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

Why Some Cities Require Occupancy Inspections … And Others Don’t

By Karen Moeller, on May 11th, 2026

One of the more confusing moments for many St. Louis homebuyers happens shortly before closing, when they learn the municipality wants to inspect the property before anyone can move in.

Then comes the obvious question:

Why does one city require an occupancy inspection while the next one doesn’t?

The answer has less to do with real estate contracts and more to do with how local governments approach housing safety, property maintenance, and code enforcement.

Occupancy inspections developed largely in older municipalities as a way to identify issues involving electrical systems, plumbing, structural concerns, overcrowding, or deferred Continue Reading →

Metro East Real Estate Market Sees Significant Growth in May 2026

By Dennis Norman, on May 10th, 2026

The Metro East real estate market has experienced notable growth as of May 2026, with homes selling for a median price of $212,500 in April. This marks an impressive 11.55% increase from April 2025, when the median sold price was $190,501. Additionally, the median sold price in April 2026 reflects a 6.25% rise from March 2026, when it stood at $200,000. The median list price also saw an increase, reaching $230,000, up 9.52% from $210,000 in April 2025.

The number of home sales in the Metro East area has risen as well, with 689 homes sold in April 2026, a Continue Reading →

May 2026 Real Estate Market Update: St. Charles County Sees Shifts in Home Prices and Sales

By Dennis Norman, on May 8th, 2026

The real estate market in St. Charles County experienced notable changes in April 2026, with homes selling for a median price of $364,500. This marks a 2.39% increase from April 2025, where the median sold price was $356,000. However, when compared to March 2026, April’s median sold price represents a 2.80% decrease from $375,000. The median list price in April 2026 was $419,900, showing a significant rise of 15.04% from $365,000 in April 2025.

In terms of sales volume, there were 484 home sales in April 2026, a slight decline of 3.01% from the 499 homes sold in April Continue Reading →

St. Louis Mortgage Rates Drop to 6.44% in May 2026 – 7/6 SOFR ARM Sees Significant Decline

By Dennis Norman, on May 7th, 2026

St. Louis homebuyers are witnessing a favorable shift as mortgage rates trend downward this May 2026. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage has decreased by 0.10%, settling at 6.44%, which remains moderately above the 6% threshold. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed rate has seen a slight decrease to 6.00%, down by 0.04%. The most notable change is observed in the 7/6 SOFR Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), which experienced a significant drop, now standing at 6.11%.

For buyers in the St. Louis area, these falling rates translate into potentially lower monthly payments and increased purchasing power. Sellers might see an uptick in interest Continue Reading →

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

By Dennis Norman, on May 7th, 2026

The St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) real estate market continues to show strength as of May 2026, with notable increases in both home prices and sales volume. In April 2026, homes in the St. Louis MSA sold for a median price of $285,000, marking a 3.64% rise from the median price of $275,000 recorded in April 2025. This growth also represents a modest 0.71% increase from March 2026, when the median sold price was $283,000.

The median list price in April 2026 reached $305,000, up 7.02% from $285,000 in April 2025, indicating a strong demand in the local real Continue Reading →

Why Some Homes Sit… Even When They’re Priced Right And What Most Sellers Miss About Demand

By Karen Moeller, on May 5th, 2026

Drive through parts of St. Louis this week and you will see it in real time. Patios fill up, sidewalks get busier, and restaurants and shops pull people in without much effort. Cinco de Mayo, at least as it is widely celebrated here, puts something on display that matters in real estate far beyond a single day.

Some places attract people naturally. Others have to work for attention.

In real estate, when a home does not sell quickly, the default explanation is usually price. If it is not price, then it must be condition or marketing. Those are Continue Reading →

You Can Have Chickens… Right? Why Backyard Chickens Aren’t as Simple as They Sound

By Karen Moeller, on May 4th, 2026

Backyard chickens are often treated as a simple lifestyle choice. In reality, they’re one of the fastest ways for a homeowner to discover how many layers of control exist over how property can be used. The assumption is straightforward: if you own the property, you should be able to decide how to use it. That assumption tends to hold, until it doesn’t. Chickens are where it often breaks down.

What seems like a small, personal decision quickly runs into a layered set of local rules, zoning restrictions, and legal limitations that vary not just by state, but by municipality and even Continue Reading →

Can Your Neighbors Stop You From Using Your Own Property? What Kirkwood’s Recent Dispute Reveals

By Karen Moeller, on May 3rd, 2026

Most homeowners assume that once they buy a property, they have control over what happens on it. In reality, that control exists within a system of rules that often don’t come into focus until something forces the issue.

