Ted Wight's St. Louis Style

Thinking About Buying or Selling a Home/Condo in 2016? Now is the right time to talk to Ted!

Where does Ted sell real estate?

Check out this map of my current listings and sales since the beginning of 2015. What does this tell you?  I pretty much focus on a large portion of St. Louis from Tower Grove to Chesterfield.

 

SOLD- 3051 Thornbury, Town and Country...also some good Before and After shots

Yesterday my Seller closed on the sale of her lovely home located at 3051 Thornbury in Town and Country.  The home was on the market for about a year with another agent. I hate to brag, though I took over the listing and sold it in a week!  I took new pictures that better highlighted the home, we did a little painting and boom...it sold!  I know some of it may have been luck, though I am getting a good track record of being able to sell homes that have lingered on the market.

If you are thinking about selling your home in the coming months.  Now is the perfect time to meet with me to discuss a marketing plan.

Here are some pictures to compare:

Mine

Previous

Mine- after changing the 90's red Dining Room to something more current

Previous

Mine-kitchen shot from a more appealing angle

Previous

Mine- Lower Level office decluttered and painted (Oops I just notice the box in the picture) Also notice that the stained woodwork was painted white.

Previous

 

 

Reenvisioning the Way We Live

People want a suburb with a downtown core that offers walkability - like our very own Clayton, U City or CWE!

Read the whole article by Barbara Ballinger on RealtorMag

---

"The common denominator: People of all ages are tired of their car-centric lives and care less about square footage than finding a home in a location that’s compatible with their interests and values," says Bruce D. Snider, a building designer and architectural writer based in Belfast, Maine.

In addition, here are some other trends:

Healthier, Smarter Materials

• Well Buildings.

"'Biophilic' planning involves placing windows to showcase outdoor greenery and doors that strive for seamlessness between the great outdoors and a home’s interior."

• Less maintenance

"'Hand-built brick walls are labor-intensive but will last for centuries rather than for just one home owner,' he says. Architect Jon Handley of Pulltab in New York concurs. 'The best way to be green is to build with quality that lasts,' he says."

• Weather and energy:

"Communities on the forefront of energy and weather efficiency are setting guidelines for better waterproofing and strategically placed insulation. 'The goal is to go beyond what’s required, not use energy at all and get off the grid,' says Philadelphia developer Nino Cutrufello."

• Healthfulness:

"Encouraging healthy living goes beyond including bicycle racks and gyms in multifamily buildings"

• Smarter technology:

"Managing power needs will continue to be huge as more home owners seek to stay connected 24/7. Forward-thinking techies will develop more robust wireless hubs to provide power from a central source and make it easier and less costly to control everything from one app on a smart phone..."

A Greater Sense of Belonging

• Seed to feed:

"Don't call it a garden: Edible landscaping is appearing in single-family yards and multifamily building rooftops. Lomel predicts consumer and developer interest will lead to demand for organic gardening consultants."

• Multigenerational togetherness:

"Multiple generations living together isn’t new; cultural traditions, economic pressures, and elderly and child care needs have long made such arrangements desirable for some."

• Open plans on a smaller scale:

"Open floor plans still dominate, but to differentiate smaller spaces, designer Seth Grizzle of Graypants in Seattle likes to add whimsy, reflecting the desire for customized spaces. 'People want a fun edge that makes them smile, and they'll give up space to get some uniqueness,' he says."

• Universal design:

"As the built environment evolves, how it looks will reflect a more contemporary sensibility. 'We won't look to the past. Modern design is the future,' Williamson says. 'All this amazing technology and other changes go part and parcel with much more forward-looking designs.'"

 

 

Ted's Million Dollar+ Listings

Happy Houses!

Local St. Louis Artist, Charlie Houska, created this fun painting.....I want another that says, "Sold!" on the signs!

Ted Wight Ranked #3 Highest-Selling Real Estate Agent in St. Louis Metropolitan Area

Ted is ranked #3 in the St. Louis Metropolitan area by closed sales volume for 2014. As published today in the St. Louis Business Journal. This includes St. Louis, St. Louis City, St. Charles, & the following: Adair, Audrain, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Butler, Callway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cedar, Chariton, Clark, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dallas, Dent, Douglas, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Kickory, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Knox, Laclede, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, New Madrid, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Ralls, Randolph, Reynolds, Ripley, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shannon, Shelby, St Francois, , Ste Genevieve, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Warren, Washington< Wayne, Webster, Wright

 

 

St. Louis Area MCM House Sold - 17 Fairwinds Ct., Olivette 63132

Ted represented the Buyer of this cool Mid-century (MCM) house in Olivette soon to be a fabulous renovation!

