Arch City Homes Blog
Find real estate advice for both buyers and sellers, as well as market trends, homeowner tips, pet friendly real estate, St. Louis information, and general real estate advice.
Unaccredited St. Louis City Schools Still Controlled by the State
Just about everyone living in the St. Louis region knows that the St. Louis City Public School District has a reputation for doing a poor job of educating their students. In March of 2007, the Missouri Department of Education voted to strip the only public school...
Hwy 40 Construction Weekend Events
It is hard to believe that St. Louis residents have lived through almost a year with one of our busiest highways closed for construction in a highly traveled 5 mile stretch. Last year, all lanes of Highway 40 were shut down during the the night on Jan 1 so that...
Mortgage Down Payment Minimums are Going Up
A few years ago, it was easy for most buyers to borrow 100% of the purchase price of a home. Some borrowers even rolled the closing costs into their loans and borrowed 103%. Today, those loans are gone. The lowest down payment available today is a FHA loan with a...
Keep Your Heating Bills Low This Winter
With the current economic market, I was pleased to hear that the rates charged for the natural gas used to heat Missouri homes will be lower this year. Earlier this year, the Missouri Public Service Commission approved a decrease in Laclede Gas rates. The lower rates...
How to Get Multiple Offers on a Home in a Buyer’s Market
Yesterday one of my home listings sold with multiple offers. In November. In a down market. In 2 days. Yes, even in a down market, there are homes that sell in in the fall and winter with multiple offers just after coming on the market. We went live in the MLS on...
Witnessing History and Paying Respects to Police Officer Michael King
Today was both a joyful and sad day in University City. Witnessing History: I spent my 50 minutes in line waiting to vote this morning talking with a mother that was bursting with joy over participating in this historic Presidential election. The woman in line behind...
Not All Real Estate Listing Sites are Created Equal
If you are looking for a home and want to see every home that is on the market, you need to know that the national real estate listing sites do not have every available home listing. Not only are the sites missing active home listings, but some of the sites also...
Go Swimming with the Dogs at University City’s Puppy Pool Party
Every year, University City hosts a swim party for dogs and their owners just before they close down the Heman Park pool for the season. This year, the Puppy Pool Party is scheduled for next Saturday, September 6, 2008 from 1 - 4 pm. Your $10 admission gets two people...
How to Find the Buyer for Any House
Every house has a buyer. The trick is pricing the house right and focusing your marketing on the right buyers. Focus on the positives Every buyer isn't looking for the same thing. Over the years, I have worked with buyers that had very specific needs who weren't...
Shopping for a Low Tax Rate Can Keep Your Costs Down on Your Next Home
In today's market, buyers are choosing to be conservative as they decide what to spend on their next home. However, buyers often forget to consider the impact that taxes can have on their final costs. I've often been asked by buyers how much their taxes will be for a...
