St Louis Real Estate Exchange

If you're like me and enjoy the eating part of Thanksgiving more than the cooking side of it, then you're in luck!

St Louis restaurants offer bountiful holiday feasts this year. Here are some of the finest places to experience Thanksgiving a la St Louis. We recommend calling for hours and menu details. Reservations are highly recommended if not required everywhere. Many restaurants also offer complete Thanksgiving dinners for carry out — several days’ notice is typically required.

Cielo
(999 North Second Street; 314-881-5800)

Cielo, at the Four Seasons, has one of the best views in the city and the menu to match. The $85 per person dinner ($30 for kids) includes a bloody-mary and bottomless mimosa bar. It's a buffet boasting more than 70 items, with the requisite carving station, "live action risotto station" and a full dessert buffet. You can also simply pick up a dinner for ten for $295, if you prefer. Dinner is from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Call 314-881-5800 for reservations.

EdgeWild Restaurant & Winery
(550 Chesterfield Center, Chesterfield; 636-532-0550)

EdgeWild is also offering a buffet, albeit one at a more affordable price point. It's $29 for adults, $15 for kids. Start with breakfast food -- waffles, omelets, lox -- or go straight for the carved turkey breast with cranberry chutney, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, mac & cheese and more. Naturally, there are plenty of pies available, plus a chocolate fountain. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 636-532-0550 for reservations.

Home Wine Kitchen
(7322 Manchester Road, Maplewood; 314-802-7676)

What could be better than our Best Local Chef cooking your Thanksgiving dinner? The answer: nothing. Seriously, the bread basket alone that Cassy Vires is offering sounds amazing: bacon muffins, buttermilk cornbread and pumpkin loaf. Then it's kale salad with bacon-molasses dressing and bourbon-soaked cranberries. The main course is turkey breast stuffed with apple, duck confit, spicy sausage, fennel and brioche, with creamy polenta with wild mushrooms, sweet potato peanut puree, and Brussels sprouts with cayenne and brown sugar-spiced pecans. For dessert, there's pecan pie with molasses ice cream, pear crostata with honey-fig ice cream, pumpkin pie with spiced ice cream and cranberry crumb with dreamsicle ice cream. It's family-style dining, with seatings at 5:30, 6, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Reservations are required; it's $65 per person. Call 314-802-7676.

The Restaurant at the Cheshire
(6300 Clayton Road; 314-647-7300)

Chef Rex Hale is whipping up a Turkey Day dinner. It's three courses for $25 ($30 if you go for beef, but come on, it's Thanksgiving!). For starters, choose from butternut-squash soup with maple cinnamon crème fraiche, autumn greens with candied walnuts, sun-dried cranberries and Baetje Farms goat cheese, butter lettuce buttermilk herb dressing and Maytag blue cheese. The entree is a choice of roasted turkey with whipped potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, herb stuffing and rosemary gravy, or roasted rib of beef with whipped potatoes and herb jus. And for dessert choose from classic warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream or pumpkin pie with honey ginger cream. Make your reservation here.

Harvest
(1059 South Big Bend Boulevard, Richmond Heights; 314-645-3522)

If you haven't been to Harvest in a while (or ever), now's a good time. Its four-course meal has several choices for each, like country-style turkey pate, warm butternut squash and chickpea salad, Farrar Out Farms turkey with savory leek and forest mushroom bread pudding, truffled-giblet gravy and cranberry quince conserve, plus pumpkin creme brulee. That's just one of the possible dinner combinations. It's $65 per person; call 314-645-3522 for reservations.

Reference: http://bit.ly/1BJnTRJ

Fabulous in every way, this traditional home features a nice location plus wonderful living space. Updated from top to bottom, the outstanding workmanship is evident throughout. Amenities include a Covered Front Porch, 3 Car Garage, Newer Architectural Roof, Newer HVAC, Large Patio and Deck, Fenced Backyard with Gates. Inside you will find, Custom Paint, a T Staircase, Hardwood Floors, Crown Molding and Chair Rail, Separate Living and Formal Dining Rooms. Stainless Kitchen Appliances, contrast the beautiful Cherry Cabinets, Granite Counters, & a Tile Backsplash, Main Floor Laundry, New Lighting, the Cozy Den features a Wood Burning Fireplace, Large Bay Window & Bookcases. Upstairs you will find Four Large Bedrooms, and a Bonus Room. The Master Suite includes a Coffered Ceiling, Walk-in Closet, Updated Bath with a Corner Whirlpool Tub & Separate Shower. These are just a few of the wonderful amenities you will find in this well cared for home. All it needs is you!

3944 Triple Crown, Florissant, MO 63034

Click here for more photos and information! 3944 Triple Crown, Florissant, MO 63034

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Tasteful and professionally landscaped O Fallon Home with 5 Bedrooms and 5 1/2 Baths delivers a lasting impression to anyone who walks in. Featuring elegant vaulted gourmet kitchen with 42 inch cabinets, new double oven, new ceramic tile back splash both in the kitchen and dining room sink area, custom lighting, and stainless steeel appliances. Also has a stunning finished lower level with over $100,000 in investments - with a sleeping room and full bath, an office, a gaming room, a large family room with a relaxing stone fireplace, and a full kitchen and bar area to name a few. Home is freshly painted inside and out and beautifully updated! New carpets in the Family room and Masters Bedroom. Roof is only 2 years old.

642 Knollshire Way O Fallon, MO 63368

Click here for more photos and information! 642 Knollshire Way O Fallon, MO 63368

www.StLouisRealEstateExchange.com 

It's that time of year, the seasons are changing and with them bring thoughts of the upcoming holidays, family get togethers, and planning for a new year. Those who are on the fence about whether now is the right time to buy don't have to look much farther to find four great reasons to consider buying a home now, instead of waiting.

