CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN ST. LOUIS Make sure to check out these delightful events in and around St. Louis and have yourself a Holly, Jolly Christmas this year! Christmas Day Brunch in The Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis Tuesday, Dec 25 10:00am The Ritz-Carlton, St Louis Treat you and your family to an unforgettable holiday brunch Christmas Day, with sumptuous favorites for every member, young and old.   Christmas at the Cathedral Saturday, Dec 15 8:00pm Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, St Louis The Eighth Annual Christmas at the Cathedral concert is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season. The concert includes the Archdiocesan Adult Choir, Children’s Choir, Handbell Choir, and Orchestra, all in the sonic splendor of the Cathedral Basilica. The program features Christmas cl... 12/06/2012

  SELLING HOMES ON HOLIDAYS? Why not? Christmas time isn’t just about giving and sharing. Sometimes, it can also be a PERFECT time for selling something. That’s right.  If you are thinking of selling your home during such a busy season of entertaining and holidays, here’s a simple checklist on what you need to consider: 1. Timing of the party - Weekends are prime time for showing a home - having a party at the beginning or middle of the week allows for time for decorating and clean up, with potentially fewer showings being impacted by your plans. When this is not possible, you must decide if having the party in your home is worth giving up the weekend showings. Consider consulting with your real estate agent to find out trends in your area when choosing time of the day or week for enter... 12/06/2012

Smart Tips in Making Your Home Stay Hot this Cold Season! Now that the fresh breeze of Christmas time is here, and with everyone gleaming with the holiday cheer and some Bing Crosby tunes playing, home buyers won't want to leave, which could mean a quick sale for you. That’s why we’ve amassed some amazing home care tips to keep the fires burning and the pipes humming, just as they should, all winter long. Before the cold weather sets in: It is important to know which areas of your home are most vulnerable to freezing. Basements, crawl spaces, unheated rooms and outside walls are great candidates to begin with. Make sure everyone in your household knows where your main water shut-off valve is. Always check it at least annually to make sure it is working properly. Remember that if a pipe ... 12/05/2012

Sell Your Home in Chesterfield, MO in 89 Days! We will sell your home in 89 days or less, guaranteed, or we will sell it for FREE! Do you have a home in St. Louis, St. Charles, or Jefferson County that you want to sell fast?  If so, you have to check out the 89 day Guaranteed Home Sale Program being offered by Michael Nettemeyer and The Nettemeyer Group with Keller Williams Realty.  Our promise to you (the seller) is to get your home sold using our proven effective marketing plan within 89 days or less or we will sell it for FREE!  That’s right! We will wave our commission and sell your house for Free! While every agent will promise to sell your home, the reality of the real estate market today is that, this simply doesn’t always happen. Needless to say, this is highly frustrating to a ... 12/04/2012

  The Four Pillars of Selling a Home With experts claiming that the housing market is showing signs of life due to increasing sales reports, more and more homeowners are beginning to consider putting their properties back in the market. Before you make that move, here are four important things you should bear in mind to secure that sale: Access A seller should be willing to give almost infinite access to potential buyers if they are serious in selling. Most prospective buyers often appear with as little as a half hour's notice so always prepare for such situations. Any restrictions to showing the home will result in fewer buyers which could result in a lower price, a longer time on market or both. Condition Keep your house spic-and-span. Condition goes a long way in determining whether ... 12/04/2012

Quo Vadis Saint Louis?       Real estate experts say low home prices and record-low mortgage rates appear to be pulling the housing market out of its swan dive.   Data from the National Association of REALTORS’ (NAR) Pending Home Sales indicate that the housing market showed signs of recovery in October with pending home sales hitting a five-year high, hitting a 5.2 percent increase from September. It’s an increase of 13.2 percent from the third quarter of 2011.   National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) chief economist, David Crowe, PhD., said he felt the housing market was recovering, although it was  a “fragile” recovery and cautioned that it could be “affected both directions by the recent election results”.   In Missouri, the home price/income ratio peaked at a little over 130... 12/04/2012

Chesterfield, MO $600,000 - $1,000,000 Market Report - September 2011 Market Profile & Trends Overview Property SalesSeptember Property sales were 2, equal to 2 inSeptember of 2010 and 71.4% lower than the 7 saleslast month. September 2011 sales were at theirlowest level compared to September of 2010 and2009. September YTD sales of 33 are running equalto last year's year-to-date sales of 33.Prices The Median Sales Price in September was $756,500,down 20.3% from $949,450 in September of 2010and down 0.8% from $762,500 last month. TheAverage Sales Price in September was $756,500,down 20.3% from $949,450 in September of 2010and up 4.7% from $722,757 last month. September2011 ASP was at the lowest level compared toSeptember of 2010 and 2009.Inventory & MSI The Total Inventory of Properties ... 10/22/2011