Zillow Reviews

I love the nice reviews that some of my recent clients have given me on Zillow.  Read them all HERE

"Ted is an amazing realtor, he knows the market and did a great job positioning our house in the market with targeting advertising and strategically planned open houses. Ted effectively guided us through preparing the house for sale, the contract negotiation and ultimate closing. Ted is a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend him to anyone considering buying or selling a house."

"Ted was beyond helpful throughout the entire process. He knows the central corridor of St. Louis extremely well and heavily marketed my listing, which we had under contract within only nine days."

"We worked with Ted for over a year looking for our perfect home. He was always on top of showing us new listings and was very helpful in the negotiation when we finally found the one. Ted shared his expertise when it was time to put our previous home on the market and we received multiple offers from day one."

"We bought land upon which to build in Jan 2014, and sold our house in Webster Groves with him last month. He's wonderful, the last I heard the no. 2 high-volume salesperson in St. Louis. His most conspicuous differences from typical realtors are his responsiveness, expertise, efficiency and vast local knowledge. We recommend him unreservedly."

"Ted Wight truly is an amazing realtor! He definitely goes beyond any expectations of service and availability! Ted is very dedicated to the business and understands the true realities of the market. He is serious and professional but makes the often stressful process, fun. Ted really makes one feel as if they are his only client."

Open Houses Sunday, February 22nd!

The Spring market is HERE! Come check out these marvelous properties! 

 

31 Westwood Country Club, Westwood MO, 63131    OPEN 12:30PM-2:30PM

Listed at $1,250,000

 

http://31westwoodcountryclub.canbyours.com/

 

 

515 North and South #3A, University City, MO 63130  OPEN 1PM-3PM

Listed at $439,900

http://515northandsouth3a.canbyours.com/

10 Layton Terrace, St. Louis, MO 63124  OPEN 1PM-3PM

Listed at $859,000

http://10laytonterrace.canbyours.com/

 

841 N. Spoede, Creve Coeur, MO 63141  OPEN 1PM-3PM

Listed at $579,000

http://841nspoede.canbyours.com/

9125 Lawn Ave, Brentwood, MO 63144  OPEN 1PM-3PM

Listed at $319,000

http://9125lawn.canbyours.com/

STL Rent A BOX

Check out this neat eco-friendly alternative to cardboard boxes. More durable, sturdy, and stackable! Personally, I feel like this is a great idea and so much less work than having to assemble all of those cardboard boxes and tape them and then fill them only to then end up destroying them and having to find a way to get rid of the mass of beaten boxes when you are finished unpacking. Plus they offer free delivery and removal. 

Read more and get rates for it- HERE! 

 

 

 

Awarded: Five Star Professional Realtor 2014!

Once again I received the Five Star Professional Award for Realtors.  The recipients will be featured in a special section of St. Louis Magazine.

Most Expensive Condominiums SOLD in the St. Louis Area in 2014

Here are the top ten most expensive condos sold in the St. Louis area for 2014. It blows my mind to think that a few weeks ago when I was in South Beach, that a 800 Sq. Ft. Condo sells for around $2,000,000. 

1. 50 Brighton Way #3S, Clayton, 4100sqft, $1,075,000

2. 4909 Laclede Ave #2001, Central West End, 2,795sqft, $1,100,000

3. 155 Carondelet Plaza #709, Clayton, 2,993sqft, $1,100,000

4. 155 Carondelet Plaza #503, Clayton, 2,719sqft, $1,125,000

5. 155 Carondelet Plaza #509, Clayton, 2,993sqft, $1,152,500

6. 232 N. Kingshighway Blvd #2401, Central West End, 3,005sqft, $1,250,000

7. 155 Carondelet Plaza #302, Clayton, 2,862sqft, $1,250,000

8. 150 Carondelet Plaza #2202, Clayton, 3,044sqft, $1,350,000

9. 150 Carondelet Plaza #1801, Clayton, 3,744sqft, $1,950,000

10. 150 Carondelet Plaza #1902, Clayton, 3,346sqft, $2,050,000

Most Expensive Houses Sold in the St. Louis Area- 2014 PART 2- The Top 5

Thank you for coming back today to see 1-5 most expensive homes sold in the Eastern Missouri area in 2014. Yesterday's blog post listed 6-10.

