Great Charities For Year-End Donations

Year’s end is a time with a lot of charitable giving. Whether it is the Christmas spirit or making final tax-deductible donations, charities often experience an uptick in donations at the end of the year. The Boehmer Team supports numerous charities and foundations throughout the year, including some right here in St. Charles County. So if you are making plans to give a year-end charitable donation, consider one of these fine organizations.

 

First Capitol Lions Club

https://www.firstcapitollionsclub.org/

First Capitol Lions Club is a local branch of the largest service organization in the world, Lions Club International. Club members identify community needs and organize to offer assistance where help is needed. Club Lions are actively involved in: collecting eyeglasses to recycle, supporting sight-saving surgeries, vision screenings for local people in need, and providing treatment to those at risk of losing their vision. In addition the Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project (AHAP) enables Lions to provide high-quality low cost hearing aids to individuals who would otherwise not be able to afford them. We support The Lions Club mission and think they are a great consideration for your year-end donations.

Missouri School for the Blind

https://msb.dese.mo.gov

This fine organization offers educational and outreach services for legally blind Missouri children from birth through age 21 and their families free of charge.

Missouri School for the Blind concentrate services on two areas – schools for the blind from kindergarten through grade 12 school in St. Louis, Missouri, and outreach services offered throughout the state. MSB’s school is free of charge and open to all legally blind Missouri children ages five through 21. But they need our support to continue to offer great services to children and families. We’ve been supporters for years and know they make a great option for year-end donations.

Hunt For Justice

http://huntforjustice.net/

Hunt for Justice is a charity based out of St. Charles, Missouri. Their mission is to support police officers throughout the nation that have experienced hardship as a result of accidents while on duty. They rely solely on donations as their directors and volunteers do not accept a salary. We’ve been fortunate to help them assist officers in St. Charles County that are still dealing with traumatic job-related injuries. We think they are a great organization.

Sunshine Kids

https://www.sunshinekids.org

Sunshine Kids is an organization that adds quality of life to children with cancer by providing positive group activities where children can bond with and get support from other kids also fighting cancer. While they are based out of Houston, Texas, Sunshine Kids supports children nationally, including kids right here in the St. Louis area. For each home The Boehmer Team lists, a donation is made to Sunshine Kids.  Our support for this organization has never waivered and we think they are an excellent choice for year-end donations.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

https://www.stjude.org

The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to “advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.” At St. Jude no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. We’ve been fortunate to get involved in organizing for St. Jude via the yearly St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway event. We’ve worked with the homebuilder to promote this event and have donated prizes, including a trip to Dream Riviera Cancun to help raise funds for the yearly event. If you are thinking of making year-end donations, consider St. Jude.

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The Boehmer Team is grateful to be able to offer time and funds to assist these amazing charities. These organizations contribute to the caring communities we serve every day. Please consider one of the awesome organizations for your year-end charitable giving. And if you are considering buying or selling a home in the St. Louis area, contact The Boehmer Team for assistance.

December Has Best Deals on Homes

Updated December 11, 2020

Homebuyers are always searching for the best deal on their new home. The busy holiday season in December not only delivers great deals on Christmas shopping, it delivers great deals on homes. And after all, a home could even be a Christmas gift. (To learn more about the best way to do that, click here.) 

According to a study by Attom Data Solutions, December is the best month and December 26th is the best day to get the biggest discount on a home.

The study by Attom Data Solutions found that overall, December is the best month for deals if you are buying a home. Homebuyers and investors searching during the holidays will face less competition in the marketplace. Also, they will have more motivated sellers, which could give an upper hand during price negotiations.

The analysis, based on closing date, found that only ten days of the year offer discounts below estimated market value (no months do overall). Seven of the best days to buy are in December, when savings can average as much as $2,500 or more. Also one day in October, November and February each offer extra discounts for homebuyers with saving of $500 to $1,000.

Attom’s study covers the last five years of sales. Previous years have had more days of good deals but a particularly hot seller’s market in the last few years drove the number of days for deals down. As the market cools down the number of days for deals will go up again.

Using the same data from the study one can also see days that homebuyers are least likely to get a good deal. The days where homebuyers can expect to pay up to 9 percent over the estimated home value are May 28th, 29th, and 30th.

The days that are linked to the best deals are related to holidays and down times when it comes to buyers making offers. With many people busy over the holidays, sellers become more motivated to offer deals. Keep in mind that the study is based on closing dates, so the days are related to down times when buyers are making offers.