That moment can be bigger, like the recent effort in Kirkwood to stop the demolition of a historic home. Or it can be something far more routine. A property condition that has existed for years, something as simple as how materials are stored or where they are placed, suddenly draws attention. A notice arrives outlining specific requirements and a timeline to Continue Reading →

Manufacturing Is Coming Back… But Not Where Most People Think

By Karen Moeller, on May 2nd, 2026

There has been a growing wave of reporting and investment announcements pointing to a return of manufacturing activity to the U.S., with over $1.5 trillion in projects announced since 2025.

On the surface, that sounds like the kind of shift that should dramatically reshape local real estate markets. More jobs, more demand, rising home prices. It is an easy story to tell, but reality is more complicated.

Manufacturing is coming back, but it does not look like it did a generation ago, and it does not impact housing the way many people expect.

Modern manufacturing facilities are smaller, Continue Reading →

What You’re Missing When You Look at a Home Online

By Karen Moeller, on May 1st, 2026

A listing tells you everything… until it doesn’t.

It does not take long for most buyers to form an opinion about a home they find online. A quick look at the price, a scroll through the photos, and within a minute or less, a decision starts to take shape.

If you want to see how quickly that happens, pull up any home and look at it the way you normally would:

👉 St Louis Real Estate Search

At first glance, the information feels complete. The price is there, the photos are polished, and the basic details appear straightforward. It gives Continue Reading →

St. Louis Mortgage Rates Surge to 6.50% in April 2026 – Buyers Face Rising Costs

By Dennis Norman, on April 30th, 2026

In April 2026, St. Louis homebuyers are witnessing a significant uptick in mortgage rates, with the 30-year fixed rate climbing to 6.50%, marking a 0.12% increase. The 15-year fixed rate also rose, now standing at 6.03% after a 0.09% hike. These increases signal a rising trend across the board, affecting all major mortgage categories including 30-year jumbo, FHA, and VA loans. The adjustable rate (7/6 SOFR ARM) similarly saw a rise to 6.12%, indicating a broad upward movement in borrowing costs.

For potential buyers and sellers in the St. Louis area, these rate hikes could impact purchasing power and market Continue Reading →

I Found a House I Loved… Then I Checked the Flood Map

By Karen Moeller, on April 29th, 2026

It rained hard last night.

The kind of rain that makes you pause for a second and wonder where all that water actually goes. Most of the time, it’s just background noise. But if you’re in the middle of buying a home in St. Louis, that question starts to matter a lot more.

Because somewhere between the showing and the offer, there’s a moment buyers don’t always expect.

It usually goes like this.

You find a house you love. The layout works. The price feels right. Maybe it even backs up to water or sits just close enough to feel Continue Reading →

St. Louis Tax Sale Guide: What Most Buyers and Homeowners Get Wrong

By Karen Moeller, on April 29th, 2026

Every year around tax time, I start hearing the same question.

Can you really buy a house at a tax sale for next to nothing?

It is one of those ideas that sounds simple on the surface. A homeowner falls behind on property taxes, the property goes to auction, and someone else buys it.

In reality, the process is far more layered, and the biggest misunderstandings tend to show up right at the point where timing matters most.

What People Think Happens

Most people assume a tax sale works like a traditional sale. The home is listed, it is Continue Reading →

No Income Tax? What Missouri’s New Tax Proposal Could Mean for Home Buyers and Sellers

By Karen Moeller, on April 28th, 2026

A look at how HJR 173/174 could shift where real estate transaction costs show up

No income tax. That tends to get people’s attention. But money has a way of finding its way back into the equation, just through a different door.

In real estate, the more useful question is not whether taxes go away. It is where they show up next.

Missouri is currently exploring that exact shift. Through House Joint Resolutions 173 and 174, the state is considering a path to gradually eliminate income tax. For those who want to review the actual language, you can find Continue Reading →

A Real Estate Contract Can Bind You. That Doesn’t Mean It Protects You.

By Karen Moeller, on April 26th, 2026

It is not particularly difficult to create a binding real estate agreement.

Two parties can agree on terms, put them in writing, and sign. At that point, there is a contract.

What is much harder, and far more important, is understanding whether that contract actually protects you.

Buying or selling a home can look surprisingly straightforward from the outside. There are forms. There are signatures. There is a process that appears structured enough that, with the right documents, it might feel manageable to handle on your own.

That assumption is not limited to inexperienced buyers or Continue Reading →

Lead Paint Was Banned Decades Ago. So Why Is It Still Part of Buying and Selling a Home?

By Karen Moeller, on April 25th, 2026

“Why are we still dealing with this form? Lead paint was banned more than 50 years ago.”

It’s a fair question. It’s also based on a misunderstanding.

Most people hear “lead paint” and picture a kid eating paint chips off a windowsill in 1963.

