Madison Hayes
St. Charles
950 Caledonia Dr.
O'Fallon, MO 63368
Biography
Gateway Realty Group is a residential real estate team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties, based in O'Fallon, Missouri. We help people buy and sell homes across St. Charles County, St. Louis County and St. Louis City, with particular experience in new construction, relocation, luxury properties, and Lake St. Louis waterfront homes.
Founded in 2020, our team brings together five full-time practicing agents and dedicated marketing and operations staff. All of our agents work with both buyers and sellers, so the advice you receive reflects both sides of a transaction. You get the whole team working for you, not just one agent. If your agent has a scheduling conflict, another team member will step in for a showing, inspection or final walkthrough. You have a primary agent who knows your priorities, backed by a team that stays involved every step of the way.
Local guidance before you choose a home
O'Fallon is the market we sell in most, and our work extends through St. Charles, St. Peters, Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, Cottleville and Dardenne Prairie. We also serve buyers and sellers in Chesterfield, Weldon Spring and communities throughout the St. Louis region, including St. Louis, Jefferson, Lincoln, Warren and Franklin counties.
Choosing a home involves more than finding the right number of bedrooms. We help you compare neighborhoods, property condition, commute considerations, maintenance needs and resale tradeoffs against your budget and priorities. Our Living St. Louis YouTube channel and website livingstlouismo.com provide neighborhood guides, new construction tours and market education, giving you a way to learn the area before you schedule a visit.
Buying a home or relocating to St. Louis
We know how to handle a move to St. Louis, and we've worked with dozens of families who have relocated to the region from elsewhere. We represent first-time buyers, experienced homeowners, and people moving to Missouri from another state or country. Our agents help you evaluate homes, prepare offers, negotiate terms, and navigate inspections through closing. For buyers moving from outside the area, we help organize the search and provide local context that listing photos alone cannot convey.
Madison Hayes, Kellie Lasater and Tracy Sanders are relocation certified. That distinction is particularly relevant when an employer requires an agent to work through its relocation program. Our team also helps people relocating independently, without an employer-sponsored program.
Buyer representation for new construction
We guide new construction purchases from community and lot selection through the final walkthrough. Our agents help buyers compare builders, floor plans, available homes and upgrade choices while keeping the full purchase budget and timeline in view. We have worked with builders including McKelvey Homes, Lombardo Homes, Fischer Homes, Fischer & Frichtel, Consort Homes, T.R. Hughes Homes, Zykan & Sons Homes, Prestige Custom Homes and Houston Homes.
Your agent helps you understand what to ask before you commit and stays involved as the home progresses. New construction is part of our agents' broader work with buyers and sellers, which also brings resale experience into the conversation.
Selling with a plan built around your property
Our marketing strategy is fully custom and tailored to each property. We start with pricing, preparation and the audience most likely to consider your home. Every listing receives professional 4K photos, flyers, a social media feature and email marketing to more than 1,000 area agents. Our in-house marketing staff coordinates the presentation and distribution.
The rest of the plan depends on the property and your goals. Options can include a YouTube tour, social video, floor plans, postcards, open houses, and invite-only events we promote to our network of buyers and brokers. We offer drone footage and staging for every listing for sellers who want more than standard photos and virtual staging. We recommend the mix that fits your home, budget, and timeline rather than promising the same campaign for every seller.
Luxury, waterfront and investment property sales
Madison Hayes, Lana Prinster, Tracy Sanders and Kellie Lasater hold Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Luxury Collection certification. Our team works with luxury and custom homes, acreage properties and waterfront homes, including homes on Lake St. Louis. We help buyers evaluate the details of the property and help sellers communicate what makes it worth considering.
We also represent investors buying and selling residential properties. Our business focuses on real estate sales; we do not handle rental searches.
A documented track record and a direct conversation
In 2025, Gateway Realty Group closed 101 transactions totaling $56.4 million in sales volume, counting each side we represented. You can explore our published sales history at livingstlouismo.com/track-
If you are buying, selling, building or planning a move to the St. Louis area, tell us what you are trying to accomplish. We will help you work through the next steps.
