Ames Place: Could there be a better location in University City? Want a neighborhood where residents block off the street for volleyball games on Sunday nights? Would you like to walk to a lecture at Wash U? Walk to a class at COCA? Order dinner from any number of restaurants just block from the house or see a movie at the Tivoli? Well, here you go!
This gorgeous 4 bedroom home on a beautiful tree-lined street in the heart Ames Place is Coming Soon so stay tuned!
A little history that I took verbatim from the neighborhood website:
In contrast to nearby University City neighborhoods (including Parkview, University Heights Number One, and University Hills), where the majority of houses were built by individual owners for their own occupancy, Ames Place was constructed primarily by developers large and small who were confident that they could sell the houses they were building in such an attractive neighborhood….In several cases two or more houses were built to the same plan, but there is little sense of repetition because the houses are given individuality by changes in materials and detailing….More important to the unity of the neighborhood are the characteristics of size, scale, materials, and ornament shared by many houses built by different contractors.
December was a BUSY month. Often times people think they need to wait until Spring to list but that does not seem to be the case this year. There are people out there looking and they are ready to buy. Three of my listings were gobbled up at the end of 2012. Check them out below.
621 Elbart in Webster Groves a 2 bed, 1 bath home listed for $200,000 on November 2, was under contract by November 6 and closed by December 5th.
2614 California in Fox Park a 4 bed 2.5 bath home listed for $179,900 in September, was under contract by November 21 and closed by December 20th.
3533 Oak Hill in Tower Grove South a 3 bed 1 bath home listed for $119,900 on November 8 and was under contract by November 22 and is set to close this week.
Why is this happening?
Rates are LOW which is great for buyers. For Sale inventory is also LOW which is good for sellers. NOW is the time list. Call me today if you would like the same results as the homes above!
Off to a busy start to spring! I wanted to post that the site is updated with new listings, and more will be added in the coming days. All great city listings, here’s a preview of some that were added with links. As always, check the listings page for more or view more properties at the Circa listing page.
Things are really moving in the city now, which explains my lack of posts recently. The April 30th deadline to get under contract for the 8k tax credit is coming up fast, and as of today it’s probably not too late to get moving (though it’s getting tight!).
For this post I’m just going to show a great new listing available in the city. This is a great home that’s been well maintained and boasts a first-floor floor plan that is really sought after in city homes. See more pictures of the property at 2330compton.com.
Take a look at the information below, and more information and more new listings are coming to the site in just a few days!
2330 Compton
Tower Grove East
$214,900, 3bd/2.5ba
More information at 2330compton.com
I’m not sure how you feel about January and February in St. Louis, but I could do without. Short days that seems to be primarily filled with an overcast sky and cold, cold winds creeping though every crack in these old city homes. So I’m starting spring early, and apparently so are these sellers. Check out the three fabulous listings that just went up this week, and let me know if you’d like to check them out.
5512 Finkman in Princeton Heights / Southampton
$164,900
Immaculately maintained bungalow in the Princeton Heights neighborhood with first floor laundry. Lots of great features to this charming home on a great South City street. Visit 5512finkman.com
1720 Chouteau #402 Loft in Lafayette Square
$149,000
A great view of the city, this 2 bed/2bath loft is in the 4th floor of the Eden Lofts in Lafayette Square. Walk to all of the great neighborhood amenities! Visit 1720chouteau.com
3646 Michigan in Gravois Park
$85,000
This Craftsman style home has all its original charm along with many modern updates. Take a look at the pictures and see why at only $85,000, this home is a great buy. Visit 3646michigan.com
Things have been very busy lately, which explains the lack of blog updates. But I wanted to make everyone aware of two great new listings I am currently co-listing with Christopher Thiemet at Circa Properties. Take a look at the sites and slideshows below!
