Has a “For Sale” sign popped up in the yard of a home you’ve always admired? Or has a house just become available that looks perfect for you and your family? Even if you’re not already in the process of house hunting, you might be intrigued enough to take a closer look.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in St. Louis anytime soon, you’re in luck, as St. Louis was recently named one of the hottest housing markets of 2025 by Zillow. With homes selling in less than a month on average, it pays to have a solid strategy whether listing your home or making your next offer.
Congrats! Your house is selling for substantially more than you paid for it! That’s a good thing… or is it? There are some scenarios when selling a home will come with hidden fees and tax liabilities.The IRS may want a chunk of the profits in the form of capital gains tax. But there are ways that homeowners can avoid taxes on home sales.
With houses still selling so fast, it’s easy to wonder if staging is even necessary. The answer is absolutely, especially because today’s buyers are ready to make a purchase quickly. If they look at two homes on the same day — and can see themselves living in one but not the other — there’s no question that they will choose the one they can visualize as their own. In fact, according to a 2023 report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), some buyers will even offer up to five percent more for a staged home compared to similar homes on the market that were not staged.
While April and May are great months to put a home on the market, selling a house in spring is not the only option. The St. Louis area is still a seller’s market, which means buyers are out there all year long waiting for the right home to become available.
Following a few strategies can increase your chances of selling your home this winter and ending up in your new home before springtime.
Buying in a seller’s market can be stressful. With available inventory much lower than average, making an offer on a home comes with the fear of being outbid and rejected. While it is tempting for buyers to waive a home inspection in hopes the sellers will accept their bid, it’s important to consider the peace of mind a home inspection brings. Will you need to make big repairs down the road – or even sooner? Is the home safe to live in? And is it worth such a huge investment?
Can sellers get the price they want when selling a home on a budget? Absolutely! If the house is in great shape, upfront expenses to sell are nothing. If the home needs sprucing up, knowing how to prioritize improvements boosts the return on the investment.
Real estate agents hear these questions most often from sellers on a budget:
There are a number of reasons why buyers might prefer homes that are not in a subdivision. Perhaps they would like a larger lot, prefer more privacy, or do not want to pay Homeowners Association fees. Even when they know what type of property they are looking for, it can be difficult to weed out subdivision homes when searching for available real estate. Working with an experienced real estate agent can help to pinpoint homes that match the buyer’s criteria and where to find them.
In today's real estate climate, homes sell quickly…and some sell well above the asking price. However, the trend of selling a home above the asking price stalled this spring. In the first quarter of 2023, buyers paid 99.9% of the list price for single-family homes in St. Louis. This summer, in the prime selling season, buyers probably will pay more than the asking price for homes in desirable neighborhoods. Homeowners who want to reel in big offers have three home pricing strategies to consider.
The internet is filled with “how to” advice for selling a home. But what about what not to do when selling a home? Sellers have a long list of things they feel they should take care of when they decide to sell. It is important to distinguish between what is likely to result in a quick sale at a good price, and what is simply not worth the time, effort, and money.
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