Real Estate SPRING 2010 agent ofiles photo by Diana Linsley contents 4 Researching A St. Louis County Home 6 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit 6 Buyer 101 10 Top Interior Improvements To Get That Home Sold 10 Real Estate Investments 12-14 What Homes Sold For Welcome
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Real EstateS P R I N G 2 0 1 0
agent profiles
photo by Diana Linsley
contents 4 Researching A St. Louis County Home
6 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit
6 Buyer 101
10 Top Interior Improvements To Get That Home Sold
10 Real Estate Investments
12-14 What Homes Sold For
Welcome
2 Webster-Kirkwood Times March 12 - 18, 2010Real Estate agent profiles
~Dwellings by DeDe~Be it a south city brick bungalow,
a sleek downtown loft, or a rambling Webster Century home!
ExcEptional rEal EstatE sErvicEHere’s what one of my buyers had to say:
“My home buying experience was easy and pain free. You gave me personal treatment and were genuinely interested in finding, not only the right house, but also one at a price I was
comfortable with. Thank you very much.”- Will Claypool
Have I Sold A Home On Your Street?Blackmer • Providence • Sunnyside • Crofton • Joy • Maple • Parkland • Jackson Oak Terrace • Baker • Oak Tree • Sherwood • Jefferson • Portland Terrace Somerset • Papin • Tuxedo • Rock Hill Road • Greeley • Bonita • Park • Swon Hawthorne • Orchard • Yorkshire • Southridge • Elm • Fieldstone Terrace Webster Acres • Lockwood • Big Bend • Sylvester • Rosemont • Jonquil Oakwood • Woodlawn • Harrison • Huntleigh Trails Planthurst • Springcreek • Kirkham • Denver Place Gray • Kirkwood Road • N. Taylor • Lyman • Bompart Locksley • Oak • Belleview • Berry Road Yeatman • Fairview • Lockwood Ct. • Gray • Cedar Wilshire Terrace • Pointe Essex • Algonquin Woods Catalpa • S. Old Orchard • Old Westbury • S. Forest • Summit Glen Road • Hill Drive • Webster Knolls • Swan • Stark Ct. Gardenia • Clara • Mozart • Pelican • Hargrove and many more!!!
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...“In the process of relocating out of state and finding Kathy through referral, we were quite impressed with her integrity, her knowledge of the area, and her outstanding ability to handle all aspects of the Real Estate transaction. Thank you, Kathy!”
...“A friend recommended Kathy to help sell my Mother’s (and my childhood) home. In that I lived out of state, Kathy went above and beyond the call of duty in all aspects of the
transaction. She kept me apppraised at each step, arranging for all of the process to go smoothly. She represented Prudential Advantage with integrity and style, (and she KNOWS Webster Groves!) Kathy made a difficult task almost enjoyable!”
A warm thank you to all of my past clients and customers for their loyalty and kind words!
Kathy Hartrich314-580-5537
Webster/Kirkwood Office107 W. Lockwood • Webster Groves
314-962-1100An independently owned and operated member of
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March 12 - 18, 2010 Webster-Kirkwood Times 3Real Estate agent profiles
Knowledge,Experience, Dedication,
and Personal Attention
Jay Warnick
314-265-6018
The Agent Who Makes the Time!Meeting “your needs and goals”
is my priority towards the purchase or sale of your home.
A full-time real estate professional with over 11 years experience.
My goal is to make your home buying/selling process as efficient,
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delighted with the experience.
Wendy DeCaro
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“The scope of the marketing campaign was instrumental in providing a pool of potential buyers that I could not have found without her marketing program. Thirty groups attended the initial open house, this level of interest helped prospective buyers to focus on my home sooner rather than later due to the buying competition generated. It also kept the selling price higher than it would have been without this initial level of interest.
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would be nice to have a century-home plaque from the Webster Groves Historical Society for her 1902 house.
To get the plaque, she needed only two pieces of documentation showing the year the house was built and for whom. It sounded simple enough. After all, Kim and her husband Jim are only the third owners of 213 S. Maple. They bought the house in 1987.
