How to Make the Best Offer on a Home

Like most of the country St. Louis and St. Charles County are currently experiencing a sellers market.  This means that there are more buyers in the market than there are sellers. This is great if you are currently selling a home. However if you are a homebuyer, this means that you are facing competition against other buyers when trying to purchase a home for sale.  With a few tips, and help from your trusted Realtor, you’ll be prepared to make the best offer on a house and procure the home of your dreams.

 

Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Unless you are paying cash for a home, start your home search by talking to a mortgage lender and getting pre-approved for a mortgage loan. Home sellers will take cash and pre-approved offers over offers that don’t confirm their ability to finance the home. Also, getting pre-approved will help you better determine your budget for your home.

Lean On Your Realtor

Talk to your Realtor to gain some useful information. An experienced Realtor (like the ones on The Boehmer Team) will be able to gather more information about what neighboring homes have sold for and the number of other offers the home has received.  This information will help you decide on a strong offer to make on the home.

Hold Back on Contingencies

Contingencies are items that need to be addressed before closing on a home or clauses in the contract that give you an out if something arises. These can be beneficial to homebuyers, but a headache for home sellers. Sellers will prefer to accept a contract on their home that includes the least amount of contingencies. Discuss with your real estate professional the options of making an “As-Is” type of offer limiting the seller’s responsibility of making repairs.

Make a Personal Connection

If a seller has a personal connection with a buyer, they are more likely to choose the buyer they have a connection with. If you know other people in the neighborhood, or have other acquaintances in common with the homeowner, tell them in order to build your personal connection. Some people make their case in writing by including a hand-written letter with their offer describing why they would make the best choice as the homebuyers for the property.

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Whatever you decide, be sure to be prepared and be ready to act fast. If you are afraid of making a mistake after going all in on a home, keep in mind that there will likely be another chance to make some negotiations on the deal after getting the results of the home inspection. If you have questions about making an offer on a home or about the home buying or selling process, contact The Boehmer Team. We’ll be happy to share our expertise. 

 

New Home Opportunities in a Competitive Market

If you’ve been home shopping recently for St. Louis or St. Charles County real estate, you’ve probably noticed something – things are rather competitive. Currently there aren’t as many homes available for sale as there are homebuyers trying to buy homes (known as a sellers market). Homebuyers are having more difficulty procuring a home they want against all the competition. Those who consider buying new give themselves another option. How about you? Have you considered buying new?

 

Builder Inventory Homes

Homebuyers can buy a new home often for a similar price as a pre-existing one. Check out homebuilders’ inventory of already-built or being-built homes that have yet to be sold.  Every month that a completed home doesn’t sell incurs costs for the homebuilder, so builders may be more motivated to sell homes in their inventory.

Often times inventory homes are priced including promotions and incentives that you would receive had you built the home from the ground up.  Builders also choose top-selling floor plans with the most popular features and finishes for their inventory homes so they appeal to today’s buyers.  Many buyers love the idea that they see exactly what they are getting when buying a home from inventory. Buying an inventory home is often a very smart move for today’s buyer for a number of reasons. 

We’ve put together a webpage specifically so you can see what builder inventory homes are currently available for sale in our area. Check out our New & Now page to see the many great new home opportunities available.

 

Historically Low Interest Rates

Interest rates are still historically low. This means you can get more house for your budget. If you need help finding a reputable mortgage lender, contact us to offer some suggestions of home lenders to check out. Also, don’t miss trying our mortgage calculator to find out what your monthly payments might be based on the price of a home, the interest rate and length of the loan. 

Using an Experienced Buyers Agent

Experienced buyers specialists, like the ones on The Boehmer Team, can help you with the home buying process at little to no cost. Our job is to help you find home buying opportunities that match your needs and help you through the process of purchasing a home, which is especially helpful in a competitive market. 

 

Our network provides us access to homes being prepared for the market that aren’t even listed yet. We also know of off-market listings to show our homebuyers. Using a Boehmer Team Buyer Specialist gives you an edge over trying to procure a home on your own.

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If you are a homebuyer currently looking for a new or pre-existing home to buy, contact The Boehmer Team. We can help you procure your dream home and even help sell your current home. Reach out any time for a no obligation home buying or selling consultation and learn our strategies to help buyers and sellers. 

