a notable 4.98% drop from May 2025, where the median was higher at $299,950. Despite the decrease in sold prices, the median list price in June 2025 saw a modest rise to $284,900, up 1.79% from the previous year, indicating a resilient listing confidence among sellers.
The volume of home sales remained steady with 249 homes sold in June 2025, mirroring the Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 15th, 2025 
Yesterday, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed into law House Bills 595 and 596, bringing significant changes that will impact landlords, tenants, property managers, investors, and real estate professionals across the state. This newly enacted legislation strengthens private property rights and tightens requirements for agency relationships in real estate transactions, two key areas anyone involved in Missouri real estate should pay close attention to.
For landlords and investors, HB 595 limits how local governments can regulate rental housing. Specifically, the law prohibits cities and counties from setting rent control measures, imposing restrictions on how landlords screen tenants, or mandating specific lease Continue Reading →
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 →
By Dennis Norman, on July 13th, 2025 
If you’re considering buying or selling a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area, focusing on the fastest selling school districts could be a strategic move. The Bayless district in Unincorporated, Missouri, leads the pack with homes averaging $203,638 and flying off the market the same day they are listed. This district, along with Dupo DIST 196 in Illinois and Gasconade Co. R-I in Missouri, both also averaging 0 days on the market, highlights a trend of rapid sales in these areas. Potential buyers looking for quick closings and sellers aiming for fast transactions are particularly interested in these districts.
Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 10th, 2025
As of July 2025, the St. Louis real estate market is experiencing a minor but welcome drop in mortgage rates, signaling a slight relief for prospective homebuyers. The 30-Year Fixed mortgage rate has decreased by 0.04%, now standing at 6.77%. Simultaneously, the 15-Year Fixed mortgage rate also saw a reduction of 0.04%, positioning it at 5.98%. These adjustments, though modest, contribute to a broader trend of falling rates within the region, offering a potential window of opportunity for those looking to secure a home loan at a slightly more favorable rate.
For buyers and sellers in the St. Louis area, Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 9th, 2025 
The Metro East real estate market experienced significant growth in June 2025, with home sales and prices showing robust increases. Homes in the Metro East area sold for a median price of $227,000, marking a 2.71% rise from June 2024’s median of $221,000. This price also reflects a substantial 10.73% increase from May 2025, when the median sold price was $205,000. The median list price followed suit, climbing to $225,000, up 4.65% from the previous year.
In terms of sales volume, June 2025 saw 721 homes sold, representing a 16.10% increase from the 621 transactions recorded in June 2024. This Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 8th, 2025 
The St. Charles County real estate market has experienced subtle yet consistent growth as of June 2025. The median selling price of homes reached $373,200, marking a 0.86% increase from June 2024’s median of $370,000. This price also reflects a steady rise from May 2025, maintaining the same 0.86% growth rate. Prospective buyers saw a slight uptick in median list prices, which escalated to $369,995 in June 2025, up by 1.37% from the previous year.
Despite the rising prices, the volume of home sales showed a minimal decline. In June 2025, the county recorded 516 home sales, slightly down by Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on July 7th, 2025 
The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market experienced subtle shifts in June 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $290,001, showing a slight decrease of 2.68% compared to June 2024 when the median price was $298,000. This trend continued from May 2025, where there was a modest decline of 0.69% from a median sold price of $292,015. The median list price also saw a minor reduction to $289,500, down 0.14% from June 2024’s median of $289,900.
Despite the dip in prices, the volume of home sales in the region indicated a more positive note, with 3,299 Continue Reading →
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! 🇺🇸
Search St Louis Continue Reading →
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 →
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