1. 1751 North Woodlawn, Ladue, 20 acres, $3,500,000

2. 809 S. Warson, Ladue, 8,000 sq ft, $3,000,000

3. 12 Apple Tree Lane, Ladue, 8,971 sq feet, $2,995,000

4. 6 Claychester, Des Peres, 8,660 sq feet, $2,662,500

5. 31 Fair Oaks, Ladue, $2,400,000

2014 Top Realtors St. Louis- Central Area

Just a quick look at who were the top individual Realtors in St. Louis in 2014 in the Central Area (Ladue Schools, Clayton, University City and Central West End)

1. Mark Gellman- Coldwell Banker Premier
2. Ted Wight- Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty
3. Sabrina Robb- Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty
4. John Ryan- Coldwell Banker Gundaker
5. Ann Carter- Janet McAfee
6. Barbara Wulfing- Janet McAfee
7. Joanne Iskiwitch- Coldwell Banker Gundaker
8. Virgina Bundy- Gladys Manion
9. Megan Rowe- Laura McCarthy
10. Matt Litwack- Berkshire Hathaway

I am ranked #2- though #1 is part of a large team.

In the whole St. Louis MLS- which covers a good portion of Eastern Missouri, I am ranked #14- though again there are lots of teams above me. I will look forward to the St. Louis Business Journal ranking when it is published this Summer.  I was #3 in 2013 for individual Realtor sales....I think I may move up for the 2014 rankings.  We will see!

"California Dreamin’" Town and Style Magazine

Check out the recent article in Town and Style Magazine featuring my clients!

http://townandstyle.com/california-dreamin/

Photo: Suzy Gorman

Ted's Zillow Video

Check out my video that plays on Zillow! Click HERE

Which public high schools are the best in Missouri?

From the St. Louis Business Journal 11-17-14:

The 2015 Niche rankings on the nation's best public high schools have been released, and Clayton High School tops the list for Missouri.

Clayton received a grade of A+ from Niche in four categories, including academics, teachers, resources and facilities, and extracurriculars and activities.

Kirkwood Senior High School ranked as the second best public high school in the state. Eureka Senior High School came in at No. 3, followed by Ladue Horton Watkins High School at No. 4.

Check out the full list here.

Niche, which also runs the College Prowler ranking site, graded the school districts in eight categories, with academics receiving the most weight in the rankings.

In the national rankings, Clayton High School came in at No. 82. High Technology High School in Lincroft, N.J., was ranked as the nation's No. 1 public high school.

For High Schools:

1.  Clayton
2.  Kirkwood
3.  Ladue

For overall Districts

1.  Clayton
2.  Ladue
3.  Kirkwood

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morning_call/2014/11/which-public-high-schools-are-the-best-in-missouri.html

6 Things Your Home Can Live Without

Interesting article found on About.com

While there are some accessories every room needs to make it look complete, there are others that can attract the wrong kind of attention.  Visual clutter can detract rather than add to a home's beauty, not to mention its ability to function well.  Here are six common accessories your home can really live without. 

 

Pink Toilet Seat Cover. Gwendolyn Plath / fStop / Getty Images

1. Toilet Seat Covers and Rugs

No one needs a carpet-like covering for their toilet seat lid.  Nor does anyone need a matching rug that fits cozily around the base of the toilet. For one thing, these items are breeding grounds for germs and are just something extra to wash.  For another, do you really want todraw attention to the toilet by decorating it?  Better to allow the toilet seat lid to be naked and place a small, attractive throw rug on the floor a little ways out from the toilet.  

 

 

Alex Wilson/Photodisc/Getty Images

2. Lots of Picture Frames

Lots of mismatched picture frames hung on the wall or sitting on a table--particularly ones that are too small or are cheaply made--are distracting.  Family pictures are important, certainly, and it's hard to let go of some for sentimental reasons.  Instead, select some favorites and give them a place of prominence by putting them in nicer frames and displaying them with more purpose.  Create one gallery wall, for instance, or line your staircase with your favorites.  Make a console table home to a handful of tastefully framed photos, and donate the rest of those frames to a good cause.

