Bill Dean Broker/Salesperson

I am been following the St. Louis Cardinals since the early 60's and this game last nite had to be one of the best I've seen. Two starting pitchers who once played on the same team and are actually good friends. Both pitched a great game and it was a shame that one of them had to lose. Halliday gave up 2hits and the ONE and only run of the game in the first inning and after that both were lights out! Chris Carpenter went the distance for the Cardinals giving up a total of only 3 hits.

The next series starts Sunday in Milwaukee so 2 teams that finished 1st and 2nd in the Central Division will be facing off against each other. They fought tooth and nail during the regular season so this should be a great series as well.

The winner will get to go to the World series and face either Texas or Detroit. My money is on the Can't quit, barely made it to the playoffs WILD card Cardinals

There never has been a transfer or "sales" tax on the sales of homes in Missouri and on Tuesday the voters were given the opportunity to decide! Those who voted were loud and clear---84% said YES to NO new taxes! It is already a tough market to get your home sold and the last thing we needed was a tax that either the seller or indirectly the buyer would have to pay. I was amazed to discover that the majority of states already have this tax!

Currently, 37 states and the District of Columbia impose transfer taxes or their equivalents, while Missouri is among 13 states that do not impose such taxes. All of Missouri’s neighboring states impose some tax on real estate transactions. I have been a life-long resident of the SHOW-ME state and have never been more proud, I expected this amendment to pass but not by such a huge margin! It really shows how fed-up people are with the various goverments reaching into our pockets! Many thanks to all who voted, the 21,000 Realtors who got the word out, the Missouri Association of Realtors and especially the Yes to stop Double Taxation group!

It's a little tricky but a YES vote means NO we do not want to add another tax burden on ourselves!!

These are tough times for us all and the last thing we need is a transfer tax on the sale of our Homes! Many folks are already upside down on their mortgages due to layoffs, reduced hours, badly advised loans that later blew up on them, gas and groceries and just about everything else going up EXCEPT our income! States, counties and municipalities are feeling the effects of this economy and they are looking for any way to get more of OUR money!

We already pay property taxes, whick keep going up, so why on earth do we need to add another tax when we in many cases HAVE to sell our homes! Please remember to vote today!!

The neighborhood of Carondelet would be a good place to start if you are looking to buy investment property in St. Louis, Mo. Whether you are looking for investment property to hold and flip are to rent out, The Carondelet area is a buyer's market! I should know, I currently own a rental property there myself. In fact I know the area beter than most , I was born in Carondelet and went to grade school there. St. Louis property values, like most major cities are down! The problem is you want to buy investment property or a home for yourself in an area that is either stable or improving! I believe Carondelet is one of the better areas of St. Louis, Mo. New homes are being built within walking distance of Carondelet Park, a 180 acre park right in the heart of the neighborhood! There is easy access to Interstate Highway 55 that puts you less than 10 miles from Downtown St, Louis! In the other direction, you are right at the edge of St. Louis County and less than 5 miles from the new Casino in Lemay!

Carondelet was originally a city itself, named in 1794 for the Baron de Carondelet and was merged with the City of St.Louis in 1870. Having lived there from 1950-1969 and I still have relatives who live in the area, I am very familiar with the stlyes of homes and the real estate market. It has always been a blue-collar area and would be ideal for anyone wanting to live there or buy investment property, it is close to either South County or Downtown. This office Iwork out of is about 15 minutes from there and our group has 2 other offices that are even closer.

If you are looking to buy a home in Carondelet or any other area around St. Louis please feel free to call, text or email me.

Bill Dean RE/MAX GOLD 314-575-6924 wdonline@sbcglobal.net WebSite www.stlouisreal.com

Mehlville is an unincorporated community just south of the city of St. Louis. it has a population of approximately 29,000. Mehlville is just about 10 miles from downtown St. louis, so you are just minutes away from a Cardinals, Rams or Blues game! There are over 2 dozen major parks in the region and numerous golf courses as well. Nearby St. Louis is one of only a few cities that are host to 3 of the 4 major PGA tours! You get to enjoy the amenities offered by a being near a large city while living in a quiet laid back community. Just about 30 miles further south of the city is Six Flags over Mid-America where "It's Fun for the whole family!" The Mehlville School District consists of 11 elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools and an Early Childhood Preschool Program. The district has been awarded the Distinction in Performance Award due to it's ever - improving academic performance. In addition to this, South County has many private schools, including Vianney High School for boys, Notre Dame for girls, Lutheran High School and Thomas Jefferson School. There is also the Special School District, which attends to South County students who have special needs. Residents have access to more than 20 centers of higher education and approximately 20 professional and graduate schools. The region is home to a number of diverse companies offering many opportunities for employment.

South County region's strong economy continues to draw new businesses. Many employers are located in Mehlville and its surrounding communities in order to take advantage of the highly educated and skilled local labor force. The community is also well known for its strong civic leadership and diverse customer base, factors that lead to economic stability.

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $173,852 (it was $106,900 in 2000)

$150,294 - $220,979

I have lived in or near Mehlville my entire life so if you need further info about Mehlville or nearby areas feel free to contact me.

Bill Dean RE/MAX GOLD 314-575-6924 wdonline@sbcglobal.net or billdean@stlgoldhomes.com

WebSite www.stlouisreal.com