Posts Tagged ‘Business Report’

Where’s The Bottom For Greater Baton Rouge Housing? Answer Is To Look At Local Incomes
http://www.baton-rouge-real-estate.com/ – Baton Rouge Home Appraisers: Where’s The Bottom For Greater Baton Rouge Housing? Correct Answer Is Based On Local Incomes!

Last week, David Jacobs, with the Baton Rouge Business Report, reported a startling study about how high and out of sync Greater Baton Rouge housing prices are when combined with transportation. The article, Baton Rouge-area household spends 52% of income on housing and transportation, was published on 8/9/2011. In the article or study, the CNT recommends spending no more than 45% and that combining local housing prices with true transportation costs provides “an accurate measure of of the true affordability of housing”.
Other Studies. We also know that according to Core Logic, Baton Rouge is in its’ 9th straight month of home price correction. We also know from the 24/7 Wall Street study that Baton Rouge made America’s 10 Sickest Housing Markets list this month.
We’re In For More Correction. It would appear, based on these 3 studies, that Greater Baton Rouge Housing is in for more correction.
This is my reply below to David Jacobs submitted on 8/10/2011:
I read your Business Report Weekly and wanted to thank you for reporting on this. This has really helped me. Just 3 weeks ago, I was ready to go for a visit to the LSU Real Estate Research Department with similar questions as to where should GBR Housing be priced relative to local incomes? I think this is a foundational question going forward and might possibly shed some light on where the bottom might be in local housing prices in the future. If GBR housing is out of proportion, by how much or by what percentage? Are the current still nose-bleed high housing prices sustainable? Obviously if we asked this question in 2007 from some of the Zachary and ASC $300,000 neighborhoods, the answer today is probably not. $140/sf for new homes wasn’t sustainable across the board. This is why builders like DSLD Homes are having such success……because the insanity in local new home prices from 2006 to 2008 was never sustainable based on local incomes.
As a local home appraiser, I’ve been scratching head all along here wondering WHY local housing is so expensive…..in Louisiana. Baton Rouge has been a wonderful place to grow up and now raise my family, but we’re not California with almost a perfect climate where one would expect high prices. Why are home prices so high here….still in 2011? Even with the modest correction, it would certainly seem that we’re still at nose bleed levels on the pricing of some local housing relative to local incomes. I scratch my head monthly on this issue.
Please understand, I’m not a conservative appraiser. Whatever the housing market’s decision has been, in the form of home sales, I reflect in my reports. However, we’re now about 9 months into this local correction and I’m beginning to think that locals are finally coming to their senses on what they pay for local housing relative to local incomes. There are A LOT of sellers in denial right now, and Hurricane Katrina didn’t help with that at all. It only made it worse. Today, some local Real Estate Agents are hiring me for my Listing Appraisals on their listings that have been on the market for months now, they know are overpriced and they bring me in to show the seller the reality of the local numbers in comparison to sellers perception that their home is worth more.
The chart below doesn’t indicate a huge problem in GBR housing, not like some sour markets in the USA where there’s 3-4 years of supply. However, talk to most appraisers locally and you’ll find that we’re checking “Slow” market for growth or sales and in some subdivision/markets, there’s been such few home sales that it’s become very difficult to complete appraisals for the lack of comps sold within 3 to 6 months, especially under $125,000.

NOTE: Based on information from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®\MLS for the period of August 2010 to July 2011. This information was extracted on 8/10/2011. YES, this appraiser does have the permission of GBRMLS to use the chart above.
These are some of the things I’ve been thinking about in GBR Housing since 2007 and going forward. Are we fairly priced or still way out of balance? Yes, the market is correcting back to some sense of sanity…..finally…..and how many more months or years will it be till we reach equilibrium (sanity) based on local incomes.
New Homes Are Still Priced High. I still see a local builder and have them say something like, “This market is killing me…when the market coming back?!”. And that builder just doesn’t get it….that the post Hurricane Katrina builder’s market isn’t coming “back” in terms of such exaggerated pricing. The odd thing here is the LHBA (La Home Builders Association) would probably tell you today that we’re too low for their builders to make a decent profit on local home building. What they experienced in 2006-2008 (unsustainable pricing) and expect in the future just wasn’t/isn’t sustainable.
This is why I believe that new TND in Zachary recently announced will take a decade or more to build out because $140/sf to $200/sf just isn’t what local incomes will support and until local builders understand this, they’ll be more developments started and then finished by DSLD Homes. This is also why I believe that new Wyndam Estates development in Denham Springs with 1600sf homes on “tiny lots” in $190′s or $120/sf will also take much, much longer than expected to fill and should be filled with homes in the $150s to $160s. It’s about market economics and local incomes and the local economics, at least outside of Baton Rouge itself, is in favor of DSLD Homes pricing. Those builders and developers that fail to understand local incomes will continue to have their fledgling developments sold to and finished by developers like DSLD Homes after spending millions to break the dirt.
Bill Cobb, Appraiser