5406 Idaho, 63111 has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and 2 car garage. It is currently available for $200,000 where nearby houses of this caliber are selling for 220-240K. Come by this weekend to experience it for yourself (Open Sunday, November 15, 1-3PM). For now check out the other photos and floor plans at http://5406Idaho.com
LOCATION: While Carondelet Park itself is reason enough to love this location, especially interesting are all the other amenities within walking distance. According to Google Maps, it is exactly 1.2 miles from 5406 Idaho to Loughborough Commons. That means that you can skip across the supremely well manicured park to Schnucks, Lowes, Panera or Starbucks without having to get in your car. Around the corner is a Walgreens in case you need to make a mid-night run for cough drops. If you are craving Mexican, El Burrito Loco is just a 7 minute walk from the front door. Want something a little more upscale? Try Iron Barley, that’s just a quarter mile in the opposite direction. Hate having to get in your car for a 45 minute round trip to the gym? Problem solved, the new Rec Plex is opening in Carondelet Park on November 19th where you can take a spinning class or go for a swim.
Interior Finish Quality: This is really a before and after moment. This home was not simply “rehabbed” it was RE-Imagined. What was once a dark, choppy ,claustrophobic interior is now a bright and versatile floor plan. The public and private spaces are perfectly separated and the magic equation of 3 beds, 2.5 baths and 2 car garage has been achieved without any of the awkwardness that sometimes accompanies this kind of transition. QUALITY is the the first word that comes to mind when I think of the work done here.
A couple of quick examples: All the original wood windows have been re-glazed, with sashes re-aligned and hardware updated. All of the bedroom closets are furnished with Saint Louis Closet Co. built-ins, all bathroom fixtures are MOEN and the kitchen exhaust really vents to the outside. In addition to QUALITY workmanship the interior is also highly FUNCTIONAL. One of the bedrooms is on the first floor. Since it has it’s own private entrance, it is perfect for a home office. For those of us who work from home and who have clients coming and going, the private entrance will be a coveted benefit. The master bedroom is a TRUE suite with a lovely master bath and walk-in closet. The mudroom is full of windows and offers a great space for taking off shoes, storing bags and bringing your plants in during the cold. And the large, open great room is perfect for entertaining friends.
Value: Below is a CMA report from the St. Louis MLS. This search includes all homes within 1/2 mile radius that are either ACTIVE or have SOLD within the last year priced above 150K. The tax records do not accurately reflect the square footage at 5406 Idaho. Architectural drawings show the space measures nearly 2100 square feet. Based on size, layout, amenities and quality of construction, 5406 Idaho blows the competition away. Looking at the comps below Idaho proves itself a real value.
View more pictures, floor plans and information at the web site: 5406idaho.com
LOCATION: It’s a given that Lafayette Square is an amazing neighborhood. The property values tell that story clearly. There are few neighborhoods in the city that consistently support 500K+ values. But, at the risk of being redundant, let me chatter about this perfectly positioned place. Lafayette Square sits squarely between I-44 and I-64/40, providing easy access to downtown. The residential area surrounds a remarkably well revived commercial center which is home to Baileys’ Chocolate Bar, Sqwires, 1111 Mississippi, Park Avenue Coffee and much, much more. Living anywhere in this neighborhood means you can WALK to the park, a dry-cleaners, several restaurants and a coffee shop. The community aspect of The Square is hard to beat and is evidenced on their website. And at the risk of using Realtor speak, I must say: It is a truly sought after location!
Interior Finish Quality: This home has been continuously occupied since 1887. To date it has had only 5 owners. Presumably each of them has done her (of the five owners only one has been a man) job as stewards of the architecture. All the doors are the solid wood originals each with original hardware. Every original hinge remains in this house. The built-in wood cabinets are still in the kitchen.The pocket doors are fully functional, sliding open or closed with the softest touch. The FOUR original fireplaces including surrounds, hearths and mantles are in immaculate condition. THE TRANSOM WINDOWS WORK! (sorry couldn’t help myself, most of the transoms I have seen are forever painted shut). Now for a list of the new: HVAC completely replaced 2002, Electrical Panel replaced 2002, Plumbing Stack 1996 (all the way to 2nd floor), EPDM roof replaced 2003, Gutters and Downspouts Replaced 2003, Brick Cornice Tuckpointed 2002, Mansard and Crown Molding on Cornice Painted 2004. Visit 1715 Hickory for more interior photos.
