Latest Blogs

June 2021 Market Statistics

By Missouri REALTORS posted 7 days ago
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Statewide market statistics for June of 2021 are in, and Missouri’s housing market is on fire. We have experienced an increase across the board—in residential properties sold, residential sale price and total dollar volume in the state of Missouri. Although, at this point, national trends do indicate that things may simmer down sometime soon. The only thing hotter than the weather is Missouri's real estate market! Here are the numbers to prove it. Home sales in the state of Missouri increased since last June. Missouri REALTORS ® sold 9,925 residential properties. This was a14.8% increase compared to June 2020, when Missouri REALTORS ® sold 8,643 residential ...
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Etiquette & Professionalism

By Missouri REALTORS posted 7 days ago
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In the real estate industry, first impressions matter. As we all know, curb appeal and staging have an immediate and immense impact on a client’s decision. But a REALTOR ® ’s courtesy and etiquette truly set the stage for home buying and selling. Real estate requires a high degree of professionalism across the board. How we treat our clients, properties and fellow REALTORS ® is of the utmost importance. After all, this profession is a privilege, and we must treat it as such from our very first meetings with clients. With proper etiquette and sound professionalism, REALTORS ® have the power to make a good showing an exceptional one. Thanks to NAR’s Code of ...
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Back to School—Now, It’s Your Move!

By Missouri REALTORS posted 12 days ago
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It’s August, and you’re probably in the midst of preparing your children to return to school. You’re buying backpacks, notebooks and pencils. You’re carefully planning out extracurriculars and after-school activities. You’re doing absolutely everything in your power to ensure that your children and their peers have a successful, fun school year ahead.  But what if we told you there was another way to support your children and the other students in your community? And no, we’re not talking about the PTA. We’re talking about an exciting, unprecedented opportunity that combines your skills as REALTORS ® and your profound interest in education. We’re talking ...
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Member Spotlight: Chris Martin

By Missouri REALTORS posted 12 days ago
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Missouri REALTORS ® are so much more than just real estate professionals. They dedicate their time to serving on school boards and running for elected positions. They educate, serve on panels, volunteer and facilitate industry discussions. Their philanthropic efforts are inspiring, and the difference they are making within their communities is significant. Our Member Spotlight series highlights these efforts and introduces some of our wonderful members. This month, we are shining the Member Spotlight on Chris Martin. Chris, from Reece & Nichols and Columbia Board of REALTORS ® , has made a tremendous impact as a Missouri REALTOR ® . His work across ...
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Agents Should Advise Caution When Using Electronic Signature Platforms

By Lisa Scoble posted 26 days ago
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Agents Should Advise Caution When Using Electronic Signature Platforms Today’s world is a fast-paced one, whether you’re answering a text message or buying a new car. Time is counted in seconds instead of minutes or hours, and it’s presumed that faster is better. However, speed sometimes means you are sacrificing accuracy or careful deliberation, and that can cost you. In this real-world scenario, faster is not always better when reviewing and signing a real estate contract, whether you are the agent, buyer, or seller. SITUATION A real estate agent representing home sellers forwarded her clients a contract for their electronic signature using DocuSign ...
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Member Spotlight: Katie Berry

By Missouri REALTORS posted 06-30-2021
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Missouri REALTORS ® are so much more than just real estate professionals. They dedicate their time to serving on school boards and running for elected positions. They educate, serve on panels, volunteer and facilitate industry discussions. Their philanthropic efforts are inspiring, and the difference they are making within their communities is significant. Our Member Spotlight series highlights these efforts and introduces some of our wonderful members. This month, we are shining the Member Spotlight on Katie Berry. Katie, from Better Homes and Gardens RE Preferred Properties and St. Louis REALTORS ® ,  is an industry leader at the local, state ...
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Homeownership Statistics in the LGBTQ+ Community

By Missouri REALTORS posted 06-29-2021
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The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance—an organization of influential real estate professionals, allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community—released a report in collaboration with Freddie Mac, The Williams Institute, Alliance Members and more on housing discrimination. The report is titled “How Discrimination Impacts the LGBTQ+ Community on the Journey to Homeownership and Beyond.” It was conducted in 2020 and sheds an important light on how the LGBTQ+ community fares when it comes to renting, buying and selling homes. Because sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected under the Fair Housing Act, discrimination against the community remains prevalent. ...
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May 2021 Market Statistics