Home Purchases In Greater Baton Rouge Pick Up Momentum, Market Report May 2011
http://www.homeappraisalsbatonrouge.com/ – Greater Baton Rouge Home Purchases Pick Up Steam, Market Report May 2011
THE GOOD NEWS!
There’s Confidence in the local Greater Baton Rouge housing market! The home purchase appraisal orders have really picked up this week with momentum like I haven’t seen yet this year. Just this week, we’ve seen a surge of orders for home purchases. Bill Cobb, Appraiser
THE NOT-SO GOOD NEWS!
Baton Rouge Business Report‘s Real Estate Weekly reports the housing market as “flat” in Louisiana and down in Baton Rouge.
According to the Businss Report, “The number of houses sold in Louisiana during the first quarter was virtually unchanged from the first three months of 2010. There were 5,604 homes sold through the end of March, according to figures from the Louisiana Realtors. That’s 0.6% more than the 5,568 homes sold through the first quarter of 2010. Houma-Thibodaux was the strongest metro market, with 202 homes sold during the quarter, a 14.1% increase over the first three months of 2010. The Lake Charles market also saw a double-digit percentage increase, with 289 sales, 10.3% more than the 262 sold in the first quarter of 2010. Home sales were up 7.9% in New Orleans to 1,837, 2.6% in Lafayette to 640, and 2.5% in Alexandria-Pineville to 248. Shreveport-Bossier City had the biggest sales drop, falling 12.8%. There were 775 homes sold during the first quarter, compared with 889 the year before. Monroe had a 4% drop in sales, to 388; and Baton Rouge was down 3.3%, to 1,225. Statewide, the average sale price of a home fell by 1.5%, from $177,381 to $174,687. For the rest of Real Estate Weekly, click here.
AND, LOCAL AGENT, RYAN SPENCER, OFFERS HIS UPDATE!

“1st Quarter 2010 to 2011 Avg. List Price $198,078/$192,161
Avg. Sale Price $191,506/$185,769
Avg. Days on the Market 95/104
List to Sale Price Ratio 96.68%/96.67%
Months of Inventory 9.19/10.76
The home buyer tax credit was in effect last year which may have boosted sales numbers in the first quarter of 2010. Despite tough economic times our market is still pretty strong overall. If you have any questions please contact me at 225-505-5619 or email me at ryan.spencer@coldwellbanker.com“

Greater Baton Rouge Housing Trends: Indepth Look At 2010 Home Sales Numbers
http://www.batonrougemarketmetrics.com/ – Greater Baton Rouge Housing Trends: Indepth Look At 2010 Home Sales Numbers

The LREC or Louisiana REALTORS are reporting on comprehensive housing numbers for 2010, including 4th quarter 2010. So, the source for this report and charts and graphs is LREC.

NUMBER OF SALES DOWN 7.3%. Overall, the number of Greater Baton Rouge Home Sales was down 7.3% for 2010. Total volume for 2010 was 5,708 versus 6,160 for 2009.
AVERAGE SALES PRICE. The average home sales price increased in 2010 to $202,138 vs $197,587 for 2009. This would appear to be due to strong local employment numbers of 355,797 in 2010 versus 354,044 in 2009. However, the Baton Rouge Business Report just reported this morning that “B.R. home price index drops for fifth month running“. So, according to the CoreLogic Home Price Index for Louisiana, Baton Rouge home prices are continuing to correct to the downside, not the upside, and I would agree. And, a look at the median sales prices would be more helpful than average sales prices since average sales prices can include homes from $10,000 up to $3,000,000 – outliers.
SOME IMPROVEMENT. Not all areas are declining though, but marketing time periods are well over 6 months. I’m appraising the 2011 St. Jude Dream Home in Prairieville and the general market of competing solds and listings is showing a rising median sales price, but very long marketing time periods of well over 6 months. Some homes in one local high end development on Highway 73 in Prairieville have been on the market since 2008 without selling.
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET. The average days on market remained almost unchanged at 90 days in 2010 versus 91 in 2009.


