St Louis Real Estate News - Daily St. Louis real estate news, market analysis, home prices, and mortgage rate updates from local industry professionals.

Why I See Missouri Amendments 4 and 5 Differently Than Missouri REALTORS®

By Dennis Norman, on June 30th, 2026

Karen Moeller wrote a good article explaining why Missouri REALTORS® is opposing Amendments 4 and 5, and I think she fairly laid out the association’s reasoning. I see the issues differently, though, particularly when looking beyond the narrow real estate industry concerns and looking at the broader public policy questions involved.

On Amendment 4, I understand why Missouri REALTORS® is concerned. Missouri’s initiative petition process was used in 2010 to prohibit real estate transfer taxes, and that was a good outcome for homeowners, property owners, and the real estate industry. I was glad to see that protection put Continue Reading →

The Invisible Glass Shell That Shapes Every Property

By Karen Moeller, on June 29th, 2026

Most people assume designing a home begins with a blank sheet of paper. In reality, long before an architect sketches the first floor plan or a builder estimates construction costs, every property is already constrained by rules that define the largest home the city will allow. Those rules apply whether you’re building a new home, planning an addition, or evaluating the redevelopment potential of an older property. The challenge is that most homeowners never see those limits, even though they influence nearly every significant building decision.

The easiest way to picture those limits is to imagine the city has Continue Reading →

The Zoning Rules Changed. Your House Didn’t.

By Karen Moeller, on June 27th, 2026

Why older homes sometimes don’t meet today’s zoning standards, and why that usually isn’t a problem.

Driving through Glendale recently, I noticed signs inviting residents to an open house about the city’s zoning code update. Like most drivers, I could have continued on without giving it another thought. Instead, I found myself wondering what would prompt a city to rewrite its zoning code.

As I read through the planning documents, one statistic immediately caught my attention. Nearly 45% of Glendale’s residential lots no longer conform to today’s zoning regulations.

My first reaction was probably the same one many Continue Reading →

Why Is the Missouri REALTORS® Association Taking Positions on Amendments 4 and 5?

By Karen Moeller, on June 27th, 2026

Over the past several weeks, the Missouri REALTORS® association has publicly taken positions opposing Amendments 4 and 5. Because many consumers may not understand why a real estate trade association would become involved in statewide ballot measures, I thought it would be helpful to explain the association’s role, summarize what the amendments would do using the official ballot language and constitutional text, and explain why the association has taken those positions.

Every election season brings ballot measures that attract support and opposition from a wide range of organizations. This year, one of those organizations is the Missouri REALTORS® association, Continue Reading →

Why There Will Never Be One Fix for Housing Affordability

By Karen Moeller, on June 25th, 2026

The House’s new ROAD to Housing Act highlights an important truth: America’s housing challenges weren’t created by a single problem, and they won’t be solved by a single law.

Every few months, a new headline promises relief for America’s housing market.

Sometimes the proposed solution is lower mortgage rates. Sometimes it’s tax credits for first-time buyers. Other times it’s down payment assistance, zoning reform, or a program designed to make homeownership more accessible. Each proposal arrives with roughly the same promise: this could be the thing that finally makes housing affordable again.

The latest example is the 21st Continue Reading →

Have We Been Thinking About Manufactured Housing All Wrong?

By Karen Moeller, on June 20th, 2026

A proposed federal rule change announced by HUD this month may not sound particularly exciting at first glance. In fact, most people would probably stop reading somewhere around the phrase “updating the definition of manufactured housing.”

That would be a mistake.

Because hidden inside this technical regulatory proposal is a much bigger question: Have we spent the last 50 years defining housing in a way that no longer makes sense?

If you ask ten people to explain the difference between a manufactured home, a modular home, a mobile home, and a prefab home, you are likely to Continue Reading →

Your Home Is Worth More Than Ever. So Why Doesn’t It Feel That Way?

By Karen Moeller, on June 19th, 2026

A recent housing graphic showing home price growth by state caught my attention. According to the data, Missouri home prices have increased roughly 43% over the past five years.

For homeowners, that sounds like good news. In many cases, it is.

A house purchased for $250,000 several years ago may now be worth well over $350,000. That’s a significant increase in wealth for many Missouri families.

Yet if you’ve spent any time talking with homeowners lately, you may have noticed something curious.

Most don’t sound 43% richer.

In fact, many sound financially stressed.

That Continue Reading →

Repair by a Licensed Contractor. Licensed by Whom?

By Karen Moeller, on June 18th, 2026

Imagine you’re selling your home.

The buyer completes their inspection, reviews the report, and asks for several repairs. One of the requests states that the work must be completed by a “licensed contractor.”

Seems straightforward enough.

