Ohhh, this is so adorable! Beautifully updated throughout, this charming 3 bedroom 1 bath home boasts gorgeous hardwood floors incl kitchen,today's popular paint colors & new thermal replacement windows throughout! The arched openings & stained glass add an elegant touch. The kitchen has newer maple cabinets & countertop plus dishwasher, microwave & range included! Upstairs features 2 bedrooms with wood floor, updated bathroom and a 3rd bedroom with walk in closet & window a/c. Lower level has been freshened up & is a comfortable & inviting area to do laundry. Sweet little sunroom on the back leads to your level privacy-fenced backyard with mature shade tree. Really great neighbors who care about each other. Several parks and restaurants less than a mile from this house, including tennis courts, fishing lakes, playground, & picnic shelters. Many churches to choose from also. Target, Schnucks, Walgreens, Penney's within 1-2 miles. Home Warranty plan included.

This meticulously maintained all brick ranch on large 1/3 acre lot gives you all the privacy you desire. Refinished hardwood floors highlight the lovely woodburning fireplace in the living room. Kitchen has been remodeled with new cabinets, countertop & dishwasher. There is a darling sunroom with ceramic tile floor. Great big level yard. New driveway; replaced the kitchen stack with PVC, updated the bathroom. Basement is clean, huge and unfinished! 2 car garage with opener. Located at the end of a street you have the highway on one side (no view but you can hear it) and another house on the other side but quite a distance from this one. Plenty of parking for your various vehicles! Home Warranty from BPG included. This is an all-electric home.

Can't find the one house that makes your heart go ZING without weighing you down financially? This meticulously maintained home just might be the one! Newly refinished hardwood floors make quite a welcome statement at the entry! Lovely open floor plan with separate dining room leads to a gorgeous new maple kitchen with pantry and all newer stainless appliances: gas range, built-in microwave, and dishwasher! Upstairs features 2 generous bedrooms with a recently remodeled and enlarged full bath! The pretty paint colors and airy feeling throughout will leave you with a smile on your face. Newer thermal replacement windows throughout including the basement. Basement has been partitioned for storage with an area for TV watching, plus an office and a half bath. The yard is level and fenced with a one car detached garage. Located just a few minutes to Hwy 44, the hospitals or universities. Fplc has a full chimney but never been used.

Would a main floor family room help ease your cramped quarters? How about 2 FULL baths on the main living levels? This beautifully maintained all brick home sits on a pretty street lined with mature trees and dotted with gingerbread homes. The newly refinished hardwood floors will make quite the welcome statement at the entry. Spacious living room features a full brick masonry fireplace reminescent of the 50's style. Eat-in kitchen has been updated with refurbished wood cabinets and new stainless gas range, dishwasher and refrigerator on a beautiful new floor. Adjoining family rm has plenty of windows to bring in the natural light with plenty of space for your big screen TV. Upstairs features 3 generous bedrooms with abundant storage closets in hallway and bedrooms, plus a a large full bath with dressing table. Basement is clean and dry, no partitions. Large fenced corner lot. The slate roof is in excellent shape.

Well-maintained by long time owner-occupant for over 30 years. Beautiful cove ceilings and plaster medallions in the living room.  Kitchens still are beautiful with top-of-the-line metal cabinets from days gone by.  2 bdrooms and full bath upstairs in each unit.  The sunrooms have newer windows and storm door with new roof. Spacious rooms throughout with carpet over hardwood floors. Updates include new furnaces, new garage doors & opener and thermal windows. Full basements with washer-dryer hook ups.  The yard is double the standard city lot with lovely perennials and a shady place for your patio table.  This all brick building is convenient to shopping, Tower Grove Park, restaurants and Hwy 44 & The Hill!