Baton Rouge Home Appraisal Blog: What Recession? Capital Heights Home Prices Continue Increasing
http://www.homeappraisalsbatonrouge.com/ – Baton Rouge Home Appraisal Blog: Capital Heights Home Sales Prices Increasing
Older, well built Cottage style homes where the wood floors creek! Tree lined street where your neighbors actually know one another! This is Capital Heights. Stephanie Riegel with Baton Rouge Business Report wrote about this market in 2007 here, “Old Neighborhood, New Heights“. And, the home prices in this market, during a national economic recession, continue to increase!


Solds In Capital Heights Subdivision from 1/2010 to 12/31/2010 revealed:
Average Sales Price: $194,343 ($190,716 in 2009)
Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $148.88/sf ($131.99/sf in 2009)
Median Sold Price: $200,000 ($195,000 in 2009)
Number of Sales: 23 (29 in 2009)
Average Number of Days On Market: 110 (88 in 2009)
Low To High: $123,000 to $329,000
Number of Sold REO/Foreclosures Noted In MLS: 0
Current # Listings: 10, 0 Are Foreclosures
Current Listings Price: $159,900 to $319,900 or $116/sf to $201/sf




NOTE: Based on information from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®\MLS for the period of January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010. This information was extracted on 1/14/2011. YES, this appraiser does have the permission of GBRMLS to use the chart above Subdivision Price Trends Report!
Tags: Baton Rouge Estate Minute, Baton Rouge Homes, Baton Rouge Housing, Baton Rouge Real Estate, Baton Rouge Real Estate Trends, Capital Heights, Baton Rouge Garden District, 70806

Baton Rouge Area 2010 Home Sales Down 25% From September 2009, Detailed Report
http://www.batonrougerealestatetrends.net/ – Greater Baton Rouge Area GBRMLS Monthly Observations for September 2010. Baton Rouge Area Real Estate 2010 Home Sales Down 25% From September 2009 on a September 2009 versus September 2010 comparison! Area homes sales are down 3.6% for the year!

Home sales in September continued to decline, declining 3% to $89,770,774 in September from August’s $92,501,330. This is a decline of 18% from last September, at $116,614,434. As we head into the seasonally weaker part of the year, it is distressing to point out that this is the worst sales level for September in the last 8 years by a large margin with the exception of September 2008 and that decline was only due to Hurricane Gustav interfering with loan closings. Source: Baton Rouge Trends Dot Com.
NOTE: This report, with the paragraph above, may be different that others recent reports because I have included “Other” MLS areas.

Area Home Sales Down 3.6% For The Year! According to the Baton Rouge Business Report Weekly, area home sales are down 3.6%! Home Sales Down 3.6% For The First 9 Months of 2010% for the first 9 months of the year. A short snippet is provided below. The link to their article is here!
Capital Region home sales are down 3.6% for the first nine months of the year, when compared with 2009 figures. There have been 5,052 houses sold through September, according to statistics from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors’ Multiple Listing Service. Through September 2009, there were 5,241 MLS sales. Average sale prices were virtually unchanged, coming in at $193,264 through September 2009 and $193,599 this year”
NOTE: This report, from this section below, may be different that others recent reports because I have included “West Baton Rouge” MLS Area 70, not just the 3 Parish areas of East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Livingston.
Total Sales Unchanged, But Off 25% From September 2009. Total unit sales were unchanged at 441 in September and 441 in August. However, this is a 25% reduction from September 2009 at 587. Of the 441 September sales, 104 were new homes and 337 were existing homes. New home sales improved 7% to 104 homes this month from 97 in August, an increase of 7 units. Existing home sales declined slightly from 337 homes in September from 346 last month, a difference of 9 homes or -2.6%. NOTE: Based on all price ranges within ASC, EBR, LIV and WBR for Property Types: DSF, ASF, PRC and PRA.
Majority of GBR Home Sales Under $200,000. Of the 441 September sales, only 22 of them were over $400,000 or approximately 5% of the market. There were 288 sales under $200,000 or 65% of market. And, there were 105 sales between $200,000 to $300,000 or approximately 24% of market.
Inventory Decreased Slightly. Inventory decreased slightly from August 2010 at 4461 to 4369 in September, a decrease of 92 or -2%. However, the inventory has increased from 3974 in September 2009 to 4369 in September 2010, an increase of 395 homes or +10%. Inventory started January 2010 at 3,583 and has continued to rise for most of 2010 with August of 4,461 being the highest inventory level of 2010.

