Emerson Sutton Jr. bought a three-bedroom, two bath at 11924 Paradise Ln. in Des Peres for $266,000 from Patrick and Carey Mullen on Sept 19.

The Mullens paid $215,000 for the home in March 2000.

Cindi Stanley of Coldwell Banker Gundaker was the agent for the sale. The home was listed for $309,900 when it appeared on the market in Oct. 2006.

Sutton is the principal of the Sutton Realty Company, a St. Louis-based firm which provides litigation support, appraisals, market studies and analysis for the real estate industry. The company also offers expert testimony regarding condemnation, estate matters, environmental damages and property tax appeal.

He received his master's in Real Estate and Legal Studies from Webster University in St. Louis and a master's in Sociology from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo. He has a bachelor's in Criminal Justice from Lincoln University as well.

Des Peres home sales have dropped two percent through September 2007 vs. the same period in 2006. The median price over that time period has also fallen $18,000 from $373,000 in 2006 to $356,000 so far this year.

After peaking in 2004, median sales prices in Des Peres dropped in 2005 before rising again in 2006, according to BlockShopper Metrics, which began keeping track in 1999.

Address: 11924 Paradise Lane
Buyer(s): Emerson Sutton Jr
Seller(s): Carey M Mullen (Wife) and Patrick T Mullen (Husband)
Sale date: Sep. 19, 2007