Adorable and well-maintained vinyl ranch conveniently located between Hwy 40 and 44 and close to shopping galore! Features include a wood-burning fireplace, newer thermal replacement windows & storm doors, additional insulation, hardwood floors & stained 6-panel solid wood interior doors. The level yard is privacy fenced with lush perennial landscaping, a newer concrete patio/drive & a darling screened-in porch. Your big screen TV as well as guests will have plenty of elbow space in the living rm with floor-to-ceiling windows. Kitchen features lovely raised-panel wood cabinets on a new floor, newer gas range & built-in microwave, plus a tongue & groove ceiling. Enjoy the view from the window over the sink! There is an abundance of closet space in this house, not just in the 2 bedrooms. Seller has a home office in the 2nd bdrm. The basement is dry and ready for you to finish into additional living space. Plenty of off-street parking. Great neighborhood, great location!

You'll fall in love with this brick home! It's gorgeous, updated, lots of space, wonderful level yard, and has a huge finished lower level! Let's start with the darling courtyard in front where you enjoy a private al fresco meal or watch the kids play from the kitchen window. Once inside, the large cathedral-ceiling great room and adjoining dining area which open to the kitchen will shout PARTY! On the opposite side of the lovely newer maple kitchen (with Viking range & new dishwasher) is a vaulted family room with woodburning fireplace & an exit to the level fenced yard. 3 bedrooms on main floor with 2 gorgeous bathrooms, 6 panel doors, thermal replacement windows, refinished wood floors...it's all here! It gets better: The professionally finished lower level has a place for everyone to enjoy an activity simultaneously, whether TV-watching, making crafts, playing dolls or on the computer, it's all here! Possible 4th bedroom. New A/C & furnace. Walk to Claire Gempp or Crestwood Parks, Johnny's Market & Walgreens.

Meticulously-maintained and beautifully updated all-brick ranch sits in a cul-de-sac of equally maintained brick homes.  Large living room is plenty big for your 52 inch TV and features newly refinished hardwood floors. Fabulous new eat-in kitchen has top of the line cabinets & appliances--a cook's dream! New Anderson sliding door opens to the large deck overlooking the River des Peres Greenway where you can wave to bicyclists & joggers alike or join them from your own yard. Small manageable yard is fenced with beautiful wrought-iron. Private master bath has been completely updated featuring a walk-in shower. The lower level is comprised of an office and storage space, along with an oversized garage. If you are looking for a move-in-ready home, this should be on your list.  Leaf Guard Gutters, Anderson Windows, new plumbing! New YMCA in beautiful Carondelet Park is just a bike ride away, as is Schnucks, Lowe's, Office Max, Starbucks and Panera at Hwy 55 & Loughborough.

The appeal of this gingerbread 2-story doesn't just start and stop at the curb! Beautiful 3+ bedroom with all the charm you expect in South St. Louis. Refinished hardwood floors, original stained millwork, arched doorways, stained & leaded glass windows & pretty cut stone fireplace. Besides living and dining rooms, 2 bedrooms and updated full bath on the first floor, there is a fabulous NEW eat-in kitchen with gorgeous wood cabinets & new countertop on 18-inch tile floor and new dishwasher, gas range, microwave & pantry. The second floor features french doors to a 3rd bedroom with delightful ceiling angles & stained glass windows, a large family room area (or could be closed off for a 4th bedroom), plenty of closet space, headroom & natural light. Owner has the architectural drawings for 2nd floor configuration of 2 bedrooms, sitting room & full bath. Furnace, Air, Roof 2002. 2 car gar with elec door, fenced yard w/perennials. Great neighbors and all the amenities you want in a community!

Darling curb appeal & so much space for the money! 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths & a finished lower level in this all brick charming gingerbread 1.5 story. Lovingly maintained for over 35 years by the same owner, you'll enjoy having a true history of this home. Living room & formal dining rooms offer good flow for entertaining and plenty of room for your large dining room table. 2 bedrooms on main floor share a full bathroom. Beautifully updated oak kitchen offers plenty of cabinet & counterspace, plus a dishwasher & built-in microwave. Small sunporch off the kitchen gives you a nice place to enjoy morning coffee. Upstairs features a 3rd bedroom plus a huge unfinished room that could be made into a 4th bedroom. Lower level is finished with a lovely newer full bathroom & plenty of other storage. Level fenced yard with 1 car garage and parking pad. A/C 2009. Just a few short blocks to Willmore or Francis Park, several churches, parochial school, restaurants, groceries. Great place to raise kids!