Chesterfield, MO Condos Market Report - September 2011 Market Profile & Trends Overview Property SalesSeptember Property sales were 10, equal to 10 inSeptember of 2010 and 44.4% lower than the 18 saleslast month. September 2011 sales were at theirlowest level compared to September of 2010 and2009. September YTD sales of 118 are running 11.9%behind last year's year-to-date sales of 134.Prices The Median Sales Price in September was $249,500,down 35.6% from $387,500 in September of 2010and up 16.2% from $214,750 last month. TheAverage Sales Price in September was $292,500,down 14.7% from $342,750 in September of 2010 andup 33.1% from $219,816 last month. September 2011ASP was at the lowest level compared to Septemberof 2010 and 2009.Inventory & MSIThe Total Inventory of Properties availab... 10/18/2011

Chesterfield, MO Market Report - September 2011 Market Profile & Trends Overview Property SalesSeptember Property sales were 33, up 6.5% from 31in September of 2010 and 31.3% lower than the 48sales last month. September 2011 sales were at a midlevel compared to September of 2010 and 2009.September YTD sales of 345 are running 3.4% behindlast year's year-to-date sales of 357.Prices The Median Sales Price in September was $350,000,up 4.5% from $335,000 in September of 2010 anddown 1.7% from $356,000 last month. The AverageSales Price in September was $410,012, down 0.4%from $411,602 in September of 2010 and up 4.9%from $391,017 last month. September 2011 ASP wasat the lowest level compared to September of 2010and 2009.Inventory & MSIThe Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as ... 10/17/2011

Chesterfield, MO Condo Market Report - August 2011 Market Profile & Trends Overview Property SalesAugust Property sales were 17, up 30.8% from 13 in August of 2010 and 21.4% higher than the 14 sales last month. August 2011 sales were at their highest level compared to August of 2010 and 2009. August YTD sales of 107 are running 13.7% behind last year's year-to-date sales of 124. Prices The Median Sales Price in August was $214,500, down 33.4% from $322,000 in August of 2010 and up 27.3% from $168,450 last month. The Average Sales Price in August was $212,526, down 31.2% from $308,923 in August of 2010 and up 2.2% from $207,886 last month. August 2011 ASP was at the lowest level compared to August of 2010 and 2009.Inventory & MSI The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of... 09/29/2011

Chesterfield, MO Market Report - August 2011 Chesterfield MO Market Report - August 2011 Market Profile & Trends Overview Property SalesAugust Property sales were 48, up 2.1% from 47 in August of 2010 and 6.7% higher than the 45 sales last month. August 2011 sales were at a mid level compared to August of 2010 and 2009. August YTD sales of 312 are running 4.3% behind last year's yearto- date sales of 326.PricesThe Median Sales Price in August was $356,000, down 5.1% from $375,000 in August of 2010 and up 3.2% from $345,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in August was $391,017, down 7.7% from $423,486 in August of 2010 and up 7.1% from $364,989 last month. August 2011 ASP was at the lowest level compared to August of 2010 and 2009.Inventory & MSI The Total Inventory of Properties av... 09/28/2011

All Jaguar Auto Show  Kemp Auto Museum  Chesterfield, MO  October 8, 2011       The public non-profit Kemp Auto Museum is located in the Chesterfield Valley in Chesterfield, MO.  The museum houses beautifully restored classic cars, most notably Mercedes Benz as well as other makes.  Having attended an auction and a wedding reception there, I know personally that the museum houses some stunningly beautiful classic cars and serves as the perfect venue for a variety of events.  The museum also has hours each week during which the public can wander among the beauties on display.                    Next weekend, on October 8, Jaguar enthusiasts will not want to miss the Jaguar Association of Greater St. Louis' Annual Concours d'Elegance event.  It will be held on the plaza in front of the mu... 09/26/2011

Chesterfield, MO hosts speedskating event October 1-2, 2011On October 1-2, 2011 the Hardee's IcePlex in Chesterfield MO will host American Cup Short Track Speedskating.  St. Louis is proud to host this important sports event.  The best and fastest short-track speedskaters in the US will be competing.  Additionally, all active 2010 US Olympians will be competing for a position on the World Cup Team. Olympic medalists Katherine Reutter of Champaign, IL and JR Celski will be skating.    The event will be held at the Hardee's Ice Plex located 16851 North Outer Forty Drive.  Chesterfield, MO  63005.  General admission tickets are $5 each per day per person and are available at the rink. 09/25/2011

