The world is becoming more commercialized and fast-paced by the day, and local landmarks and businesses are more important than ever. The Valley Park Elevator has it all. It's a hardware store meets garden store with eclectic lawn art. It's also a bait shop and pseodo-food market selling fresh produce and local goods. To top it all off, it's also in a historic grain elevator.  It was the largest grain elevator in St. Louis and is the last standing out of four in the county. It began as The Valley Park Milling Company in 1874, it was the center of town. The mill produced Meramec Flour an ..read more

If you’ve got a move on your mind, you may be wondering whether you should wait to sell until mortgage rates come down before you spring into action. Here’s some information that could help answer that question for you. In the housing market, there’s a longstanding relationship between mortgage rates and buyer demand. Typically, the higher rates are, you’ll see lower buyer demand. That’s because some people who want to move will be hesitant to take on a higher mortgage rate for their next home. So, they decide to wait it out and put their plans on hold. But when rates star ..read more

Powell Hall in the Grand Center Arts District began as the St. Louis Theater in 1925 and was a stage for vaudeville acts and movie productions. It was one of the 400 theaters build by the influential Chicago firm Rapp & Rapp, and was constructed in the French Baroque style. But it’s not just a pretty face. Since 1968, it has been the home of The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO). The acoustics of the hall are world renowned and performers have fallen in love with playing there.   Our story really starts in the 1960s when the hall as it's known today was born. It is named after ..read more

If you’re trying to sell your house, you may be looking at this spring season as the sweet spot – and you’re not wrong. We’re still in a seller’s market because there are so few homes for sale right now. And historically, this is the time of year when more buyers move, and competition ticks up. That makes this an exciting time to put up that for sale sign. But while conditions are great for sellers like you, you’ll still want to be strategic when it comes time to set your asking price. That’s because pricing your house too high may actually co ..read more

Central Park in Chesterfield is a fantastic place to visit for a multitude of reasons. If you've only walked the trail or have taken your children to the playground, you’re missing out on their awe-inspiring public art installation. In the open park space to the east of the playground, across Veterans Place Drive, you will find oversized extremities and a head of a human body fighting it’s way out of the ground. John Seward Jr., who created the work, says “I think this sculpture has a place in the universal subconscious. He woke up, he’s coming to, and God only knows what this means…It’s his ..read more

Driving around downtown St. Louis you will see lots of  interesting historic architecture. With our city being founded in 1764. it is now 259 years old. Old, but not ancient. However, some of our buildings really look like they came straight from antiquity. The ornamental detail, whether you are a fan or not, is always striking. The Civil Courthouse where the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court is one of these buildings, particularly above the 10th-ish or so floor.  After the Chicago Columbian Exposition (also called the Chicago’s World’s Fair) in 1893, a movement began.  Chicago ..read more

Introduction Owning a home is often considered the ultimate goal in many people's lives. It represents stability, security, and independence—a place to call your own that reflects who you are and where you're headed. First-time homebuyers often find themselves navigating a maze of financial considerations, market variables, and emotional decisions. That's where a skilled real estate agent comes into play, especially a team as dedicated and knowledgeable as The Gellman Team in the St. Louis area. The Gellman Team stands ready to transform uncertainty into confidence, guiding you through every ..read more

Although the origin story of the Blues is full of hardship and drama it is, as well, beautiful and gripping. It has been said that while the lyrics of the Blues are often speaking of woeful times, the music itself is meant to be a happy music. The southern central portion of the United States is where the Blues were born and then migrated northward to Chicago where it exploded with global interest.  St. Louis found itself right in the middle of it all.  Historically, enslaved people working on southern plantations would sing while working and during spirituals at church. They had h ..read more

Introduction Embarking on the journey to purchase a home can be as daunting as it is exhilarating. With the complex terrain of the St. Louis real estate market, the assistance of an expert can transform uncertainty into confidence. As the St. Louis real estate industry heats up this spring, a trustworthy and experienced real estate agent can offer you more than just assistance in finding your dream home—they provide invaluable market knowledge that leads to smart investments. In this post, we'll explore the top ten reasons why working with a professional from The Gellman Team isn't just benef ..read more

❓ What is happening in the market?  ?️ Interest rates - approximately 7%. Interest rates are a noncontrollable. We are seeing a very active market right now with buyers ignoring the higher rates.  There is a shortage of sellers. Many sellers are still locked into 2% or 3% interest rates and are not prepared to trade up to a higher interest rate. ❓ What does this mean? ➡️ Simple supply and demand: we are seeing significant demand and not enough supply. Prices are rising as a result. ? St. Louis County February 2019, 2,500+ active homes for sale. February 2024, 1,298 active homes for ..read more