Real Estate Information

I've been working on a project for my office website.  It's been fun but also a lot of work!  Here's a collection of homes I've recently listed and sold.  Each one is special to me as are their owners. 

How your home is presented to the public is a critical part of getting it sold.  No matter the size or price of your home, it's all about professionalism in every aspect of the job.  If you like what you see and want your home included on the list, give me a call.

I was glad to see the front page of The Advocate this morning:  BR-area home sales up 3% in 2011.   All of us in the real estate business and those of you thinking about selling your home in 2012 should feel good about that.  But as Paul Harvey, a great old-time radio broadcaster, used to say, here’s “the rest of the story.”  The gains were made in the second half of the year and correspond with a decrease in the average price of sold homes.
 
Here’s the data for areas 4, 5, and 6 – LSU and south to Shenandoah and east.  With the exception of the 2nd quarter of 2010, which marked the end of the housing stimulus programs, we've seen a consistent decline in the number of homes sold vs. year ago until the 3rd quarter of this year.

Those of us who live real estate all day every day know that something happened in the 3rd quarter.  This market started to turn around and homes started moving again.
 
I think there were two major factors that have contributed to the turn around: 1) buyers and sellers realized that there weren’t going to be any more stimulus programs.  The national economy just wasn’t going to support more government spending at that level.  2) Interest rates have been at phenomenally low levels.  Those low rates have a tremendous impact on affordability and drove buyers who were on the fence into the market.
 
Digging a little deeper into the data you can also see that there was a corresponding shift in the average price of sold homes. 

There are lots of possible reasons for this.  It could be that there were more sales in the lower price ranges.  It could be that we had fewer high-end sales.   It could be that we had more foreclosures.  But the most logical reason for this is that home prices have genuinely come down.   And, in fact, if you go through the data neighborhood by neighborhood, you will see that more often than not, that is the case.
 
How much have home prices come down?  That depends on the house, it’s condition, and the neighborhood.  There are areas in Baton Rouge where home values really haven’t been affected.  And, there are others where there have been significant declines in the average sales price per square foot.  One thing I feel really comfortable saying is that a home in a good location, in good condition, priced right, and professionally marketed is going to sell.  And, if you are a buyer, it’s time to make your move!  The market has shifted, the rates are low, and the local economy is in reasonably good shape.
 
If a move is in your future, please give me a call.  Till next time.

This is the house you've been waiting for! A French design with a beautiful wood front door, open floor plan, arched entries, and lots of natural light. The central living area has wood floors, high ceilings, a fireplace, ceiling fan, and custom blinds. It opens to a gourmet kitchen with a generous breakfast area, center island with a granite slab counter top, wood cabinets, and a walk-in pantry. The master bedroom has a tray ceiling and wood floors, and the adjoining master bath has a double sink vanity, jetted tub, separate shower, and large walk-in closet. You and your guests or family members will enjoy the spilt floor plan with a nicely appointed Hollywood bath. The fourth bedroom can also be used as an office with built in cabinets and French doors that open to the foyer. Not included in the living square footage is a heated, air conditioned, and finished exercise room located off of the over-sized garage that's big enough for a truck or large SUV. The backyard is fully fenced and the home has a sprinkler system. The refrigerator, washer, and dryer are included in the sale. The Shadows at White Oak is minutes from the Runnels School off of South Harrell's Ferry Road. The community has shared access to a private park with a playground and tennis courts.

If you're looking for a home in the Harrell's Ferry or Jones Creek area, check out this new Shiloh home for sale.  It's a great home for a first time homebuyer or someone looking to downsize.  This is a mostly brick home with a nice size yard that backs into a wooded area. The 3 bedroom/2 bath floor plan flows well with lots of natural light. Recent improvements include an architectural shingle roof with additional ventilation, new windows, new siding, and a new heating and air conditioning system, and newer appliances. There is also a 2 car garage with an electric garage door opener. It's located on a quiet street with easy access to I-12.

Louisiana's residential real estate market showed a significant increase in sales activity during the third quarter, with sales up 20.2% over the third quarter of 2010, according to Louisiana Realtors. Year to date, the number of houses sold in the state is up 2.7% over last year. "Our market has generally followed the national trend over the past year, but our employment numbers have held stronger than the national average, and real estate activity now seems to be bouncing back from the ongoing effects of a slow economy and the BP oil spill," says Louisiana Realtors President Malcolm Young. While sales were up, the average sale price slid 0.9% in the third quarter to $184,971, compared to the same period in 2010. Nonetheless, the average sale price was up 1.5% compared to three years ago. The Greater Baton Rouge market showed the greatest increase in sales activity in the state, with home sales up 31.9% over the third quarter of last year. The Houma-Thibodaux metro area posted a 26.8% sales increase on the quarter, while Lafayette saw a 24.3% increase, greater New Orleans a 21.3% increase, Lake Charles a 21% increase, Monroe a 19.4% increase, and Alexandria a 11.6% increase. The northwest Louisiana market, which had cooled some in the second quarter, remained flat in the third quarter. Sales in the Shreveport-Bossier area were down 0.9% on the quarter.

You have to see this beautifully updated home in Oak Hills Place. All new kitchen cabinets, granite tile counter tops, stainless steel appliances, light fixtures, and ceramic tile floors. The master suite has a luxurious jetted tub, new tile, and new fixtures. Even your guests have a updated bath with a new sink, counter top, and fixtures. There are new raised panel doors, fluted and rosette window and door trim, and crown moldings throughout. Each bedroom has a walk-in closet and the master has additional closet space in the adjacent dressing area. The windows have been replaced and the architectural shingle roof is just 4 years old. The home has a spacious yard, storage area, and covered rear patio for outdoor entertaining. All this is located minutes from Perkins Rowe, the Mall of Louisiana, the Surgical Specialty Center, and The Neuromedical Center and is accessible from Highland, Perkins, or Siegen.

Yesterday I spent the day listing a home in Azalea Lakes. I just had a take a movie of the backyard view of the lake. The home is offered at $217,000. Call me for details and check out the view!

What's most important to today's homebuyers?  For this and other stories, listen to News You Can Use from KW.

If you're thinking about buying a home you really should give this a try.  Go to the app store and download myAgent by IDX.  Enter code 11485 and its done.  A map will appear that shows you the homes around you that are available for sale.  Tap on the little red icon to get all the info.  You can see the pictures, share the listing with your friends, and even calculate your payment.  I have it on my phone and I'm using it when I show houses.  It's really that good.

If you see something you like and want to see more, give me a call and I'll schedule an appointment for us. You can send me an email right from the app or click on the phone number to give me a call.