Janet McAfee Real Estate Blog

As 2020 rapidly approaches, we took a look back at the top luxury real estate sales at Janet McAfee over the last year. With so many immaculate options, we narrowed it down to the top five listed below — totaling over $17 million in combined sales. 

The Top 5 Luxury Real Estate Sales of 2019

1. 9847 Litzsinger Road, Ladue

Listed By: Wayne Norwood and Ben Patton

Sale Price: $5,150,000

Square Footage: 11,208 

Acres: 3.4

Number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms: 5 beds, 9 baths

This splendorous estate was created to mirror the alluring 18th-century castles of France’s Loire Valley. Selected by KDSK TV-5 for its exceptional design, the tree-lined property offers extreme privacy at 3.4 acres of land. Just a few of its affluent selling features include a vented cigar lounge, gaming room, wine cellar, gym and a soundproof main-level theater.

2. 564 Barnes Road, Ladue

Listed By: The Kirk Holton Team

Sale Price: $3,700,000

Square Footage:  8,850

Acres: 1.95

Number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms: 7 beds, 9 baths 

Decor by Marshall Watson NYC, this charming Georgian Colonial is a two-story masterpiece located in St. Louis Country Club Grounds. Welcomed by a sweeping entry staircase, the home features painted murals, vaulted ceilings, detailed millwork and archways, a custom bar and more. Not to mention the resplendent outdoor patio and a pool perfect for those Missouri summer nights. It’s the definition of true elegance! . 7. Carter's Grove Court, Ladue

Listed By: Julie Lane

Sale Price: $2,900,000

Square Footage:  9,378

Acres: 3

Number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms: 7 beds, 9 baths

The previous owners of this opulent two-story home invested over $2.5 million in renovations, leaving no detail behind. It has an updated pool, pool house, outdoor patio with a fireplace and fire features, new luxury baths and more. The seamless layout makes it perfect for both family time and entertaining — and with three acres of luscious land, it provides ultimate privacy. 

4. 5 Rutherford Lane, Town & Country

Listed By: Wayne Norwood and Ben Patton

Sale Price: $2,790,000

Square Footage:  6,900

Acres: 1.02

Number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms: 5 beds, 8 baths 

Selected by Architectural Digest as one of Saint Louis' most distinctive properties, this 1.5 story custom English Country Manor was designed by the nationally acclaimed McAlpine architects. The bedrooms are en-suite, with heated, wide plank ash floors and walk-in closets. Not to mention a chef’s kitchen with two walk-in pantries for food prep, a full gym and office, and a Baker free form pool with natural-looking waterfalls. It truly is a world-class home!  

5. 9450 Ladue Road, Ladue

Listed by: May Reay, Katherine D Driscoll

Sale Price: $2,463,590

Square footage: 7,895

Acres: 2.77

Number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms: 4 beds, 7 baths 

After an extensive remodel, this historic Ladue property was transformed into a spacious and elegant New England-inspired home with modern, energy-efficient features. It also has a geothermal heating and cooling system, an artist's studio with skylights, a library with cherry wood bookcases and paneling, and ample natural light. The lower level features a media room, a dedicated workout room, and a recreation room with a wet bar. Talk about modern style and grace! 

Each of these homes boast top-notch features and finishes, rich architectural detail and loving new owners. We can’t wait to see what next year’s top sales will be! 

Janet McAfee is a recognized luxury real estate leader in the St. Louis area. For more details about careers at our boutique firm or the luxury market, visit our website!

Have you ever heard a graduation speaker declare "follow your passion and you will be successful?"  What if you don't know your passion?  What if you are just starting out, trying to figure out your career path and you don't know your "passion?"  I think some things in life are not always "love at first sight."  And, I think selling real estate is not necessarily "love at first sight."  

If you speak with successful Realtors, many will tell you that it took time and perseverance to excel.  Moreover, they did not become passionate about selling real estate until they had stuck with it, worked really hard and begun to see the fruits of their labor.  The passion came after the hard work.  I believe the real estate profession is about perseverance.  Successful Realtors are committed every day; they keep abreast of market activity; they touch base with their clients regularly and they are passionate about helping their clients. These are the Realtors who succeed and love their job.  They become passionate about their job when they see the benefits of their hard work and the lives they have touched.

I believe real estate is one of the most rewarding careers you can choose.  It requires a great deal of perseverance.  Perseverance is the key ingredient to success and self fulfillment.