Ask Madison Hayes
Testimonials
“Candy was fully invested in helping me sell my rental property. She provided expert advice to help me make the property more desirable for buyers, connected me with a trusted plumber, and even was present when I was unable to be on property for work being done. I highly recommend Candy for anyone looking for a kind, hardworking agent!”
“Candy was what you need in a real estate advocate. As our advocate she took time to learn about us personally, took our feed back driven by her testing us by showing us multiple options, more importantly never selling us on any one property. She was always available and responsive but always open and honest through the process as is evidenced by our purchase being completed sight unseen (we experienced property options through her in depth personally narrated videos). Candy is someone you can trust will be your advocate by placing herself in your shoes.”
“I was referred to Candy via my mortgage company, and I am so glad that those stars aligned. Candy is a true partner in the house hunting and house purchasing process. She is extremely patient and thorough in finding homes to search and calling out the pros & cons of each. Once a home is found, Candy handles all of the administrative pieces from start to finish, and keeps the buyer looped in on significant milestones. When a decision is required, Candy presents the information in a digestible and easy to understand format. She is compassionate and really took the time to find the perfect home for my daughter and I. I would have no hesitations in recommending Candy to family, friends, and colleagues -- and I look forward to being able to do so in the near future.”
“Attention to client is top notch. Great service and completely focused on client requests.”
“Oh my goodness, Candy Smothers was ABSOLUTELY wonderful!!! She answered all of our questions and concerns, was always available, and was just the best. We would DEFINITELY recommend her to anyone needing a realtor. On a personal note, we feel like we made a new dear friend as we settle into our new hometown. Candy, thank you so much.”
“Working with Candy for the sale of our home was truly a seamless process. This was our first time selling a home, and she walked us through step-by-step. She is so easy to work with, and truly a delight to be around. We randomly met her at an open house, and knew instantly that we wanted her to be our realtor. We were so pleased with the process of selling our home, and can't wait to work with Candy on purchasing a new home!”
“If we could give Candy Smothers more than five stars, we absolutely would. Buying our first home was one of the biggest decisions we’ve ever made, and after more than six months of searching in an incredibly competitive market, we can honestly say we would not be homeowners today without Candy. There were plenty of highs and lows throughout the process. We looked at countless homes, learned so much along the way, and faced the disappointment that comes with losing out on houses we loved. Through it all, Candy never stopped encouraging us. She celebrated every win with us, picked us up after every setback, and reminded us that the right home was out there. Looking back, she was right. What meant the most wasn’t just her knowledge of the market—although that was invaluable—it was how much she genuinely cared about us. She took the time to explain every step, answered every question (no matter how small), and made sure we felt confident and informed with every decision. As first-time homebuyers, having someone we could completely trust made all the difference. Without her guidance, we would have been overwhelmed trying to navigate such a challenging market on our own. Candy was always responsive, honest, patient, and willing to go the extra mile. At no point did we ever feel like just another transaction. We truly felt like she was invested in helping us find the home that was right for us, and not simply helping us buy a house. Now that we’re settling into our new home, we’re incredibly grateful to have had Candy in our corner throughout this journey. She didn’t just help us buy a home—she gave us confidence during one of life’s biggest milestones. If you’re looking for a realtor who is knowledgeable, compassionate, hardworking, and someone who will genuinely advocate for you every step of the way, we cannot recommend Candy Smothers enough. Thank you, Candy, for everything you did for our family. We’ll always be grateful.”
“Candy was awesome to work with! I couldn’t recommend her more. She made the entire process easy and enjoyable which is easier said than done when selling a home. Truly a wonderful overall experience.”
“Candy was wonderful to work with while. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and guided us through every step of the process, which made everything feel much less overwhelming. We truly appreciated her patience and support and would highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell a home!”
“Candy above and beyond to help us find a home. She was always available to answers any questions or concerns we had. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for an agent.”
“Candy is an incredible agent. She went out of her way to help coordinate the off market closing of our house. She was extremely easy to communicate with and responded almost immediately to any questions we had at all times of the day. We are excited that Candy will continue to help us with purchase of our next home.”