Alternatively, you could spray paint mismatched frames the same color so they look more cohesive when displayed as a group.

 

Floral Curtains. Ingrid Rasumussen / Getty Images

3. Outdated Curtains

You may be surprised to hear that some rooms don't need curtains.  Yep, you read that correctly.  There are a number of reasons you may be able to do without them.  First, if you are lucky enough to live in a home with beautiful windows--perhaps you even have original woodwork--then maybe you shouldn't be covering it up with layers of fabric.  Secondly, if you live in a rural or wooded area, there are some rooms in your home that don't need the privacy curtains afford.  Finally, to put it plainly, some curtain choices are just not the most flattering.  Take a look at your curtains.  Does the print or style seem dated to you?  Are they faded by the sun?  Are they too short for the window?  If any of this rings true for you, it may be an interesting experiment to take them down and live without them for awhile.  You may just enjoy the view enough to leave your windows uncovered; however, if you want or need to replace them with something, try bamboo shades or shutters topped with a simple valance or tailored panels.  

 

4. Florists' Vases

 Who doesn't have a lot of these stuffed in a cupboard?  Cheap glass vases are something else your home doesn't need.  Get rid of them! Aim to have three to four pretty vases in different sizes to use for fresh flowers, but that should be plenty. 

One exception to this, however, is if you can use these glass vases for something else.  I spray painted my collection of florists' vases white to create a collection of faux milk glass that I have displayed in our bookcases.  If you're looking for ways to fill your built-ins, this could be an easy and inexpensive solution; but, otherwise, ditch the extra glassware.

 

Artificial Flowers in Basket. hudiemm / E+ / Getty Images

5. Fake Flower Arrangements

Some artificial plants--such assucculents, for instance--can actually look great; however, if you have any large, artificial flower arrangements in your home, chances are they're dusty and dated.  This goes for fake trees, too.  Since every room needs something living, though, consider a live tree, easy-to-grow houseplants, a small vase of fresh flowers, or simply a bowl of fruit on the table.  

 

 

Lots of Knickknacks. Swell Media / Uppercut Images / Getty Images

6. Too Many Knicknacks

Accessories are great--even important for adding personality to a room--but too many of them can make your home feel cluttered and messy, even when it's clean.  If you have large collections with which you don't want to part, simply rotate out the pieces from time to time.  There's no need to display everything all at once.  Resist the urge to cover every surface with tons of tiny tchotchkes and instead, follow this fool-proof rule of thumb: choose three objects in a larger scale (rather than a lot of small things) in varying heights for your coffee table,nightstand or side table and you'll be able to cut the visual clutter and achieve a more professional look.  

Read the whole story HERE

 

To Sell a House, Make a Buyer Feel at Home

This was an interesting article from the Wall Street Journal with tips on how to get your house ready to sell! Read the whole article HERE.

• Invest in landscaping, especially around the front door, to create an inviting entrance
• The front door should be "fresh looking" with a new coat of paint or stain
• Make sure everything works well-sliding doors, door knobs and handles
• Keep art to a minimum- too much and the Buyer will just look at the art
• Avoid sculptures because dimensional artwork can be distracting
• Make sure a room feels roomy so you can circulate
• Ideally walls should be white.
• Remove most family pictures
• Spotlessly clean so it's sparkling 
• Counters should be clear of everything except for one or two items.
• New white towels in the bathroom because they feel clean
• Organize closets and drawers
• Add a few final touches such as small green plants or potted orchids and perhaps a bowl of fruit in the kitchen or dining area for color
• Strip your home of food scents

 

Counters are cleared of clutter and apples provide a bit of color in the kitchen. MICHAL CZERWONKA FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

HGTV House Hunters...... looking for St. Louis Buyers to Feature

A producer from HGTV's House Hunters wants me to find dynamic Buyers to consider for a segment.  If you think you may be a good candidate....contact me!  You must want to find and close on a house or condo this year. (My contact info: [email protected]   314-607-5555)

Top Realtor for 2013 List in St Louis Business Journal

I am ranked #3 in all of the St Louis area!

