Courtesy of McBride & Sons Homes
From Crestwood to Affton, South County has seen an increase in its property values, from an average of $145,000 at the end of 2012 to $161,000 in late 2013. The number of listings has remained stable, though demand is high.
“Everywhere in St. Louis, people are screaming for inventory,” says Elizabeth Braznell, president of the St. Louis Association of Realtors. “There are very few foreclosures, and buyers are much more wary of what they’re getting into.” Braznell says most buyers are wary of fixer-uppers, preferring homes that are ready for move-in.
“Any appropriately conditioned home is going to sell quickly in South County,” says Judy Wideman, branch manager of Coldwell Banker Gundaker’s South County office. “A nice starter home is always a hot item.”
Developers are also attracted to the area. “Because of the commerce and existing developments, anywhere you can find [an undeveloped] brown pocket is attractive for developers,” says Wideman. In the fall, McBride & Sons opened Grant’s View, a development on 67 acres near Grant’s Farm where houses range from $272,000 to $600,000-plus.