“I thought it would be an easy thing to find out,” said Wolterman, a member of the Webster Groves Historical Society and the St. Louis Genealogical Society. “It ultimately took several years to get the answer to the question. The records are scattered here, there and everywhere.”
Wolterman’s research took her to archives and books throughout Webster Groves, to local courthouses, to the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds office, to the Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center. She even met with Esley Hamilton, the St Louis County historian.
“The problem was I couldn’t definitively identify when the house was built,” Wolterman said.
After hitting a brick wall, she thought she’d try a different approach.
“An avid genealogist, I put my genealogical skills to work,” she said. “A search on the Internet for
Claude A. Morton, who purchased the property in 1902, hit pay dirt.”
She discovered that Holly Ann Burt, great-granddaughter of Claude and Jessie Morton had a Web site listing her family tree. Burt lives in Chicago.
“Upon exchanging e-mails, it was determined that her ancestors had actually lived in Webster Groves in the early 1900s,” Wolterman said. “Holly had inherited her grandmother Aline’s records, including diaries and photos. She e-mailed me some house photos that were indeed early photos of the South Maple house .
Wolterman was thrilled with the information and the pictures.
“Exciting as all this was, it still wasn’t known when the house was built,” Wolterman said.
Next came a road trip to Chicago where Wolterman dug through Burt’s old records. Wolterman found an obituary which Aline had typed for her father Claude upon his death in 1953.
“In it she wrote that ‘the Mortons lived for 36 years in the house they built at 213 S. Maple Ave. in Webster,’” Wolterman said. “There was the answer to the question.”
With deed records showing the Morton had purchased the properly in 1902 and with the obituary, Wolterman finally had the two pieces of documentation she needed for her plague. The Woltermans received their plaque in 2005.
Along the way Wolterman
discovered more than just documents. She learned about the people who previously lived in her home.
“I think family history is really interesting, so for me to be able to paint this picture of who lived in this house and what they did while living here filled the story for me rather than just having a plaque hanging on my house.
Helping Others With Research Now Wolterman is hoping to save
others the frustration and brick walls she encountered. She has published the book, “Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed(room)?: Researching a St. Louis County, Missouri Home”
“Since people knew I was doing research, a lot of them would ask me where they could go to get started,” Wolterman said. “It made sense to take what I’d learned and put it together in a book.
“I view it as a how-to guidebook to walk people through the process and find other avenues when deeds themselves won’t give the answers.”
She thinks genealogists will find it useful as well.
“There’s a lot of parallels between researching ancestors and researching the history of your house,” Wolterman said. “A lot of genealogists want to know where their ancestors lived.”
Ruth Ann Hager, a certified genealogist and reference specialist in the special collections department at St. Louis County Library, called Wolterman’s book “a vital reference tool for anyone wanting to research the story of a house in St. Louis County.
“Having a locality-specific guide for doing a house history in St. Louis
County is a tremendous help because it goes beyond the abstract process,” Hager said. “It directs readers to government offices, research facilities, and records needed to research the history of a house in this county.
To begin the research, a legal description is a must. It can be found on the property’s deed or obtained from the St. Louis County Department of Revenue’s Web site, http://revenue.stlouisco.com/ias/. Type in the property’s address and the legal description along with several owners will be listed.
“From there, take yourself and walk backwards. You know you were the buyer and you know who sold it to you. Then look to whom they brought it from…”
Wolterman cautions that this can be a tedious process.
The Internet can be a valuable resource but Wolterman warns researchers to take what find there with a grain of salt.
Other tips she offers is to make use of local historical societies.
“They may already have researched your house,” she said “Webster Groves has numerous books that talk about houses in Webster Groves. Unfortunately my house wasn’t in them.”
Local libraries might also have resources available. For example, the Webster Groves Public Library has Webster Groves tax records on microfilm.
The Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center has “an amazing assortment of materials on history for St. Louis. She noted that the city and county were at one time
Researching A St. Louis County HomeKim Wolterman of Webster Groves shares her research in the book “Who’s Been Sleeping In My Bed (room)?”
Kim Wolterman holds a copy of her book, “Who’s Been Sleeping In My Bed (room)?”
photo by Diana Linsley
cont. p. 5
4
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March 12 - 18, 2010 Webster-Kirkwood Times 5Real Estate agent profiles
the same. The county didn’t begin its own government until 1877.
In addition to this information, the book includes a glossary of terms, lists of resources and forms to help researchers keep track of their research.
Wolterman is now digging into the past of a Queen Anne house in Shrewsbury owned by her husband’s landscape architecture firm, and an 1860s farmhouse in North St. Louis County.
Wolterman’s book is available at Pudd’nhead Books in Webster Groves, the Book House in Rock Hill, the Webster Groves Historical Society and from the St. Louis Genealogical Society, #4 Sunnen Drive, Suite 140.
The book can be ordered from Wolterman’s Web site, myhousehistory.net. The Web site
also has helpful articles.“My goal for the Web site is to be a
site where researchers can talk about what’s working for them and not working for them and to show where they are in their research,” she said.
On March 21, 3 p.m, Wolterman will present a free program based on her book, sponsored by the Webster Groves Historical Society and held in the Hearth Room at the Hawken House, 1155 S. Rock Hill Road. The public is invited. Book sales that day will benefit the society. For information about the event, call the society at 968-1857.
Wolterman hopes others find the excitement she did when her detective work paid off with her home.
“Set aside the frustration and have fun with it. It’s really fascinating,” Wolterman said.
A House’s History from page 4
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6 Webster-Kirkwood Times March 12 - 18, 2010
The economic downturn of the last 12 to 18 months has left many busi-nesses and homeowners struggling to stay afloat.
In an effort to revitalize the housing industry, The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 established a tax credit for first-time homebuyers that can be worth up to $7,500. The tax credit has since been increased and extended through the The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, signed into law on Nov. 6, 2009. It extended and expands the first-time homebuyer credit allowed by previous acts.
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the new act extends the deadline for qualifying home pur-chases to April 30, 2010. Addition-
ally, if a buyer enters into a binding contract by April 30, 2010, the buyer has until June 30, 2010, to settle on the purchase. The maximum credit amount remains at $8,000 for a first-time homebuyer – that is, a buyer who has not owned a primary residence during the three years up to the date of purchase.
The act also extends to homeowners who have been in a primary residence for five years or more and are looking to purchase a different primary resi-dence. This is a “long-time resident” credit of up to $6,500. To qualify this way, a buyer must have owned and used the same home as a principal or primary residence for at least five con-secutive years of the eight-year period ending on the date of purchase of a new home as a primary residence.
The new law also raises the income limits for people who purchase homes after Nov. 6. The full credit will be available to taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGI) up to $125,000, or $225,000 for joint filers. Those with MAGI between $125,000 and $145,000, or $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers, are eligible for a reduced credit. Those with higher in-comes do not qualify.
For those who have been on the fence about purchasing a home, these
tax credits could be the incentive need-ed. Buyers with qualifying purchases in 2010 have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 tax returns.
To learn more about the act and first-time homebuyer incentives, visit www.irs.gov.
Credit For Energy ImprovementsHomeowners who made eligible en-
ergy upgrades in 2009, such as roof replacement, upgrading a heating or cooling system, or adding insulation can receive tax credits from the IRS.
If an HVAC system is at least 10 years old and the homeowner installs a qualified replacement, they can save up to $1,500 on their taxes. Ambitious upgrades, such as installing solar pan-els, can net credits up to 30 percent of the total cost of the project. Find out if a project meets energy-efficiency stan-dards by visiting www.energystar.gov.
First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Good Through April
Buyer 101: Tips To Getting Those Documents In Order
Extension of law also benefits some long-time homeowners
For those who have been on the fence about purchasing a home, the tax cred-it extension could be just the incentive needed to get things rolling.
