By Dennis Norman, on March 7th, 2026 
The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market continues to show strong growth as of March 2026. Homes sold for a median price of $269,950 in February 2026, marking a 7.98% increase from the same period last year when the median price was $250,000. This upward trend is further highlighted by a 5.90% rise in median sold prices from January 2026, which stood at $254,900.
The median list price also saw a significant increase, reaching $299,900 in February 2026, up 6.16% from $282,500 in February 2025. Additionally, the market experienced a boost in home sales, with 2,092 transactions Continue Reading →
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 →
By Karen Moeller, on February 23rd, 2026 
Many homeowners start in the same place. They are not fully committed to moving, but they are curious what their home might bring. Somewhere in that conversation the idea of “testing the market” appears, and it sounds reassuringly reversible. Dip a toe in the water. See what happens. Decide later. But real estate does not really have a preview mode. There is a point where curiosity turns into an official step, and many homeowners do not realize when they cross it.
What Sellers Think It Means
When most homeowners hear “test the market” they assume: No Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on February 22nd, 2026 
One of the first questions buyers ask about a house is simple:“How many square feet is it?”
It feels logical. More space should mean more value, and for decades price per square foot has been treated as a shortcut for comparing homes. Buyers gravitate toward the number partly because search sites place it right next to the price, making it feel like the most objective way to compare properties. But after walking through thousands of homes with buyers, one thing becomes clear. Two houses can have identical square footage and feel completely different to live in, Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on February 7th, 2026
The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) experienced a notable shift in its real estate market as of February 2026. According to recent data, homes in the region sold for a median price of $255,000 in January 2026, marking a 1.92% decrease from the $260,000 median price recorded in January 2025. This decline is further emphasized by a 7.27% drop from December 2025, when the median sold price was $275,000.
Despite the decrease in sold prices, the median list price in January 2026 rose to $295,000, reflecting a 5.36% increase compared to $280,000 in January 2025. However, the number of Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on February 6th, 2026 
In my last article, we stepped back from the headlines and looked at what really drives affordability. Not political sound bites. Not whether prices should go up or down. Just the fundamentals. Supply, construction costs, financing, and whether the monthly math works for everyday families.
Once you see it that way, the next question becomes obvious. If those are the levers, how do we actually move them? Just “build more homes” sounds simple until you talk to a builder who cannot make the numbers work. There is no big red easy button, but the good Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on February 5th, 2026 
Spend five minutes with housing headlines lately and you’ll see the same debate on repeat. Prices are too high. Prices need to stay high. Protect homeowners. Help buyers. Every side sounds urgent, and every side sounds certain. It makes for good sound bites. It doesn’t make for very helpful answers.
Because for most families, housing isn’t a political talking point. It’s deeply personal. It’s whether they can finally stop renting. Whether their kids get their own bedrooms. Whether retirement feels secure. Whether a move across town is possible without blowing up the monthly budget. And when Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on January 17th, 2026 
The SLT Market Chart below, available exclusively from MORE, REALTORS®, shows a full monthly history of St. Louis MSA home sales since 1999, and if you’re a data geek (like me) or just trying to get a real read on where this market is going, this chart is gold.
Here’s what stands out immediately: 2021 was the peak, no debate. In September 2021, the 12-month rolling total for home sales in the St. Louis metro hit 48,633 homes, an all-time high. For the calendar year 2021, sales totaled 48,328. Nothing before or after even comes close.
Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on January 8th, 2026 
Housing affordability has returned to the national conversation. Recently, a senior White House economic adviser said the entire Cabinet is working on ideas to address housing challenges across the country. No formal policy has been released yet, but the statement itself has prompted questions in local markets like St. Louis.
The most important question for homeowners, buyers, and builders here is not what Washington is saying today, but what could realistically change looking ahead to 2026.
St. Louis Has Housing. The Issue Is Fit.
St. Louis does not face the same inventory crisis as Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on January 7th, 2026 
Because changing the messenger doesn’t change the message.
When a home doesn’t sell, the most tempting explanation is also the simplest one.
“It must be the agent.”