“We had the pleasure of working with Candy Smothers during the process of buying our home, and we cannot speak highly enough of her professionalism, expertise, and dedication. From our initial consultation to the closing day, Candy was an absolute joy to work with. Candy's extensive knowledge of the builder and the neighborhood, helping us understand the pros and cons of each option available for our home. Her ability to listen and understand our needs ensured that she only presented the home plan that matched my criteria, saving us a significant amount of time and effort. Throughout the entire process, Candy was incredibly responsive and communicative. She was always available to answer our questions, provide updates, and offer advice. Her attention to detail was impeccable, and she meticulously reviewed all documents and contracts, ensuring that everything was in order and that our interests were protected. Candy is a top-notch real estate agent who delivers exceptional service. Her dedication make her an outstanding choice for anyone looking to buy or sell a home. We are incredibly grateful for her guidance and support throughout the home-buying process and would highly recommend her to anyone in need of a real estate agent. Thank you, Candy, for helping us to purchase the best home we have ever had.”
“Being from out of state, our circle of relationships were far and few when we arrived to St. Louis for a new adventure. After renting for the first few months, we decided it was time to find something more permanent. The minute we were introduced to Candy, we had found a connection that was far different than we've ever experienced when looking for a home. From the very beginning to the end, we felt Candy had our best interests in mind and treated us not as a number, but people that she had known and cared about for years. If you are looking for an agent who cares about you and fights for what you want, look no further. I can/will recommend Candy any opportunity I can; the best of the best”
“Candy helped us build a beautiful home, with exceptional customer service. We looked forward to meeting with her regarding our decisions for our new house. I highly recommend this caring, knowledgeable real estate agent. We will definitely seek her services if we make another move”
“It was an absolute pleasure working with Candy! If you are looking for an incredible agent, she is your best option! Candy is knowledgeable and was so patient with the many questions we had during the buying process. When we would get overwhelmed, her kindness and professionalism put us at ease. She is very knowledgeable in her field and takes plenty of time to make sure you are completely comfortable with every step of the process. She is easy to reach and responds quickly to any questions that may arise. Five Star Agent all around! We will be recommending Candy to all of our friends and family in the area!”
“Candy went above and beyond as our agent. She took the time to get to know us on a more personal level to understand our needs/wants in a home. She went ABOVE and beyond, previewing countless properties to ensure we weren’t wasting our time on a property that didn’t suite our family. Even after closing, she continues to reach out to check on us and see how things are going. We are grateful for her hard work and dedication to her profession. Our family absolutely loved Candy and would more than highly recommend her to anyone searching, no matter their timeframe, for she never rushed or pressured us. She truly wanted us to find our dream home, and we did!”
“Candy was amazing! She was not only knowledgeable of area, but the neighborhood as well. She made the process as easy and stress free as possible by providing her expertise and knowledge from beginning to end. Our move happened very quickly and she had a plan that worked! Our home sold the first day with an offer that would make any seller happy. I don’t think we’ll be moving anytime soon, but for my next move it’ll definitely Candy that gets our call and I will be recommending her to others. I can’t say enough good things about our experience to give Candy the credit she deserves.”
“'Candy was amazing! She was not only knowledgeable of area, but the neighborhood as well. She made the process as easy and stress free as possible by providing her expertise and knowledge from beginning to end. Our move happened very quickly and she had a plan that worked! Our home sold the first day with an offer that would make any seller happy. I don’t think we’ll be moving anytime soon, but for my next move it’ll definitely Candy that gets our call and I will be recommending her to others. I can’t say enough good things about our experience to give Candy the credit she deserves.'”
“Candy worked harder than any agent I have ever dealt with before, she knew exactly what I was looking for and I trusted her completely to find my home, and she did! I would definitely recommend her to a friend to assist in the buying process.”
“'Candy worked harder than any agent I have ever dealt with before, she knew exactly what I was looking for and I trusted her completely to find my home, and she did! I would definitely recommend her to a friend to assist in the buying process. '”
“Candy listed my house and sold it in the FIRST OPEN HOUSE we had!! ONLY Candy could do that! I have a realtor for LIFE!!!!”
“Candy “listened” and expedited my search helping me zero in quickly not only to what I was interested in and wanted, but more importantly what I needed! A joy to work with, and a memorable search & purchase!”