So, You Want to Buy a Rehab Project?
Yesterday I went out with one of my new clients to look at rehab possibilities. I always think the first day out with a new client is interesting. It’s a learning process for both of...
Negotiating With Banks on Foreclosures
Below is an example of a note I just sent along with an offer. To be honest I am not sure if this works or not, but this is what I have been sending along...
One of My Listings Featured on HGTV’s House Hunters
Last summer I was hired to help some Shaw residents sell their house. They had moved here for graduate school. It was time to put the house on the market and move on to the...
City Garden Montessori: Where Map Testing Meets the Montessori Method
Recently one of my past clients invited me to visit City Garden Montessori. She has been a St. Louis City resident and advocate for a long time, but had been sending her oldest son to...
What I Like To See In A Rehab
I have two new listings coming up in Tower Grove East. When finished both will be 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths with 2nd floor laundry. Additionally each will have a two-car detached garage. The kitchens will...
Be Practical When Using an FHA Loan
First a little history: FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration, an entity created by the The Housing Act of 1934 which was designed to increase home ownership by operating different loan insurance programs. So when...
What is a Short Sale?
“What’s A Short Sale?” It means that the price that is currently presented as the listing price is actually less than the amount that the seller owes to the bank. This means that when a...
This Old House and the Shaw Neighborhood
Hey everybody, look! I am famous. This Old House blog used one of my photos of the Shaw neighborhood. They misspelled my name but they got the Circa Properties part right. The Shaw Neighborhood was...
The Art and Science of Appraisals
Appraisals are a common part of most real estate transactions. Anytime a person applies for a loan an appraisal is ordered to help the bank determine whether or not making the loan will be a...
Are you asking “online astrologers” what your house is worth?
In a recent NY Times article, What’s My House Worth? the author confesses to being an information junkie and discusses how the online sites devoted to home values feed her obsession. But she runs into ...
Returning to St. Louis with Inspiration from Older, Wiser Cities
Towards the end of our trip I asked Jay if he was ready to go home. He said, “Yeah, I accomplished what I wanted.” Until that point I didn’t know that he had an agenda...
Scandinavian Designs
I am going to Scandinavia for vacation!!!!!!! And in the course of my vacation research, I found an incredible experiment in urban planning and sustainability. VIIKKI, Helsinki, Finland The general guidelines for Viikki designs were...