See the list HERE

Mid-Year Top Agent Rankings- Central Area of St. Louis

2014 is half over and the real estate market has been brisk.  I ran a sale report including- CWE, University City, Clayton, Ladue School District and Brentwood and was happy to find out that I was #1!  Yea!  I have sold a bunch outside of these areas, though this is just for the Central Cooridor of St. Louis.

#1 Ted Wight, Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty

#2 John Ryan, Coldwell Banker

#3 Mark Gellman, Coldwell Banker Premier

#4 Barbara Wulfing, Janet McAfee

#5 Ann Wroth, Gladys Manion

26 Reasons To Appreciate The Hidden Gem Of St. Louis

If you are on Facebook, you have probably already seen this article from the Huffington Post.....though here it is for those who have not see it yet. Click HERE

Staging and pricing: two parts of a successful home sale

Check out last weekend's St. Louis Post Dispatch article on Staging properties and pricing.  I was quoted!  Click HERE

St. Louis Magazine- Navigating St. Louis Real Estate in 2014

Here is a good article from St. Louis Magazine on "Navigating St. Louis Real Estate in 2014. Click HERE.

I am quoted in this section quite a bit. Click HERE.

I am also featured in the back for receiving the Five Star Real Estate Agent Reward!

How to Find and Keep a Real Estate Agent You’ll Love

Here is a good story on Zillow about finding the ideal Realtor.  Click HERE

Read my reviews from Zillow HERE

 

2014 Goals and 2013 Achievements

2014 Goals

• Create a website
• Further move my branding in to my business with business cards, new banner for my blog, etc.
• Have an Open House for my clients at my new home in the Spring.
• Host at least two special events for my clients.
• Organize a 2nd Bernoudy owner event at someone else's house.
• Sell $30 million of real estate. (Another goal is to not boast about how much I have sold....so this is the last time you will see a dollar amount.)
• Sell $2 million of country real estate
• Videos, videos and more videos
• Look into forming a true "team" 

 

2013 Goals and Achievements

• More videos! At least to make my blog more interesting. I am excited to buy a Swivl that will work with my iPhone to follow me and provide a microphone.  (I did buy the Swivl, though hardly used it.  It was too choppy when it moved. This will be a prime focus again in 2014)

• Create a William Bernoudy Society with an annual party at a Bernoudy home. (We did have a fun cocktail party this year attended by most of the Bernoudy home owners. It was at my house and fun success!)

• $22 million in real estate sales (Gosh....I sold $26 million. I am ranked 14 in the entire city and surrounding counties for 2013.  In the Central area from downtown to Chesterfield, including Kirkwood and Webster, I am ranked #2 in 2013)

• $2 million in rural Missouri property sales (Well, I did sell a little historic home in Clarksville this year. I have some fantastic country properties on the market, though they have not sold yet.)

• Add a transaction agent to handle my paperwork after the property is under contract. (Somehow my licensed assistant and I managed- though it did get a little overwhelming this Spring/Summer. A transaction person is in the works for 2014.) 

• Finalize my branding initiative (I am so excited to finally have a logo!) 

• Stay connected with my past clients more.  I just could not pull together a Holiday card.  I became indecisive on the design and then it was the middle of December. I am thinking about an Open House at my new place once I finish some decorating work. Maybe also a newsletter, though I have always thought of this blog as a daily newsletter. (I did get a Holiday card out this year!  I also sponsored a fun opening at Kodner Gallery in Ladue in November.)

• Do more special event evening gatherings for my listings. (I had a nice wine and cheese out at my fantastic St. Albans house.)

• Add more "meat" to this blog by researching  some aspects of the history of what I post. My journalistic approach is a little fluffy. (Well I tend to be a little ADD....so this did not get done.)

• Incorporate my real estate business. (Not done)

A Year in Numbers- 2013 Recap

2013 was a great year for me.  I am so greatful for my many clients this year.  Come back next week for my goals for 2014 and how I did with my 2013 goals.

