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Ryan Shaughnessy, Broker/Attorney - Your Lafayette Square Real Estate Partner

Stop Annoying Your Facebook Connections - Use SeeMyListings.com to Place Your Listings on Your Profile Page

The Marketing Machine - Annoying your Friends, Family and Other Members of Your Social Network

Social networking sites such as Facebook can be great tools for keeping in touch with members of your sphere of influence. Keeping your friends and family informed of your professional interests is an appropriate use of social networking sites. However, there is a fine line between sharing your professional insights and experiences on social networking sites and using social networking sites as an advertising and marketing machine. For those new to social networking sites, it is easy to take the wrong approach to social networking by blasting your listing information repeatedly to your connections. SeeMyListings.com Widget

Use SeeMyListings.com Widget to Place Your Listings on Your Facebook Profile

For Facebook users, there is now a simple solution. Use the listing widget provided by the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com to place your listings on your Facebook profile. Here are the steps:

Step 1 - Go to www.SeeMyListings.com.

Step 2 - Click on "Add My Listings.

Step 3 - Log on to your Facebook account.

Step 4 - Enter your MLS provider and user name.

Step 5 - Click on "Add to Profile" or "Update Listings."

In a few simple steps, you are able to automate the addition of your listings to your Facebook profile. Given the number of Realtors who I am connected to on Facebook who aren't using this feature, I thought I would post this this short how-to post to get them motivated. Five easy steps to get your listings on Facebook without annoying your friends, family and even colleagues.

Butler's Pantry and Gilded Age Announce the Grand Opening of Palladium Saint Louis

Gilded Age, a Lafayette Square real estate development company, and Butler's Pantry, a local catering company, jointly announced the grand opening of the state of the art event facility known as "Palladium Saint Louis" in the former Laundry Building of City Hospital No. 1.  The opening of Palladium Saint Louis marks the the completion of the first phase of the City Hospital - Carroll North Project with construction of corporate apartments set for Spring, 2010.

Butlers Pantry - Paladium St Louis

Located just South of Downtown St. Louis, Palladium Saint Louis is now open with the ability to accommodate 400 guests for dinner or over 700 people for cocktail style events.  Some features of the new venue include:

  • 3-story State of the Art Chef's Kitchen
  • Mezzanine Floor Overlooking the Event Space
  • Expansive 2-story Windows Offering Stunning City Lights Views
  • Artistic "petals" for Personalized room Designs
  • Dramatic Lighting
  • State of the Art Audio and Visual Capability
  • Valet and On-site Parking  

Take a glimpse at this great venue space:

 

Development Team Credits:

  • Developer - Gilded Age
  • Architect - The Lawrence Group
  • General Contractor - BSI Constructors

Interested in relocating your business to Lafayette Square or in obtaining additional information on the City Hospital - Carroll North Project?  Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.  Or, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com

Prior Blog Post:  Palladium St. Louis - First Event

Listing Condos for Rent in the City of St. Louis, Missouri

Interested in listing your condo for rent in the City of St. Louis, Missouri?

PREA Signature Realty is a market leader in the rental of residential properties in the City of St. Louis, Missouri.

Market Leaders - Rentals in St. Louis City

(Note: Information based on MLS data available through November 1, 2009)

PREA Signature Realty offers the following rental service plans to owners and management companies:

  • Competitive Market Analysis: Receive a comprehensive rental report to assist you in setting your rental rate and leasing terms.
  • Limited Service Plan: Obtain placement of property in MLS with syndication to over 100 other websites. Owner is responsible for all showings. Listing Agent is responsible for entering listing into MLS and negotiation and execution of lease only.
  • Exclusive Agency Plan: Substantially same as full service plan, except owner retains right to show residence and to directly lease the residence to leads generated by owner.
  • Full Service Plan: Listing Agent provides comprehensive services including preparation of Competitive Market Analysis, entry of rental listing into MLS with syndication to over 100 websites, scheduling and attendance at showings, and negotiation and execution of lease.

