Barbara Ballinger sold a five-bedroom, three bath in Ladue at 30 Briarcliff St. to Barry D. Albrecht and his wife, Jackie, for $930,000 on Oct. 18.

Ms. Ballinger bought the home in 1997 for $717,500.

Sherry Miller of Janet McAfee Inc. real estate listed the 3,425 square foot home for $975,000. It sits on a 1.3 acre lot and was built in 1954.

Ms. Ballinger is a freelance writer, author and speaker.

Since 1988, her articles have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Chicago Home & Garden and the American Bar Association Journal. She has also previously written a weekly art gallery column for the Chicago Tribune and a weekly fashion column for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

She was a lifestyles and business reporter for the Post-Dispatch from 1980-88 and was the senior editor of Chicago-based Realtor Magazine from 2003-04.

She is currently writing a 100th anniversary book for the National Association of Realtors.

Ms. Ballinger received her master's in Art History and Studio Art from Hunter College at the City University of New York. She earned her Bachelor's in Art History from Barnard College in New York City and has attended both the New York University Graduate School of Business and Washington University's Olin School of Business in St. Louis.

Ladue home sales have dropped 11 percent through September 2007 vs. the same period in 2006. The median price over that time period, however, has rose $43,000 from $675,000 in 2006 to $718,000 so far this year.

Median sales prices in Ladue have risen steadily since BlockShopper Metrics began keeping track in 1999.

Address: 30 Briarcliff Street
Buyer(s): Albrecht Barry D Et Albrecht Jackie F Et Con Ux
Seller(s): Barbara Ballinger
Sale date: Oct. 18, 2007