Buying a home can feel daunting, and it’s no surprise considering the amount of paperwork that goes into searching for a property and securing a loan.
“Buying a new home does create quite a paper trail, which can be over-whelming for first-time and repeat
buyers alike,” said Jim Dohr, presi-dent of Coldwell Banker Gundaker. “Enlisting the help of a Realtor, mort-gage specialist, and other profession-als can make it easier to navigate and organize the material that really mat-ters.”
Consider the following pieces of pa-perwork advice:
• Getting started. Much of the paperwork homebuyers will need to gather is personal information from the recent past. They’ll need tax re-turns or W2s from the past two years, a recent pay stub, asset statements and
employment history. Provide ample time to request documents from the source and check them for accuracy. Also keep in mind that first-time and veteran buyers are eligible for special tax credits until April 30, but certain criteria apply that impact just how much of a credit they can score. Know the facts (see article at left).
• Streamline and simplify. Even before starting to pound the pavement, homebuyers will accumulate listing sheets, snapshots and contact details, among other information on prospec-tive new homes. Start a house hunt-
ing file that separates the material into easier-to-sample sections, such as “Need to Visit,” “Potential” and “No.”
• File it away. The process of fil-ing for a loan brings a great deal of paperwork, from tax information to estimates to sundry mortgage docu-ments. It is essential to make copies of everything while staying organized. Find a safe, yet accessible, place to store all the information over the short and long term.
Information provided by Coldwell Banker Gundaker. For more details, visit www.cbgundaker.com.
Enlist the help of a Realtor and others to stay organized
Real Estate agent profiles
6
Experience is the Difference
www.JohnJackson.tvFor a reference list of pastand current clients, pleasecall John at 314-909-8850.
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10 Webster-Kirkwood Times March 12 - 18, 2010
Real estate industry experts say there may be a light at the end of the tunnel with respect to home sales. De-clines in home sales over the last year have led to a number of foreclosures and homes on the market. First-time buyers are finding they can finally get the house of their dreams – for an affordable price. That means there are individuals out there looking for homes right now.
Homeowners who are thinking about putting their home on the mar-ket in the months to come should con-sider certain improvements to help it to stand out in a sea of competition. Some improvements will be neces-sary (to meet home inspection), while others can attract the eye of potential buyers. Here’s a listing of the top im-
provements that also generate a good return on investment.
• Paint: The homeowner’s style may not be everyone else’s style. Therefore, think light and bright for wall colors and other accents, such as bathroom tiles and kitchen flooring. Neutral colors are the key to attract-ing the most buyers.
• Kitchens and Baths: It’s no se-cret that kitchens and baths often sell homes, and offer an 80 to 90 percent return on investment. An updated kitchen and bath with neutral colors, clean tiles and grout, new fixtures, and perhaps new countertops or van-ity surfaces can go a long way toward getting a home sold. However, be sure not to over-improve these spaces, oth-erwise it could be wasted money. Visit comparable properties to ensure that the renovations made are on par with the neighborhood.
• Repairs: Make any repairs neces-sary to improve the aesthetic appeal of the home. For example, peeling paint
or spots on a ceiling may be indicative of a water problem and could be a red flag to buyers. Be sure to replace any cracked tile, damaged floor surfaces, trim or molding, cracked or damaged stairs, rotted wood, or any other re-pair. Larger repairs that may or may not be possible for the homeowners to embark upon can be remedied by pric-ing the home accordingly and stating that they’re the responsibility of the buyer.
In addition to the modifications mentioned, here are some more im-provements – both inside and outside of the home:
• Add a bathroom• Install central heating/cooling• Add a deck• Replace windows• Add a room• Finish basement or garage space
Top Interior Improvements To Get That Home SoldTry these tips to stand out in a sea of competition
Think light and bright for wall colors and other ac-cents when picking interior paint.