 Getting a home pre-inspected (and then addressing any ‘red flag’ items) before putting the property on the market can save a great deal of headache down the road. Avoid the last-minute hassle of finding contractors! Save money by taking time to choose contractors who can offer the best deal to do the work!  And, by all means, spare yourself the heartache of not being able to get the problem solved down the road, and watching a buyer walk away as a result.

 Despite the fact that I have been encouraging sellers for more than 4 years to have their homes professionally inspected prior to going on the market, some sellers are reluctant to spend that money ($400) up-front when they know the buyer will still be having their own inspection; or they truly believe there isn't anything wrong with their home or they just don't want to know.  Some of our recent closings, during the height of the $8,000 tax-credit frenzy where Title Companies were burning midnight oil to meet closing deadlines, encountered frustrations and last-minute inspections and repair hold-ups…cutting awfully close to closing time. And let me tell you, such a situation is fun for no one.

 Case #1: Mr. Seller forgot to disclose an un-vented basement bathroom, caught by the buyer's inspector but which seller refused to correct; buyer accepted. However, the County caught it and required it to be done which led to a scramble to find contractors who could get the work done in the week just before closing. Seller again was adamant that he wouldn't pay for it.  Buyer wanted the house so badly they agreed to pay 50%.  Total cost borne by both:  $2000.      

 Case #2: Miss Seller waited until the very last minute to finish repairs necessary to obtain a compliance certificate from the county, though she had been aware for 4 months of the repairs needed, leading to frantic calls to the County inspector to make sure he could re-visit the home before closing.  Coupled with her incredibly busy job and the fact that she wanted to use her own contractors, there was much anxiety to ensure that nothing was missed.   

 Case #3:  Mrs. Seller informed me the roof was old & I suggested it be replaced before going on the market; she wanted to negotiate it instead. We mistakenly let the buyer choose their own roofer because any leftover money from the $6,500 roof credit she was giving him could be used for his closing costs.  Buyer dragged his feet getting roof bids. The two roofers he chose came with their own set of issues: First one didn't have insurance; second quickly got insurance but wanted 50% up front; third one (the bid she got) wanted 50% down.  Finally we settled on my roofer who was insured and didn't require any money up front so 4 weeks later and 2 days before closing, the roof finally went on, but the VA appraiser had to come back out and make sure the roof was on before the loan would be granted.    

Thankfully, none of these sellers saw their transactions fall apart. The properties closed and everyone left the closing table…relieved. But, they each endured needless anxiety that could have been prevented. I’m sure that in hindsight, each of these sellers would have rather they opted to have their homes pre-inspected, which would have given them the chance to address most of these issues before the pressure was on to get the job done.

Your Realtor’s job is to help you expect the unexpected. (One of the reasons we urge you get your home pre-inspected!) However, we do live in a world of uncertainty, and with the changing industry practices involving lenders, appraisers, inspectors and the like, the unexpected will sometimes occur. This is why your Realtor should also be capable and well-informed, able to ease your mind and defend your wallet when those “surprises” come along. Be comfortable with and be confident in your agent’s ability to handle whatever surprises come your way. It can make all the difference in making sure that if a transaction gets “bumpy”, it ends up a smooth one.

Case in point:  The City of Rock Hill in the County of St. Louis, Missouri. 

In the last few years, sellers in this city have been forced to spend thousands of dollars to retrofit their homes either at the whim of the inspector, or because Rock Hill thinks it's their job to protect people from stupidity.  A recent home re-occupancy inspection for a home in this city noted several “violations” and required fixes of said “violations”. Such requirements included adding a light fixture to the basement stairwell where one already exists, adding balusters to the stairwell so a child cannot fall off, dry walling the interior of a basement garage and building a concrete stoop for fire-safety, and installing a railing or bushes as a barrier to falling off a 5-foot retaining wall. 