1. Prices Will Continue to Rise

The Home Price Expectation Survey polls a distinguished panel of over 100 economists, investment strategists, and housing market analysts. Their most recent report released recently projects appreciation in home values over the next five years to be between 11.2% (most pessimistic) and 27.8% (most optimistic).

The bottom in home prices has come and gone. Home values will continue to appreciate for years. Waiting no longer makes sense.

2. Mortgage Interest Rates Are Projected to Increase

Although Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that interest rates for a 30-year mortgage have softened recently, most experts predict that they will begin to rise later this year. The Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the National Association of Realtors are in unison projecting that rates will be up almost a full percentage point by the end of next year.

An increase in rates will impact YOUR monthly mortgage payment. Your housing expense will be more a year from now if a mortgage is necessary to purchase your next home. 

3. Either Way You are Paying a Mortgage

As a recent paper from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University explains: “Households must consume housing whether they own or rent. Not even accounting for more favorable tax treatment of owning, homeowners pay debt service to pay down their own principal while households that rent pay down the principal of a landlord plus a rate of return. That’s yet another reason owning often does—as Americans intuit—end up making more financial sense than renting.”

4. It’s Time to Move On with Your Life

The ‘cost’ of a home is determined by two major components: the price of the home and the current mortgage rate. It appears that both are on the rise. But, what if they weren’t? Would you wait? Look at the actual reason you are buying and decide whether it is worth waiting. Whether you want to have a great place for your children to grow up, you want your family to be safer or you just want to have control over renovations, maybe it is time to buy.

Bottom Line

If the right thing for you and your family is to purchase a home this year, buying sooner rather than later could lead to substantial savings. Source: http://bit.ly/1ufGyiW

www.StLouisRealEstateExchange.com 

Some homeowners may consider trying to sell their home on without the assistance of a real estate professional, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). We think there are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.

Here are five of our reasons

1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to FSBO. 

• The buyer who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
• The home inspection companies which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house
• The appraiser if there is a question of value
• Your bank in the case of a short sale 

2. Exposure to Prospective Purchasers 

Recent studies have shown that 92% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 28% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an extensive internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you? 

3.  Actual Results also come from the Internet 

Where do buyers find the home they actually purchased? 

• 43% on the internet
• 9% from a yard sign
• 1% from newspapers

The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong internet strategy is crucial. 

4. FSBOing has Become More and More Difficult 

The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 9% over the last 20+ years.  

5. You Net More Money when Using an Agent 

Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the same commission. 

Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $184,000 while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $230,000.   This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $46,000 more for your home as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense. 

Bottom Line 

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, sit with a real estate professional in your marketplace and see what they have to offer. Source: KCM

www.StLouisRealEstateExchange.com

It's official! The Nett Group of Realty Executives is teaming up with The Diamond Family for a very special giveaway this month!

This is our way of expressing our gratitude and appreciation to all your support and referrals!

The Diamond Family has over 500 engagement rings in St. Louis showroom alone, in addition to over 1500 other items of fine jewelry to choose from for gift, anniversaries, etc. The Diamond Family has full custom design capabilities for those who wish to own something only they can enjoy. To read more about their products and services, visit their website www.TheDiamondFam.com.

Stay tuned for more information regarding this amazing giveaway!

Anticipating a hassle-free move? This 3 bedroom 1.5 bath ranch is in position for a new buyer to purchase with most major updated taken care of by the homeowner. This home offers an open floor plan, formal dining room, family room with a gas fireplace, New Champion windows throughout home, newer gutters and gutter guard, @ 7 years old roof, exposed gleaming hardwood floors, The updated kitchen offers ceramic flooring, custom cabinets, and a gas range. From the dining room ,open the French doors and step down on to a patio that overlooks the large level fenced back yard! Did I mention the 2 car garage? This beauty is truly move-in ready, don't miss out!!! (Passed the Florissant Municipal inspection)

365 Maple, Florissant, MO 63031

Click here for more photos and information! 365 Maple, Florissant, MO 63031

Fabulous in every way, this traditional home features a prime location plus wonderful living space. Updated from top to bottom, the outstanding workmanship is evident throughout. Premium cul-de-sac lot features Custom Landscaping, koi pond, keystone walls, sprinkler system and abundant trees. Newer amenities include Roof, Siding, Gutters, Fascias, Soffits, HVAC, Water Heater, Custom Paint, Carpeting, Ceramic Tile, Kitchen Appliances, Backsplash, Hard Surface Counters, New Lighting, Brush Chrome Hardware, Glass Stone Gas Fireplace, Finished Walk-Out Lower Level with Media Area, Wet Bar, and Full Bath. These are just a few of the wonderful updates you will find in this well cared for home. All it needs is you!

154 Royalwood Place Court, Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367

Click here for more photos and information! 154 Royalwood Place Court, Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367

St. Louis has one suburb on the list of the top 50 suburbs in America, according to a new ranking from Business Insider.

Ballwin, Mo., population 30,404, comes in at number 46 on the list. The list was compiled based on school quality, income, crime rates and housing affordability, among other factors.

Ballwin may be looking at a higher-than-average commute time of 25.2 minutes, but a median annual household income of $83,441 and low crime rates make this St. Louis suburb a pleasant place. 

Business Insider says Ballwin's median annual household income of $83,441 and low crime rates helped place it on the list. Money Magazine named Ballwin one of America's best places to live in 2005, 2011, and 2013.

To see the complete list, visit Business Insider's website.