Warmer weather and cloud-free skies may have you dreaming of leaving your home for a vacation.

No matter where you choose to journey for your break away trip, take the time to make preparations to your home before leaving.

A few smart steps toward protecting your home while you are way, could mean the world to you when you return.

Tips For Securing Your Home

• Appoint a look-out.  Ask a good friend or “watch-worthy” neighbor to keep an eye on your place while you’re away.
• Wait until after you return from vacation to post your photos to Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  Otherwise you are alerting “friends” and others that may be less than friendly of your absence.
• Think about ways to keep your home from looking empty while you are vacationing.  From house sitters and timers to placing holds on your mail and newspaper delivery, there is plenty you can do to make your home seem less vacant. 
• Secure your garage door and any pet entrances with locks before leaving town as it can provide easier access to your home.
• Timed lights, a well-kept home, and motion detectors can be a deterrent to thieves as well.
• And although pets can be a great deterrent to those who may harm your home, when you leave town, you must make arrangements for their boarding and care.

Inventory may be down, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to buy your home. If you have been seeking to purchase a home and have been disheartened by the lack of available properties, cheer up, more inventory may be on the way!

According to recent statistics released by Realtor.com, March 2013 saw a 2.36 percent increase in homes being listed for sale when compared to February 2013, bringing more options back into the housing market and giving you, as a home buyer more chances to find your home.

And although prices may be slightly higher (the national average reported by Realtor.com shows a .05% increase in the last month), interest rates are still low, with the 30 year fixed averaging 3.43 % with .8 points on April 11th.

Home sellers can be excited, too, knowing that their property is likely to be showcased during this time when inventory, though moving, is still low. Less home listings also make for quicker sales with eager buyers, and a key number, days on the market, has been reduced because of the above factors, as well. According to Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Move, Inc, “The newest data shows that the outlook is optimistic for the overall real estate recovery.”

Depending on where you live, the overall housing market may be experiencing dramatic change, as well. Take a look at the most recent market reports listed on my website or call me to find out what our local housing market is doing. You’re likely to find that now is the perfect time for you to buy or sell your home!

Here are a few samples of what is currently on the market in the city:

Showing properties 1 - 15 of 100+. See more Real estate in the city of St Louis.
(all data current as of 5/21/2013)

1. $239,900 : 1001 Mississippi Avenue , Unit B, St Louis
   
   2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,700 sq ft
2. $194,500 : 8136 Pinetop Drive, St Louis
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,597 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,712 sqft
3. $159,000 : 5647 Nottingham Avenue, St Louis
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Lot size: 3,354 sqft
4. $169,000 : 1001 Schulte Road, St Louis
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,898 sq ft

   Lot size: 11,761 sqft
5. $155,000 : 6441 Colletta, St Louis
   
   3 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 1,440 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,013 sqft
6. $195,000 : 4501 Lindell Boulevard , Unit 4A, St Louis
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,346 sq ft
7. $154,000 : 8704 Villa Crest, St Louis
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,170 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,059 sqft
8. $175,000 : 4787 Chapel Hill Drive, St Louis
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,819 sq ft

   Lot size: 11,848 sqft
9. $205,900 : 50 Signal Court, St Louis
   
   4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,324 sq ft

   Lot size: 23,130 sqft
10. $179,900 : 5457 Pernod Avenue, St Louis
    
    3 beds, 2 full baths

    Lot size: 5,750 sqft
11. $158,000 : 5230 Winona Avenue, St Louis
    
    2 beds, 1 full bath

    Home size: 1,144 sq ft

    Lot size: 4,400 sqft
12. $174,900 : 4438 Tomore, St Louis
    
    3 beds, 3 full baths

    Home size: 1,660 sq ft

    Lot size: 6,011 sqft
13. $199,900 : 6848 Bonnie Avenue, St Louis
    
    3 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

    Home size: 1,572 sq ft

    Lot size: 8,102 sqft
14. $249,900 : 2840 Victor Street, St Louis
    
    3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

    Home size: 2,780 sq ft

    Lot size: 4,095 sqft
15. $219,900 : 545 Delprice, St Louis
    
    2 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 1,766 sq ft

    Lot size: 6,970 sqft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Spring is in the air and its time to journey outside your home and enjoy the crisp air, beautiful flowers and sunshine.  Chances are you will find yourself spending more time outside enjoying this new season and catching up with the pruning, trimming and gardening around your home.

You may have recently bought a home and have plans to create a playground in your backyard or outdoor kitchen, too.