Further review by the seller of the city’s International Property Maintenance Code revealed that none of the described “violations” were really violations at all! The issues are not stated in the maintenance code, and therefore the seller has wisely chosen to appeal the predications with the city.

Although conditions at this home have been this way for 50-60 years, now that a seller wants to move, the city decides it's time to make this property "safe".  It makes me wonder, if these issues are so inherently critical to ensuring an occupant’s safety, why didn't the city choose to take action to protect the current owner’s safety before now?

Just recently, in another comparable circumstance, the seller of a house in Webster Groves was forced to dead-wood her 40 year old oak tree in the front yard at a cost of several hundred dollars. Sure, I suppose a branch could have been ripped from the trunk in a storm and possibly hit a car driving by…but why didn't the city notice the dead branches of her tree while driving through her neighborhood in the last 12 months? Why does this become an issue only now?

If these inspectors are REALLY concerned about safety issues in the neighborhood, why aren't they routinely driving through looking for how an average citizen might be harmed simply by living in their community? (And caulking the bathtub?  How is that a safety/health violation that requires compliance before an Occupancy Permit will be issued?  Yes, that came up on a Webster inspection, also.)

I’m just going to say it…I'm weary of the government acting as my protector and treating us as if we are all helpless victims. Does the government serve a place in our society for protecting the common good? Absolutely. Have recent circumstances shown an unhealthy extension of their influence and involvement in the home sale process? I believe so.

The truth is that the tougher these supposed "code violations" become, the more agents will be unwilling to extol the qualities of living in that community, knowing the kind of repairs and modifications the buyer-turned-seller will have to do…and decreasing the ease or motivation for moving real estate, particularly in the current market, serves no one.

Next up, Laclede Gas predications, Cap and Trade and the new Transfer Tax.

(Denver, CO., April 15, 2010) - Two surveys of elite real estate brokerages indicate that in 2009 RE/MAX significantly outperformed its national competitors. The 2010 Power Broker Report ranked 69 RE/MAX brokerages among their Top 300, representing 23% of all ranked brokerages.  This showing placed RE/MAX 47% higher than its closest competitor.  In the REAL Trends 500 survey, 122 RE/MAX brokerages earned a ranking, giving RE/MAX 24% of the top 500 brokerages in the U.S.  

“We are so proud of our Sales Associates for earning such an impressive distinction, especially considering how difficult today’s market is,” says Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX International. “The fact is, only the best trained and most experienced agents will find ways to succeed and be able to provide valuable assistance to so many American families facing financial difficulties.”

RE/MAX Sales Associates had the highest agent productivity of all the national real estate brands.  In the 2010 Power Broker Report, Sales Associates affiliated with RE/MAX brokerages averaged an impressive 15.1 transaction sides per agent, an 18% increase over their winning position in last year’s survey, and a performance that placed them 26% higher than the next closest competitor.

Kelly believes a significant factor in the success of RE/MAX Sales Associates is the comprehensive educational resources available through RE/MAX University. "Our Associates lead the industry in sales experience and professional designations.  Within the past year, over 15,000 agents earned a distressed property designation from RE/MAX University, our on-demand, multi-media educational institution, and we have significant initiatives that will increase those efforts in the coming year.” 

 1. $15 million to pay the first year of property taxes for qualified homebuyers who purchase a new or existing home after January 1, 2010. This has the opportunity to help between 9,000 and 11,000 Missouri families making less than $100,000 a year.

 2.  $5 million in assistance to qualified homebuyers to help with down payments and closing costs. This helps potential homebuyers overcome the obstacle of coming up with enough cash for a down payment and closing costs. MHDC has been a national leader on this front.