Absorption Rate Improved Slightly. Absorption for All homes in September showed 9.9 Months Inventory, which was a slight improvement from August 2010 showing 10.1 months of supply. This is much worse than the 6.8 months of supply last year at this time. Greater Baton Rouge area Average Days on Market for All homes was 89 compared to last month at 85. Average sales price for All Sold homes decreased to $194,941 from $199,289 last month. However, in January 2010, the average sales price was $188,188, so the average sales price has increased in 2010. Median sales price for All Sold homes decreased to $169,900 from $171,750 last month. However, in January 2010, the median sales price was $165,000, so the median sales price has increased overall for 2010. The twelve month moving median price line for both New and Existing homes is heading upward, reflecting stable home price support.
High End Homes Market Appears Near Solid Support, Most Solid Within East Baton Rouge Parish. From 9/1/08 to 9/30/09, MLS reports 298 sales versus 294 sales 9/1/09 to 9/30/10, which is only a decrease of -4 sales or -1.3%. Average Sold Price for the 2009/2010 period is $539,650 compared to $548,036 for the 2008/2009 period. Median Sold Price for the 2009/2010 period is $500,000 compared to $495,700 for the 2008/2009 period. Average sold price per sq. ft. is $157.89/sf versus $159.43/sf for the 2008/2009 period. Average days on the market is 122 days versus 140 days in the 2008/2009 period. So, while the average sold price per sq. ft. is down $1.54/sf, and average sold price is down approx. $8,400, the median sales price has increased by $4,300 and the days on the market has improved.
Yes, There Are Certainly Exceptions! Copper Mill in Zachary is one example where the average sold prices were $161/sf in 2007, $158/sf in 2008, $157/sf in 2009 and $147/sf in 2010 based on 13 sales. That’s a $10/sf drop since 2009. Plus, the days on the market for the 13 sales were: 336, 850, 20, 274, 4, 393, 252, 1082, 50, 344, 197, 54 and 2. Renaissance in Prairieville is another example where the average sold prices were $137/sf in 2007, $141/sf in 2008, $133/sf in 2009 and $129.24/sf in 2010 based on 7 sales. That’s a -$4/sf difference between 2009 and 2010. And, MLS reports the average days on the market were 417 in 2009 and 252 in 2010. Actually, upon closer examination of total days on market, the actual continuous days on market were: 231, 1, 4, 561, 692, 1025 and 302. Greystone Golf in Denham Springs has only had 2 sales in 2010 averaging $142/sf and 6 sales in 2009 averaging $146/sf, a $4/sf decline. NOTE: For this paragraph, this includes all price ranges within these high end subdivisions.
High End Homes Market Absorption Rate Appears To Be Improving! The numbers of high end home listings has declined just slightly from 445 for September 2009 and 424 for September 2010. In September 2009, the Months Inventory showed 23.42 months. In September 2010, the Months Inventory showed 21.2 months and in August 2010 it was 19.4 months. Certainly, the market for homes requiring “Jumbo” loans remains slower in the overall Greater Baton Rouge market.
High End Homes Market NOTE: Parameters were $400,000 to $1,000,000, all price ranges within ASC, EBR, LIV and WBR for Property Types: DSF, ASF, PRC and PRA.

NOTE: Data For The September 2010 GBRAR MLS Report is used with permission of the GBRMLS from dates stated above and from 1/1/2008 through 9/30/2010.

Denham Springs FHA Appraisers Study: Livingston Parish Housing Bucks National Trend Plunge Of 15 Year Lows
http://www.denhamspringsappraisers.com/ - Denham Springs FHA Appraisers Study: Livingston Parish Housing Bucks National Trend Plunge Of 15 Year Lows!
This morning, “The Guys” from TBWS reported existing home sale fell 27.2%, the lowest number of sales since 1968, see the video below.
The Baton Rouge Business Report is reporting on a National Assocation of Realtors housing study and I quote: “Sales of previously occupied homes fell to the lowest level in 15 years last month as the economy weakened. The National Association of Realtors says July’s sales fell by more than 27% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.83 million. It was the largest monthly drop on records dating back to 1968. June’s sales pace was revised downward to 5.26 million. Home sales picked up in the spring when the government was offering tax credits. But the market has struggled since the tax credits expired on April 30. It would take 12.5 months to sell off the 4 million unsold homes on the market at the current sales pace. The median sale price was $182,600, up 0.7 percent from a year ago.” I have included three charts below from Mortgage News Daily’s July Existing Home Sales: Recap and Charts to help put this in perspective. I then discuss the local Baton Rouge Housing Market Numbers.