Whatever your reason for stepping outside, you’ll probably notice some areas you can improve around your home, before summer comes and you begin a season of entertaining outdoors.  As you look over your backyard or patio, take the time to notice the feelings you have in that space.  

Is the yard of your home relaxing and inviting?

Your week is filled with the hustle-bustle of life, with time constraints, and demands placed upon you by others, shouldn’t your evenings and weekends be a time of enjoyment and reflection?

If you agree that your home and its exterior space should be an oasis of sorts, start small and consider adding a fountain or fire pit to your landscaping to make your yard more retreat-like.  Perhaps a backyard swing or an outdoor kitchen is more to your liking.  Gather your dreams in online ideabooks on websites like Houzz or Zillow digs and plan out the next project for your home.  Just thinking about it will make you smile.

And if you’re preparing for a sale, landscaping is among the best bang-for-buck improvements you can make!  For expert advice on patios, retaining walls, fountains, and more, call locally certified hardscape contractor, Ed Brandmeyer.

Home owners living in metro areas are beginning to notice a shift in home prices and sales, leading to more interest regarding the value of your home.  In fact, the housing marketing seems to be seeing a huge shift.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) /First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) released this week lists 274 metro areas with improved housing markets. Between February and March, 15 new markets were added to the list!

Improvement indicators include increased housing permits, employment and house prices over a six consecutive month period. It’s interesting to note that Birmingham, Alaska, Bloomington, Indiana, Santa Barbara, California, and Colorado Springs, Colorado all were added this month.

NAHB Chairman Rick Judson explained the good news, stating,“This is the second consecutive month in which every state is represented by at least one metro on the improving list.”

NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe explained that the improving markets (over 75%) indicated a very “solid” market in many communities, though individual markets may have issues with recovery. To see details and the full report, please click here.

See the complete list of the 274 metropolitan areas currently on the IMI by viewing NAHB Improved Metros Near Your Home or click here to see a collection of recent NAHB reports, lists and charts.

Good News for St. Louisans:  St. Louis recognized a 5% increase in home prices and a 1.8% increase in Employment since about a year ago!  For many folks who have been sitting on underwater mortgages since 2008 or ’09, this spring or summer might be the first time in 4 years that you’d be able to sell without losing your shirt.

As a home buyer or home seller, when it comes to your home, you expect your real estate agent to be up to date on the latest technology. You want us to have an active web presence and list your home on social media so that you can get the most exposure possible for your home.

But were you aware that many single-family home builders and remodeling professionals are tech savvy, too? Do you research the contractors you hire to complete your home renovation projects online before having the work completed? These days you can.

In a recent study from the National Association of Home Builders, more than 80 percent of construction professionals utilized smart phones and computers and most, over 70 percent, used laptops to conduct business operations and manage projects, as well.

Many of these service providers seek ratings and pay attention to client satisfaction, but only about 20 percent allow customers to track project progress through technology. Still, this is one area where technology has experienced huge increases in the last two decades.

As consumers have become more comfortable with their technology, they’ve come to expect it from their construction professionals, many of whom they even connect with on Facebook and LinkedIn. In fact, the study revealed that it may be possible for some remodelers and small builders to double their share of business by using downloadable brochures and sharing new home buying details on their websites.

As a consumer, do you agree? Do you want and need technically proficient builders and remodelers? Do you enjoy looking through website portfolios when deciding on your contractor or do you make your decision on a face-to-face meeting?

I’m sure it’s much the same as being a real estate agent. My clients love searching for homes on my website, doing their own research on my communities and calling me as they have questions or are ready to actively pursue home buying and home selling. Still, nothing beats a face-to-face meeting!

If you are curious about how technology has changed the construction and home building industry, see the full report here. Or for a number of helpful links, visit the St. Louis Home Builder’s Association’s webpage.

Buyers for your home may be interested in more than just the number of bedrooms and baths, reported the National Association of Realtors® in their just released survey results. The 2013 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences study studied trends in home buying over the two year period ending in 2012 and gave some insight you may want to consider when selling your home.

While location is always a factor in home buying, the study showed that recent home purchases averaged home sizes of 1,860 square feet. Many of the homes were newer too, with the typical home purchased having been built in 1996, and more than half of the homes bought being single story.

Depending on the area of your home, different features are more highly valued. In the South, for instance, central air conditioning is a must-have, while results of the entire survey only revealed it to be of prime importance to 65 percent of home purchasers. In fact buyers still searching for a home actually stated that they would be willing to pay an average of $2,520 more for a home with central air conditioning.