Here is a comparison of the rental service plans offered by PREA Signature Realty:

SERVICE PLANS

CMA

MLS

SYNDICATION

BROKER SHOWINGS

DIRECT OWNER LEASING

FLAT FEE

COMMISSION

Competitive Market Analysis

YES

NO

NO

N/A

N/A

YES

NO

Limited Service Plan

YES

YES

YES

NO-OWNER ONLY

YES

YES

NO

Exclusive Agency Plan

YES

YES

YES

YES-OWNER/AGENT

YES-LEADS PROCURED BY OWNER

YES

YES

Full Service Plan

YES

YES

YES

YES-AGENT ONLY

NO

NO

YES

For more information on listing your condo, loft, townhome, or single family home for rent in the City of St. Louis, Missouri, contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381.

Foreclosure Trends - What is Happening in the St. Louis City Market?

MARKET DATA

Foreclosure Trends - St Louis City

Foreclosure Trends - St Louis City

Since the start of the year, there has been a downward trend in the number of foreclosure sales and bank repossessions in the St. Louis City market. According to RealtyTrac, St. Louis City ranks 607 in foreclosure activity nationwide. Although the number of new foreclosure notices published, foreclosure sales, and repossessions has declined, the inventory of REO listed properties has increased.

Foreclosure Trends - St Louis City

Foreclosure Trends - St Louis City

In recent months, the number of new REO listed single family homes in the St. Louis City has dramatically increasedwith an average square foot price between $20 to $40 per square foot according to MLS figures.

Foreclosure Trends - St Louis City

Foreclosure Trends - St Louis City

At the same time, the number of REO listed single family homes sold has remained steady with an average price per square foot between $25 and $35 per square foot.

Note: The RealtyTrac data includes all residential properties (single family and condos). The MLS data only reflects single family homes and attached fee simple townhouses.

COMMENTARY

If you are an investor looking to purchase single family homes in the St. Louis City market, there are two favorable trends relating to foreclosures and bank owned properties. First, notwithstanding the recent decline in foreclosure activity, there has been an increase in REO inventory. Second, there is now a clearly established sales price trend for REO properties. Notwithstanding these two trends, the purchase of REO properties may not be suitable for all purchasers. Homes with substantial equity or in the best neighborhoods are often purchased as short sales prior to the foreclosure sale or are purchased by experienced investors at the foreclosure sale. The remaining properties often are less desirable either becuase of their location or condition. However, for experienced long term investors with the financial ability to make repairs, these properties may represent a value opportunity to purchase single family homes at discounts average 30% or more off the fair market value of comparable properties.

In addition to foreclosure sales and REO listed properties, there are other opportunities in the current market relating to distressed properties. Here are some alternate real estate investment strategies:

  • Purchase of notes and first deeds of trust at a discount from private, non-institutional lenders.
  • Purchase of notes and second deeds of trust at a discount from private, non-institutional lenders.
  • Bulk purchases of properties from other investors, developers, and lenders.
  • Purchase of homes subject to existing deeds of trust from sellers currently in default on their note.
  • Purchase homes listed as short sales
  • Bid at foreclosure sale.
  • Purchase of bank owned properties ("REO").
  • Bid at judicial sales including tax sales and sheriff's sales.
  • Purchase directly from LRA or LCRA.

If you are an experienced investor and would like to discuss the purchase of investment properties in the St. Louis City market, contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381.

Speechless Sunday (More or Less) - The New Cathedral

The New Cathedral - Catholic Church - St. Louis, MissouriThe New Cathedral - St. Louis, Missouri.

On May 1, 1907, ground was broken on the New Cathedral. The first mass was celebrated on October 18, 1914.

For those who haven't been inside the the New Cathedral, it is an amazing sight. Work on the mosaics started in 1912. The mosaics in the side chapels and sanctuary were designed and installed by the Tiffany Company. Work continued for 78 years and was completed in 1988. To fully understand the massive scope of the project, there are 83,000 square feet of mosaic glass tiles with over 41.5 million individual tiles in 7000 colors

To see the inside of the New Cathedral, click on New Cathedral Tour. The New Cathedral is located at 4431 Lindell Blvd. in the Central West End neighborhood of the City of St. Louis.

Interested in purchasing a new home, condominium or loft in the Central West End? Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381.