Baxter Ridge Market Report  July-August 2011  Chesterfield, MO                                                                                    Baxter Ridge has been quite active over the past 2 months.  The above activity shows current properties on the market and what has sold in both the single family homes and the condominiums during that time.  We have been busy listing and selling homes during the summer.  As you can see, 4 of our 5 recent listings are already sold with only 1 home currently for sale.  Of course, we need more Baxter Ridge listings.    From the market data listed above, it is clear to Baxter Ridge residents that prices are down from last year.  While several years ago, home prices topped out at nearly $500,000, the market has definitely corrected and homes are mo... 09/24/2011

Folk and Fine Arts Festival - Faust Park, Chesterfield MO  September 24-25, 2011                                 Headlining at Chesterfield MO's Faust Park this weekend is the Folk and Fine Arts Festival.  This festival that blends historical activities and folk art is a tradition in Chesterfield.  For a $5 event admission fee, attendees will be driven to the entrance via hay wagon.  Upon arrival, festivalgoers will be greeted by staff and artists who are dressed in period attire.  Demonstrations of a variety of traditional skills will be ongoing.  Visitors can view pottery firing, needlepoint, doll making, blacksmithing and more.  Some of the artists' wares will be on display and for sale including paintings in acrylic, watercolor and oil, woodworking, sculpture, leatherworks and handm... 09/23/2011

         Fall Lawn maintenance in Chesterfield, MO               Fall is a great time to repair the damage that may have occurred to your Chesterfield MO lawn during the summer.  Chesterfield lawns took a pretty good hit during the summer with high temperatures for long periods which required a lot of watering.  High temperatures and a lot of watering turned into lawns with fungus.  Lawn fungus caused a lot of brown patches and dead spots in lawns.  Ours was no exception despite liberal application of expensive fungicides.    When considering lawn repair, determine the kind of grass that you have.  Many lawns in Chesterfield have tall fescue or Kentucky Bluegrass.  Both of these grasses will do well when reseeded in the fall.  The cooler temperatures and increased moisture helps seed to... 09/22/2011

Coldwell Banker Gundaker garage sale benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities.Recently, our office held a charity garage sale benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Organized by the Chesterfield Wildwood office of Coldwell Banker Gundaker, the sale was held on a recent Saturday morning. Items offered for sale at the garage sale were donated by agents in our office or their clients. The weather didn't exactly cooperate. Although it was nice and cool, we did have a bit of rain off and on. We had steady buyer traffic until early afternoon. Garage sale shoppers were notified about the sale using a variety of methods. A notice was posted on Craig's List, it was a daily activity in the Ellisville Patch, a nice press release was posted online at STLToday.com and we had a huge sign (... 09/21/2011

         Baxter Ridge Condominiums - Chesterfield MOMany people in Chesterfield are unaware of the condominiums located within the Villages at Baxter Ridge subdivision.  Better known as Baxter Ridge, there are approximately 135 condominium units tucked away at the back of the subdivision. Featuring all different styles, Baxter Ridge condos offer many different size units.   There are condos that range in size from 1500 SF to over 2500 SF.  These units are perfect whether a buyer is trying to purchase a first home or for downsizing from a larger home. Residents are young professionals, young families and retired couples.  All are welcome here.  One reason for the diversity of the residents has to do with the amenities available for Baxter Ridge residents.  Subdivision facilities include ... 09/19/2011

Greystone subdivision market stats in Chesterfield MO Greystone subdivision in Chesterfield MO is a popular, highly sought after subdivision.  Recently, we examined market data year to year over the past 4 years.  Specifically, we looked at median sale prices.  Home prices in Greystone range from the $600,000s to well over $1M.  As a result, median sale prices seemed to be a good mechanism by which to examine trends in subdivision sale prices.     Starting in January 2007 through August of 2011, the trend for Greystone subdivision sale prices is down.  This follows both local and national trends for sale prices.  The median sale price for 2011, year to date is $647,000.  This is the lowest median sale price for Greystone since 2001.  Coincidentally, the highest median sale price ever fo... 09/17/2011

St. Louis County SAVES program now available to Chesterfield, MO residents                                                       The St. Louis County SAVES program is now available to Chesterfield, MO residents after an agreement was reached between the Chesterfield City Council and St. Louis County. Chesterfield residents are now able to enroll in the SAVES program (Sustainable and Verifiable Energy Savings.) St. Louis County SAVES is a $10.4 million residential energy loan program that was started in May of 2011. Qualified residents can obtain low interest (3.5%) loans ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 to make energy efficient improvements to their homes. Single family homes are the only eligible housing type allowed. The loans can be paid off over up to ten years. Qualifying high energy... 09/15/2011