 

St. Charles County Real Estate 2020 Mid-Year Review

We’re half way into 2020 and boy, has it been a roller coaster ride! A pandemic, a recession, an election year and more have made it a VERY memorable and life changing year. But despite our ever-changing external environment, one thing has stayed constant – the need for a home. The pandemic has caused us to spend more time at home than ever and made housing that meets our needs more important than ever. So despite everything, the housing market has remained strong and a good investment in 2020.

Signs of a strong real estate market are backed up with hard data. Take a look at the below charts showing how the 2020 St. Charles County, Missouri real estate market is performing so far. We hope this information will be valuable for you to make the best real estate decisions for you and your family.

Number of Homes for Sale

This first chart showing active real estate listings by month over the past three years ends on a down trajectory. This means that there are not as many homes available for sale as there have been mid-year in the past three years. The low availability of listings and continued demand from homebuyers point to a continued sellers market.

Median Sales Price

This chart shows that home prices are still growing. If you’ve been thinking about listing a residential property for sale, now is a great time to get a lot of value from the sale. If you’re thinking of buying a home, now is also a great time to take advantage of still low historic rates and purchase a home before housing prices increase even more.

Original Listing Price Versus Sales Price

While sellers like to get the most money they can for their property, buyers want to pay the least they can for a home. Through the negotiation process the final price received for a home is often a little less than the original price the property was listed. The first half of 2020 shows that buyers are negotiating better deals for themselves than the previous three years as the gap of list price to sale price has widened a little.

Days On Market

This chart shows that the number of days a home is on the market tend to be shorter in the warm months than in the cold months. Currently we are seeing shorter days on the market that are similar to the same time last year. A smaller number of days on market is another indicator of a sellers market.

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In summary, this data points to continued gains in home prices and continued competition among homebuyers for the real estate listings that are available. Our friends in the home building industry say they are ramping up home building to help offer more new home options for buyers. If you have a home to sell, now is a great time. If you are buying a home, be prepared to act quickly when you find “the one” as you may face a lot of competition.

Working with a great buyers agent, like the buyers agents on The Boehmer Team, will also increase homebuyers’ chances of procuring the perfect home. Contact The Boehmer Team for expert home selling and buying assistance. We know the St. Charles County, Missouri real estate market and even have information on homes that are not yet listed for sale.

The Increasing Importance of The Home Office

For St. Louis, St. Charles County and pretty much everywhere, the home office has become a much more important part of home. Not only did the recent COVID-19 quarantines keep many working at home, home based businesses, Internet jobs and other work–from-home jobs are more popular than ever. In real estate that means if you are selling a home, a home office is a great selling point that adds value to the home.

What people want in a home office:

Privacy

People are looking for an area that offers privacy, especially since there are often two people working from the home, children, or guests present in the home. Phone or computer meetings may require you to talk louder than normal, so having a door to shut or an office in the lower level offers maximum privacy.  Since more people are working from home on a regular basis, it may be that the work being done may be more confidential in nature so out-of-sight storage is critical.

Function

Function has become more important than the past when a home office was often about looks. Function includes a workstation or desk and chair but also includes the ability to access the home Wi-Fi connection. You’ll get bonus points for having a nice place to setup a camera to point at oneself for video conferencing. 

Outlets

Computers, phones and printers need to be plugged in, so having sufficient electrical outlets is a necessity. If adding a home office to a room without adequate outlets, be prepared to use an extension cord and surge protector (taped down and/or hidden by a floor runner rug). 

Light

While some home workers prefer natural light, others prefer limited light. Both can be achieved if the home office has or is near a window. Add blinds, shades or curtains to control natural light levels and a lamp for those who prefer limited or added light to accommodate your home office needs when both on and off the computer.

Storage

Hidden storage opportunities add value to a home office. Did you know a tidy workspace is supposed to help keep a clearer mind? Whether that’s true or not, it’s important to have places to put away important papers and other office items.

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If you are currently preparing a home to sell, it’s a good idea to have a home office or workspace setup to fulfill the needs of the many at-home workers. Be sure it includes the items above to make it as desirable as possible. If you are currently looking to buy a home with more office space, contact The Boehmer Team. Our experienced Buyer Specialists may already know of a property that might fulfill your needs or can help you find the perfect home for you.

15 Simple Ways to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

St. Louis and St. Charles County homeowners are spending more time in and around the home than ever before due to the coronavirus. Not wanting to be stuck inside, many are taking advantage of their time at home by going outside to make improvements to the exterior of their home. These exterior improvements can really boost a home’s curb appeal. So if you are thinking of spending some time improving your home’s exterior and landscaping, here are some simple ways to do it.

