Grant Hickman

St. Charles is in the news again, this time in the AAA Midwest Traveler Magazine. Our holiday festivities, Christmas Traditions, is prominently featured in the November/December issue. To read the feature story, go to http://www.ouraaa.com/traveler/mid/2009/11/tank.html
This joyous season kicks off with opening ceremonies on Friday, November 27, at 11 a.m. at Kister Park. Santa and Mrs. Santa arrive in a horse drawn carriage, escorted by the Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps and the Legends of Christmas.

To learn more about our premier event, go to www.stcharleschristmas.com
SCHNEIDER Real Estate and our agents are so very proud of our volunteers, the South Main Preservation Society, the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau and the St. Charles Special Business District for showcasing St. Charles as a great place to visit and live.

Written by Myra Vandersall

Good news all around today–the $8,000 tax credit for first time homebuyers has been extended to June 30, 2010. This action will encourage a robust housing market in the first quarter of 2010 and affect home prices.

The legislation also includes a $6,500 tax credit for people who currently own a home and want to buy up. Qualifications are owning and occupying a home for at least five of the past eight years. Buyers must have a signed contract in hand by April 30 and close by June 30.
And, the income limit has been increased too. The ceiling for single buyer income is now $125,000 and for married couples $225,000. Increasing the income limit will stimulate more purchases of pricier properties.

Merle Schneider, co-owner/broker and vice president of operations for SCHNEIDER Real Estate, is very optimistic about the future of the St. Charles housing market. “These new tax credits will encourage potential buyers who weren’t quite ready to purchase take another look around at properties in St. Charles.

“The first tax credit, which helped more than 400,000 homebuyers, is a success and now gives confidence to more homebuyers. This comes at a great time, ready for the spring 2010 buying and selling season.”

More positive indicators were released this week. Grant Hickman, a real estate expert with SCHNEIDER, notes that existing homes sales are up 9.4% in September, and pending home sales are also up, 6.1% in September. “These findings by the National Association of Realtors are exciting,” he says.

“We are making progress toward recovery. With the tax credit extension, inclusion of current homeowners, and the income increase, more buyers will see what a bargain St. Charles County is. We have a great atmosphere, excellent services and a wide range of housing stock. This week’s government actions will serve our area very well.”

Written by Myra Vandersall

For homes for sale in St. Louis Missouri

Lawmakers are also considering tax credits for repeat buyers to enhance local economies

With the first-time homebuyer $8,000 tax credit set to expire at the end of November, both the Senate and House of Representatives are busy working through agreements to extend this popular program, and keep in place the loan limit for U.S.-backed mortgages at $729,750 for two years, thereby holding down interest rates.

More than 1.4 million first-time buyers have benefited from the $8,000 tax credit and that incentive helped to increase home sales in St. Charles County by 10.6% this September, compared to a year ago. St. Louis County saw an increase of 5.8% during the same period. The median home price has declined during the same time frame, by 3.4% in St. Charles County and 0.7% in St. Louis County.

To keep the up tick in housing sales going, legislators are trying to extend the tax credit incentive through June of 2010 for homebuyers who have a contract on a house by the end of April. Also proposed is up to $6,500 in tax credits for repeat buyers who have owned their home for at least five years, and an income increase to $125,000 a year for individuals and $225,000 for couples.

The Senate is expected to look at the extended tax credits next week (it’s been bundled with legislation to extend unemployment insurance) and then the House will have it’s chance to pass the legislation.

Without a doubt, the tax credits, decreased interest rates, various home ownership program assistance have helped countless qualified buyers purchase a home, and have provided more jobs for Americans in desperate need of jobs.

No doubt, this has been a rough patch for our citizens, our economy and our state of being. With extended housing incentives, we’ll be that much further to recovery and a positive outlook.

Taking good care of your lawn at the end of the season makes good sense

While it may not be as rewarding up front as planting new spring flowers, getting your lawn and gardens ready for winter will be a real time saver come next year. Here are some tips to help you organize a fall clean-up.

Dead-head perennials. Remove spent annuals after the first frost, but resist the urge to prune perennials to the ground as this can invite insects and fungal infections. Always wait until spring when the first new growth appears before cutting perennials back.

Dig tender plants such as canna lily, dahlia and annual geraniums right after the first frost. Air dry plants and store in a cool dry location for the winter.

Don’t forget to water trees and shrubs, especially evergreens. The general rule is one inch of water per week. So check your rain gauge.

Collect soil samples from several locations in your lawn and around your trees. Have both samples tested. If lawn samples indicate a low pH apply lime now. Fertilize trees if soil samples indicate a deficiency.

If you are planning on reseeding or over seeding your lawn be sure to do it in October.

• Cool season grasses benefit from fall applications of fertilizer. Nurserymen recommend three applications during the fall months. Cool season grasses include bluegrass, fescue and rye grass. Warm season grasses include zoysia, buffalo and Bermuda grass.
• Broadleaf herbicides can be applied now to control cool season weeds.
• For those who garden organically and shy away from herbicides and petroleum based fertilizers, a lush lawn is attainable. Organic fertilizers are available. Bradfield Organics, a local company, produces organic fertilizers specifically designed for lawns. If you choose an organic use a 3-1-5 fertilizer in the fall.
• Rake your lawn to help keep it healthy. Your grass can actually be smothered when covered by a deep layer of leaves.

By Jeanne Baker, MLA, Landscape Designer

Healthcare, cost of living, recreation and education are high on the list

Where are the most affordable places for the 55+ crowd to retire and own homes? U.S. News & World Report highlighted the top 10 places attractive for seniors to begin a second life. The cities chosen are based on a criteria of median home prices, affordable cost of living, good healthcare resources, and recreational activities.

Another very important factor is the availability of jobs and a low unemployment rate. Seniors aren’t “re-tired”; they still want an active professional life as well.

Let’s look the best affordable places for 55 plus homeowners to retire: Ann Arbor, MI, Ashville, N.C., Aurora, CO, Columbia, S.C., Columbus, OH, Eugene, OR, Fort Worth, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Kansas City, MO, and Tucson, AR.

One common theme for these locations is the presence of a college or university. The cultural, academic and sports opportunities offered by an educational institution do attract seniors who don’t settle for an inactive retirement.

St. Charles County and the St. Louis metro region have many characteristics to attract senior homebuyers too–colleges and universities, healthcare, easy access to cultural events and plenty of sports, both professional and amateur. If you are considering selling your home, what would attract a senior buyer, in addition to the regional amenities?

The good news is 90 percent of the 55+ homebuyers are moving in the same general area or from a different part of the state, according to a survey by conducted by The National Association of Home Builders and the MetLife Mature Market Institute. Smaller, single family homes are preferred by 79 percent of the respondents, and open kitchen/family rooms, a washer and dryer plus lots of storage.

The 55+ age group is tuned into technology. They was special places for computers, advanced security systems, built-in wiring for flat screens and programmable, but easy to use thermostats. Energy efficient appliances are musts for 79 percent of the respondent group while other green concepts include solar heating, a water filtering system and chemical-free building materials.

Keep these tips in mind as you consider selling your home. Remember, every size home has a potential buyer out there.

Written by Myra Vandersall

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