“For Sale” signs have become one of the more common sights in neighborhoods across the country over the past two years. As the economy struggled, many homeowners found themselves facing foreclosure or looking to sell homes they could no longer afford.
Some people, however, have taken advantage of the sagging real estate market and chosen to buy low, with the idea that the property value will be restored once the economy is restored. While that’s a sound investment strategy, there’s more to consider when investing in real estate in the current economy, especially for those who are new to the real estate investment game.
What is the Area Like Now What Will It Be Like Years From Now?
Many neighborhoods have undergone an overhaul in recent years, and where investors choose to invest their real estate dollars is a major consideration. A change in neighborhood can make or break a property, which can make or break an investor.
Consider the following scenario: an investor purchases a home with the intention of renting it out. With maintenance and property taxes, that investor won’t reap any immediate financial benefits. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the home and property’s value rests in its re-sale value down the road.
This is where forecasting a neighborhood’s future comes into play. Because of the sagging economy, many areas are becoming less attractive. When layoffs occur and industry leaves town, the surrounding communities become less attractive to prospective homeowners, as people tend to live where
the work is. Investing in real estate in a community that has suffered heavy layoffs or declining industry is probably a bad investment, as there’s no guarantee industry will ever return. Therefore, the property will be hard to sell and likely lose significant value.
When investing in real estate, investors should keep in mind they’re also investing in the community. If a community’s industry is sagging, it’s probably best to avoid real estate in that community, regardless of how good a deal can be had on a given property.
Can I Get Tenants?This economy has also made things more difficult
on the nation’s landlords. That’s because finding reliable tenants is no small task in an economy where so many people are living under the specter of layoffs.
Purchasing real estate as an investment is essentially a partnership wherein the partners are a big unknown. Those partners are tenants, who have become harder to find in an economy where many people are losing their jobs. Even the nation’s younger workers, who often make up the majority of renters, have increasingly turned to their parents for housing in an economic climate in which they are often the first to be victimized by layoffs.
That said, investors hoping to rent out a property should be certain they’ll be able to do just that. Before purchasing a property, speak with local real estate agents who specialize in placing renters with apartments. Ask them about the real estate market, particularly how local landlords are doing in light of the country’s economic woes and whether or not rents have increased, decreased or remained steady since the economy took a turn for the worse.
What Are the Interest Rates?Real estate investments aren’t just about property
value and location. Interest rates should also play a strong role in a person’s decision to invest in real estate or not.
Low-rate mortgages might be too good to be true, as many victims of foreclosure found out in the last couple of years. Interest rates fluctuate, and anyone investing in real estate needs to be prepared.
For example, if a person borrowed $100,000 on an interest-only 4-percent loan, they’d pay $4,000 per year. With an adjustable-rate mortgage, however, the interest rate might climb to 10 percent, meaning they’re now on the hook for $10,000 per year. That’s an additional $6,000 per year they might not have planned on spending.
Many real estate investors found it difficult to scratch together that extra interest, as it’s nearly impossible to pass it on to tenants, especially in an economy in which reliable tenants are a valuable commodity.
While real estate is often looked at as a high reward investment, for those considering making the investment, let it be known it’s also high-risk, one that requires deep pockets to begin with.
Real Estate Investments Depend On A Host Of Variables
Real Estate agent profiles
Some people have taken advantage of the sagging real estate market and chosen to buy low, with the idea that the property value will be restored once the economy is restored.
Kreikemeier Real Estate’s founder and CEO, Kevin D. Kreikemeier, is a graduate of St. Louis University High School (1989), the University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., finance, 1993) and Washington University School of Law (J.D. 1996). Mr. Kreikemeier is a realtor, a licensed real estate broker and a licensed attorney.
Client focused real estate brokerage combining professional service with
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8776 Big Bend Blvd.Webster Groves, MO 63119
314-962-4240 or 314-518-1224
1. integrity. Buying or selling a home is one of the most important financial decisions that most people make. Recognizing this, integrity and honesty are at the core of everything we do. 2. professional, personal service. As a small company, we go back to the basics when it comes to service. That means going the extra mile, in every respect and that also means keeping the number of listings to a reasonable number to help ensure the time, attention to detail and simple hard work that each client deserves are delivered. As an award winner in client satisfaction, Mr. Kreikemeier will personally take the extra time needed to help each client achieve their goals.