For example, the deal day in October is the 12th, when buyers can get a $1,000 discount, are from offers that were most likely accepted over the Labor Day weekend holiday. And on February 12th, when buyers can get a $500 discount, offers were probably accepted around the New Year.

Looking at the study overall by month, buyers pay just 0.5 percent over the estimated home value in December. While June shows buyers can pay 7.3 percent above the estimated home value.

Meanwhile region can affect the best month to buy a home too. Cold seasons tend to offer the best discounts. While Hawaii isn’t as affected by seasonal sales, every other state shows the best discounts from October to February.

Something we have experience with that is not mentioned in the study are year-end deals offered by homebuilders. Homebuilders offer some of the best deals of the year at the end of the year. The greatest year-end type savings are often times tied to homes that can close by the year’s end.  Most homebuilders have a preferred lender that is able to close a home very quickly to secure year-end driven promotions. Check out our New & Now and New & Almost Ready For You pages to see new homes available where these deals might apply.

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The Boehmer Team is available for you almost any day of the year. That’s one of the great reasons to work with a team; we have the availability to match your schedule and needs. And you don’t have to go to a national website to find a good deal on St. Louis or St. Charles County area real estate. Our local website gets updated with new listing information multiple times a day while the national sites only get updated every few days. Click on over to TheBoehmerTeam.com or contact The Boehmer Team to assist you in finding a great deal on a new home that is perfect for you.

*See the full Attom Data Solutions report at: https://www.attomdata.com/news/home-prices-and-values/top-10-best-days-of-the-year-to-buy-a-home/

How To Get Started Buying New Construction

Updated 10/27/2019 Due to Popular Demand

Buying a newly constructed home in the St. Louis or St. Charles County areas can be an exciting adventure. New house smell? Check.  Custom to your design and function needs? Check.  The latest in home building technologies? Check.  What about where to begin? Or which home builder to trust? Um…  This is why contacting a Realtor with experience in new construction homes is the first step of the journey to owning a new home. We help new homebuyers understand the process and check off every single box for the project. 

When you contact a Realtor or home builder about buying new construction the conversation will likely begin with a variety of questions about your needs. So before you even make that first call, determine your answers to the following questions.

Buying New Construction? Start By Answering These Questions

What is your budget?
Knowing how much home you can afford will help you choose the best new construction home for you. To help you determine budget, you can use our handy mortgage calculator to calculate approximate monthly payments. Also, you’ll want to reach out to a mortgage professional to give you the best mortgage rates based on your credit score. Keep in mind if you are purchasing a property that includes a monthly fee, that fee must be considered in the amount of home you qualify to buy.

Need a good mortgage professional? Contact The Boehmer Team and we’ll give you some names of trusted local professionals.

Do you have a home to sell in order to help pay for a new home?
Selling a current home can be a big part of paying for a new home. If you have a home to sell, tell your Realtor so that they can create a competitive market analysis for your home to determine its current market value. A qualified Realtor can tell you what to expect on the sale price of your home, how long it has taken to sell comparable homes and what concessions may have been made to sell comparable homes. This will give you an idea of how much you will have toward your new home.

Do you have a time frame for when you must be moved into your new home?
If you have a deadline by which you must be moved into your new home, it is important to tell your Realtor. This will help determine whether you have the time to completely build a home from scratch or if you would be better off looking at other great options for buying new construction like buying a home currently being constructed or buying a builder inventory home.

Where do you want your new home to be located?
Determine the area where you want to live. Some good things to consider are school district and commute time. If you already have property where you want your new home built this may change your options for which builders you can use. Some builders create custom homes at any location, while others work within communities that they are building.

How involved do you want to be in the home design process?
The amount that you customize a home will affect your time frame and price. While builders allow choice of materials for the interior and exterior of a home, some materials cost more than others so these choices will affect your overall price. Design choices may also affect price as well as move-in timelines as it takes time to choose and order materials.

What are your must-have features and amenities?
Know the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and garage spaces you require. Think of the other amenities that you’ve been dreaming of too, like a fireplace, main floor laundry, additional separate office space, deck, mudroom with dog wash or something else.  Make a list and be prepared to give it to your Realtor.

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Do you have your answers? Or do you need help determining the answers to these questions? Contact The Boehmer Team for expert assistance with every detail when buying new construction. Want to learn more about us? Check out our Meet The Team page or some of our client testimonials from clients who have previously worked with The Boehmer Team.

St. Charles County Holiday Events 2018

It’s the holiday season in St. Charles County, Missouri! The days are shorter but the longer nights are perfect for sparkling lights, hot cocoa by the fire and festive holiday events. There are so many different types of holiday events happening right here in St. Charles County. We’ve put together a handy list in order of event start date. 

