by Julie Lane

2024 is coming to a quick close. It seems to have been a whirlwind for me and my family. Our oldest graduated from college, our youngest completed her first college internship over the summer ... and we sold our house! Yes! The house that we painstakingly spent a year gutting to the studs, renovating the layout and adding an addition (that included more foundation than I could ever have imagined) to create a home that we truly loved. We spent seven happy years hosting our family holidays and friends for parties. So, many have asked why we decided to sell our home now when we have plenty of time before our new home is built. The simple answer: The time was right!  I talk with buyers and sellers everyday asking when they should sell and buy!  So many confusing headlines regarding the state of real estate in our country. Some states are experiencing an abrupt slowing of their market, while others remain brisk. Depending on where you get your news, the reports range from out of control  mortgage rates to stabilizing and lowering interest rates (we all need to come to grips that we will most likely never see 2% interest rates).

Every real estate market is local! St Louis is a great place to purchase a home. We have some of the best schools in the state and region. We have large corporations here with strong roots that support our community. Our St Louis region has been ranked in the top five for business startups. St Louis is home to the best fans in professional sports as we support our Blues, Cardinals and St Louis SC teams. I could go on and on.

Our local market is strong. Of course, there are many distractions that cause one to worry if they are making the right real estate decision for their future. No one has a crystal ball. But, selling right now in most instances is a sound choice.  Purchasing your next home is a sound choice. Make sure you consult a professional Realtor to help guide you through the minutia of contracts, negotiations, municipal and legal aspects of every deal. A seasoned Realtor should be able to give you valuable advice specific to your needs. Though it is good time, does NOT mean that it is an EASY transaction.

My husband, girls and I are looking forward to building our next great home here. I am glad that I had a good Realtor (me 😊) and that we weighed our options and made the one that made sense for our future.  We are currently renting in Clayton (another great STL area) and reliving our days of ‘city’ living prior to having kids and responsibilities. But, that is for another time.