Kimberly Cameron, CRS, Cyberstar

It's not a blog about dogs, but knowing you love animals, just had to post to the group

Breaking News out of St Louis! Our Zoo's Elephant has Herpies. Promiscuous elephant or unlucky lady?

It turns out young Jade, 23 months old, has had no contact with the much older male elephant, Raja. Lab results on Monday showed the presence of endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). Scientists are unsure how EEHV might have been transmitted amount the zoo animals.

Jade is under round the clock care and antibiotics. I may joke that the young mammal has herpes. The condition is life threatening.

An update from the Mammal curator will be reported on Thursday. Stay tuned!

At this point, is there anyone that DOESN'T know the importance of professional photography when selling real estate in 2009? Apparantly, at least in our market, there are many people!

As a result, we have begun creating professional videos to explain to our clients what they need to look for to make their home stand apart...this series of videos starts with photography, the gate keeper on the internet....the first impression that helps a buyer determine a level of interest to move forward or move on.

Part I in our series deals with photography. Take a look at our new video. I don't know how to post to my video properly to this blog, so please don't hold it against me. I believe you will find it professional and helpful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCe0Z2h-sBI

Recently we calculated statistics of our market to determine the percentage of agents posting at least 25 photos to their listings, equal to an enhanced listing on realtor.com. We were shocked at our findings. So, stay tuned for Part II that will address these findings.

Our Channel: http://www.youtube.com/stlagent

All the best,

Kimberly Cameron
CRS, Allen F. Hainge CyberStar ®
The St. Louis Agent Team
RE/MAX Properties West
(800) 573-5276 Toll Free
http://www.stlagent.com

Experience is not expensive, It's PRICELESS!

On Sunday afternoon, I was showing a foreclosure. As my clients and I walked up to the home, we were greated by a sweet cat (about a year old) on the front porch. She was weak and emaciated. Fortunately, my clients love animals too, so we didn't hesitate to take the cat with. Annie (as in the little orphan) was given a clean bill of health from the vet on Monday and will take refuge at our home as a result of the shelters being over populated. A sick, weak cat will never survive.

On Sunday evening, as I was leaving a listing appointment, I came across a gorgeous (and very cold) black lab. He was without a color, thin and getting weaker by the minute as he had been out for over a week as my sellers had noticed. They just assumed the dog was a neighbor's, but no one stopped to help the dog...even considering the very cold weather we have been experiencing. The dog was dehydrated and starving. I had my clients put the dog in their garage and provide food/water for the evening.

The lab was taken to the vet on Monday morning. He was healthy and ended up at the Humane Society that afternoon. The owners will have 7 days to claim their dog, less time than the dog was left out in the cold. This puppy will surely be adopted as he was sweet, healthy, responded to commands and is a popular breed.

NEITHER of these animals had a micro chip.

As the economy struggles and people lose their homes, more and more animals are losing their homes. Do your part and have a heart. Help those that cannot help themselves...those who cannot speak for themselves.

I certainly didn't need to add a 6th animal to my household, but would NEVER consider letting this cat die. Another day and Annie surely would have been a goner. She is very weak, but in a short 2 days, she has begun regaining her strength.

My actions earned a life long client. Doing the right thing always pays in the end.

It's a little unique in that the St. Louis Metropolitan area encompasses both St. Louis County AND St. Charles County. My home and office are 7 minutes from St. Charles County. I have listed, sold and/or shown homes in the St. Charles area in the past 5 hours (literally, showed a home there are 3pm today, sold a listing there on Friday and added new listing in O'Fallon)

St. Charles County

Listings per Status

Days on Market Analysis

Listing Price/Selling Price

Active Listings

• 2,176 Homes on the market
• Average price $290,587
• The Highest priced listing is $3,500.000
• The Lowest priced listing is $38,400
• Average DOM is 161 days

Under Contract Listings

• 364 Homes Under Contract
• Average price is $206,250
• The Highest price listing is $749,900
• The Lowest price listing is $21,900
• Average DOM is 106 days

SOLD Listings (past 6 months)

• 1,970 Homes Sold (6/27/08 to 1/27/09)
• Average price $211,401
• The Highest priced listing is $890,000
• The Lowest priced listing is $1,500
• Average DOM is 95 days

If you are thinking of buying or selling this year or have a referral to the St. Louis Metropolitan area, I hope you find this helpful. We can handle your real estate needs from River to River.

Please know you will be working with a power packed team that knows our market very well!

It occurred to me after talking with an agent the other day that few agents in my market actually know how the market is doing. (i.e. What's selling? How often? Days on market? etc.)

I'm posting market statistics for St. Louis County area, Single Family Residences, to share with you the healthy status of the St. Louis housing market. You'll see that the average days on market is 89 days for sold homes the past 6 months. Our market is healthy, all things considered.

St. Louis County

Listings per Status

Days on Market Analysis

Listing Price/Selling Price

Active Listings

• 5,329 Homes on the market
• Average price $302,750
• The Highest priced listing is $14,500,000
• The Lowest priced listing is $2,500
• Average DOM is 134 days

Under Contract Listings

• 1,136 Homes Under Contract
• Average price $227,000
• The Highest price listing is $2,845,000
• The Lowest price listing is $2,300
• Average DOM is 113 days

SOLD Listings (past 6 months)

• 5,844 Homes Sold (6/27/08 to 1/27/09)
• Average price $203,826
• The Highest priced listing is $3,150,000
• The Lowest priced listing is $700
• Average DOM is 89 days

If you are thinking of buying or selling this year or have a referral to the St. Louis Metropolitan area, I hope you find this helpful.

Please know you will be working with a power packed team that knows our market very well!