Category Archives: Missouri

A journey to the past reveals more than we want to see–mold!

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An urge to connect with the past led us to the back of the closet and stacks of boxes with family pictures. Anticipation mounted as we opened the boxes to see how we looked growing up. But, what we saw was…mold!

Yes, mold deserves an exclamation point, especially if your home is on the market and buyers are looking in every nook and cranny. Not only does mold complicate your home sale, it also affects your health and can be very costly to remove.

The first line of defense is to prevent mold before it takes hold. Mold needs several conditions to flourish–food, moisture, the right temperature, stagnant air and time. During this spring’s storms, some moisture must have dripped into the closet and settled on the family pictures. Add stagnant air, then high temperatures, and we grew mold.

Here are some preventative measures to ensure your home is mold free.

• Be aware of your home’s humidity. The more humid it is, the more opportunity for mold to grow. Because Missouri is very humid during the summer, it’s important to keep the air conditioning at about 78 degrees. Much higher than that temperature and the humidity goes up. Setting the thermostat very low makes for colder surfaces and condensation.

• Clutter contributes to mold. All that stuff blocks airflow, reducing your AC’s ability to dehumidify and creating a stagnant atmosphere. One of our goals in the closet project was to de-clutter, review all sorts of stuff way in the back and get rid of what we didn’t want. Now, we have not only de-cluttered, but are also facing mold removal.

• Check areas that are moisture magnets. Wipe up water in the bathroom and routinely re-caulk around the bathtub. Keep an eye out for moisture in the laundry area and other parts of the basement. Look up at the basement ceiling as well as down at the floor.

If you do find mold, should you go for a do-it-yourself removal project or call the experts? For very small areas, you could remove the mold using a solution of dishwashing soap and water, but because disturbed mold spores become airborne very quickly, you’ll still have to suit up, wear goggles and long gloves.

Our best advice is to leave mold removal to the pros. Not only do they have special equipment to deal with the situation and discard the materials so that spores do not escape, they can also determine what may be behind the walls that you can’t see.

HOPE real estate tax incentive still alive for potential buyers

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The Missouri state program offers up to $1,750 in combined tax, energy efficient improvements for new homeowners.

The Missouri Housing Development Commission is still offering up to a $1,250 credit in real estate tax benefits for qualified buyers through the Home Ownership Purchase Enhancement (HOPE) program. Earlier this year the commission set aside $15 million to encourage home ownership, but it seems potential buyers have been slow on the uptake. Only $1.2 million has been issued, and that with the deadline drawing near.

To qualify, the home must be purchased between January 1, 2010, and August 31, 2010. The HOPE application must be received by the MHDC no later than September 30 of this year. There is also an income limit–up to $95,060 in the St. Louis metro region. First-time and repeat buyers are eligible for the program.

Homebuyers who are approved for the real estate property tax HOPE incentive may also be eligible to receive an additional amount if they bought a qualified newly constructed energy efficient home or bought an existing home and remodeled or purchased items, such as Energy Star® appliances, to make the home more energy efficient. The maximum combined total of the HOPE property tax incentive and the HOPE energy efficiency incentive is $1,750.

For more details, contact us and we can help buyers take advantage of this one-time offer from the state of Missouri.

Existing Home Sales Are Up 15% in St. Charles County and the Median Home Price Is Up Too

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Affordable, reasonably priced homes are waiting for new buyers


The St. Charles region is in real estate bounce back mode with sales of existing homes up 15 percent during the first quarter of this year as compared to the same time last year. The median home price rose to $169,000, a $2,000 increase, beating the national media price of $166,100. This increase mirrors the price increases in nearly 60 percent of U.S. cities during the first quarter with double-digit increases in 29 cities.

Joe Sahrmann, president of the St. Charles County Association of Realtors, sees the market rebounding from the challenging times of the last few years. “We haven’t seen homes this affordable in years.” he says, “The selection is wide and varied for different income levels. Mortgage rates are staying low for now, and St. Charles is nationally recognized as a great place to live.”

And, even though the homebuyer tax credits have expired, it’s still a great time to buy a home, he says. 26 percent more homes are under contract during the first quarter of this year than compared to the same period in 2009.

Some of the increase was fueled by the government’s income tax credits for first-time and returning homebuyers. About 2.2 million households participated in the tax credit program, which cost the government $16 billion, according to the Internal Revenue Service. And, sales in March surged following a three-month decline attributed in part to harsh winter weather.

What does the near future hold for real estate? The industry is an integral part of the American economy, intertwined with employment and finance. If those factors stabilize and increase, the National Association of Realtors predicts prices will increase modestly in the second half of this year.

Slow but steady wins the race, and that axiom is certainly true for the real estate market these days. As buyers become more confident in their spending patterns and realize the market value, we’ll climb back to a robust St. Charles County.

St. Charles County Real Estate
Written by Myra Vandersall

Energize Missouri Appliance Program helps homeowners upgrade, lower utility bills

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The new rebate incentive replaces inefficient appliances with those that use less energy and water.