Note: For more details on an event below, click on the name of the event.

NOVEMBER HOLIDAY EVENTS

St. Peters 29th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 16th at 6:30pm

St. Peters City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd., St. Peters, MO

Holiday-themed musical performances start with Joshua Barclay on the piano, followed by the kids of The Childbloom Guitar Program of St. Charles County, students from the Fort Zumwalt East High School Orchestra, singers from The St. Peters Choral Society, and Lindenwood University’s Voices Only. The countdown to the lighting of the tree happens right outside City Hall under the stars following the last musical performance. Following the ceremony, kids and families can visit and get photos with Santa Claus himself. Abra-Kid-Abra also returns this year, making one-of-a-kind complimentary holiday balloons for kids. Tasty treats will also be provided. Free event.

11th Annual Treasure Chest Holiday Expo
November 16, 17 and 18

St. Charles Convention Center

If you are looking for unique, often one-of-a-kind products, and fun party atmosphere, check out the Treasure Chest Holiday Expo. They'll have over 200 booths filled with one-of-a-kind arts, crafts, gourmet goodies, home decor, unique gift items, and more. Find just the right gift for everyone on your list this year. Free admission, free parking, raffles and door prizes throughout the weekend.

Wentzville Holiday Night Lights Drive-Thru

November 23 through the holiday season
Rotary Park, Wentzville

Enjoy the mile-long light display featuring beautiful scenes and tunnels of twinkling light. Drive-thru admission is $8 per vehicle of up to six passengers, $1 per additional passenger. On Saturday evenings at the Kolb Building you can also enjoy visits by Santa and see many decorated Christmas Trees on display from various businesses.

Christmas Traditions Festival

November 23 – December 24
Historic Downtown St. Charles

This month-long festival celebrates the best traditions of the holiday season from the past in present day downtown St. Charles, Missouri. Walk along the decorated, brick-lined streets where you'll find something special for everyone. Enjoy harmonious carolers, unique historic characters and an abundance of shopping and dining opportunities.

O'Fallon Celebration of Lights

November 23 - December 30

Fort Zumwalt Park

Visit Fort Zumwalt Park for the annual Celebration of Lights holiday light display where local organizations, churches and businesses design and fund amazing individual lighted scenes. There are no reservations needed to drive through the exhibit.
Don’t miss the Old Fashioned Holiday Stroll version of the event where one can walk through the Celebration of Lights on December 10th and 11th. Check their website for admission fees.

The Meadows of Lake Saint Louis Mayor Tree Lighting Ceremony

November 30

Clock Tower Plaza in Lake St. Louis

Watch as Lake St. Louis Mayor Kathy Schweikert kicks off the holidays with the lighting of the Lake St. Louis Christmas tree. Enjoy songs from Green Tree Elementary Choir, delight in complimentary chocolate chip cookies, carriage rides and a visit from Santa. Purchase a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or other coffee/tea specialty drinks from Surge Coffee Co. mobile truck. And don’t forget to bring a toy for the Toys for Tots gift drive. Those who drop off a new, unwrapped toy will receive a special coupon from Prados restaurant. Free event. 6 to 8 p.m.

Gracie & Lacy Present: Cool Yule

November 30 at 6:30pm

The Performing Arts Theatre, One St. Peters Centre Blvd., St. Peters (in the west wing of St. Peters City Hall)

Charleston's award-winning sister act is home for the holidays! Gracie and Lacy will perform Michael Buble, the Puppini Sisters and postmodern jukebox hits at their holiday show, Cool Yule. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased via the link above.

DECEMBER HOLIDAY EVENTS

Santa's North Pole Dash and Children's Snowman Shuffle

December 1st at 8:00am

Historic St. Charles

Watch or join 3000 Santas in this fun fundraiser for the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce, now in its eighth year and gaining popularity. Come join the fun in historic downtown St. Charles. Children's dash as well as 5k and 1 mile walk also can be enjoyed.

Nutcracker Tea

December 2nd and 9th

Foundry Art Centre

Don your finest tea apparel and visit the "Land of Sweets" for Nutcracker Tea! Immerse yourself in a winter wonderland full of art activities, treats, and an accompanied ballet performance. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for adult members, $12 for children 12 and under, and $10 for children members. Don't miss this holiday favorite at the Foundry Art Centre. Tickets must be purchase by November 29th.  