Maintain Your Lawn

You don’t have to spend a lot of money for a good looking lawn. Make sure it is kept trimmed, attend to any bald spots and keep it watered. For more advanced tips on lawn maintenance, click here. 

Trim Your Shrubs

It’s spring and plants are growing fast, so it is a great time to trim shrubs and pull any weeds around them.

Freshen Your Mulch

Mulch is a natural material that breaks down with time. Freshen it up by adding more mulch around the base of your landscaping to keep weeds at bay and give the landscaping a well-kept look.

Use Colorful Planters

Colorful planters can be found at local hardware stores on online. You could even paint some old planters to transform them and add color to the exterior of your home.

Add Pops of Color 

In additions to colorful planters, colorful accents can be implemented throughout the exterior areas of your home with flowers, a freshly painted front door, or pillows on benches.

Power Wash Your Home, Deck, Patio, and Concrete

It’s amazing the difference power washing can make to blast old dirt and debris from multiple areas of your home’s exterior. If you don’t own one, you can buy one, borrow one, or even hire a contractor to power wash for you.

Replace Old Porch and Coach Lights

Check your home’s exterior lighting. Does it need to be cleaned, fixed or replaced? There are great options for buying lighting at local hardware stores or online.

Add Porch Seating if Possible

Wanting to spend more time outside your home creates the need for outdoor seating. There are many ways to get creative with outdoor seating. Choose something that compliments your home that will withstand the elements.

Make the Entry Welcoming

What is the vibe of the area in front of your front door? Is it welcoming? A thorough cleaning of the area and a few accents like a wreath or welcome sign can make a big difference.

Update Shutters

We rarely seem to think about shutters, but their appearance affects the overall look of your home. Check the condition of your shutters and make any repairs. If the paint is worn, give them a fresh coat. Or, you can even buy and install new shutters.

Freshly Paint or Replace the Front Door

The front door is a focal point for your home. Check it for dents, scratches or anything that can be repaired. Give it a fresh coat of paint or consider replacing.

Freshen up the Mailbox 

The mailbox is often exposed to the elements and thus can age quickly. Check it for any needed maintenance, give it a fresh coat of paint or new numbers or consider a new mailbox.

Wash Your Windows

You’ll be surprised the difference that washing windows can make. Years of dirt and grime build up slowly that it is hardly noticeable. Washing your windows will make the house sparkle outside and a little brighter inside.

Add Style to You Address Numbers

Unique address numbers are a fun way to add style to your home’s exterior. You can find them at local hardware stores or shop for great options online.

Get a Great Doormat

The last step someone takes before they enter your home is on the doormat. Why not make it a good one? There are lots of fun options to be found at local stores and online. Pick one that is both good looking and functional.

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Improving your home’s curb appeal actually adds value to your home. If you are thinking of listing the home for sale in the near future, you are doing yourself a great service by upgrading it’s curb appeal. Or if your time in quarantine has shown you all the reasons you would like to be in a different home, contact The Boehmer Team to help you sell your current one and find a new one.

 

Supporting St. Charles County Small Businesses During Quarantine

As a real estate team, The Boehmer Team members are very involved with many small businesses in St. Charles County. We work with inspectors, plumbers, electricians, home maintenance technicians, photographers, cleaning companies, title companies and local mortgage lenders. We even have relationships with local bakeries and restaurants that supply our open houses and other events.

The current stay-at-home order for Missouri that runs through the end of the April is aimed to keep us safe and healthy. But meanwhile some of our favorite local small businesses are feeling the deepest effects of a clientele in quarantine. So how can we support our local businesses during this time?

1. Order Delivery or Curbside Pickup

With a few precautions people can still patronage their favorite local businesses via delivery or take out. If one doesn’t want to leave the house there are services like GrubHub, DoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats, Shipt, Instacart and more that can shop and deliver groceries and carryout to you. This will even help those laid off from other industries who have picked up driving jobs. Curious about the safety of delivered items? Read about grocery and delivery safety here.

2. Buy a Gift Card

A great way to show that you care about a local business and want to help see it through coronavirus quarantines is by buying a gift card or gift certificate from them.  It will help inject cash into their business when they desperately need it. Also, it gives you something to look forward to for when quarantine is over.

3. Shop Local Online

Your favorite local business may have moved more of their product and services online during this time. (Heck, we can perform an entire real estate transaction online these days.) Check your favorite businesses website and social media pages to see if they have any special offers or items online.

