Becky O'Neill - The “POWER” Home Selling Team

If you are selling your St. Louis home so you can buy another one, your dream might be to "sell high, buy low." Even if your Realtor® tries to remind you that this doesn't often pan out, you might still be tempted to have the agent list your home higher than recommended to see what happens. In a market where buyers are well prepared by internet research and other media to spot an over-priced home, this could be a bad move.

Your agent suggests a price for you based on specifics about your house and comparable information about neighborhood sales. If you own a palace in middle of a slum, you will have to ask less than you could if your home were elsewhere. If you bought your homes for $200,000 and added $50,000 of the most reclaimable improvements (i.e., bathroom or kitchen upgrades, desks), you might not be able to price your home at $250,000 if similar homes in the area are going for $150,000. If your home has special features that make it the most desirable in the neighborhood, you will be able to ask a little more - but remember, this is not a time in real estate history characterized by high pricing, with inflation to work in your favor.

If you price the home too high, what can happen?

Your home will stay on the market longer than you planned. Even if you have time on your side - you are moving because you want to, not pressured by a job transfer, foreclosure, change in circumstances, etc. - this has bad side effects.

Buyers tend to look at homes with long days on market (DOM) as homes with problems, like those alongside freeways, with foundation damage, or with other buyer-repelling features. Once a home has been on the market for 45-60 days, it gets a reputation. In the case of an overpriced home, the bad reputation might not be deserved, but it can linger nonetheless.

Your high price can turn off "perfect buyers" who love your home and who would qualify to buy it if the price were right. Buyers have a price range in mind, which they are wisely not likely to exceed these days. If potential buyers are looking for homes just like yours, and yours is priced $20,000 than similar homes in your area, your home will sit - and sit.

Homes do not sell themselves. If your home is overpriced, you may not get the help you need to make it stand out. Your agent, who is contractually obligated to represent you, may neglect you and turn her attentions to more correctly priced properties, while other agents will bypass you too. Your home, already ignored due to its high price, could linger even longer.

If you are ready to sell, don't waste your time overpricing your St. Louis home. Visit the StLHomefinder to what comparable homes are selling for. Look through some of the listings to find ones that are similar to your home, and then trust your agent to price your home right.

The Becky O'Neill POWER Team promises you a Positive Outcome With Exceptional Results. We specialize in fine properties in Chesterfield and the surrounding area in St. Louis or St. Charles Counties.

Like most real estate agent, my target group of ideal buyers is married couples. Given that I work in the western suburbs of St. Louis, site of many large and beautiful suburban homes ideal for growing families, this is not surprising. According to a recent National Association of Realtors® (NAR) study, 61% of buyers fall in this category nationwide, and the suburbs of St. Louis are no exception.

As a recent homebuyer and single mother, I do not fit my own profile. Ironically, real estate in general is changing, and sales of homes to single women is a growing market segment through the nation. I fit the new demographic where more than 20% of home sales are made to single women! Interestingly, only 9% of sales are made to single men.

What has caused this shift in real estate demographics? Sales patterns follow what is happening in our society. The U.S. Census confirms that half of all adult women live alone, due to choice or circumstance, such as divorce or widowhood. They marry later (at age 26, 6 years later than in the 60's), are often college-educated, and positioned to be self-supporting - a good thing since the live longer. Women may still hit a glass ceiling that limits their income in comparison to men, but many woman do well enough to qualify for a mortgage. Others take advantage of special financing programs, including low or no-money down mortgages.

All this does not mean that all women want the same type of home as couples want, though some, like myself, with children, still want a suburban home that is not much different that past homes I have owned. As laid out in a recent article in the Webster -Kirkwood Times, "single" women are likely to buy homes under $200,000, in the city rather than in a suburb, often condos or townhomes, and usually two bedrooms or more. The want to be close to shopping, stores, and fitness centers. Traditionally, they have looked at pre-owned home, but builders are courting women buyers of new construction.

So where does that leave "single" women in the west suburbs who want to buy a home? Just looking in our TheStLHomefinder site, there are lots of choices. The St. Louis area is very welcoming to women buyers.

In the St. Louis area, there are over 13,391 homes under $200,000 with at last 2 bedrooms. There are about 11,000 single families, 1,153 condos, and 771 townhomes. With29,013 homes listed on the MLS, over 45% fall within the profile of the home female homebuyers tend to prefer.