Here are some highlights:

• Sold 3 Clayton multifamily buildings- one a 12-unit apartment building in The Moorlands
• On Wydown Blvd I sold a gracious mansion that the Buyers have gently transformed into a showplace!
• Represented the sale of two Bernoudy-designed homes- my listing in Town and Country on 18 acres that was the 2012 Ladue News Decorator's Show House and a lovely home on Clayton Rd in Richmond Heights.
• Off-the-market I sold an important Harris Armstrong-designed home that was his 3rd home and then I sold another Harris Armstrong house just behind it...both in Oakland
• In Ladue I sold my listing a Euguene Mackey, Sr.-designed home that was a stunning mid-century home with a contemporary renovation.
• In the cool Sunswept neighborhood in Creve Coeur, I represented the buyers of a Ralph Fournier-designd home.
• On the Contemporary home forefront- I represented the buyers of a lovely, Philip Durham-designed contemporary home in Ladue, a Louis Saur- designed home in University City and an important, Adrian Luchini-designed home in Tower Grove area
• I moved a cute, historic home in Clarksville, MO to a nice couple from St. Louis- hopefully the trend of stylish St. Louisans buying weekend homes in the quaint town continues to pick up!

Here is a run-down of where I sold properties in 2013 by school district:

• Ladue- 9
• St. Louis City- 9
• Clayton- 7
• University City- 7
• Webster Groves- 7
• Kirkwood- 4
• Parkway Central- 3
• St. Charles- 2
• Brentwood- 1
• Afton- 1
• Maplewood Richmond Heights- 1
• Parkway South- 1
• Parkway West- 1
• Lindbergh- 1
• Pike County- 1

My sale price range went from $3,000,000 to $82,500.  My average sale was $471,971. 

For my listings- my average sale price to list price was 95%.

There are so many cool and gracious homes of all styles and price range that I sold this year- you can see the complete inventory of sold properties HERE

Five Star Real Estate Agent

Finally I have been added to the list of Five Star Real Estate Agents for 2014. Much like Hall and Oates, KISS and Nirvana finally getting in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after all of these years!

 

Hello Ted!

Congratulations on qualifying and being chosen as a 2014 Five Star Real Estate Agent!

We’ll be recognizing those of you in this group in the upcoming April issue of St. Louis Magazine. The group of you chosen represents less than 4% of all the Real Estate Agents in St. Louis for your exceptional service to your clients.

 

2013 Sales Rankings for St. Louis Realtors- Central Area

I just ran the Realtor ranking report for 2013 for the Central St. Louis area (St. Louis Downtown west  to Chesterfield including Webster Groves and Kirkwood). Here are the rankings:

1. Mark and Neil Gellman- Coldwell Banker Premier
2. Ted Wight- Dielmann Sotheby's
3. Brad Elsner- Keller Williams
4. Sabrina Robb- Dielmann Sotheby's
5. John Ryan- Coldwell Banker Ladue
6. Pat Coursault- Keller Williams
7. Diane Denny- Prudential Select
8. Steve Mathes- Coldwell Banker Ladue
9. Stephanie Connell- Glady Manion
10. Diane Patershuk- Prudential Alliance

National Real Estate Snapshot

Rising interest rates and continuing tight underwriting could dampen sales as the year winds down. Still, 2013 sales will be up significantly from 2012. Appreciation remains robust, largely because of tight inventories. Interest rate concerns are reducing practitioner confidence. One bright spot: pent-up buyer demand by young households. As adults under 35 start to move out of their parents’ homes, home sales stand to benefit. All trend lines are from August 2012 to August 2013.

Taken from the November issue of Realtor Magazine.

Jumbo Loans Are Now The Same or Lower Interest Rate Compared to Conventional Loans

This little piece of news snuck up on me.....though Jumbo loans are now often lower than Conventional rates.  Steve Strick of Gershman Mortgage quoted a Jumbo at 4.75% and Conventional at 4.75% to 4.85%. Jumbo loans are $417,000 or higher mortgages.

Real Estate Market Graphs

Check out these graphs....more houses under contract...lower inventory...prices up a little....it is time to list your home if you are thinking about it?  St. Louis Real Estate Buyers....you need to be ready and on your toes for the good houses that come on the market. (Source: June issue of Realtor Magazine)

 

Buyers Be Prepared: The Real Estate Market in St. Louis is Hot

St. Louis Real Estate Buyers are frustrated.  The inventory levels are still low and good houses are being snapped up as soon as they hit the market. Most of the last few listings that I have brought on the market since January have sold within the first week. One listing I had received 3 offers on the first day.