After all, most people would agree that repairs identified during a home inspection should be completed by someone who knows what they’re doing. The phrase sounds reassuring. It suggests professionalism, competence, and accountability. Yet the more I thought about it, the more I realized that what appears to be a simple request may not be nearly as simple as it sounds.

Continue Reading →

Harvard Report Sounds Alarm: Nearly Half of America’s Renters Are Struggling With Housing Costs

By Dennis Norman, on June 18th, 2026

Harvard Report Finds Nearly 1 In 2 U.S. Renters Struggling With Housing Costs

A new report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies confirms what many consumers in the St. Louis area already know. Housing affordability remains a challenge, not just for homebuyers dealing with higher mortgage rates and home prices, but also for renters who are seeing a larger share of their income go toward housing.

According to Harvard’s 2026 America’s Rental Housing report, nearly half of all renter households in the United States are now considered cost burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income Continue Reading →

What Happened to This House? A Real Estate Mystery I Couldn’t Ignore

By Karen Moeller, on June 17th, 2026

One of the things I enjoy most about real estate is that houses still surprise me.

After years of walking through homes, you develop a mental catalog of things that deserve a closer look. Sometimes it’s a crack in a foundation wall. Sometimes it’s an unusual odor. Sometimes it’s a renovation that appears to have been completed by someone who was very confident and only mildly qualified.

Recently, it was a set of dark markings that appeared throughout a home I was showing to a buyer.

The mystery began in the primary bedroom. The room had floral Continue Reading →

Discover the Fastest Selling School Districts in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on June 12th, 2026

If you’re considering buying or selling a home in the St. Louis metropolitan area, knowing which school districts are experiencing the fastest home sales can be a valuable asset. Leading the pack is the Spring Bluff R-XV district in Franklin County, Missouri, where homes are flying off the market in an average of just 2 days. With only one listing available at an average price of $485,000, this district is proving to be a hotbed of real estate activity, signaling strong demand and limited supply.

Hot on its heels is the GIRARD DIST 3 in Macoupin County, Illinois, with homes Continue Reading →

St. Louis Mortgage Market Sees Mixed Trends in June 2026: 30-Year Fixed Edges to 6.67%

By Dennis Norman, on June 11th, 2026

As June 2026 unfolds, the St. Louis mortgage market is witnessing a blend of slight changes across various loan types, reflecting a mixed movement in rates. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has inched down marginally to 6.67%, providing a small respite for prospective homebuyers in the area. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed rate remains steady at 6.20%, offering stability for those considering a shorter-term mortgage commitment.

These subtle shifts carry meaningful implications for St. Louis area buyers and sellers. For homebuyers, the slight decrease in the 30-year fixed rate could translate to more favorable monthly payments, which might encourage increased market Continue Reading →

June 2026 Metro East Real Estate Market Update: Significant Price Surge and Sales Growth

By Dennis Norman, on June 9th, 2026

The Metro East real estate market continues to exhibit robust growth as of June 2026, with notable increases in both home prices and sales volume. Homes in the Metro East region sold for a median price of $236,750 in May 2026, marking a significant 16.34% increase from May 2025, when the median price was $203,500. This figure also reflects an 11.41% rise from April 2026’s median sold price of $212,500.

In addition to rising home prices, the market has seen a substantial uptick in sales activity. May 2026 recorded 722 home sales, a remarkable 72.73% increase compared to the Continue Reading →

June 2026 St. Charles County Real Estate Market Update: Rising Home Prices Amid Decreasing Sales

By Dennis Norman, on June 8th, 2026

The St. Charles County real estate market has shown notable changes as of June 2026. In May 2026, homes in the area sold for a median price of $385,000, marking a 4.05% increase from May 2025’s median price of $370,000. This price also reflects a 5.91% rise compared to April 2026, when the median sold price was $363,500. Meanwhile, the median list price reached $425,000 in May 2026, a significant 16.44% increase from $365,000 in May 2025.

However, the number of home sales has declined, with 506 homes sold in May 2026—a 7.83% decrease from the 549 homes sold in Continue Reading →

June 2026 St. Louis MSA Real Estate Market Update: Rising Home Prices and Increased Sales

By Dennis Norman, on June 7th, 2026

The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market continues to show robust growth, with the latest data from May 2026 highlighting significant increases in home prices and sales. Homes in the St. Louis MSA sold for a median price of $309,900, marking a 4.63% increase from May 2025 when the median sold price was $296,200. This price also reflects an 8.74% rise compared to April 2026, when the median sold price was $285,000.

The median list price in May 2026 was $305,000, up 7.02% from $285,000 in May 2025. Furthermore, the region saw 3,193 home sales, a 1.72% Continue Reading →

How’s the Market? It Depends on What You’re Looking At

By Karen Moeller, on June 6th, 2026

“How’s the market?”