• In Ballwin, 217 homes fits the criteria (142 single families, 53 condos, 22 townhomes)

• In Chesterfield, 97 homes fits the criteria (5 single families, 52 condos, 40 townhomes)

• In Fenton, 136 homes fit the criteria (121 single families, 8 condos, 7 townhomes)

• In St. Peters, 458 homes fit the criteria (338 single families, 68 condos, 52 townhomes)

• In St. Charles, 526 homes fit the criteria (362 single families, 71 condos, 83 townhomes)

•· In O'Fallon, 491 homes fit the criteria (374 single families, 41 condos, 76 townhomes)

(See http://www.thestlhomefinder.com/ for details on other cities)

If you are a single woman looking for a home in any porce range, a good Realtor® will help you find the home in neighborhood that will work for you. Check out www.thestlhomefinder.com to find one you like and then call the Becky O'Neill POWER Team, where we promise a Positive Outcome With Exceptional Results. We specialize in fine properties in Clayton, Wildwood, Chesterfield, Manchester, Glencoe, Ballwin, Ellisville, Ladue, Fenton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Clarkson Valley, St. Charles, St, Peters, O'Fallon, Town & Country, and the surrounding area in St. Louis or St. Charles Counties.

I recently received the news that I was inducted into the ReMax Hall of Fame. After 9 years in the real estate business and after moving from Illinois to reestablish my business in St. Louis, Missouri, I was pleased to receive this honor. Over the years, I have worked hard, always kept my goals in sight, had the support of a great company, and worked with a terrific team of dedicated agents and support staff. Now firmly established in the western suburbs of St. Louis, I look forward to many challenging years ahead in the real estate industry.

Like most Realtors®, I tell my clients - both buyers and sellers - that this is a good time to do a real estate transaction. These days, I have to add a few qualifiers. It is a good time to buy IF you have a stable job, have a good credit record, and are prepared to buy an affordable home in your price range. With those pieces in place, there are great home values and low interest rates If you are selling, perhaps because you want to buy another home, you will be successful IF your home falls within certain price brackets and if it is priced right. I can't offer guarantees. What I can offer is my best professional advice, based on my years in the business.

I recent came across an interesting report from the National Association of Realtors®, which compares some national statistics with St. Louis.

The median home price in St. Louis is $160,000 -as compared to $185,000 nationwide. You should be able to buy a home with a mortgage that consumes less of your income each month.

These statistics conform that what Forbes Magazine said in 2009 is still true. Based on housing and other measures, St. Louis is very affordable.

While that is generally true, home buyers who seek property in specific areas are working with a whole different set of numbers. In Chesterfield, for example, the median home price is $359,000. In Town and Country, the average listing price is $770,600. In Fenton, the median price is $187,500. Before you move to any specific area, you need to make sure that the area is a good match for your resources. Websites like thestlhomefinder.com can help you find a home at the right price point for you.

A recent report by Bankrate.com indicated that Missouri home buyers also receive a break when they close their deal. Among 49 states, the District of Columbia, and two areas of California, Missouri ranked #44 on the list of closing costs. Missourians can expect to pay $3,356 on a $200,000 loan, as compared to New York, where fees topped $3,741.

Based on these statistics, you should be able to find an affordable home. If you qualify, interest rates are more attractive than they have been in years. When interest rates drop, you can buy more home. (The rule of thumb is that every 1% of decreased interest allows you to purchase $10,000 more for the same down payment, with the same credit profile.)

Looking for affordable home? Check out www.thestlhomefinder.com to find one you like and then call the Becky O'Neill POWER Team, where we promise a Positive Outcome With Exceptional Results. We specialize in fine properties in Clayton, Wildwood, Chesterfield, Manchester, Glencoe, Ballwin, Ellisville, Ladue, Fenton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Clarkson Valley, St. Charles, St, Peters, O'Fallon, Town & Country, and the surrounding area in St. Louis or St. Charles Counties.

Home is where you hang your hat, and the St. Louis area has always been a good place to do so. Recently, CNN Money Magazine added two St. Charles County cities to their Top 100 Best Places to Live and confirmed what we have known all along. Set up your hat rack in St. Peters, set it up in O'Fallon, set up in any other inviting west suburbs, and you'll feel right at home.

The magazine selected these two cities from other contenders with populations in the 50.000 to 300,000 range based on factors that mean something to people looking for good family towns: job growth, income increases, cost of living, housing affordability, school quality, arts and leisure options, safety, medical care, diversity and commute. The extremes of income or crime scores are dropped out to identify communities where life is affordable, where some of the services and recreational outlets people want are nearby, and where jobs and other services other are within a short commute.

O'Fallon, 77,000 strong, is has it all - jobs, parks, and shopping - and boasts an unemployment rates that usually runs well below the national average. MasterCard is based in O'Fallon, and has nearly 1/3 of its global staff there. It is also the site of one of four Master Card Labs, which pioneers new payment technologies and card services. ( For more on the wonders of O'Fallon, please see our previous blog Fallin' for O'Fallon.)

With 56,000 residents, St. Peters is particularly proud of this honor. Dubbed "a small city full of character," St. Peters is celebrating its centennial. The honor does not surprise Mayor Leo Pagano: "During this Centennial year, we've talked about how we owe a lot to our history and the great planning that took place through the years to create a wonderful community for wonderful residents."

So how do the two cities stack up in comparison to other cities on the list?

• Both O'Fallon and St. Peters are affluent communities, with median family incomes of $82,868 and $84,637, respectively, as compared to the average of cities on the list on $90,957. Sales tax and insurance rates are below the average. Job growth in O'Fallon is nearly triple the average, due a growing corporate base.

