The St. Louis Relocation Checklist
The things I would want checked before choosing an area, signing a lease or buying a house in St. Louis—especially the address-level details newcomers do not know to ask about.
Before you choose an area
Confirm every adult’s work location and expected in-office schedule.
Set a realistic monthly housing range—not just a purchase price.
Decide whether walkability, lot size, newer construction, historic character, parks or nightlife actually matter weekly.
Map childcare, family, airport and other recurring destinations.
Compare City, County, St. Charles County and Metro East only after you understand your routine.
Before you choose a house
Confirm the municipality for the exact address.
Confirm the school district and any school assignment that matters directly with the district.
Check property taxes, special districts and recurring municipal costs.
Get property-specific insurance information.
Check flood maps and other address-level environmental risks.
Drive the commute from the exact house at the actual work hour.
For older St. Louis homes
Ask about sewer lateral condition or obtain a sewer scope where appropriate.
Inspect basement moisture history, grading and drainage.
Review masonry/tuckpointing on brick homes.
Understand electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roof age/updates.
Inspect mature trees near the roof, sewer and service lines.
For farther-out / larger-lot homes
Confirm public sewer/water versus private systems where applicable.
Understand private road, driveway or subdivision-maintenance responsibilities.
Budget for lawn, tree, drainage and exterior maintenance.
Drive a non-work trip back toward the parts of St. Louis you will use regularly.
Before closing
Reconfirm school assignment, municipality and services.
Review final commute and parking logistics.
Verify any planned renovation against local permits/historic rules.
Know who handles trash, police, fire, occupancy and permitting.
Save the important home records you will want after closing.
Need help turning this into a shortlist?
CityHub can narrow all 172 community guides around your actual move, then keep the exact-address questions separate from the community-level research.