The Gateway Ringers Holiday Concert

December 7th at 7:30pm

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 8945 Veterans Memorial Parkway, O’Fallon, Mo 63366

The Gateway Ringers are members of the Handbell Musicians of America. This auditioned community handbell group performs using five octaves of Malmark handbells & six octaves of Malmark Choirchimes®. See their fantastic holiday concert at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

Winter Wonderland on Ice Show

December 7th at 7:00pm and December 8th at 5:00pm

St. Peters Rec-Plex, 5200 Mexico Road, St. Peters, Mo 63376

Celebrate the holidays as the Rec-Plex North ice rink comes to life and turns into an enchanted Winter Wonderland on Ice. The best Rec-Plex solo skaters and synchronized skating teams will dazzle audiences with the beauty and skill of their original programs. Beloved holiday characters join in the festivities to make this a delightful event for the whole family.

Augusta Candlelight Christmas Walk

December 7 & 14th, 5:00-10:00pm

Downtown Augusta

Experience more than a thousand luminaries lighting the historic town of Augusta, Missouri at the 36th Annual Candlelight Christmas Walk. Catch a ride on a free antique trolley or join in the scavenger hunt. Shop boutiques and galleries for holiday gifts including hand-blown glass, paintings and jewelry. Enjoy food vendors, restaurants, wineries & brewery decked for the season and serving traditional holiday fare.

Christmas Candlelight Walk

December 7, 8, 14, 15 from 6:00-10:30pm

Daniel Boone Historic Site, Defiance, Mo

Thousands of candles illuminate a world on the edge of the frontier. Step back into the early 1800s to experience Christmas as it was celebrated in the past with stories, music and hot cider. Limited tickets are available. Reservations are highly recommended.

Holiday House Tour

December 8th, 3:00-6:00pm

Augusta, Mo

Tour 5 beautifully decorated homes including a residential wine cellar. Complete your tour with free wine tasting at the Harmonie-Verein provided by Noboleis Vinyards and Montelle Winery. Tickets available online. Tickets and maps also available in the Harmonie-Verein at the corner of Church and Hackmann. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of event, and children under 12 are free.

St. Charles Municipal Band Holiday Concert

December 11th from 7:00-9:00pm

Scheidegger Center at Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Mo

Come on out for an evening of holiday music under the direction of St. Charles Municipal Band’s new director. The first half will be Concert band and after a short intermission the second half will feature the Big Band with vocalist. A visit from Santa Claus is expected. Free event.

Santa’s Search Party In The Park

December 15th, 11:00am-1:00pm

Indian Camp Creek Park, Foristell, Mo

Join Santa's search party in the park game! The object of this game is to find as many elves and other characters hidden along the trails as you can. A park map with clues is provided, but you will need your cell phone camera to take a picture of each character when found. Cost is $1 per person. Pre-registration is required. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

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There you have it. Get out there and be merry this season! Every day is a gift to make the most of. Join our wonderful communities in St. Charles County and make memories to last a lifetime. And if you are looking to buy or sell a home in St. Charles County this holiday season, put The Boehmer Team to work for you. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Boehmer Team!

If we are missing any St. Charles County holiday events, contact us and we'll get them added to this list.

 

Tasks Realtors Perform for Sellers

Listing a home for sale and getting the transaction through to closing is an involved process with numerous steps. Much of this work is performed behind the scenes and thus goes unnoticed by home sellers. This sometimes leads to the myth that Realtors “just put a sign in the yard.” But there really is so much more that we do. There is a reason that real estate agents sell homes for more money than for sale by owner listings. To better explain all that we do for every real estate listing we’ve put together a list of ways Realtors help home sellers.

80 Tasks Realtors Perform for Home Sellers

1. Research all comparable listings and recent home sales in the neighborhood
2. Analyze the current market conditions and future projections
3. Explain past market performance
4. Assess your home’s marketing position by analyzing all homes for sale in the neighborhood
5. Provide a full Comparative Market Analysis regarding your property
6. Counsel home sellers on the process of listing a home for sale
7. Discuss timing of the sale and the pricing of the home in order to meet client expectations
8. Explain your legal obligations as a seller in the area of disclosure
9. Thoroughly review the entire listing contract and all accompanying documentation regarding the signing of the listing agreement
10. Help you review and fill out the mandatory Lead Based Paint 11. Disclosure required from all sellers
12. Provide the appropriate Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS) form for the disclosure of all known conditions required of every seller
13. Review completed disclosure forms to insure compliance with required disclosure obligations of all sellers
14. Counsel on the necessity and advantages of a home warranty program
15. Counsel and assist home sellers to stage the interior and exterior of the home to look best for showings
16. Photograph the interior and exterior of the home

