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When buying or selling a home, the realtor might mention the “assessed value” of the property. While often used interchangeably with a real estate appraisal, an assessment is not the same thing. One important distinction is that an appraisal estimates the price that a home could sell for. An assessment helps to calculate the property tax amount. Another difference is that an appraisal is performed by a contractor hired by a mortgage lender, while an assessment is done by a government employee from the county or city assessor’s office. In our region, that is either the St. Louis county assessor or the City of St. Louis assessor.

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When a homeowner decides to hire an agent to sell their property, both parties usually sign a contract called a listing agreement. The listing agreement grants a broker legal authority to represent the owner in a real estate transaction. The document lays out important information for the seller, such as agreed-upon terms regarding commission percentages, timelines, and marketing tactics. Having a formal contract is a good thing for both the owner and the agent.

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It’s hard to believe, but the holidays in St. Louis didn’t always involve putting up elaborate decorations and rushing around to find one last gift. In fact, the idea of a Christmas tree didn’t exist in Missouri until the 1830’s, when German immigrants brought small decorated tabletop trees into their Franklin County homes. Instead of the string lights we now wrap around our trees, they put candles on branches for a shimmering touch – similar to the Jewish Festival of Lights. They also introduced simple German traditions like hanging stockings for St. Nick to fill with small toys and fruit, gathering with family to sing carols together, and baking Plätzchen (Christmas cookies) to share with friends. 

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You might relish the idea of moving to a new city for a better job with higher pay. But the cost to relocate includes much more than just the raw moving costs.

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At first glance, there is little difference between an apartment and a condo. Both share a building with other dwellings and attract people who do not want a single-family, stand-alone home with a yard. But there are many differences, too, and understanding the characteristics of apartments and condos—and when each option makes the most sense—is helpful when looking for a new place to live.

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When a seller gets a contract on their house, they have one more hurdle to clear - the home inspection. The way they respond to the inspection might determine whether the sale goes through, or sinks. If a seller won’t, or can’t, fix issues in the inspection report, they probably will have to take a lower offer - if they don’t lose the deal altogether. When a sale is contingent on the results of the home inspection, 17% of deals fall apart. 

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First-time homebuyers have so many decisions to make–from where to live to choosing a lender. Fortunately, many government programs and loans are designed to support first-time homebuyers.

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One of the first questions people ask related to home selling is “What is my home worth?” Sure, one can quickly get a suggested list price using an online tool. However, an algorithm can only crunch the data a user enters. Because a live person doesn’t review the information, homeowners don’t always have an accurate picture of their home value.  

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The pandemic brought about some drastic changes to work, school, and our social lives. And it is still unclear how close to pre-pandemic “normal” we will ever get again. One shift we see is people deciding where to live post-pandemic.

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Putting your house on the market is an exciting experience, especially since St. Louis is a seller’s market. This means your home is a hot commodity. Buyers look for spacious, organized, and clean homes. You’ll want all areas of your home, big and small, clean and organized. Focus on clearing out and refining each area so you can sell to the highest bidder.

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