What can you do as a Buyer to make sure that you are the lucky Buyer of the home of your dreams?

1. The first thing is to watch for new listings on a dependable site.  I have found that Listing Book is the best option.  It is synched with the MLS every 30 minutes and you will receive a Morning Report of new listings that meet your search criteria.  Only Realtors can sign you up on this service. Feel free to register for an account on my site: http://tedwight.listingbook.com
2. Get a preapproval from a lender
3. Make sure that you see the house on the first available day with your agent.
4. Write a good offer right away.  It is okay to pay full price or even more if you want the house. Generally you will include an Appraisal Rider with your offer that will protect you from overpaying for a home. Sometimes agents will accept an offer with an acceleration clause- you will pay so much money over the best offer up to a certain dollar amount.

Good luck!

 

2013 YTD Sales Rankings for St. Louis Realtors

I just ran a report for 2013 sales in the City and Central St. Louis Area for sales volume.  The area includes: Downtown, Central East, South City, CWE, University City, Ladue, Clayton, Brentwood, Maplewood Richmond Heights, Kirkwood, Webster Groves and Parkway Central.

1. Brad Elsner
2. Ted Wight
3. Joel Svoboda
4. Mary Lewis
5. Ann Wroth
6. Joanne Iskiwitch
7. Barbara Wulfing
8. Steve Mathes
9. Neil Gellman/Mark Gellman
10. Pat Coursault
11. John Ryan
12. Dennis Koenemann
13. Tina Niemann
14. Jenifer Garcia
15. Tom King
16. Sabrina Robb
17. Susan Johnson
18. Sarah Schiff
19. Mary Rosenblum
20. Angela Kittner
21. Christopher Hulse
22. Paul Mittelstadt
23. Chris Thiemet

Congratulations to everyone and to my other Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty Agents who made the list...highlighted in pink.  I have another closing today that should put me at #1

Ways to Make Your House Sell!

Make It High-Def

Provide a "high definition" effect to your listings by making sure you tempt buyers using all five of their senses.

MARCH 2013 | BY MELISSA DITTMANN TRACEY

Before yelling “action,” make sure the home will touch buyers’ five senses. “Imagine that a buyer enters your listing. It’s the fourth she’s looked at,” Nourmand says. “She’s tired and grumpy and undergoing sensory overload. You want to present a space that will surprise her and encourage her to relax and soak in the setting.” Here are ideas to provide a “high definition” effect to your listings:

• Sight: Display fresh flowers throughout the house on kitchen and bathroom countertops and side tables. Or add color pops by displaying seasonal fruits in the kitchen, living, and dining rooms —like a large bowl filled with red apples, pomegranates, strawberries, or lemons.
• Sound: Play soft classical music in the background.
• Taste: Put ready-to-bake cookies in the oven shortly before a showing and set them out on a pretty plate in the kitchen for prospective buyers. Brew some coffee and tea. The refreshments provide buyers more incentives to sit down and stay awhile—an approach Nourmand recently used in prepping singer Sheryl Crow’s $15 million Hollywood home for sale.
• Smell: Skip the chemical air fresheners. The flowers and freshly baked cookies will provide a welcoming scent. Nourmand creates another favorite by slicing four apples in half . She then sprinkles them with brown sugar and bakes them at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Feel: Use linens with a “rich, substantive feel” in bedrooms, textured accent pillows, and white fluffy towels—all convey the touch of luxury.

Creating such an inviting space should elicit rave reviews from home shoppers—and just might entice them to stick around through the closing credits.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/home-and-design/briefs/article/2013/03/make-it-high-def

2013 Sales Are Going Strong

Sometimes I even surprise myself.  I was running a report for 2013 Clayton sales and discovered that I am currently #1 in sales in Clayton.  Last year I ended up being ranked #5. Well I just ran a report of 2013 sales from downtown out to Parkway Central including Kirkwood and Webster... I am #1 with over $5,000,000 in sales! 

Now is the time to talk to me if you are thinking about listing your home this Spring.

Real Estate Sales Tax? What are the facts?

There are emails floating all around about the real estate sales tax that was part of the Healthcare Reform Act. This potential tax could affect only 2-5% of home sales. Watch this video to get informed.  Read more HERE.