17. Add the listing to the multiple listing service (MLS) for IDX distribution to national and local real estate websites18. Arrange for the placement of the For Sale Sign
19. Create and print flyers to market the home on site
20. Create marketing materials to be distributed via email and social media
21. Point out areas that are likely to be targeted by buyers on any requests for repairs
22. Provide counseling and guidance in regard to showing so that the home gets its best appearance
23. Locate and provide area and street maps to potential buyers
24. Schedule open houses to attract buyers
25. Market open houses with announcements, postings and signage
26. Make certain that all advertising is in compliance with the Code of Ethics and Fair Housing requirements
27. Take safeguard precautions to minimize risk of any loss or vandalism that may occur during an open house
28. Create custom sign-in sheet for buyers who visit the open house
29. Follow up with all buyers that attend the open house
30. Answer phone calls and inquiries regarding your property
31. Arrange and schedule showings of your home at the request of buyers and/or their agents
32. Be available on evenings and weekends when buyers are most likely to want to see your home

33. Answer and address questions posed by buyers regarding the property and its condition
34. Counsel on periodic price changes that may be demanded due to changes in market conditions
35. Receive and review all offers and terms from potential buyers
36. Review the buyer’s LSR and analyze the provisions of their loan to assure that they can get financing
37. Present and discuss all offers that are received
38. Counsel and advise in multiple offer situations
39. Outline the pros and cons of offers received from potential buyers
40. Negotiate offers and counteroffers with the buyers and/or the buyers’ agent
41. Monitor and coordinate the escrow process
42. Properly handle the earnest money deposit
43. Counsel on the rules surrounding the handling of the earnest money deposit
44. Review title company charges and fees
45. Schedule and arrange any inspections requested by the buyer such as appraisal, termite, radon, etc.
46. Make certain that the buyer gets any necessary Home Owners 47. Association information
48. Review the Buyer Inspection Notice and Seller Response (BINSR) request from the buyer as well as any buyer’s requests for repairs

49. Counsel you on responses to the buyer’s requests for repairs
50. Provide professional references for any repairs needed in order to complete the sale
51. Review the preliminary title report for the status of liens, encumbrances and taxes
52. Ensure that all requirements on the preliminary title report received from the escrow company are being met and handled prior to closing
53. Monitor the deadlines and time frames that are contained in the purchase contract
54. Negotiate any necessary changes in the timelines on the purchase contract
55. Counsel on the pros and cons of addendums regarding changes in the timelines
56. Advise on the appraisal process and your role in the appraisal process as a seller
57. Provide regular updates and status reports regarding the progress of the transaction
Assist you in relocation or buying another property
58. Collect utility information and advise on the handling of utilities at the time of transfer
59. Discuss and advise on the exchange of occupancy
60. Update and monitor status of MLS listing to “Sale Pending”
Advise and monitor removal of loan contingency
61. Contact and discuss loan status with buyers loan representative and confirm the processing of the buyers loan
62. Check on the status of delivery of buyer’s loan documents to the title company
63. Confirm the completion of all repairs
64. Coordinate the collection of the repair invoices and receipts
65. Deliver all receipts and invoices to the title company as required
66. Review the HUD-1 Settlement statement and correct all inaccuracies
67. Coordinate and schedule the closing of the transaction
68. Negotiate and arrange any final extensions of the closing date that may be necessary

69. Counsel and advise you on the closing process
70. Schedule all final walk through inspections that are demanded by the buyer
71. Attend and address issues raised in the final walk through inspections
72. Final check with the escrow officer to make certain that all required documentation is in place
73. Review the closing documents
74. Attend and accompany you to the closing to address any issues that you might have
75. Advise and counsel you on the final transfer of funds
76. Assist in the providing of wiring instructions on the day of closing to the title company
77. Assist in the transmission and delivery of any final documentation that may be required by title
78. Review and explain the role of title insurance in your transaction
79. Assist in the correction of any errors or mistakes in the final closing documents
80. Arrange for the exchange of keys and possession

This list shows why full-time Realtors like The Boehmer Team keep so busy. Realtors handle negotiations, deadlines, paperwork, communications and marketing as well as managing a cast of characters involved in every transaction. Our team structure enables us to streamline and double check all parts in the process. We strive to provide client experiences so great that our clients will refer us to their friends and family. Is moving on your mind? Contact The Boehmer Team for expert real estate assistance.