The assumption is understandable. Lead paint was banned for residential use in 1978, and most homes have been painted over multiple times since then. The dramatic stories that shaped public awareness largely faded decades ago. It would be easy to assume the issue faded with them. It’s one of the only disclosures that isn’t Continue Reading →

St. Louis Mortgage Rates Dip Slightly in April 2026: 30-Year Fixed Sits at 6.32%

By Dennis Norman, on April 23rd, 2026

St. Louis homebuyers have a small reason to celebrate as mortgage rates continue their downward trend this April 2026. According to the latest data, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate now stands at 6.32%, a subtle decrease of 0.01% from the previous rate. Additionally, the 15-year fixed rate has dropped by 0.02%, now at 5.90%. However, not all rates followed this downward trajectory; the 30-year Jumbo rate saw a slight increase, reaching 6.52%, while the adjustable rate (7/6 SOFR ARM) has risen to 5.97%.

For St. Louis buyers and sellers, these changes present a mixed bag of opportunities and challenges. The Continue Reading →

St. Louis City Real Estate Market Sees Strong Growth in April 2026

By Dennis Norman, on April 21st, 2026

The St. Louis City real estate market experienced significant growth in March 2026, with homes selling for a median price of $240,000. This represents a 9.09% increase from March 2025, when the median sold price was $220,000. Additionally, the median sold price in March 2026 marked an 8.11% rise from February 2026, which saw a median price of $222,000. Despite the rise in sold prices, the median list price in March 2026 was $220,000, down 7.17% from $237,000 in March 2025.

The number of home sales also increased, with 239 homes sold in March 2026, a 2.14% increase from the Continue Reading →

April 2026 Franklin County Real Estate Market Update: Rising Home Prices and Sales

By Dennis Norman, on April 20th, 2026

The Franklin County real estate market continues to show robust growth as of April 2026, with significant increases in both home prices and sales. According to the latest data, homes in Franklin County sold for a median price of $277,500 in March 2026. This marks a 4.13% increase from March 2025, when the median sold price was $266,500. Additionally, the March 2026 median price represents a 5.71% rise compared to February 2026, when it was $262,500.

The market also saw a notable increase in the median list price, which reached $309,272 in March 2026. This is a substantial 15.83% jump Continue Reading →

April 2026 St. Louis County Real Estate Market Update: Rising Home Prices and Sales Trends

By Dennis Norman, on April 19th, 2026

The St. Louis County real estate market continues to show dynamic shifts as of April 2026, with notable changes in home prices and sales activity. In March 2026, homes sold for a median price of $278,500. This represents a 5.09% increase from the median sold price of $265,000 in March 2025. Additionally, March 2026 saw an 11.18% rise in median sold prices compared to February 2026, when the median was $250,501.

Despite the increase in sold prices, the median list price dropped to $250,000, marking a 10.87% decrease from $280,500 in March 2025. The number of home sales also saw Continue Reading →

Steady Growth in St. Louis Metro Home Sales: A Positive Start to 2026

By Dennis Norman, on April 17th, 2026

The St. Louis metropolitan area has experienced a promising start to the 2026 real estate market, with 6,665 homes sold through the end of March. This marks a slight yet encouraging increase of 0.71% compared to the 6,618 homes sold during the same period last year. This steady growth is a positive indicator for both potential home buyers and sellers, suggesting a stable market environment. The St. Louis metro area, encompassing counties in both Missouri and Illinois, continues to attract families and individuals seeking a vibrant and affordable place to call home.

Despite the modest year-over-year growth, the market remains Continue Reading →

Baby Boomers Are Now Driving the Housing Market… and First-Time Buyers Are Getting Squeezed Out

By Dennis Norman, on April 16th, 2026

Generational Trends in Real Estate - National Association of Realtors Report - St Louis REALTORS

The latest data from the National Association of REALTORS® shows something that might surprise a lot of people… the real estate market isn’t being driven by first-time buyers anymore, and it hasn’t been for a while. In fact, the 2026 Generational Trends Report shows that Baby Boomers now make up the largest share of home buyers at 42%, while first-time buyers have dropped to just 21%… the lowest level ever recorded.

That’s a big shift, and it helps explain a lot of what we’re seeing in today’s market. Younger buyers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are still active, but they’re Continue Reading →

St. Louis Mortgage Rates Edge Upward: 30-Year Fixed Hits 6.32% in April 2026

By Dennis Norman, on April 16th, 2026

As of April 16, 2026, mortgage rates in the St. Louis area have continued their upward trajectory, with the 30-year fixed rate now standing at 6.32%, marking a slight increase of 0.01% from the previous day. The 15-year fixed rate also saw a similar rise, now at 5.97%. These subtle yet steady increases reflect broader trends in the national market, with all major rate categories experiencing hikes, including the 30-year FHA and Jumbo loans, as well as the 7/6 SOFR ARM, which now stands at 5.98%.