That conclusion feels productive. Change the sign. Change the outcome.
But in the St. Louis market, most stalled listings aren’t suffering from a marketing problem. They’re stalled because a hard decision hasn’t been made yet.
Price versus reality.
I recently worked with a seller who had already tested the market once. When we looked at the data together, one Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on January 7th, 2026
The St. Louis MSA real estate market demonstrated notable resilience as 2025 came to a close. In December 2025, homes in the region sold for a median price of $275,000, marking a 5.77% increase from December 2024, when the median price was $260,000. However, this figure represents a slight dip of 3.51% from November 2025, when the median sold price was $285,000. The median list price also saw a significant rise, reaching $299,000 in December 2025, up 6.41% from $281,000 the previous year.
The volume of home sales in December 2025 was 2,816, a 1.99% increase from the 2,761 homes Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on December 7th, 2025
The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market saw notable changes in November 2025, with homes selling for a median price of $285,000. This represents a 7.18% increase compared to November 2024, when the median sold price was $265,900. However, this figure also marks a slight decrease of 1.72% from the previous month of October 2025, when the median sold price was $290,000.
The median list price for homes in the St. Louis MSA also experienced a rise, reaching $295,500 in November 2025. This is a 5.54% increase from the $280,000 recorded in November 2024. Despite the increase Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on November 8th, 2025 
The Spring Real Estate Market Myth
Every year, right around Valentine’s Day, someone says it: “We’ll wait until spring to list — that’s when everyone buys.”
It sounds logical. The grass is greener, flowers bloom, and families want to move after the school year. But in reality, this well-worn belief doesn’t hold up in the St. Louis market. Spring might be busy, but it’s not the only season that sells homes — and in many cases, it’s not even the best one.
The Hype
For decades, national media and marketing campaigns have painted Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on November 7th, 2025
The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market continues to show robust growth as of November 2025. Homes in the region sold for a median price of $290,000 in October 2025, marking a 3.57% increase from the $280,000 median price recorded in October 2024. This upward trend is further highlighted by a 1.75% rise from September 2025, where the median sold price was $285,000.
The median list price for homes also saw a significant increase, reaching $300,000 in October 2025. This represents a 7.14% growth compared to October 2024, when the median list price was $280,000. Additionally, Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on November 6th, 2025 
If you’ve toured a home lately, you’ve probably heard it: “Don’t worry about the rate — you can always refinance later.”
It’s catchy, comforting, and — unfortunately — a little too convenient.
The “buy now, refinance later” pitch became the industry’s favorite lullaby as rates rose. It was meant to calm nervous buyers, but it’s drifted into wishful thinking disguised as strategy.
The Hype
The logic goes like this: get in the market now, build equity, and when rates drop (soon!), you’ll simply refinance and cut your payment. Easy math, right?
But that promise assumes a crystal ball. Rates Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on November 1st, 2025 
When the air turns crisp and pumpkin-spice lattes make their annual comeback, another seasonal ritual quietly unfolds across St. Louis neighborhoods: the boundary dispute. Yes, October is the month when falling leaves, overhanging branches, and the great “whose tree is that?” debate takes center stage.
Why Fall Brings Out the Turf Wars
Blame it on the leaves—or the timing. As summer ends, more homeowners turn their attention outdoors, tackling gutters, fences, and yard cleanup. That’s when property lines get a little fuzzy. One neighbor trims the branches hanging over their fence; another rakes leaves from a tree technically rooted Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on October 31st, 2025 
If you’ve driven through downtown Kirkwood lately, you’ve probably noticed the fencing, cranes, and construction buzz surrounding the historic Kirkwood Train Station. What looks like disruption is actually a once-in-a-generation investment … and one that’s likely to pay dividends for both the city and its homeowners.
🚆 From 1893 to 2026: A Legacy in Motion
Built in 1893, the Kirkwood Station has long been more than a train stop. It’s been a community landmark — a place where families greeted returning college kids, commuters caught the Amtrak to Chicago, and visitors got their first glimpse of Kirkwood’s small-town-with-soul charm. It’s Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on October 30th, 2025 
For weeks after the winds died down on May 16, 2025, the St. Louis tornado left more than just rooftops shattered and trees uprooted – it cracked open the hidden workings of our housing market.