By Missouri REALTORS posted 06-25-2021
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Statewide market statistics for May of 2021 are in, and Missouri’s housing market remains red hot. Yet again, we have seen a significant increase in residential properties sold, residential sale price and total dollar volume across the state. Consequently, the decrease in inventory and the surge in pricing and competition remain just as prevalent as they did in April. A look at the numbers reveals a marketplace where buyers still have to act swiftly to lock down the American Dream of homeownership. Home sales in the state of Missouri increased since last April. Missouri REALTORS ® sold 8,247 residential properties. This was a 27.2% increase compared ...
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A Fourth of July Decor Guide

By Missouri REALTORS posted 06-17-2021
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If you’re hosting the Fourth of July festivities this year, the pressure is on. Since a lot of us missed out on the previous year’s barbecues, pool parties and firework shows due to safety precautions, we are expecting an all American, all out extravaganza with food, drinks and decorations to match. To help out, we have curated a list of patriotic decoration ideas that will leave your houseguests feeling extra proud to be an American this weekend! A Patriotic Front Porch This is a fantastic opportunity to turn the entrance of your home into the perfect patriotic display. Add some red, white and blue pops of color with patriotic flower pots, plants, wreaths, ...
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Avoiding Fair Housing Act (FHA) Violations Involving Alleged Wrongful Conduct

By Lisa Scoble posted 06-15-2021
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Avoiding Fair Housing Act (FHA) Violations Involving Alleged Wrongful Conduct With the end to the moratorium on evictions due to COVID-19 coming soon, 1 fair housing laws may be tested in a variety of situations. Potential issues may relate to the millions of renters who fell behind in their payments because of COVID-19. For instance, how will landlords respond to renters who are still behind even after they receive rental assistance? Or what if a renter had COVID-19 and asks for more time as a “reasonable accommodation” to get caught up? On the flip side, if a renter never suffered from COVID-19, they may have a more difficult time evading eviction. All this ...
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April 2021 Market Statistics

By Missouri REALTORS posted 05-25-2021
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Statewide market statistics for April of 2021 are in. Across the board, Missouri’s housing market continues to see an increase in residential properties sold, residential sale price and total dollar volume. While these double digit increases from 2020 are jaw dropping, there is still a dangerous decrease in inventory and a surge in pricing and competition across the state. A quick look at the numbers reveals that the unprecedented, relentless demand for housing in April created a red hot marketplace yet again. Home sales in the state of Missouri increased since last April. Missouri REALTORS ® sold 7,783 residential properties. This was a 26.8% increase ...
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Happy National Homeownership Month

By Missouri REALTORS posted 05-25-2021
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From everyone at Missouri REALTORS ® , to our members and homeowners across the state, happy Homeownership Month. The United States marked the first annual Homeownership Month back in June 2020 . It was established as an opportunity for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Housing Administration and others to “recognize the importance of homeownership and its impact upon the lives of American families, local neighborhoods, and the national economy.”  “For generations, homeownership has sustained and empowered Americans. Recently, we have been reminded that our homes are central to our health, our independence, ...
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Member Spotlight: Beatrice Covington

By Missouri REALTORS posted 05-25-2021
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Missouri REALTORS ® are so much more than just real estate professionals. They dedicate their time to serving on school boards and running for elected positions. They educate, serve on panels, volunteer and facilitate industry discussions. Their philanthropic efforts are inspiring, and the difference they are making within their communities is significant. Our Member Spotlight series highlights these efforts and introduces some of our wonderful members. This month, we are shining the Member Spotlight on Beatrice Covington. Beatrice, from The Covington Connection LLC and St. Louis REALTORS ® , dedicates an extensive amount of her free time to serving ...
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Capitol Update: May 21 | 2021 Legislative Session Highlights

