RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE STATISTICS
| County | Active Listings | Under Contract | Sold in November | AVG Days on the Market | AVG
Sales Price |
AVG $ per sq. feet |
| ST CHARLES | 2159
7 months of inventory |
118 | 382 | 163 | 176,735 | 89.76 |
| St Louis
|
4961
5.6 months of inventory |
350 | 882 | 153 | 181,260 | 100.75 |
| Jefferson | 1553
8.9 months of inventory |
83 | 174 | 221 | 135,891 | 79.88 |
|
Lincoln |
332 8.9 months of inventory |
12 |
37 |
189 |
102,037 |
65.40 |
St. Charles is no stranger to publicity. After all, we have a vibrant, livable community and a neverending list of activities to keep us busy year round. That, and the quality of our schools, neighborhoods and transit are among the reasons we are proud to be the region’s real estate company.
This month’s edition of Midwest Living showcases our wonderful Christmas Traditions celebration in historic St. Charles. The six-page spread features beautiful color photos of our events and the historic aspect that we maintain. Visitors come from throughout the Midwest to immerse themselves in a fantastic trip to the past.
And no wonder–through The Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city, merchants and volunteers string thousands and thousands of twinkling white lights along Main Street. St. Charles supplies shopkeepers with 10,000 feet of fresh evergreen garlands to decorate light posts, fences, doors, anything that can be draped with a bit of fresh fir. Add 1,200 festive red bows, 150 wreaths, Christmas trees, Santas from around the world, carolers, roasted chestnuts, bonfires, ice skating, and you’ve got yourself a real, historic experience. Christmas Traditions begins on Friday, November 25, at 11 a.m. for the opening ceremony and Santa’s arrival with the Christmas tree lighting at 5 p.m.
AAA’s Midwest Traveler Magazine likes us too. In the July/August 2011 issue, St. Charles was selected as the best historical small town and the Festival of the Little Hills as the best craft fair in the Midwest. Additional awards included Ameristar Casino, the Katy Trail and Boone’s Colonial Inn.
Through the years, our talents and love of our community have been showcased on a national level. What a great place to live, raise a family and be part of real traditions!
The holiday season is here–well, if you looked in the stores, the season started just before Labor Day!–and our attention focuses on family, presents, food and fun. However, if you are selling your home, all of those things will work for you to attract buyers.
Winter isn’t the peak selling season, but potential homebuyers who are in the market are serious. Another plus for you is diminished competition; other sellers may assume the season is over until next spring. We know better.
The holiday season is the perfect time for your home to embrace buyers. You create an atmosphere of warm and cozy, a place where a buyer wants to sit by the fire or cook in the kitchen.
The experience begins when the potential buyer arrives and walks through your immaculate front door graced with a holiday wreath. The fall holiday theme continues with a few appropriate decorations–candles on the dining room table, vases filled with leaves, pine and a few pieces of real fruit. Lemons are an excellent choice and add to the natural fragrance of your home.
Here we must tackle the de-cluttering issue. Adding decorations on top of personal clutter will not help your buyer envision celebrating the holidays here next year. While it may be a bit painful, pack away personal items and focus on making your home a welcome place. All of those personal items will once again take prominence in your new home.
During the late fall and winter, natural light is hard to come by. Sparkling, clean windows will help a lot, especially with curtains drawn back. Light up your home to show off it’s advantages and space. Dark, gloomy rooms won’t work to your benefit.
With the right price, some patience and a warm, bright setting, it is entirely possible to sell your property during the holidays.
The General Motors announcement that the company will invest $380 million to expand the Wentzville Assembly Plant, add at least 1,260 new jobs and in the near future expand the present line with a second shift of 400 workers, is all great news for the St. Charles County region. The expansion will produce the mid-sized Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck while the second shift will support demand for the Chevy Express and GMC Savanna.
This commitment to our area and our residents is just what we need to make our way back to economic and housing stability. Jobs and housing are the keys to economic revival; without one we don’t have the other.
Who will be affected by this decision? Just about everyone. Laid off workers will return to their jobs, new workers will be trained and hired. Local construction companies will benefit from building the new expansion, parts suppliers will be kept busy producing and will hire new workers. The housing market will get a huge boost. Along with stable jobs comes the ability to buy a home in our community.
Our public institutions will also benefit–with the infusion of new jobs and business expansion come more tax revenue to help cities balance their budgets, improve public services and take on new projects. School districts are winners too. More taxes may prevent the elimination of vital educational programs and could bring back more teachers.
Local restaurants, grocery stores, bars, retail stores, your favorite gas station always experience the financial benefits of a huge expansion like the Wentzville plant.
The next two years will be the most exciting and positive experience we’ve had in a long time. And, we’re ready to showcase the best homes available in the St. Charles area!
Join the members of your St. Charles REALTOR® family and friends for a celebration of our Association and its leadership at the annual installation celebration on October 21, 2011 at Old Hickory Golf Club! Join us as we celebrate the installation of Cort Schneider as our 2012 President, Adam Glosier as our 2012 Commercial Division President and Debby Heidbreder as the 2012 WCR President.
Stay after the ceremonies and enjoy the music of The Ultra Violets! Tickets are just $45 per person for an evening of celebration, food, drink and entertainment! Register today at www.StCharlesREALTORS.com or by calling the Association Member Services Center at 636-946-4022.