Meet Denise Harris (name changed for privacy). She spent the afternoon of the storm standing in her Walnut Park living room as a brick chimney collapsed sideways, before walking out to the curb and watching three men in out-of-state plates stop by: “You ready to sell?” they asked.
For families like Denise’s, the trauma is immediate. But for the Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on October 7th, 2025
The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market continues to show robust activity as of October 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $283,000 in September 2025, marking a 4.81% increase from the median price of $270,000 in September 2024. However, this represents a slight decrease of 0.70% compared to August 2025, when the median sold price was $285,000. The median list price in September 2025 was $285,000, a significant increase of 7.55% from $265,000 in the same month last year.
Sales activity has also picked up, with 3,041 homes sold in September 2025, an increase of Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on September 9th, 2025 
The August 2025 housing data from Realtor.com® shows the national housing market gradually shifting toward balance, but here in St. Louis, we continue to stand out as one of the tightest markets in the country. While inventory is rising across much of the U.S., St. Louis saw just a 13.6% increase in active listings year-over-year—well below the national 20.9% gain. Even more telling, our market had only 2.9 months of supply in June, a strong indicator that sellers still have the upper hand locally, despite the broader cooling trend.
Across the 50 largest metros, St. Louis ranks among those with Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on September 8th, 2025
The real estate market in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) experienced notable changes in August 2025. Homes sold for a median price of $285,000, marking a 5.24% increase from the median price of $270,800 in August 2024. However, this represents a slight decrease of 2.56% from July 2025, when the median price was $292,500. The median list price saw a similar trend, rising to $284,900 in August 2025, up 5.52% from $270,000 in August 2024.
In terms of sales volume, there were 3,306 home sales in the St. Louis MSA during August 2025, a slight decrease of 1.52% Continue Reading →
By Dennis Norman, on August 7th, 2025
The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market demonstrated sustained growth in July 2025, with notable increases in both home sales and prices. Homes sold for a median price of $295,000, marking a 5.36% rise from the previous year’s median of $280,000, and a 1.72% increase from June 2025’s median of $290,000. This consistent upward trend underscores a robust housing market in the region.
In terms of sales volume, the market remained stable with 3,484 homes sold in July 2025, slightly up by 0.09% compared to 3,481 sales in July 2024. The median list price also saw a 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 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 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 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 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 May 26th, 2025 
Today, as we observe Memorial Day, we pause to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. This solemn day of remembrance has deep roots in American history, dating back to the years following the Civil War, and was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 1971. Here in St. Louis, a city rich in military tradition and home to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery—one of the oldest military cemeteries in the nation—Memorial Day carries an especially strong connection to our community and its history.
For many, homeownership represents more than just a financial investment—it Continue Reading →
By Sandie Hea, on May 19th, 2025 
After 38 years in real estate, I’ve seen the same pattern again and again: vacant homes don’t just look empty—they feel empty. And they don’t sell as well.
When buyers scroll through listings online, they’re not just looking for square footage or appliance brands—they’re looking for a feeling. They want to imagine their life in the space. And that’s nearly impossible when a home is empty, stark, and echoing.
Without furniture, every flaw screams louder. Wall dings, floor scratches, awkward corners—they stand out because there’s nothing else to catch the eye. There’s no warmth, no sense of scale, and no Continue Reading →
By Karen Moeller, on May 14th, 2025 
Let’s talk about one of the most misunderstood (and unfairly maligned) tags in real estate: Back on Market — aka BOM. For many buyers, seeing those three letters on a listing triggers a knee-jerk reaction:
“Yikes. What’s wrong with it?”
Totally fair question. But let me be your real estate decoder ring for a minute: a BOM home isn’t necessarily damaged goods. In fact, it might be the best house you haven’t seriously considered — yet.
What Does “Back on Market” Actually Mean?
All it means is this: the house was under contract with a buyer, and now it’s back Continue Reading →
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