Hardwood floors were another much loved feature, and considered a big value to those living in the Northeast. Garages, however, and other storage was determined to be needed across the nation, with 78 percent of recent home buyers requiring garages and 39 percent of home buyers requiring a walk in closet in the master bedroom. What features are important to St. Louis Area Homebuyers?  A recent survey indicates that new windows, well-maintained bricks, backyard space, and central air all rank high on the list.

According to NAR President Gary Thomas, “Deciding where to live comes with a lot of options, but buyers quickly realize that some features are more important than others when it comes to choosing the right house for them.” He further explained that when searching for homes, “Buyers need to have a clear idea of what features are important to them and know where they are willing to compromise; in this respect, Realtors® can bring buyers home. Realtors® visit hundreds of homes with buyers each year, and have a unique understanding of what buyers value in their local markets.”

You can read more of the details outlined in the 2013 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences by clicking here.

Erik Lintvedt is a transplant to the St. Louis area, but he’s been here so long, it feels like home.  He grew up on the east side of the river and attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he earned a B.S. in English Education in 2007.   Putting his degree to good use, he taught Jr. High and High School English in Illinois until 2010, when he enrolled in law school at Saint Louis University.  At SLU, Erik has been able to cultivate and refine his interests in Property law, Real Estate Development, Local Government, Administrative Procedure, and Constitutional Law.   There he founded and presided over the Sustainability and Urban Development Student Group (SUDS) and acted as a Representative for the Illinois State Bar Association.  During summers, he worked for an Environmental Law Center, a regionally respected housing developer, and a local landscaper.  In his spare time, Erik enjoys running through his favorite St. Louis neighborhoods, playing and watching basketball (GO BILLIKENS!!!), and trying new craft beers.  He is eager to assist potential homebuyers and sellers with a wide range of real estate needs.  Please do not hesitate to give him a call!

(cell) (618) 980-9425

email: erik@jfmeyerrealty.com

Wondering about the possibility of buying your home in the current housing market?

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released this week confirmed other recent reports of growth in the real estate market.  Spurred on by historically low interest rates in the final quarter of 2012, home buyers saw more housing affordability and relatively stable home pricing throughout the United States, making it possibly the right time for you to buy your home.

According to the HOI, gains in home affordability rose from 74.1 % to 74.9% in the final quarter of 2012,  making homes affordable to median income earners in the United States.  The current median income is $65,000.

North Carolina Home Builder and NAHB Chairman Rick Judson explained why this was good news for potential home buyers.  “The most recent housing affordability data should be encouraging to many prospective home buyers,” Judson said. “Because it shows that homeownership remains within reach of median-income consumers even as most local markets appear to be on a recovery path.”  Judson also shared results of the recent NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index which noted that 259 out of 361 metro real estate areas qualify as improving.

NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe also remarked on this news, saying, “It is noteworthy that affordability remains historically high thanks to favorable mortgage rates even as national home price indexes show some rise in values.”  Crowe shared that the median price of new and existing homes in that same quarter was still up, at $188,000.

The top housing markets for affordability included Ogden-Clearfield, Utah; Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis-Carmel, Indiana; Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida.; Syracuse, New  York; Fairbanks, Alaska; Cumberland, Maryland; Springfield, Ohio; Monroe, Michigan; and Mansfield, Ohio.  As you consider your home buying options, these areas may be of interest to you.

Find out more and see housing market updates online at the National Association of Home Builders.

For an idea of what’s on the market in the St. Louis Area, take a peek at a few listings:

Sorry, but we couldn't find any results in the MLS that match the specified search criteria.

A few weeks ago, the St. Louis Cardinals, Cordish Companies, and the City of St. Louis broke ground on Phase I of the long-awaited mixed-use retail, office, and entertainment development, Ballpark Village.  The plan calls for almost $700 million in newly constructed buildings that hopes to capitalize on 150+ programming days per year and also to attract consumers to retail stores and restaurants year-round.  The site covers 10 acres (roughly 7 city blocks)–it will be pedestrian-friendly and is conveniently located blocks away from MetroLink stops on two sides.  Additionally, the development will serve as a connector between the stadium and the rest of Downtown, which is also experiencing exciting transformation.