3. experience. Now in the residential brokerage business for more than six years, Kreikemeier Real Estate, LLC has sold homes throughout St. Louis’ central corridor, including in Webster Groves, Kirkwood and Glendale. Kreikemeier Real Estate’s clients have included doctors, attorneys, business owners, accountants and other professionals. 4. results. In more than six years of selling residential real estate, Kreikemeier Real Estate has sold more than 90% of all homes listed for sale, which is outstanding. Homes sold by Kreikmeier Real Estate have been on the market from the MLS listing date to the date the property is placed under contract, on average, less than 70 days.
5. reduced sellers’ commissions. In this buyers’ market, pricing your home correctly to reflect the current market is a necessity, but if you “price your home to sell,” shouldn’t you receive a reduced commission? Kreikemeier Real Estate believes you should and offers sellers reduced total commissions, without cutting the compensation offered to buyers’ agents from other companies. In short, we cut only our piece of the total commission sellers are charged, which allows sellers to receive more of their sale proceeds.
if you are considering buying or selling a home this year, please give mr. Kreikemeier a call at one of the numbers referenced above for a free, no obligation consultation.
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March 12 - 18, 2010 Webster-Kirkwood Times 11Real Estate agent profiles
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Information for this listing compiled by Susan Schiff, RE/MAX Associates Plus. To see a com-plete list of “What Homes Sold For,” visit www.timesnewspapers.com and click on “Real Estate” in the navigation bar at the top.
*MLS information from third parties; not verified. The Kirkwood and Webster Groves school districts include all or part of the following communities: Des Peres, Glendale, Kirkwood, Oak-land, Rock Hill, Shrewsbury, Warson Woods and Webster Groves.
Real Estate agent profiles
12
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Spring is nearly here and things are beginning to turn around
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Debbie Doyle314.569.1177, ext. 454
Marlene B. Skinner314.569.1177, ext. 403
WE SELL SAINT LOUISIF YOU ARE CONSIDERING BUYING OR SELLING A HOME
AND WANT EXPERIENCED REPRESENTATION,CALL JON MENDELSON REALTORS®.
6900 WAT E R M A N AVE • SA I N T LO U I S , MO 63130
314-863-3039 • W W W.J O N M E N D E L S O N.C O M
E X P E R I E N C E • I N T E G R I T Y • R E S U L T S
R E A L T O R S ®
M E N DE L S O NJ O N
Debbie Manne314-705-9199
Carla Britton314-518-3338
Renee McCaffrey314-443-3733
Mary Raizman314-458-6895
Jackie Chehval314-323-7653
Don’t miss the deadline!As full-time, multi-million dollar agents, we understand today’s
market and the revised tax credits that are available.
Let us help you!
www.lauramccarthy.comTown & Country Office - 314.569.1177
mArlene J. crAbtreeServing you in both Missouri & Illinois.When you think of Real Estate, please think of me! It would be an honor for me to represent you! Please refer me to
March 12 - 18, 2010 Webster-Kirkwood Times 15Real Estate agent profiles
Turn to the Agents in Your NeighborhoodColdwell Banker Gundakerkirkwood-webster Groves office
•FullTimeProfessional•MemberofStateNational AssociationofRealtors•LifeLongAreaResident•Knowledgeable,Experienced,Funto WorkWith•RecipientofEnvironmental&Mr.Fix-It AwardPastSixYears•MemberKirkwoodChamberofCommerceBuying or Selling? Make it a “Dowell House”
• #2 Agent in Des Peres/Kirkwood Office• Top 2% of all Coldwell Banker gundaker agents• 2010 Winner Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction• Marketing and Relocation Specialist• Committed to Exceptional Service For All My Clients