 3. Additional assistance to homebuyers who purchase an energy-efficient home or purchase energy-saving appliances. This is an opportunity to raise energy-efficiency standards in Missouri, making a positive impact on both the economy and the environment. It's a win-win.

This economic development package provides property tax relief to thousands of Missourians at a crucial time in our economy without spending Missouri tax dollars. This will be paid for entirely out of MHDC's reserve fund and federal recovery funds already in our possession. This comes in addition to more than $100 million in recovery funds and more than $19 million in reserves already allocated to boost Missouri's economy and put Missourians back to work.

If you have been thinking of buying a home and waiting for "the bottom", now is the time to make that move.  Call me for a list of qualified Mortgage Lenders and let's find you a home. 

And save the date for Art in the Park in St. Louis Hills neighborhood of Southwest St. Louis City.  More than 65 local artisans & food vendors plus live music around the lily ponds of Francis Park will have you dancing in the streets! Sunday, September 27, 2009 from 10 until 6 p.m.  St. Louis Hills is bordered by NOTTINGHAM, DONOVAN, TAMM AND EICHELBERGER. 

 It's completely family-oriented so that mom and dad can relax and not worry while the kids are busy on the 78 acre compound playing softball, badmitton, ping pong, tether ball (my favorite) washers, shuffleboard, or horseback riding with the owners.  Hot days will find you at water's edge in the crystal clear waters of the Huzzah Creek lazily floating on an innertube where the owners will pick you up downstream a few hours later;  if you prefer, there is also a large swimming pool for the puritans.   

Your cabin is simply for sleeping with minimal amenities (but includes air conditioning!) and a screened in porch if you'd really rather commune with nature & read.   Nothing glamourous, but that's the best part!  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared by the resident chefs and served by the friendliest group of young adults in a large air conditioned dining hall.  They won't allow you to leave the table feeling hungry!  No cooking, no clean up and no choices to make!

Each day and night there were activities like badmitton tournaments, Bingo, ping pong tournaments & softball tournaments.  We enjoyed an excellent fireworks display, 4th of July barbecue with outdoor buffet adorned in red, white & blue! Steve Butz is also an excellent singer, dancer and musician so we had some square dancing & Electric Slide one night with the 140 strangers who stayed over 4th of July weekend as we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. 

Just a quick 1.5 hour drive from St. Louis down 44 west to the Cuba exit.  Stop at Missouri Hicks and try their barbecue! Out of this world! 

It's all about "baby steps" like setting up an emergency fund first, getting a budget in place (a what???), then funding 6 months of living expenses in a liquid account, cutting up credit cards, (ouch) etc.  Each week is a different topic and Dave Ramsey is highly entertaining (via video) at the same time being very direct and passionate about turning the tide of Amercians spending above their means. His mantra is you will "live like no one else so later you can LIVE like no one else!"

We now pay with cash divided into special envelopes marked for groceries, dining out, hair care, clothing, etc that we don't go anywhere without.  Sure, we used to pay off our credit card every month too, but now that we pay cash, it hurts more to part with it so we spend FAR less than we used to.  We have actually spent 1/3 less on groceries than we used to because with credit I never cared how much it cost or how much we might waste.  We still eat well but we don't waste food anymore. Some women can't help themselves in a clothing store...I cannot help myself in a grocery store!

There are numerous classes coming up at various churches around St. Louis Metro area.  Even if you think you don't "need" this class, I encourage you to check out his website for yourself. 

Connect with families across the nation for a truly radical message: HOPE.

Tired of hearing the fear, doom and gloom that’s filling the airwaves? Join Dave Ramsey for a nationwide town hall meeting and discover what’s happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we’re going. Plus, Dave will answer your questions live throughout the event! 

This free event is being held at numerous locations throughout St. Louis.  Just find one closest to you by clicking here   Learn more.  I'll be at Gateway to Grace Fellowship in 63109 and look forward to seeing you there.   

http://www.townhallforhope.com!