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.

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If you are looking for refined luxury living in a well known Ladue neighborood, check out this Ladue News feature home article by Blase Hart-Schmidt.

15 Clermont Lane

BY BLAISE HART-SCHMIDT

This 4-bedroom, 3-full and 1-half bathroom home in Ladue is listed for $1.2985 million.

YOU’VE PROBABLY DRIVEN BY this home and done a double-take at its bright pink door. But what you might not realize is that behind the entrance is a home with an abundance of charm.

The 4,400-square-foot home in a sought-after neighborhood features a gracious center-hall floor plan, step-down living room and chic dining room. Enter the private backyard through the adjoining living room to enjoy the quaint secret garden and gorgeously landscaped grounds.

The new gourmet kitchen boasts a breakfast bar, butler’s pantry, center island, custom cabinetry, solid surface counters and a wine cooler; and the main-floor master suite’s new bathroom, sitting area, gas fireplace and private patio make it a true oasis. You’ll enjoy having plenty of space thanks to the three bedrooms, two sitting rooms and two bathrooms upstairs.

Built-in bookcases, special millwork, walk-in closets and main-floor laundry round out this home’s amenities. 

For more details, please contact the listing agents:

Judy Miller
314.368.9011

Raye Zeigler
314.496.9022

The Ladue News Magazine contacted us looking for examples of homes that speak to today's luxury buyer.  We suggested 12 Hillvale in Clayton as a superb example of a home with outstanding features and refined luxury finishes.  A copy of the feature article written by Blase Hart-Schmidt follows:

12 Hillvale Drive

BY BLAISE HART-SCHMIDT

This 5-bedroom, 4-full and 1-half bathroom home in Clayton is listed for $1.595 million.

THIS CLAVERACH PARK GEM makes a fantastic family home.  Kids will adore the half-acre property’s zip line and rustic tree house. Lovingly restored to its original grandeur, the 4,700-square-foot house features soaring ceilings, graceful arched openings, custom tile flooring, leaded-glass windows and wrought-iron accents.

An elegant dining room, large living room with a fireplace and an elevated sitting room all adjoin the entrance hall for a plethora of space.  The gourmet kitchen boasts custom cabinetry, granite countertops, a center island, and SubZero and Dacor appliances for effortless cooking.

The family room has 12-foot box beamed ceilings, a full wet bar, fireplace and French doors, which open to the columned loggia and terrace. Mom and Dad can retreat to the master suite, with a walk-in closet, steam shower, his-and-her vanities and a soaking tub. Second-floor laundry, built-in wine cabinets and a locker area in the lower level and a 2-car garage round out this fine home. 

For more details:
Heidi Long
314.308.2283

 

[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