4. Tip Well

Some local businesses are using tips to pay staff that has been recently furloughed. So tip your restaurant workers and delivery drivers well. They don’t have the luxury of working from home during the Covid-19 quarantine.

5. Say Thanks

Nothing beats a sincere “thank you for what you do” to essential workers during this time. The Boehmer Team would like to express our deepest gratitude for the small business workers still keeping our communities running.

Excellent St. Charles County Small Businesses to Support

Since we’re here discussing helping local small businesses, we'd like to give a shout out to some we think are extra great. We’re surely going to miss some good ones, so help us by leaving a comment with your favorite St. Charles County small business.

• Cork and Rind
• O'Kanes Kitchen
• Sarah Wagner (Fit Rx with Dudas Fitness)
• Extreme Electric
• Survant Heating and Cooling (It’s a good time for a spring HVAC Check up)
• 6th & Market Online Boutique
• Grandma’s Cookies
• Abby Eich Photography

Have a real estate question? Contact The Boehmer Team to for expert advice.

You Don’t Need Luck to Snag a Great Home

With more buyers than sellers in the St. Louis and St. Charles County real estate market, finding a great home for sale can feel like competing in an episode of The Amazing Race. One can scour the national real estate websites and many local sources and find a great home only to learn that it is already under contract or that several other people have already submitted offers. Some folks even write letters to owners selling a home to prove they’re the best buyer, but to no avail. Don’t give up, you're not out of luck – you just haven’t found the right help.

We would like to introduce you to our impressive team of Buyers' Agents. These fastidious Realtors are a combination of Lewis and Clark, Sherlock Holmes and Bill Gates in their abilities to search and discover real estate listings on the internet and in the real world that match their clients wants and needs. These agents are the "luck" you're looking for.

SHANNON KOHNEN

“As Realtors we are not salespeople - we are matchmakers. We introduce people to homes until they fall in love with one. And that is what makes our job so amazing. We find a LOT of homes; new homes, old homes, and coming soon homes to introduce to our clients.“

Shannon is an experienced Realtor and a Buyer Specialist for The Boehmer Team. She brings 17 years of real estate industry knowledge and outstanding customer care to The Boehmer Team's clients. Shannon specializes in finding homes that meet the specific needs of clients in a competitive residential market.  A St. Louis area native, Shannon currently resides in St. Peters with her husband, daughter, two sons and black lab. When she isn't creating great real estate experiences you can find Shannon cheering on her daughter at competitive cheerleading and her oldest son at soccer games and taekwondo.

STEPHANIE PUSZKAR

“Nothing is more satisfying than helping each and every home buyer find and win the right home.  That is what we strive to do every day using our team’s experience, expertise, and relationships with other agents, in addition to applying successful strategies to win in multiple offer situations. Above all else, our clients’ best interests are our top priority.”

Stephanie works as a Buyer Specialist for The Boehmer Team. Her reputation for great customer care and vast industry knowledge has endeared her to many of The Boehmer Team's home buying clients. Stephanie is a St. Louis area native who lives in St. Charles with her fiancé, two kids and her cat, Mr. Kitty. When not serving her real estate clients she enjoys anything outdoors, especially boating and watching football.

KRISTIN TEMPLETON

“In this current market, we are often in multiple offer situations but the collective years of experience our team has enables us to be privy to and share with each other strategies to “win” those homes that other agents just don’t have.”

Kristin is a Buyer Specialist for The Boehmer Team that has over 16 years of real estate experience. She has been the proud recipient of the 5 Star Service Award eleven times for excellence in customer service. Her past experience helping new construction homebuyers has earned her awards from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri. She currently lives in St. Charles County with her husband, Phil, her Big Dog Bell, and her tiny cat, Ninja. She has three grown children: Connor, 26, Anna, 24 and Michael, 22. When not serving real estate clients you can find Kristin reading, hiking, traveling, at yoga, playing tennis or at Bible study.

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Our goal and focus, as Real Estate professionals, is to provide unparalleled service and complete dedication when assisting our clients in achieving their Real Estate goals.  Each member of our team utilizes their specialized skills to provide our clients the personalized service they deserve when making the important decisions involved in buying or selling a home.  We are proud of the steady stream of testimonials, repeat clients and referrals that have allowed our business to grow. Contact The Boehmer Team to see how we can assist you.