When I mention to other realtors that I live and work in North County, I’m often met with an uncomfortable combo of pity, disgust and perplexity. WHY would you want to work up there?, their faces usually say. And then I know: this person has obviously never seen Old Jamestown. Because if they had, they would totally understand why my heart still roots for this amazingly beautiful part of St. Louis.

Think what you will about the rest of NoCo, but there is simply no denying that the Old Jamestown area, bordering the Missouri River near the Confluence, is a magical place of unique natural wonders, rich history and incredible architecture. And because of that, the 63034 zip code remains North County’s strongest in terms of holding its value.

I grew up in this neck of the woods, and I know it well. So I thought I’d share some of the true gems that are for sale there right now, leaving that “castle” up above for the very end…

10 Persimmon -  This house probably won’t win any awards for curb appeal, but what it lacks in pizzazz, it more than makes up for in land and location. Sitting on 3.67 acres within walking distance of the river, this 1970 ranch has an open living area and a 3-car garage, and would make one heck of a country retreat! It’s also right next door to one of my all-time favorite properties – a fun & colorful mini farm that is sure to warm your heart! 1950 square feet, 5+3, $209,900, listing courtesy of broker/owner Dana Carlos, Assist 2 Sell. 

42 Carrico - When I say prime property, THIS is what I mean. It’s a 1959 stone ranch that comes with 24.47 acres directly bordering the Missouri River and Pelican Island. It’s a real shame that the MLS photos are so poor (and that the agent won’t take me up on my offer to do a full feature), because I’ve seen this place and it’s absolutely incredible! Not only does it look like a lodge inside, with wood ceilings and huge beams, but it also comes with a 3-acre lake, a stream and a large expanse of forest, and it’s located on the infamous Bubblehead Road! There is no basement here, likely because the property is in a flood plain, but there’s still plenty of space to work with, and loads of potential! 3025 square feet, 3+3, $499,000, listing courtesy of David Patterson, Coldwell Banker Gundaker. 

17200 Old Jamestown - I’ve driven past this cute little farmhouse hundreds of times over the years and yet I only recently learned its secret. You can’t tell from the exterior, but at the heart of this home is actually a 1790s log cabin, which once served as “the most remote outpost of civilization on the frontier!” Built by Guy Seely, one of the first land owners in North County, the cabin sat near a popular Indian trail and was often the site of conferences with Native Americans. It was also where General James Wilkinson, first governor of the Louisiana Territory, stayed for two weeks while choosing a site for what eventually became Fort Bellefontaine, the first U.S. Military post west of the Mississippi.

Of course, a lot has changed since the frontier era, and this house is now modernized and much larger. But it still has a lot of character and a nice chunk of land – 1.5 acres. Update the decor and this place could be your very own historic hideaway! And just imagine the neat old stuff you might “excavate” in the yard!  2122 square feet, 3+1, $125,000, listing courtesy of Barb Doner, RE/MAX Stars. 

4023 Fleur de Lis - If you’re looking for a huge, executive-style home at a fraction of the price you’d pay in West County, don’t miss this Spanish Revival beauty in the lovely Fleur de Lis subdivision. Built in 1978, this house sprawls to a whopping 4300 square feet and comes with 4.05 acres and a 7-car garage! The kitchen may be a bit out of date, but what do you expect for $245,000?! Seriously, this is a whole lot of nest for the money! 4 bedrooms & 3.5 baths, listing courtesy of Carol Stroker, Prudential Select. 

275 Afshari - OK, it’s finally time for the castle… If you grew up in North County (and maybe even if you didn’t), you have undoubtedly heard the name Afshari. A local character named Joe Afshari developed a number of hideous strip malls and other questionable/bankrupt ventures in the 80s & 90s, and this gargantuan local landmark is actually his private residence. Afshari created this subdivision and a few more nearby, but he built no home larger than his own – a massive all-brick structure that spans 5364 square feet! Perched prominently on a hill overlooking 2.67 acres, this one-of-a-kind house has a 20-foot octagonal fireplace and an indoor pool, but what strikes me most about it is the Graceland-style decor. I hope you like floral carpet & wallpaper! 4 bedrooms + 3.5 baths, $799,000, listing courtesy of Paul Morad, Coldwell Banker Gundaker.

If you’d like a buyer’s agent to show you any of these unique properties, give me a call!

Shannon Howard
(314) 359-5927
shannon@STLhomeswithsoul.com

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When I first saw this house, I thought it might be in one of those older private enclaves along Ladue Road. I mean, it’s a classic 1940s stone estate with more than 3000 square feet. It also sits on 1.45 secluded acres, has a 4-car garage and an inground pool, and is directly adjacent to a private golf course. But here’s how I knew this place is definitely not in Ladue: the price just dropped from $269,000 to $109,000!!!

That’s right, it’s not a typo. This property had some minor fire damage, and now that the insurance has been paid out and the smoke damage professionally cleaned, I guess the owners are just very eager to sell. Which is awesome news for some lucky buyer!

Cosmetically, the interior needs some freshening, but systems-wise, the house actually has a few good updates, including newer 200-amp electric. If you can put in a little sweat equity, you could really have a supreme deal here.

So where is this prize located? In a gorgeous section of Spanish Lake, not far from the Mississippi-Missouri Confluence.

I really hate to use the N-word (North County), because I’m sure it’ll scare away a whole lot of buyers, but I know this area extremely well and I promise you this location is fantastic. Especially if your world doesn’t revolve around school districts, you want to be surrounded by Mother Nature, and you’d appreciate a quick commute to downtown.

