I have added a new business service called Home Central! I call it "home service and design management". Think of it as property management re-imagined for homeowners! I am not taking on any rental or commercial property, only residential: single families, villas and condos - primary or second homes.

I founded "Hoeferkamp Home Central, LLC" - www.HomeCentralSTL.com - to provide expert oversight for homeowners maintaining and improving their properties. As people are staying in their homes longer now, the need is growing fast. Hoeferkamp Real Estate continues to run strong and do well. Home Central is a separate, additional service that I offer. I hired Kim Suddeth as Operations Manager, who has been working diligently on this with me.

We have a large number of tried and true contractors ready for you that I have collected over the years, and the expertise to guide you thru all large and small projects, whether setting up routine maintenance, or bidding out and completing large improvements. We have 3 service tiers to choose from with varying levels of fees, from a DIY model to fully involved, coupled with our corresponding oversight and interaction with contractors and designers. Email me at gary@homecentralstl.com for further details and pricing, and to schedule a home visit. I am offering a 20% discount off normal pricing thru the end of February 2025.

After many years of clients asking me for help on house issues and contractors, I have finally taken the initiative to form a business model that addresses just that. Imagine all that your home can be, and let my new company help you achieve it!

As we approach Christmas and end of year, the inventory shrank 15%. Here is an update on local, existing home sales activity as of Wednesday (Dec 18th):

• Manchester had 5 homes available and 13 under contract
• Ballwin had 20 homes available and 44 under contract
• **Kirkwood had 42 homes available and 29 under contract**
• St Peters had 44 homes available and 55 under contract
• Arnold had 25 homes available and 26 under contract
• Florissant had 74 homes available and 83 under contract

The ratios range from .7 to 2.6 pending sales for every 1 available, averaging 1.2 pendings to every 1 available. My last comparison of these areas in November was 1.1 to 1 (and 2.8 to 1 in June 2022) with the available home supply DOWN 15% from November. That shows a turnaround already toward a spring market, with a dropping inventory and more competition for buyers. Manchester is still on top for best seller's market at a 2.6 to 1 ratio of pendings to available, while Kirkwood - KIRKWOOD - dipped to the best market for buyers at .7 to 1, and reached a balanced market. Take advantage of this anomaly and call me about buying a house in Kirkwood. Don't put off your home purchase any longer, the market is already looking toward spring with corresponding price increases!