- Janet

Principal, Janet McAfee Real Estate

Often you will find Janet McAfee Real Estate agents lending their leadership skills to organizations who perform great work within our community.  One such example is Top Agent Larry Levy.  Larry currently serves as the Dinner Chair of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer.  Larry’s father, the late Harold Levy, was a co-founder of the organization forty-five years ago and Larry is proud to continue the tradition of working with St. Louis organizations in their fight against cancer.  Roy Firestone is the celebrity guest speaker for this year’s annual dinner on November 13^th at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton.   Tickets are still available and additional information from the organization’s website follows.

The St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer is a non-profit, charitable organization whose purposes include raising funds that are directed to specific cancer-related organizations that focus on research, prevention, and care activities in the St. Louis community.  Past recipient funds are channeled through various organizations and earmarked for specific programs in the twenty plus charities that benefit in our community. Since 1969, this independent organization has raised more than $4 million for Groups such as The Children’s Miracle Network, American Cancer Society, Missouri Baptist Cancer Center, Camp Rainbow, BJC Healthcare, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center and The Wellness Community. We direct funds not just to specific institutions, but to specific projects within those institutions, such as the Children’s Cancer Fund at Children’s Hospital, There is also a follow-up to ensure that the funds are used effectively and as intended. The dinner program is generally sports-themed with many celebrity guests in attendance, and has featured keynote speakers such as Jack Buck, Joe Buck, Tommy Lasorda, Bob Costas,  Norm Stewart and most recently Tony LaRussa and Bob Knight.

For information, sponsorship opportunities, or to request an invitation to this year’s dinner event. Contact Margie Price at 314-428-3331.

[real talk]

lisa coulter  & linda benoist
janet mcafee real estate

by tony di martino
Town & Style Magazine

The law’s loss is real estate’s gain. Lisa Coulter was finishing her law degree at Washington University when she had the first of her four children. “I was a stay-at-home mom for a few years, and when I decided to go back to work, I figured real estate might be more flexible than a legal career,” she recalls.  She has been at Janet McAfee more than 25 years, and she and partner Linda Benoist are consistently named among the firm’s top producers.  Coulter and Benoist both live in Ladue.

THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP
Linda Benoist and I, both Mary Institute grads, began our partnership in 2000. We started by covering for each other when one of us was out of town. We really enjoyed working together, so we decided to make it official.

STRENGTHS
We both love meeting new people and making connections. Linda’s strong point is social interaction and her ability to relate well to all ages. I’m very detail-oriented and love negotiating deals. We make a great team!

FIRST SALE
My first sale on my own was a gorgeous house on Moydalgan Road in Ladue. I was so excited!

BIGGEST SALE

Linda and I represented both the buyer and seller of a beautiful house on a fabulous lot. It wasn’t on the market, but we knew the seller was considering moving and we knew our buyer would love it. The property sold for $3.5 million—a $7 million deal for us.

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
I love finding the perfect house for a buyer, selling a house quickly, putting together a successful deal and making long-term connections with clients. But my least favorite part of the job is negotiating the building inspections.

RECESSION BLUES
That was a difficult time, with many wonderful listings that just weren’t selling. Our strategy was to take things one issue at a time, and to find creative ways to set our properties apart from the rest.
MOVIN’ ON UP
The market is definitely on the upswing. We’re even seeing multiple contracts again!

CAREER ADVICE
This is a great job. But if you’re thinking of getting your license, be prepared to work long hours for little pay until you get established. Learn the market, and go to lots of open houses so you can familiarize yourself with different neighborhoods. Hold open houses for other agents so you can meet potential buyers.

STRESS-BUSTER
I love to take Bailey, my lab, out for a walk.

LOVE STORY
Even after all these years, I’m still excited about every deal, and I love coming into the office.

To contact these two professionals:

Lisa Coulter
314.983.2224
www.janetmcafee.com/lisacoulter 

Linda Benoist
314.983.2119
www.janetmcafee.com/lindabenoist 

Everyone’s got a past. But, of course, some are just naturally more interesting than others. Three area realtors opened up to Ladue News Magazine about how they got to where they are today, and how they transfer the skills they gained in previous careers to give them an edge in the real estate industry.

By Blaise Hart-Schmidt
Ladue News Staff Writer 

Christy Thompson
Janet McAfee Real Estate

IN HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER, Janet McAfee Real Estate agent Christy Thompson has done everything from FBI weapons-training to health care public relations to selling houses.

Thompson grew up in St. Louis, and received her bachelors in political science from Vanderbilt University. After graduating, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked in the FBI’s Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, helping with press conferences and announcements.

The position came with plenty of unique opportunities, Thompson says. She stood on the White House lawn as president Ronald Reagan landed in Marine One, helped with press conferences related to Mafia sting operations, and even sat in on a meeting with Oliver North about the Iran-Contra.  Eventually, she went on to work as a legislative assistant for California Rep.  Norman Shumway, but home was calling.