2 Elmcrest Acres has 4 bedrooms & 3.5 baths in 3089 square feet and is listed by Kevin Vaughn of Coldwell Banker Gundaker. If you’d like a buyer’s agent to show you this one-of-a-kind property, give me a call!

UPDATE 11/9: I showed this house today and it needs substantially more work than the listing suggests. There is evidence of smoke in every room, to the extent that a rep from Servpro suggested taking most of the walls down to the studs. While you’re doing that, you should probably also update the entire electrical system, since the fire that caused all this damage was electrical in nature. BUT, if you can swing that, maybe even do some of the work yourself, this house has immense potential. Even as-is, the property is truly exceptional.

Shannon Howard
(314) 359-5927
shannon@STLhomeswithsoul.com

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In 1799, when the state of Missouri was still part of the Louisiana Territory, a pioneer by the name of Captain Warren Cottle led a group of 100 friends & family members on a months-long migration from Vermont. Their destination was the fertile land along the Missouri River, or what’s today St. Charles County, and once they arrived, they wasted no time in making their mark.

Captain Cottle opened one of the first mills in the area, along the Dardenne River (now Creek). His father and brother-in-law moved a bit north and founded the town of Troy, while his grandson Lorenzo later founded the town of Cottleville. And not to be outdone, the Captain’s son Oliver embarked upon an ambitious construction project around 1825, building a grand stone mansion with walls two feet thick.

Oliver sold the house and its 100-acre property to his brother Ira in 1833, who turned around and sold it to William McClay, a teacher and fellow Vermonter. According to legend, the home’s fireplace mantel was hand-made by Daniel Boone’s youngest son, Nathan. And the majestic sycamore trees in the yard….well, they’re some of the oldest in St. Charles County.

Which makes me wonder: Why is this unique historic site not on the National Register? And how in the world can it be sitting vacant & unloved?

The property is currently for sale, and I have to say I’m a bit worried. It now sits on 9.46 acres surrounded by newer subdivisions and needs an awful lot of work, making it a prime target for tear-down and redevelopment. I just hope a preservation-minded buyer steps forward and gives this home the care it deserves.

Besides the main house, there’s also a 4-bedroom guest house, a horse barn, two streams, an old well and a nice expanse of woods. Best of all, the grounds are super private. You’d hardly know you’re in St. Charles!

So what you do you say? Wanna save a historic landmark?

4401 McClay has 3 bedrooms & 3 baths in 2688 square feet. It’s listed for $450,519 by Jerris Ruth of Keller Williams Realty. More photos and info available here.

If you’d like a buyer’s agent to show you this one-of-a-kind property, give me a call! I’ll be glad to share my ideas on how it could become an awesome bed & breakfast, mini farm, or wedding/event venue – similar to the beautiful Kuhs Farm in North County.

Shannon Howard
(314) 359-5927
shannon@STLhomeswithsoul.com

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It used to sit on 2.3 acres, but that has since been subdivided and whittled down to a half acre. What’s left is a quirky little hillside with a McMansion next door and a new subdivision behind, and of course, this one-of-a-kind raised ranch.

As I was just telling a client today, true raised ranches are pretty unusual in St. Louis, and many people flat out hate them. But this place actually has the entry on the main level, as opposed to the basement, so that’s a big plus. Other unique features include the huge carved front doors, the three-car garage with a rooftop deck, and the fact that the “raised” living area feels just like a treehouse.

The systems, bathrooms, kitchen and roof have all been recently updated, and the stone exterior is absolutely gorgeous. The price has also dropped from $250,000+ to the current list of $112,000. So other than a potential water issue in the basement (??) and the odd layout of the yard, I can’t understand why this house hasn’t sold. With some privacy-minded landscaping and a bit of creative vision, it could be one very cool vintage pad.

By the way, it’s actually much more attractive in person…

Listing courtesy of William Keefer, Keller Williams, (636) 534-8100. More photos and info available here.

If you’d like a buyer’s agent to show you this one-of-a-kind 1930s abode, I’d be happy to help!

Shannon Howard
(314) 359-5927
shannon@STLhomeswithsoul.com

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Constructed over a decade starting in 1969, the hand-built castle was a gift from dermatologist Wallace Stuart to his “princess” and wife, Joan. Dr. Stewart sourced thousands of stones from all over Missouri, even incorporating discarded grave markers from St. Martha’s Cemetery. On his 111 acres overlooking the Meramec River, he essentially built the castle around an existing home, slowing encasing “Glen Meadowy,” the 1918 farmhouse originally owned by the founder of Brown Shoe Company.

Stewart and his family lived on the property until 1982, when divorce caused him to leave the castle vacant for about six weeks. During that time, vandals broke in and caused extensive damage, spurring the good doctor to walk away and never return. His stone masterpiece sat empty for 15 years, until another doctor and his wife moved in and invested heavily in renovations. Unfortunately, they too hit a patch of bad luck and lost the house in foreclosure.

At one point a few years ago, Stuart Castle and its now six-acre lot were listed for $2 million. Today, you can score this one-of-a-kind palace, filled with secret passages, mysterious peepholes and a treasure trove of expensive tile and marble, for just $410,900. Maybe even less…

UPDATE 2/11: I was able to visit Stuart Castle in person today. WOW!! Click on the images below for the full photo tour. And please note, this house is only available for CASH purchase. Financing is most likely not an option.

Listing courtesy of Tony Russo, Russo Realty, (636) 825-9844. More photos and info available here.

If you’d like a buyer’s agent to show you this genuine work of art, which has been featured in St. Louis Magazine and on HGTV, I’d be happy to help!

Shannon Howard
(314) 359-5927
shannon@STLhomeswithsoul.com

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