Holly Even, Real Estate Professional

04/09/2026

What to Know About Homeowners Associations Before You Buy
Buying a home is one of the most significant decisions you'll ever make, and if the property you're considering is part of a homeowners association (HOA), there's an extra layer of research worth doing before you sign on the dotted line. HOAs can offer real value, but they also come with responsibilities...

Buying a home is one of the most significant decisions you'll ever make, and if the property you're considering is part of a homeowners association (HOA), there's an extra layer of research worth doing before you sign on the dotted line. HOAs can offer real value, but they also come with...

04/03/2026

Recently Sold! Take a look at what I recently sold at 9425 White Avenue , Brentwood.

9425 White Avenue , Brentwood, MO 63144 See 1 Photos, description and maps; Bedrooms: 3; Full Baths: 2; Partial Baths: 1; Square Feet: 1896; Price: $549,900; MLS ID: 26010867

04/03/2026

Touring Homes With a Critical Eye: What Buyers Often Miss
Walking through a home for the first time is an exciting experience. The fresh paint, the staged furniture, the natural light pouring through clean windows — it's easy to get swept up in the feeling of a space and lose sight of the details that truly matter. But when you're making one of the largest...

Walking through a home for the first time is an exciting experience. The fresh paint, the staged furniture, the natural light pouring through clean windows — it's easy to get swept up in the feeling of a space and lose sight of the details that truly matter. But when you're making one of the...

03/26/2026

How to Evaluate a Neighborhood During Different Times of Day
Finding the right home involves far more than square footage, curb appeal, and asking price. The neighborhood you choose becomes the backdrop of your daily life, and it can feel like an entirely different place depending on when you visit. Before you make one of the most significant financial decisions...

Finding the right home involves far more than square footage, curb appeal, and asking price. The neighborhood you choose becomes the backdrop of your daily life, and it can feel like an entirely different place depending on when you visit. Before you make one of the most significant financial...

03/19/2026

The Best Home Styles for Enjoying Spring Weather
Spring isn't just a great time to buy a home because there is more on the market. It's also one of the most enjoyable seasons for homeowners. Warmer temperatures, blooming landscapes, and longer days make it the perfect time to spend more time outdoors. For home buyers, certain architectural styles are...

Spring isn't just a great time to buy a home because there is more on the market. It's also one of the most enjoyable seasons for homeowners. Warmer temperatures, blooming landscapes, and longer days make it the perfect time to spend more time outdoors. For home buyers, certain architectural...

03/13/2026

What to Do the First Week in Your New Home
Once you've closed and gotten the keys to your new place, the process isn't over. It's time to move in and get settled. With a new space to get acquainted with and so many boxes to unpack, it can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, having a plan and following a few important steps can help you settle in smoothly.
Here's...

Once you've closed and gotten the keys to your new place, the process isn't over. It's time to move in and get settled. With a new space to get acquainted with and so many boxes to unpack, it can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, having a plan and following a few important steps can help you...

03/06/2026

What to Know About Using Gifted Funds for a Down Payment
For many home buyers — especially first-time buyers — saving for a down payment can feel like the biggest hurdle to homeownership. That's why gifted funds from a family member can be such a powerful tool. Whether it's parents, grandparents, or another eligible relative offering financial help, gifted...

For many home buyers — especially first-time buyers — saving for a down payment can feel like the biggest hurdle to homeownership. That's why gifted funds from a family member can be such a powerful tool. Whether it's parents, grandparents, or another eligible relative offering financial...

02/27/2026

🌿 THE SPRING EDIT

Day 5 — Reset the Way You Live

If you’ve lived through a St. Louis winter, you know the shift.

One afternoon the light lasts longer.
The air feels softer.
We crack a window just enough to let fresh air in.

This week wasn’t really about decluttering.

It was about how your home feels after months of gray skies and heavy layers.

Day 5 isn’t about removing more.

It’s about asking:

Does my home support the way we live right now?

Walk through your home — whether it’s in Ladue, Clayton, Chesterfield, or South City — and notice:

• Where does the mail actually land?
• Where do backpacks naturally drop?
• Which room feels heavy after winter?
• Where does everyone gather when the light comes in?

Instead of fighting your habits, adjust the house around them.

Add a basket near the garage entry.
Create a real mail station.
Move a chair closer to the window that catches afternoon sun.

Homes in St. Louis are built to last.
They evolve with the people inside them.

Spring is simply the reminder to check in.

Not because you’re selling.
Not because it needs to look perfect.

But because when your home works with your life — especially after a long Midwest winter — everything feels lighter.

And that’s a reset every homeowner can use.

02/26/2026

How to Research Crime and Safety
When you're buying a home, it's easy to focus on details like finishes and square footage. But feeling safe in your new neighborhood is just as important as loving the kitchen layout. Doing your homework on crime and safety doesn't mean assuming the worst; it means making an informed decision.
Here's...

When you're buying a home, it's easy to focus on details like finishes and square footage. But feeling safe in your new neighborhood is just as important as loving the kitchen layout. Doing your homework on crime and safety doesn't mean assuming the worst; it means making an informed decision. ...

02/26/2026

🌿 THE SPRING EDIT

Day 4 — The Primary Retreat

St. Louis Style

There’s a difference between a bedroom…
and a primary suite that makes you pause.

In St. Louis’ established neighborhoods, these rooms were built with intention.

Fireplaces that anchor the space.
Generous windows overlooking mature trees.
Trim and ceiling height that feel substantial.
Room for a sitting area — not because it’s trendy, but because the scale allows it.

This is Midwest luxury.

Not loud.
Not showy.
Just timeless.

When I walk into a primary suite like this, I don’t think about square footage first.

I think about how it feels at 6:30 in the morning when the light filters through the trees.

That’s what buyers connect to.

And that’s what protects value.

02/25/2026

🌿 THE SPRING EDIT

Day 3 — Let the Light In

Because in the Midwest, we earn our sunshine.

If you live in the Midwest, you understand this.

By late winter, everything feels heavy.
The skies. The layers. The rooms.

And then one day the light shifts.

Day 3 of the Spring Edit is simple — but powerful.

Let the light in.

In 30 minutes:
• Pull back heavy drapes
• Remove thick winter textiles
• Clean the inside of your windows
• Wipe down mirrors and glass
• Clear window sills completely

Natural light is the most valuable design element in any home — especially here, where we crave it.

When windows are unobstructed:
Rooms feel larger.
Walls look brighter.
Floors glow warmer.
The entire house feels refreshed.

This is one of the first things I notice when I walk into a home. Not the finishes. Not the furniture.

The light.

And when it’s allowed to shine, everything else looks better.

After months of gray, this small shift feels like the beginning of spring