Saint Joseph, IL

Saint Joseph is a city located in the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat of Saint Joseph County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,913. It is the fourth-most populous city in Illinois after Chicago, Springfield and Peoria. Saint Joseph was founded on July 4, 1809 by French fur trader Pierre Laclede as a trading post on the Missouri River. The city became known as "The Gateway to the West" because it was one of the first settlements in what would become Iowa and Nebraska Territory.

Real estate is an important part of Saint Joseph's economy; according to Forbes magazine, it has been ranked as one of America's top ten real estate markets for eight consecutive years (2007–2015). In 2007, St. Joe's home prices were $101 per square foot (the highest in Illinois), and its median household income was $75,000 (the highest in Illinois). The market has seen significant growth since then; as of 2015, home prices were $128 per square foot and median household income was $86,000 (both second-highest in Illinois).

One reason for this growth is that Saint Joseph is located near several major metropolitan areas: Chicago to the north; Kansas City to the south; Omaha to the west; Des Moines to the east; and Omaha again to the southeast. These areas provide both residents and businesses with access to a large pool of consumers and employees respectively. Additionally, many new businesses have been established in Saint Joe over recent years thanks to its low taxes and business-friendly environment.

Real estate agents play an important role in Saint Joe's economy; according to Realtor Magazine®, they generated more than $1 billion worth of sales volume statewide during 2016 alone. They are responsible for marketing homes directly to buyers and helping them find qualified property managers or lenders who can help them finance their purchase or renovation project