While the NAR study covers the entire U.S., how do the local Western Livingston Parish housing sales numbers compare? By Western Livingston Parish, I’m defining Denham Springs, Watson and Walker, MLS Areas 81, 82 and 83, the more active portion of Livingston Parish. The answer is that I see Western Livingston bucking the national trend. Within the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors data extracted from 1999 through August 25, 2010, covering almost 12 total years, the lowest yearly rate of home sales was in 1999 with 759. As of 8/25/2010, there have been 654 home sales. If this pace of home sales continues, 2010 projections will be approximately 980 sales, which would conclude a healty housing market.

The chart below, extracted from data from the GBRMLS on August 20, 2010, shows that the median sales price in MLS Area 81, Denham Springs north of Interstate 12, has continued to remain stable to increasing slightly. The chart actually shows an increase in median sales price from 8/2009 to 8/2010 of +3.49%. The chart also shows a fairly low 7.4% REO or Foreclosure Rate for this market as well, 235 foreclosures out of 3,175 homes sales since 1/1/2004.

HOWEVER

I want to responsibly point out that just because the NATIONAL “number” of home sales have been declining in 2010 doesn’t mean the LOCAL “housing prices” are equally declining significantly! And, this is an important point. As a home appraiser, the one thing I hear from local homeowners is a misunderstanding of the local market. They say things to me like, “I know this is a horrible time to be refinancing and getting an appraisal with the housing market the way it is, but we just couldn’t pass up the low mortgage rate”. I hear this constantly from locals and you can’t watch the national news and apply that to our local market. Linda Fredericks, former President of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, is correct when she delivered the message that housing marketings are “local” and you can’t apply the national news headlines to a one size fits all local housing market!
Take The Baton Rouge Business ReportPoll: When will the U.S. housing market recover? So far results are:

NOTE: Data Used With Permission of the GBRAR MLS. Data was extracted on 8/25/2010 from periods 1/1/2009 through 8/25/2010.
Tags: Western Livingston Parish, Denham Springs Housing Study, Denham Springs Real Estate, Watson Louisiana Housing Study, Walker Louisiana Housing Study

Baton Rouge Real Estate Appraisers: Baton Rouge Home Sales At 11 Year Low
http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisal.com/ - Baton Rouge Home Sales Numbers At 11 Year Low
The Baton Rouge Business Report is reporting on a National Assocation of Realtors housing study “U.S. Home Sales Plunge To 15-Year Low” and I quote: “Sales of previously occupied homes fell to the lowest level in 15 years last month as the economy weakened. The National Association of Realtors says July’s sales fell by more than 27% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.83 million. It was the largest monthly drop on records dating back to 1968. June’s sales pace was revised downward to 5.26 million. Home sales picked up in the spring when the government was offering tax credits. But the market has struggled since the tax credits expired on April 30. It would take 12.5 months to sell off the 4 million unsold homes on the market at the current sales pace. The median sale price was $182,600, up 0.7 percent from a year ago.”
While the NAR study covers the entire U.S., how does the local Baton Rouge housing sales numbers compare? The answer is that I see a similar trend. Within the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors data extracted from 1999 through August 24, 2010, covering almost 12 total years, for all of East Baton Rouge Parish itself, the lowest yearly rate of home sales has been in 2010 with 2,032 year-to-date. If this pace of home sales continues, 2010 projections will total 3,048 sales, the lowest within the 12 year period.

What about a monthly sales numbers comparison? This comparison leads to the same conclusion. The two lowest monthly housing sales periods in East Baton Rouge since our MLS began tracking the numbers in 1999 have taken place in 2010, see chart.