Thompson returned to St. Louis to get her law degree, and received her juris doctor in 1992 from Saint Louis University. “After law school, I was very involved in real-estate law,” she says. “Then I segued. My father is a physician, and I became interested in malpractice defense work. I wound up working for about eight years for SSM Healthcare, where I combined my press work and legal background in their public relations office.” 

Thompson craved a career that would give her a more flexible schedule with her husband and son.  Again, her career took a turn—this time, back to real estate. She joined Janet McAfee as an agent in 2006, and specializes in the central corridor.  In addition to being full-time sales at the agency, Thompson still is a practicing attorney in contract negotiation; she works on a contract basis as in-house legal counsel for a St. Louis based software-as-a-service company.  “The two have worked together beautifully,” she says. “I wouldn’t be nearly as informed and proactive of an agent as I am if it weren’t for my legal training. It teaches you to think on your feet, and be analytical and persuasive...What I enjoy most is negotiations and helping my clients know that they got a deal. A lot of that is due to my training and my analytical way of looking at a problem. And I’m pretty darn persuasive when I want to be.”

To reach Christy:

Christy Thompson
314.974.6140
cthompson@janetmcafee.com
www.janetmcafee.com/christythompson 

Recently, the Ladue News Magazine profiled a select group of Top-Performing Real Estate Agents from the Saint Louis community to offer insight into their professional and personal lives.  Janet McAfee Real Estate Top Agent Ann Carter was one of the agents selected and her excerpt is furnished here.

Ask An Agent

BY BLAISE HART-SCHMIDT
 

YOU SEE THEIR NAMES AND FACES EVERYWHERE—on ‘SOLD’ signs in front yards, in the pages of Ladue News and maybe even around your neighborhood. But how much do you really know them? Here, some of the area’s top realtors share how they got into the business, advice for home buyers and sellers, and a tidbit or two about their favorite way to spend a weekend.

Ann Carter

Janet McAfee Real Estate 

How did you begin working in real estate?
I got into it shortly after college, about 28 years ago. I immediately loved it and was lucky to find my profession. What do you do outside of work? I love to play golf, usually at Forest Park, but I haven’t had much time lately with the spring market being so busy. I also garden. I have a lot of roses and different perennials around the house. It’s a good way to get away from everything.

What are some of your favorite St. Louis spots? 
I love taking advantage of Forest Park, the museums, and The Muny, as well as the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. As far as restaurants, my favorite is I Fratellini.

What’s something many people don’t know about you? 
I am part-owner of three businesses out in Jackson, Wyoming. They are kitchen and clothing boutiques run by my baby sister. We’ve been doing it for about 20 years now, and I visit as much as I can—it’s gorgeous out there.

What advice do you have for people trying to sell their home?
The market is so strong right now, take advantage and try to get your home on the market as soon as possible. With interest rates so low, it’s a perfect time to sell. 

To reach Ann:

Ann Carter
314.277.1089
anncarter@janetmcafee.com
www.janetmcafee.com/anncarter 

A RISING STAR

A very wise woman once wrote, "….each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint…and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you."

We are unable to imagine a finer description of Janet McAfee Top Agent, Susan Hurley. Today, her successful real estate practice is a personal calling founded on her passion for helping clients achieve their goals. Against her heavy transaction levels and unbounded geographic service area, her superior service ethic is fueled by infinite energy. She is truly a rising star in our small galaxy of bright lights.

We invited Susan to sit down and talk with us about her success as a Realtor. Her insights and efficient observations reveal a great deal about her professionalism and her vision.

How do you stay on top of your profession?

Exploring fresh solutions and staying relevant are key, as each project is so different than the next. This includes surrounding myself not only with current information, but maintaining relationships that offer positive energy and optimize my network.

What personally drives your success?

The intrigue of a new challenge is irresistible, and once I have a vision of how I see that project coming full circle, I take great pride in all the steps involved to meet the expectations I set out to accomplish and eliminate mediocrity. The feeling at the end of the day knowing you have kept your best foot forward is a great one, and consistent preparation allows that.

How do you manage your priorities?

I do have a system for that...it is simple, just not easy... I use my best energy on the hardest task of the day... it takes a bit of discipline but once you do this, the rest of the day flows much smoother allowing me to be focus on being in charge of my day.... rather than my day being in charge of me!!

What do you do when you are not working?

At the top of my list: weekend getaways, anything outdoors, hanging out with my family, and trying new and unique restaurants.

To learn more about Susan and to see her fine listings, simply follow the link to her website: www.janetmcafee.com/susanhurley.