Value: Below is a CMA report from the St. Louis MLS. Based on a map search of the Lafayette Square area, the numbers show that 1715 Hickory is priced to SELL. And this link will allow you to see photos of the comparable properties listed in the CMA. I won’t distract you with any of the values over 325K. (An MLS search revealed 4 sold properties over this cutoff ranging all the way to $806,250) Instead the CMA below shows properties that are very similar to Hickory in terms of size and approximate condition. At 60K below the average sale price for homes of this size, Hickory is a value. Price per square foot for Hickory is $97 where the average is $120. This is your chance to buy in Lafayette Square for a truly affordable price.
To recap, people who bought in up and coming neighborhoods, before they were THE place to live made a wise investment. Granted they weren’t thinking “this is going to be a wise investment.” Instead they were probably just looking for a place they loved at a price they could afford.
If you are looking for a place to love, as in capital L.O.V.E., the kind of home that would make your friends green with envy, the kind of place you see only in magazines, this is IT!
Historically preserved and modernly updated, this house has to be experienced. While you may get a sense of this home through the pictures, you really must walk through the doorways and stand in the rooms to appreciate the time, planning and execution of the details.
From the street , it is impressive with pieces of the original wrought iron fence and perfectly symmetrical proportions. New Douglas fir doors have been milled to match the originals. The slate mansard was completely rebuilt in 2007 and the painting and tuck pointing on the facade are recently completed projects.
Once inside, the details become overwhelming. The walnut hand rail on the second floor main staircase was hand milled by a New Zealand stair expert to match the original.
The refinished original pine floors span the entire level and the pull the whole space together. All the pine baseboards, moldings, trim and 4-panel doors have been stripped and refinished.
The first floor layout is wide open allowing light from the huge windows and side door to flood the room. The front room is an example of the simple elegance that pervades the home. Nothing is out of place, every door handle, every hinge belongs and is exactly where it should be, in exactly the right style, shape and finish.
The kitchen is exceptionally well planned and is unique to the home. While it speaks to a different era with the reclaimed Geneva metal cabinets and oak counter tops, it belongs here just as if the original builder had done it himself. Through the cut out (which is bar height and designed to function as a breakfast bar with stools on the opposite side) is the office/den area and adjacent is the side porch which is really just a bright extension of the kitchen as the 11′ glass and wood doors open onto a private outdoor dining area.
The cabinets were reclaimed, refurbished then professionally painted by an auto body repair shop. This kind of creativity and thoughtful design is priceless.
All of the private areas are upstairs. Below is a picture of the back hallway (w/ cove lighting) as the wall wraps around the bathroom conforming to the shape of the original 6′ claw foot tub inside. The skill and patience it took to create this elegant detail is evidence of the quality throughout the entire restoration.
There are three large bedrooms, each with interesting details. The front two bedrooms are featured below. They are separated by fully functioning restored pocket doors. Both have elegant mantles in pristine condition and the middle room has a door to the side balcony which has fir tongue and groove flooring and Soulard style railing.
Even the privacy fence is a master piece! The rear patio, arranged in a herringbone pattern, was built with bricks from the original walkway and is lined with salvaged limestone window sills.
So, you don’t have a quarter of million dollars? No problem! 1411 Hebert is listed at $169,900.
Check any of these links if you want to know more about who lives in the area and what’s going on in terms of grassroots rehabbing or large scale urban revitalization.
I’m an experienced Saint Louis Realtor specializing in St. Louis City as well as neighborhoods like Webster Groves, Maplewood, Clayton, University City and Ladue. With an undergraduate degree in Education and Master's in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development — I have the heart of teacher.
I have been immersed in Residential Real Estate, helping home buyers and sellers understand the market, manage the ambiguities and negotiate the best terms for themselves. I am consistently voted a 5-Star Agent by clients and featured as one of St. Louis' Best Agents in Saint Louis Magazine.