It’s one of the most common questions I get from buyers and sellers.

It’s also one of the hardest questions to answer honestly.

Not because the data isn’t available. In fact, we have more market data available today than ever before. The challenge is that different statistics, different timeframes, and different geographic areas can all tell very different stories about the same market.

That’s why two people can look at real estate data and come away with completely different conclusions.

And surprisingly, both of them may be right.

Three Charts. Continue Reading →

St. Louis Mortgage Rates Climb: 30-Year Fixed Hits 6.61% in June 2026

By Dennis Norman, on June 4th, 2026

In June 2026, the St. Louis real estate market is witnessing a notable increase in mortgage rates, with the 30-year fixed rate reaching 6.61%, up by 0.04% from the previous rate. This steady upward trend in interest rates is also observed in the 15-year fixed rate, which has risen to 6.13%, marking a 0.03% increase. Meanwhile, the 30-year Jumbo rate stands at 6.70%, and the 30-year FHA rate is slightly lower at 6.14%. The adjustable rate mortgage (7/6 SOFR ARM) has also seen a rise, now at 6.22%.

For prospective homebuyers and sellers in the St. Louis area, these rising Continue Reading →

Does the Property Have an HOA? That Might Be the Wrong Question.

By Karen Moeller, on June 4th, 2026

A buyer tells me they want backyard chickens. Another wants to park an RV in the driveway. A third wants to build a detached garage.

Their next question is often:

“Does the neighborhood have an HOA?”

It’s not a bad question. It’s just not the first question I’d ask.

In the St. Louis area, a property can have no HOA and still have restrictions on what you can do with it. A property can also have an HOA and fewer restrictions than you might expect.

That’s why I think buyers often focus on the wrong Continue Reading →

What My Statistics Professor Taught Me About “Best Places to Live” Rankings

By Karen Moeller, on June 3rd, 2026

Three Missouri communities recently landed on a national list of the Best Places to Live in America: St. Peters, O’Fallon, and Florissant.

Congratulations are certainly in order.

But when I saw the rankings, I wasn’t thinking about the winners.

I was thinking about a statistics class I took years ago at Purdue University.

One day, a professor presented our class with the results of what appeared to be an incredibly compelling survey. The sample size was large. The statistics were impressive. The conclusions seemed definitive.

There was only one problem.

Most of the students in Continue Reading →

If the Fed Doesn’t Set Mortgage Rates, Who Does?

By Karen Moeller, on June 2nd, 2026

Every time the Federal Reserve announces a rate cut, the same thing happens.

Headlines celebrate. Homebuyers start calculating new monthly payments. Somewhere, someone opens a mortgage calculator and starts imagining a house that suddenly became affordable.

Then mortgage rates barely move.

Sometimes they even go up.

That is usually the point where people conclude that somebody is manipulating the market, hiding the truth, or changing the rules.

In reality, the rules haven’t changed at all. Most people simply misunderstand what the Federal Reserve actually does.

The Federal Reserve has enormous influence over the economy, Continue Reading →

They’re Really Only Offering $325,000… Right?

By Karen Moeller, on June 1st, 2026

The math behind seller concessions, lender limits, and why appraisers sometimes get involved

Every seller has had this moment.

An offer arrives. The purchase price looks promising. Then comes the request for seller concessions.

Suddenly, the offer doesn’t look quite as attractive as it did a few seconds earlier.

“Wait a minute,” the seller says. “If they’re asking me for $8,000 back, aren’t they really offering $325,000?”

It’s a fair question. After all, if the contract price is $333,000 and the seller is contributing $8,000 toward the buyer’s costs, the seller will walk away with less money than they Continue Reading →

The HGTV Problem – Why most home-selling advice falls apart in the real world

By Karen Moeller, on May 31st, 2026

HGTV isn’t really the problem. The problem is the expectation it helped create.

After years of watching dramatic before-and-after transformations, professionally staged homes, and spotless listings that appear ready for a magazine cover, many homeowners have come to believe their house needs to look the same before it can successfully sell.

Then reality shows up.

The dog tracks mud through the kitchen. The toddler empties every toy bin in the house. The laundry basket never quite makes it upstairs. A new baby is on the way. An aging parent needs help. The landscaping hasn’t been touched in two weeks.

And Continue Reading →

Who Decides What a House Is Worth?

By Karen Moeller, on May 30th, 2026

A homeowner tells me their house is worth $500,000 because an online valuation tool says so.

The county assessor values it at $380,000.

The appraiser comes in at $465,000.

A buyer offers $450,000.

Who’s right?

Potentially all of them.