• Plans for the redevelopment of the Arch Grounds are underway and have an expected completion date of 2015.  This pedestrian-friendly site, when combined with Ballpark Village, could drastically change the auto-centric character of the area. 
• Big plans are tied up in litigation for a 1500 acre “project” (if the Missouri Supreme Court decides to call it one…) to develop much of the Northside of Downtown over the next 15 years with retail space, offices, hotels, and residences.  It would be the best thing to happen to that area since anyone can remember, so hopefully this current lawsuit will settle things and Mr. McKee can get on with it.
• SLU School of Law is making the move from Midtown to the corner of Market and Tucker in August.  The building is currently under construction (SLU is adding a floor and reinforcing floors so they’ll handle all those law books), but will be adding a full-service restaurant to the current downtown choices (there are now only 8 within a quarter-mile of the building).  Located next door to the Civil Courts Building, Criminal Justice Center, and City Hall (not to mention the many downtown law firms), the addition should be an important improvement for the St. Louis legal community.  Most importantly, the move will increase the number of residents downtown, which will make it more like a vibrant 20-hour community rather than a 9 to 5.
• Recently, the $70 million renovation of Central Library opened and it is beautiful!
• Don’t forget abou the $79 million renovation of the Peabody Opera House that opened in late 2011.  It has been bringing in big names ever since, and is a wonderful alternative to seeing a show at Saavis.
• The Mercantile Exchange building is where it’s at.  Simply put, it has it all.  There’s Pi Pizzeria, retail space, apartments, a new dine-in movie theater, a wine bar, office space, and a National Blues Museum is coming in 2014.  The building has its own website with a catalog of other historic buildings in the area!!!
• Recall the theme of pedestrian-friendliness and visit the City Garden, which has experienced relative success on hot summer nights, and the Old Post Office Plaza.
• ICC Engineering, Inc. purchased the Peabody Coal Company National Headquarters building last year and plans to rent out 2/3 of the building to other companies who want office space with unobstructed views of the Arch and Arch grounds.

Downtown STL is where it’s happening.  There has also been a bump in residential activity in anticipation of the 1,000 law students who will be attending classes in the Joe and Loretta Scott Law Center in the fall.  If you’re thinking that making the move downtown is looking more attractive than ever, you’re not alone.  Give us a call if you’d like to explore your options or take a look at a few listings.

Showing properties 1 - 10 of 42. See more Real estate in the Downtown community.
(all data current as of 5/21/2013)

1. $192,500 : 2020 Washington Avenue , Unit 814, St Louis
   
   1 bed, 2 full baths
2. $205,000 : 1619 Washington Avenue , Unit 403, St Louis
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,470 sq ft
3. $159,900 : 1501 Locust , Unit 1202, St Louis
   
   1 bed, 1 full bath

   Home size: 1,314 sq ft
4. $178,450 : 1136 Washington Avenue , Unit 505, St Louis
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,509 sq ft
5. $189,000 : 1520 Washington Ave , Unit 513, St Louis
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 1,101 sq ft
6. $169,900 : 1511 Locust Street , Unit 504, St Louis
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,404 sq ft
7. $218,900 : 1619 Washington Avenue , Unit 503, St Louis
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,470 sq ft
8. $157,500 : 721 North 17th , Unit 206, St Louis
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 1,229 sq ft
9. $112,000 : 1501 Locust , Unit 1101, St Louis
   
   1 bed, 1 full bath

   Home size: 1,002 sq ft
10. $114,900 : 2020 Washington Avenue , Unit 104, St Louis
    
    1 bed, 1 full bath

    Home size: 1,478 sq ft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

News of an asteroid touching down in the Chelyabinsk Ural region of Russia last week may have you wondering if your home is insured against such a calamity.

If you haven’t heard about the incident that demolished glass buildings and caused nearly 1,ooo injuries, the asteroid strike took place on Friday, February 15th.

And, although NASA identified it as a “tiny asteroid,” you’ll still enjoy the news about to be shared.

Your home is more than likely insured against asteroids by homeowners insurance.

Of course individual policies vary, so you’d need to verify with your respective agent and company, but according to State Farm Media Specialist, Robert Villegas, asteroids are an event covered by homeowners insurance.

According to the Homeowners and Business-owners policy guidelines, “Both ‘Falling Objects’ and ‘Aircraft’, which includes self-propelled missiles (meteors) and spacecraft are covered as well as damage to property inside the building would be covered if the falling debris first damages and penetrates the building roof or walls, then damages the property on the inside.”

And, in case you were wondering, State Farm insured cars are covered, as well, if they carry comprehensive coverage. Villegas shared that, “Comprehensive coverage includes losses due to missiles, falling objects and a whole range of other incidents. However if you do not have comprehensive and have only state mandated liability or collision only coverage you would likely pay for the damage yourself.”

Should you find yourself in the path of an asteroid or even as a witness to a flyby like the football field sized 2012 DA14, please stand clear and do not try to protect your home. More than likely your homeowner’s insurance has got you covered!