By Missouri REALTOR Party posted 05-21-2021
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Missouri REALTORS ® , As you can imagine, it was a very hectic conclusion to this year’s legislative session. Let’s dive right in… updates that further explanation on the license law issues since the original post have been inserted in red. License Law Issues: The General Assembly approved both of Missouri REALTORS ®  license law priorities. The first, language allowing a licensee to own an unlicensed LLC that can receive commission payments. The second, advertising guidance. Both priorities were included in HB 476 and in HB 273. These were omnibus professional registration bills and REALTOR ®  legislators initially sponsored both bills; Rep. Derek Grier’s ...
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2021 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings Review

By John Sebree posted 05-17-2021
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Missouri REALTORS ® , I hope you had the opportunity to tune in to this year’s virtual REALTORS ® Legislative Meetings. While we look forward to being back on Capitol Hill next year, I am happy to share that Missouri REALTORS ®  leaders had a very successful virtual conference this year. Before we jump into meeting highlights, I first want to recognize Larry Keating. During Friday’s Board of Director’s meeting, Larry, a past president of Missouri REALTORS ® , was named a 2021 Distinguished Service Award winner for the National Association of REALTORS ® . This award is the highest honor outside of the presidency bestowed to a NAR member. Congratulations, ...
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When Do Past Repairs Become “Defects” To Be Disclosed?

By Lisa Scoble posted 05-14-2021
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When Do Past Repairs Become “Defects” To Be Disclosed? If there was one true answer to every question, think how easy conducting business or living life would be. Unless you’d like to change your chosen profession to mathematician,* then you’re in the same boat as most of us who need to make the best decision possible based on numerous factors. Here’s a real-world scenario providing some parameters for making tricky decisions in real estate transactions that will help limit your risk of a possible claim. SITUATION A seller contacted a real estate agent to act as the seller’s agent in a residential home sale. The seller had owned the property for several ...
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Capitol Update: May 3 | CFA to Increase Highway Funding, LLC Commission Payments, and LLC/Advertising Language

By Missouri REALTOR Party posted 05-03-2021
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Missouri REALTORS ® , This past Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Industry heard testimony on HB 162. In addition to Representative Viet’s original language regarding LLCs, this bill contains changes sought by the Office of the Secretary of State and our language allowing a real estate licensee to own an unlicensed LLC that could accept commission payments from their associated broker. The Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee took up HB 476 on Wednesday. The underlying bill deals with reciprocity for members of the military. It allows a MOS (military occupational specialty) to be accepted as a type of occupational ...
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Capitol Update: April 26 | LLC Commission Payments, Motor Fuel Tax, and More.

By Missouri REALTOR Party posted 04-26-2021
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Missouri REALTORS ® , This past week was a hectic week at the Capitol but since there are now only three weeks left in this session of the General Assembly, that's expected. A rare event occurred this past Monday. When I say rare, I mean I have only seen it happen a handful of times in my entire career which spans over fifty years. A petition was filed on Monday with the chief clerk of the House under House Rule 35, asking that House Bill (HB) 275 (Missouri Nondiscrimination Act) be taken from the House Committee on Children and Families and placed on the House Calendar for consideration. As provided in the Constitution, a petition was signed by fifty-five ...
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Member Spotlight: Jared Ritter

By Missouri REALTORS posted 04-26-2021
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Missouri REALTORS ® are so much more than just real estate professionals. They dedicate their time to serving on school boards and running for elected positions. They educate, serve on panels, volunteer and facilitate industry discussions. Their philanthropic efforts are inspiring, and the difference they are making within their communities is significant. Our Member Spotlight series highlights these efforts and introduces some of our wonderful members. This month, we are shining the Member Spotlight on Jared Ritter. Jared Ritter, from Ritter Real Estate, is a young, talented Missouri REALTOR ® and broker/owner who has already made enormous waves in the ...
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The Benefits of Using a REALTOR®

By Missouri REALTORS posted 04-26-2021
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The Benefits of Using a REALTOR ® Missouri REALTORS ® are essential. This was proven long before the pandemic. While consumers may be tempted to work through online real estate markets like Zillow or Opendoor, collaborating with an agent well-versed in the nuances of the industry is hands down the best real estate practice.  From providing expert opinion to decoding confusing real estate jargon, there are a plethora of reasons to conduct real estate business with an agent’s help. Here are several. Every REALTOR ® must adhere to a strict code of ethics. You can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters that adhere ...
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