Russell Boulevard in Fox Park is lined with gorgeous century homes—and it's one of the nicest streets in a neighborhood that some expect to get hot this year.
Homes in Fox Park, Maplewood, and Soulard’s historic district saw the biggest bump in page views and “favorite” rankings on Redfin’s real estate data website and apps in the second half of 2016, leading the tech-heavy real estate brokerage firm to predict they’ll be the area’s three hottest neighborhoods this year. But according to local real estate agents, that’s not the whole story.
At least when it comes to Maplewood, that’s not news to Barbara Balossi, a local real estate agent with the Balossi Team at Keller Williams Realty.
“Maplewood may have just made the list, though it's been on our radar as one of St. Louis' best places to buy for years,” says Balossi, who attributes the area’s popularity to its innovative school district, lively downtown stocked with unique shops and restaurants, and its diverse and committed cadre of residents.
Maplewood’s pedestrian-friendly downtown, access to public transportation, and proximity to the other areas where people work and play also add to its allure, says Barbara Heise, a local real estate agent with RE/MAX Results who was once a Maplewood resident herself.
“A lot of Maplewood is walkable to shops, restaurants, and entertainment. It is also close—and walkable for the serious walkers—to St. Louis’ top-rated Forest Park. The location of Maplewood is also great for commuters,” says Heise. “It is close to two major highway arteries, affording easy access to most of the cultural and work hubs of the metropolitan area.”
Local real estate agent Tamika Evans, who’s employed by Redfin, expects Kirkwood and Webster Groves to remain popular with prospective buyers for similar reasons. The areas are perennial favorites because of their solid school districts and strong sense of community.
“Both areas are pretty well developed and have very mature neighborhoods. So I believe the housing stock is also one of the driving forces, with Webster and Kirkwood having a pretty diverse housing stock,” says Evans, who also expects homes in the Lindbergh School District to continue selling swiftly.
In fact, Redfin sales data indicates the metro area is a seller’s market in general, with prices trending up and days on the market down. A six-month supply of available properties represents a balanced market, and December data shows St. Louis’ supply at about 3.2 months. The shift is driving some investors and rehabbers who purchased homes at bargain prices in South City neighborhoods including Fox Park to put those newly renovated properties on the market, Evans says. Still, buyers outnumber sellers in many neighborhoods.
“The market is robust in terms of buyer demand and there’s just isn’t enough inventory to account for all the buyers who are looking,” says Evans, who advises her clients to go house hunting with loan approvals in hand. “In those hot areas, buyers need to get out in those first one or two days [a house is on the market] because, if they wait, it will be gone.”
