Published: July 26, 2020
Filed Under: Luxury Home Marketing
Those of you who know me know that I am focused on the data. And, for the past few months our residential real estate market has been, “HOT, HOT, HOT!” So I just had to check the numbers. WOW! This is something to write about.
Last fall we experienced what I would consider our typical “holiday slow down.” Are there sales in November and December? Of course there are, but showings and sales wind down considerably. I tell my Sellers to take advantage of the time to get their homes ready because Groundhog’s Day is just around the corner and some people will think it’s Spring. If you’re not on the market by February 1st you’ll miss that first wave of buyers.
“As you can see in the data, we were off to a pretty good start. And then there was COVID19.“
Yes, there were home sales during the lock down, but most of my colleagues were focused on getting homes already under contract to the closing table, checking in on family and friends, and venturing out as little as possible. As you would expect “new listings” and “pendings” were way down. Sellers were and continue to be concerned about strangers coming into their homes resulting in a shortage of listings. Many buyers did not venture out to see homes. Online shopping? Yes. In person showings? Off pretty dramatically.
Fortunately, since the lock down restrictions were at least partially lifted, we’ve made up for what we lost and in some areas, like the area between LSU and Country Club of Louisiana, we are outpacing last year’s numbers.
“What blows me away is the high end of our market! In the area between LSU and Country Club of Louisiana, in every price range over $500,000, we have substantial year over year growth. Add it all up … as of today we’re at 183 sales in 2020 vs. 127 sales in 2019. That’s a 44.1% increase!”
Why? As is the case nationwide, I suspect that many of our higher income earners have been able to transition to work at home. The interest rates are historically low – below 3% on a 30 year mortgage for borrowers with strong credit scores. And, I think we are focused on our homes and our need for “living space” perhaps more than ever before. Our homes are now our offices, our children’s schools, and a place were we can feel safe. And, I suspect that need is going to be with us for a while.
If you’re thinking about selling a higher priced home, NOW would be a very good time.
Published: February 7, 2018
Filed Under: Market Trends
While you may not know it from our recent temperatures, Spring is right around the corner. As we head into an historically busy time of year for home sales, many of my clients have asked about current market conditions and what’s in store for 2018.
Last week I read with interest The Advocate’s article on 2017 home sales in the greater Baton Rouge area. Yesterday The Business Report shared Corelogic’s report on home values in the Baton Rouge area. And while most of this is good news, those of us who live in and around the LSU area know that this part of town is a little bit different. Near LSU, home prices are the highest in the metro area, land is scarce, and we weren’t as directly impacted by the August 2016 flood as other parts of Baton Rouge. So I decided to dig a little deeper and share with you what’s going on in my neighborhood.
Here’s our chart from last year updated with this years’ numbers. After a significant rise in 2016, average home prices are holding steady. In light of the market upheaval we experienced after the flood, I’d say that’s pretty good news.
What I think is important to keep an eye on this year is “supply” and “days on market.” As of this morning there are 366 detached single family homes available in the areas between LSU and Country Club of Louisiana. Last year 1,340 homes were sold in this area. So, that means that there is currently a 3.3 month supply of homes available. For home sellers this is very good news. And take a look at what’s happened to days on market.
Predicting what’s going to happen to home values is a pretty risky business, especially in this part of Baton Rouge where you have a lot of variety in the types of homes available, their age, and condition. But when you have an asset that’s in short supply in an economy that’s strong, I think it’s reasonable to believe that home values should rise.
Real estate is local. Your agent should be, too. If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in areas near LSU give me a call. The number is (225) 772-8709 or email me at [email protected].
Published: October 28, 2015
Filed Under: Education, Luxury Home Marketing
This month I became a member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. Membership requires completion of extensive training in marketing luxury properties covering topics including lifestyle segmentation, trends and amenities in today’s luxury home market, and creating a marketing plan for homes in the upper-tier. In addition to the training, membership provides access to tools and resources for marketing luxury homes as well as opportunities for networking with luxury homes agents nationwide.
Completing the requirements for membership was one of the goals I set for myself this year. In order to provide my clients with the highest level of service possible, I believe it is important to continually refresh and upgrade the skills required for success in today’s real estate market. This was an outstanding program and I look forward to applying the principles learned when listing luxury homes and working with buyers looking for exceptional properties. Please let me know if you’re interested in Baton Rouge’s luxury real estate market or know someone who is.