One of the most common misconceptions in real estate is that every house has a single, objective value waiting to be discovered. In reality, residential real estate is one of the few assets where several reasonable values can exist at the same time because different people are trying to answer different questions.

That distinction Continue Reading →

What Happens When the House Is Worth Less Than the Offer?

By Karen Moeller, on May 29th, 2026

Why a low appraisal doesn’t always kill the deal—and why the contract matters more than many buyers realize

A buyer asked me a question recently that perfectly captured one of the most misunderstood parts of a real estate transaction:

“Why do I need an appraisal rider? If the house doesn’t appraise, won’t the lender deny the loan anyway?”

At first glance, that logic seems sound. Most buyers understand that lenders require appraisals, and many assume the appraisal serves as a simple pass-or-fail test. If the value comes in high enough, the loan moves forward. If it comes in low, the Continue Reading →

St. Louis Mortgage Rates Show Mixed Trends in May 2026: 30-Year Fixed Holds at 6.61%, 15-Year Eases to 6.12%

By Dennis Norman, on May 28th, 2026

In May 2026, the St. Louis real estate market sees a mixed bag of mortgage rate movements, presenting both opportunities and challenges for homebuyers and sellers. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate remains unchanged at a significant 6.61%, maintaining its position above the 6.5% mark, reflecting ongoing market stability. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate has edged down slightly to 6.12%, offering a modest reprieve for those considering shorter-term financing options.

St. Louis area buyers may find the current rate environment challenging, especially with the 30-year fixed rate continuing to hover at higher levels. However, the decrease in the 15-year fixed Continue Reading →

The Law That Quietly Changed the Mortgage Process Forever

By Karen Moeller, on May 24th, 2026

Applying for a mortgage today can sometimes feel less like borrowing money and more like preparing for a federal background investigation.

Lenders want paystubs, tax returns, bank statements, employment verification, explanations for deposits, explanations for credit inquiries, explanations for transfers between accounts, and occasionally what feels like a written reflection on your financial decisions dating back to 2017.

Buyers often assume this is simply how mortgages have always worked.

It hasn’t.

Much of the modern mortgage process was reshaped in the aftermath of the 2008 housing collapse and the passage of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Continue Reading →

The Things Sellers Say When They’re About to Overprice Their Home

By Karen Moeller, on May 23rd, 2026

One subtle red flag in a listing appointment is when the price conversation starts before the comparable sales conversation does.

“We need to get at least X.”

“The neighbor got X.”

“We want to leave room to negotiate.”

None of those statements automatically mean a seller is wrong, but they often reveal that the pricing conversation is beginning with a conclusion instead of an analysis. Once someone emotionally anchors themselves to a number early, every later conversation tends to become:

“How do we justify this price?”

instead of:

“What is the market most likely to support?”

That shift Continue Reading →

The Real Difference Between Home Search Sites Isn’t Always the Listings

By Karen Moeller, on May 22nd, 2026

The Zillow/MRED dispute is not currently affecting St. Louis listings, but it does reveal something important about how real estate search actually works.

A recent dispute between Zillow and Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), the large Chicago-area MLS, generated headlines this week after MRED suspended Zillow’s access to its listing data feeds. Until the issue is resolved, MRED listings will no longer appear on Zillow or Trulia in that market, creating immediate confusion among consumers and agents wondering whether listings could suddenly disappear from the websites many buyers rely on every day.

In St. Louis, however, the answer Continue Reading →

St. Louis Mortgage Rates Fall to 6.67% in May 2026, Offering Relief to Homebuyers

By Dennis Norman, on May 22nd, 2026

In May 2026, the St. Louis real estate market is witnessing a notable decrease in mortgage rates, providing a breath of fresh air for prospective homebuyers. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dipped to 6.67%, a decrease of 0.08% from previous levels, while the 15-year fixed rate has slightly fallen to 6.22%, down by 0.03%. This decline is part of a broader trend of falling rates, with other significant decreases observed in the 7/6 SOFR ARM, which now stands at 6.33%.

For homebuyers in the St. Louis area, these changes are significant. Lower mortgage rates can reduce monthly payments and Continue Reading →

May 2026 St. Louis City Real Estate Market Update: Key Trends and Insights

By Dennis Norman, on May 22nd, 2026

The St. Louis City real estate market experienced slight fluctuations in April 2026, according to the latest data. Homes sold for a median price of $235,000, marking a minor decrease of 0.21% from April 2025’s median price of $235,500. This figure also represents a more notable decline of 3.09% compared to March 2026, when the median price was $242,500. Additionally, the median list price in April 2026 was $220,000, reflecting a 7.17% drop from $237,000 in April 2025.

In terms of sales volume, there were 269 home sales in April 2026, which is a decrease of 4.61% from the 282 Continue Reading →