Its All Local | Real Facts | Why use a Realtor?

The St. Charles County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAR) is "making a move" to promote homebuying in St. Charles County and to debunk media myths about the local real estate market. With interest rates approaching 40-year lows, an abundance of homes to choose from and exceptionally low prices, conditions are ideal for buyers.

"2008: The Right Time for Real Estate" includes integrated marketing communications techniques such as media placement, print and broadcast advertising, internet marketing, community events and direct marketing. Through these intensive efforts, SCCAR hopes to increase home sales in the area and demonstrate to the public how, locally, the real estate picture is far more optimistic than the much-publicized national trends.


Did you know?

  • In 2007, more than 5,200 homes changed hands in St. Charles County
  • The average home took 80 days to sell (an increase of only 12 days from 2006)

Home Values in 2007

Nationally, the median home price decreased by 1.4%. In St. Charles County, prices increased about .1%. Nationally, single family home sales were down 12.8%. In St. Charles County, sales were down about 9.3%. Nationally, new home sales were down 26.4%. In St. Charles County, sales were down about 8.3%.

A "normal" market?

From 2004-2006, the St. Charles County area experienced record breaking real estate sales activity. This means that the last time St. Charles County saw a “normal market” was in 2002-2003. Since then:
  • Home sales have increased 1,109 units
  • The average sale price has increased $54,825


Facts about Owning a Home

According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2008 campaign website, www.housingmarketfacts.com, facts about the benefits and values of owning a home include:
  • Over the past 30 years, home values have risen more than 6% annually
  • On average, the value of a home nearly doubles every 10 years
  • 60% of the average homeowner’s wealth comes from their home’s equity
  • The average homeowner’s net worth is $171,000 (nearly 46x that of a renter’s, who has an average net worth of $4,800)
  • At an annual appreciation rate of 5%, a 10% down payment on a home will return 94% after three years…After 5 years, 225%...and after 10 years, 623%.

Investing in the Future

If you’ve owned your St. Charles County home for 5 years, on average you can sell that home for $54,000 more than you paid for it. That’s an average return on investment of about 7% per year. This, unlike any other investment, has a return that, for almost all Americans, is totally tax free.


As “The Voice for Real Estate,” the National Association of Realtors® speaks on behalf of more than 1.3 million members nationwide, making it the largest trade association in America. In the past five years, the percentage of consumers that would use a REALTOR® to buy or sell a home has increased from 52% to 71%. The St. Charles County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAR) was founded in 1946 and currently has over 1800 members. SCCAR, located at 110 Point West Blvd., St. Charles, MO 63301, is “The Voice for Real Estate in St. Charles County.”