For potential homebuyers and sellers in St. Louis, these rising rates could have significant Continue Reading →

Discover the Fastest Selling Zip Codes in the St. Louis Metro Area

By Dennis Norman, on April 16th, 2026

The St. Louis metropolitan area is witnessing a dynamic real estate market, with certain zip codes standing out for their rapid turnover. Leading the charge is Franklin, Crawford, where homes are flying off the market in an impressive average of just 25 days. With 40 active listings, this area boasts an average list price of $285,980, making it an attractive option for both buyers seeking swift transactions and sellers looking to capitalize on high demand.

Not far behind, Jefferson holds the second position with 13 listings averaging just 8 days on the market. Meanwhile, another area in Franklin ranks third Continue Reading →

St. Louis Lands in Top 15 Most Affordable Housing Markets… Opportunity Is Still Here

By Dennis Norman, on April 15th, 2026

St Louis Housing Affordability -Ranked 11th in Nation

St. Louis continues to stand out nationally for something that matters to just about every homebuyer… affordability. According to the latest rankings, St. Louis is now the 11th most affordable housing market in the U.S., reinforcing what many local buyers and investors already know… you simply get more for your money here than in most major metro areas.

As the graphic shows, cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City top the list, but St. Louis sits comfortably in the upper tier, ahead of markets like Grand Rapids, Little Rock, and Columbus. That’s impressive when you consider St. Louis offers not Continue Reading →

Jefferson County Real Estate Market Sees Strong Growth in March 2026

By Dennis Norman, on April 15th, 2026

The Jefferson County real estate market continues to show robust growth as of April 2026. In March, homes sold for a median price of $295,000, marking a significant increase of 10.49% compared to March 2025, when the median price was $267,000. This upward trend is also evident when comparing to February 2026, with a 1.03% rise from a median price of $292,000.

The median list price in March 2026 was $324,900, reflecting a 12.03% increase from $290,000 in March 2025. Additionally, home sales in the region rose to 222, a 4.23% increase from the 213 homes sold in March Continue Reading →

Real Estate Fraud Is Exploding… and It’s Hitting Closings Where It Hurts Most

By Dennis Norman, on April 15th, 2026

Real estate fraud is not just a theoretical risk… it is a growing and very real threat, and the latest FBI data shows it is costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars each year. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) 2025 report, there were 12,368 real estate fraud complaints nationwide, resulting in more than $275 million in reported losses. That is a significant number, and while St. Louis is not singled out specifically, our local market is certainly not immune to these same risks.

One of the most concerning aspects of real estate fraud today involves wire Continue Reading →

Missouri Cracks Down on Sale-Leasebacks…Mandatory Warnings, Delays, and $10K Penalties

By Dennis Norman, on April 14th, 2026

A lesser-known but very significant part of Missouri Senate Bill 1001 could have a major impact on sale-leaseback transactions, a strategy often used by distressed homeowners and investors. While most attention has focused on wholesaling, this portion of the bill introduces strict new disclosure requirements designed to protect sellers who sell their home and then rent it back. Like the wholesaling provisions, this is part of the perfected bill that has passed the Senate and is now in the House, but has not yet become law.

Under SB 1001, any buyer involved in a sale-leaseback transaction must provide the seller Continue Reading →

Missouri SB 1001 Targets Real Estate Wholesalers…Here’s What It Means for Investors

By Dennis Norman, on April 14th, 2026

A major piece of legislation moving through Jefferson City could significantly impact real estate wholesalers and contract assignment deals in Missouri, and it’s something investors and flippers in the St. Louis market need to be watching closely. Senate Bill 1001, in its perfected form, has already passed the Missouri Senate and is now under consideration in the House, but it has not yet become law. If passed and signed, it will introduce new disclosure requirements that directly affect wholesalers assigning contracts.

The key provision for investors is the new requirement that any “wholesaler” entering into a contract to purchase residential Continue Reading →

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

By Dennis Norman, on April 12th, 2026

The St. Louis metropolitan area is witnessing a dynamic real estate market, with certain school districts standing out for their swift home sales. Leading the pack is Columbia DIST 4 in Monroe and St. Clair counties, Illinois, where homes are selling at an impressive average of just 13 days on the market. With six active listings, this district boasts an average list price of $540,633, making it an attractive area for families seeking both speed and value in their home buying journey.

Following closely is Pontiac-W Holliday DIST 105 in St. Clair, Illinois, with homes taking an average of 14 Continue Reading →