• The median home price of $153,731 in O'Fallon and $172,250 in St. Peters is below the average of $239,391 and has property taxes of $1,000 less.

• The number of residents with at least college is 66% in O'Fallon and 67.8% in St. Peters, just a little short of the average of 71.5%. There are 17 colleges, universities, and professional schools within 30 miles of O'Fallon (19 for St. Peters) vs. the average of 25. Test scores for current students for reading and math far exceed the average.

• The air quality exceeds the average, while temperature highs and lows show a high of 89° and low of 19°.

• Recreational opportunities within the area are plentiful, with theaters, restaurants, bars, and libraries within 15 miles. The area is near beautiful parks that offer opportunities for daily walks and other recreational activities. The pride of St. Peters is a 236,000 square foot Rex-Plex that includes workout equipment and an Olympic-sized pool. Meanwhile, O'Fallon has 400 acres of parkland.

Money Magazine has confirmed what residents have known all along: O'Fallon and St. Peters are top notch places to settle down and hang your hat. These cities are just two of the many pleasant cities in the western suburbs of St. Louis that you can find at www.TheStLHomefinder.com. The Becky O'Neill Power Team can show you any of the 934 properties for sale in O'Fallon and 758 in St. Peters. We promise a Positive Outcome With Exceptional Results. We will help you narrow down the home that is right for you. We specialize in fine properties in Clayton, Wildwood, Chesterfield, Manchester, Glencoe, Ballwin, Ellisville, Ladue, Fenton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Clarkson Valley, St. Charles, St, Peters, O'Fallon, Town & Country, and the surrounding area in St. Louis or St. Charles Counties. Check out www.thestlhomefinder.com today for full detail.

Your new Chesterfield home has everything you'd ever want . Four spacious bedrooms. A great room that works as game room and av room for your family. A large, beautiful lot with a view to die for. Amenities galore. What more could you want to increase you enjoyment of your home and keep it fresh for later resale? If you love to entertain, imagine this: an outdoor kitchen. This trendy new amenity will offer al fresco dining in a naturally beautiful setting, plus add to your home's value.

An outdoor kitchen offers you a convenient outdoor space for eating, serving, and storing food for you and your guests. You can have a built in grill, burners, an elegant wine bar, a sink, granite countertops, functional flooring, storage cabinets, a fireplace, a beautiful stone fireplace, and numerous other add ons to make your space match your vision. In terms of design, the sky's the limit! In fact, that's the important word: DESIGN. An outdoor kitchen is a whole lot more than a grill and a picnic table out pulled onto the patio.

The outdoor kitchen will take up yard space, so you want to plan your space into the overall design of your yard. Because the kitchen will be outside and exposed to the elements, you want it to be able to withstand weather without damage. This means that you will probably need to incorporate the professional wisdom of an experienced contractor and a landscape architect. You may have great ideas for how you want the finished area to look, but you may need licensed insured contractors to make sure that the plumbing and electrical connections are done right.

You also need to pick appliances and materials for your outdoor kitchen with care. Refrigerators and other appliances designed for outdoor use can withstand the elements, though extreme temperatures changes, sea salt of dessert conditions can affect the life expectancy and the price. A UL approved refrigerator for outdoor use has a larger compressor and has wiring/electronics designed for wet, tough outdoor environments, and will set you back around $1000. Your cabinets should be marine-grade wood, set on corrosion-resistant bases. Materials for counter tops should be able to resist chips, scratches, sun bleaching, and corrosion. If you plan on outdoor TV, you need consider covering for at least part of the area.

As with any home improvement, planning is essential. For the past 10 years, outdoor kitchens have been among the most popular home upgrades. As a result, you have loads of internet sources to look to for design inspiration, plans, and practical tips. Doityourself.com has many topics devoted to the "living room out back," as they refer to outside kitchens. If you think that outdoor kitchens are popular only in Florida or California, think again. They are rage in Missouri too; the area boosts a number of contractors with experience. If you want to do the project yourself, experts say to anticipate spending a minimum of $3,000 for a very basic layout, but the project can cost upwards of $50,000.

An outdoor kitchen while enhance your Chesterfield home now and later. The National Association of Home Builders estimates that an outdoor kitchen can bring up to a 130% return when you sell your home. Until that time, you can sear steak the way restaurants do and enjoy your guests as you prepare the rest of the meal.

Sound inviting? The Becky O'Neill POWER Team can find you a property with the perfect yard for an outdoor kitchen. We promise a Positive Outcome With Exceptional Results. We will help you narrow down the home that is right for you. We specialize in fine properties in Clayton, Wildwood, Chesterfield, Manchester, Glencoe, Ballwin, Ellisville, Ladue, Fenton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Clarkson Valley, St. Charles, St, Peters, O'Fallon, Town & Country, and the surrounding area in St. Louis or St. Charles Counties. Check out www.thestlhomefinder.com today.