With spring coming along nicely, all kinds of government programs to help both homebuyers and sellers, and the variety of green options available, here’s one more reason to increase your home’s market value and practice conservation. Beginning April 19, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy begins the Energize Missouri Appliance Program, offering consumers rebates on a selected variety of ENERGY STAR® new appliances.

To receive the rebate, consumers must buy ENERGY STAR® appliances at participating retail locations or through contractors and provide proof of recycling or haul away of the older, less energy efficient appliances. Appliances eligible for rebates include dishwashers, $75; clothes washers, $75; gas condensing water heaters, $150; Gas storage water heaters, $100; gas tankless water heaters, $100; electric pump water heaters, $150; solar water heaters, $500; gas furnaces, $125; central air conditioners, $100; and air source heat pumps, $250.

These rebates can be combined with federal energy tax credits and any manufacturers’ rebates.

Not only do the rebates help consumers reduce energy consumption and cost, but the program is designed to help create jobs for appliance manufacturers and retail stores.

The state of Missouri received $5.67 million from Recovery Act funds for program participation, which will continue as long as the state has money to support the program, or until the February 2012 expiration date.

Written by Myra Vandersall

May Events around St. Charles Missouri

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Sunday, May 1
Run, Walk, Roll Away From Violence
Frontier Park
7-11 a.m.
Sponsored by Bridgeway Behavioral Health Foundation, this event will benefit the domestic violence and assault programs. The event features a warmup, a competitive 5k race and a 5k fun walk and roll. To register, visit the Bridgeway website.

Sunday, May 1
The Vino Fondo, Missouri’s Grand Fondo Bicycle Race
Begins in Augusta at Mt. Pleasant Winery
8 a.m.
A traditional pairing of challenging riding and a tour of some of Missouri’s best and oldest vineyards. Fully supported with three different ability rides. Proceeds from registration will benefit Trailnet. The ride is sponsored Big Shark Bicycle and Mt. Pleasant Winery. For more info go to the Trailnet website or call Big Shark at 862-1188.

Sunday, May 1 – Monday, May 31

Antique Quilt Show
Frenchtown Heritage Museum, 1121 N. Second Street
Wednesday – Saturday: 12-3 pm
This special exhibit of antique doll quilts and beds as well as quilts from the past centuries on display for you to enjoy. A special viewing will be held Mother’s Day Sunday, May 9th from 12 pm -3 pm.
For more information call 636-946-8682.
FREE

Thursday, May 6
Concert in the Park
St. Peters City Centre Amphitheater
7-8:30 p.m.
For the St. Peters centennial celebration in 2010, the city hosts a series of concerts. This week the Kelly Band, a traditional and contemporary Celtic band will entertain concert goers.
FREE

Friday, May 7, Saturday, May 8
Some Enchanted Evening
Lindenwood University’s J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts
7:30 p.m.
The Theater Department presents a revue of production numbers from the musicals of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, including “Oklahoma,” “Carousel,” “South Pacific,” “The King and I” and “The Sound of Music.” For information or to order tickets call 636-949-4433 or online at the Center for the Arts website.

Saturday, May 15
Historical Children’s Festival
First Missouri State Capitol Historic site, South Main St.
10 a.m.-4p.m.
Modern day kids can live and play as children did in the 1820s. Hands on activities include butter churning, quill pen writing, cow milking, candle dipping, baby farm animals, and storytelling about Missouri’s struggle for statehood. For information call 636-940-3322.
FREE

Saturday, May 15 –Sunday, May 16
Lewis and Clark Heritage Days
Frontier Park
Historic St. Charles Downtown District
9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday

This annual festival features an authentic reenactment of Lewis & Clark’s encampment in 1804 prior to their journey up the Missouri River. Also featured are re-enactor encampments, Fife and Drum Corps demonstrations, boat replicas, museum tours,19th century crafts and period food.
For more information call 1-800-366-2427 or visit the Heritage Days website.
FREE, some activities charge a fee

Saturday, May 15 –Sunday, June 6

Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire
Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day only

Wentzville Rotary Park 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Travel back to a 16th century French village and thrill to the exploits of jousting knights; roam the village shops; enjoy stage acts performing comedy, music and daring feats; and interact with colorful villagers, nobles, and peasants. There will be food and fun for the entire family.
$13; seniors, students, $11; 12 and under, $8
For more information call 636-916-1643 or visit www.stlrenfaire.com

Friday, May 21-Sunday, May 23
Friends of the St. Charles City-County Library book fair
St. Charles Convention Center
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
As one of the largest book fair in the metro area, attendees can choose from more than 250,000 hardback, paperbacks, set, records and magazines. Proceeds benefit the Library.
FREE, except on Friday-$5 admission or Friends membership. For information call 838-441-2300 or visit the Friends’ website.

Sunday, May 23
Mountain Biking 101
St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Broemmelsiek Park, Shelter 2
Learn the basics of mountain biking and maintenance with experts from the Gateway Off Road Cyclists. Following each session is a guided ride. All ages and abilities welcome. Participants should bring their own bikes and helmets.
FREE

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