HOWEVER,

I want to responsibly point out that just because the “number” of home sales have been declining in 2010 doesn’t mean the “housing prices” are equally declining significantly! And, this is an important point. As a home appraiser, the one thing I hear from local homeowners is a misunderstanding of the local market. They say things to me like, “I know this is a horrible time to be refinancing and getting an appraisal with the housing market the way it is, but we just couldn’t pass up the low mortgage rate”. I hear this constantly from locals and you can’t watch the national news and apply that to our local market. Linda Fredericks, former President of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, is correct when she delivered the message that housing marketings are “local” and you can’t apply the national news headlines to a one size fits all local housing market!
Take The Baton Rouge Business ReportPoll: When will the U.S. housing market recover? So far results are:

NOTE: Data Used With Permission of the GBRAR MLS. Data was extracted on 8/24/2010 from periods 1/1/1999 through 8/24/2010.
Tags: Baton Rouge Economic Report, Baton Rouge Homes For Sale, Baton Rouge Housing Market, Baton Rouge Real Estate, Baton Rouge Real Estate Agents, Baton Rouge Realtors

With Federal Tax Credit Expiration, Livingston Parish Home Sales Numbers Decline 25% Into July 2010!
http://www.denhamspringsappraisers.com/ – With Federal Tax Credit Expiration, Denham Springs Livingston Parish Home Sales Numbers Decline Into July 2010!

The Baton Rouge Business Report Daily PM Report is report a Capital Region home sales plunge of 21% in July 2010. “The number of homes sold in metro Baton Rouge fell by 21% in July compared with the year before, as the market corrected itself after being bolstered by the federal homebuyer tax credit. There were 523 homes in the Capital Region sold in July, compared with 665 sales in July 2009, according to figures from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. An $8,000 tax credit for homebuyers expired earlier this year, and transactions had to be under contract at the end of April to qualify for the money. That led to Capital Region home sales posting 21% and 28% increases in April and May over last year. The average sale price in July was $197,076, down from the $203,735 average in July 2009. Sales were down nearly 31% in Ascension Parish in July, from 111 in 2009 to 77. Livingston Parish saw a 25% drop, from 114 homes changing hands to 85. In East Baton Rouge, there was a 24% drop in home sales, from 414 to 313. The other category, which includes MLS sales in West Baton Rouge, Iberville and the Feliciana parishes, actually saw an 85% increase, from 26 to 48. Through the first seven months of the year, home sales continued to run slightly ahead of the 2009 pace. There were 4,107 homes sold through the end of July, up 3% from the 3,985 sales total at the end of July 2009.”

With Federal Tax Credit Expiration, Greater Baton Rouge Home Sales Numbers Decline Into July 2010
http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisal.com/ – With Federal Tax Credit Expiration, Greater Baton Rouge Home Sales Numbers Decline Into July 2010!

The Baton Rouge Business Report Daily PM Report is report a Capital Region home sales plunge of 21% in July 2010. “The number of homes sold in metro Baton Rouge fell by 21% in July compared with the year before, as the market corrected itself after being bolstered by the federal homebuyer tax credit. There were 523 homes in the Capital Region sold in July, compared with 665 sales in July 2009, according to figures from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. An $8,000 tax credit for homebuyers expired earlier this year, and transactions had to be under contract at the end of April to qualify for the money. That led to Capital Region home sales posting 21% and 28% increases in April and May over last year. The average sale price in July was $197,076, down from the $203,735 average in July 2009. Sales were down nearly 31% in Ascension Parish in July, from 111 in 2009 to 77. Livingston Parish saw a 25% drop, from 114 homes changing hands to 85. In East Baton Rouge, there was a 24% drop in home sales, from 414 to 313. The other category, which includes MLS sales in West Baton Rouge, Iberville and the Feliciana parishes, actually saw an 85% increase, from 26 to 48. Through the first seven months of the year, home sales continued to run slightly ahead of the 2009 pace. There were 4,107 homes sold through the end of July, up 3% from the 3,985 sales total at the end of July 2009.”

Livingston Parish Sees 106 Percent Volume Increase In Home Sales
http://www.denhamspringslarealestate.net/ – Livingston Parish Sees Largest Volume Increase In Home Sales

Although the Denham Springs median home sales price appears to have declined between 5% to 6% since March 2009, according to the Baton Rouge Business Report Weekly this week, Livingston Parish experienced the largest increase in volume of home sales in Greater Baton Rouge. According to Tom Cook,
“The largest increase in the volume of sales took place in Livingston Parish in the $100,000 to $150,000 price range. From March 2008 to February 2009, there were 107 sales in this price range. From March 2009 to February, there were 221 sales in this price range. This represents an increase of 106%. Homes in the $200,000 to $250,000 price range decreased in volume by nearly 9% from March 2009 to February. Home sales in the $200,000 to $250,000 price range fell 22% from March 2008 to February 2009.”



