http://www.batonrougerealestatetrends.net/ – 2010 Comprehensive Greater Baton Rouge Foreclosure Numbers and Charts Released

East Baton Rouge Foreclosure Trends: East Baton Rouge 2009 2010 Foreclosure Sales Numbers! 2010 Foreclosures total 12% of sales YTD; 2009 Foreclosures totaled 11%. 7% of all EBR MLS Listings are Foreclosures! Foreclosures are negatively impacting this market.

Where Are The 2010 East Baton Rouge Foreclosures Concentrated?

AREA 11 FORECLOSURES, Primarily Baker. In Area 11 in 2010, there have been 33 solds in Baker and 13 in Zachary. In 2009 and 2010, the Baker market has experienced a significant amount of fore closure activity as it was one of the markets where real estate investors flipped houses at high prices to post Hurricane Katrina buyers. Fore closure activity is cyclical in the Baker market, just as it is in the other troubled lower priced markets in Areas 31, 41 and 53. So, the fact that Baker is a higher than average REO market is no surprise to this appraiser.

In Baker, the subdivisions experiencing the higher percentage of fore closure sales were Baker Estates, Baker Heights, Baker Hills, Baker Lots & Acres and Brown Heights. In Zachary, the subdivisions experiencing the higher percentage of fore closure sales were Oak Shadows, Castle Place, Deer Park and The Cottages AT Blue Heron Lakes – those expensive town homes, expensive for the Zachary market.

AREA 31 FORECLOSURES (70802 & 70805). In Area 31 since 2008, there has been a significant amount of fore closure activity in the 30%+ of total sales range as it was one of the markets where real estate investors flipped houses at high prices to post Hurricane Katrina buyers.

AREA 41 FORECLOSURES (Park Forest Area). In Area 41 since 2008, there has been a significant amount of fore closure activity broadly throughout this market. In Area 41, the subdivisions experiencing the higher percentage of fore closure sales were Forest Oaks, Park Forest, Park Forest East, Villa Del Rey (9 reo sales in 2010) and Windsor Place.

AREA 43 FORECLOSURES (Some Surprises). A higher fore closure rate in Area 43 is an example of how this is a different market downturn than in the 1980s and 1990s. In this downturn after the mortgage meltdown, the fore closure activity AND FUTURE LOCAL FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY are located in ALL income brackets throughout all of Greater Baton Rouge. Hurricane Katrina may have been a blessing for sellers in 2005 and 2006, but some of the resales at lower than purchased prices and some of the resulting fore closures are a part of the 12% REO solds rate for EBRP.

In Area 43, the subdivisions experiencing the higher percentage of fore closure sales were High Point, Lake At White Oak (a surprise, higher priced homes), O’Neal Place (no surprise), Old Jefferson (no surprise), Shenandoah (a surprise) and higher priced Condos in Windsor Village (no surprise in the over supplied Baton Rouge Condo market and some of these condos were marketed to and sold to California investors who are now giving these back to the the banks possibly because of challenges with the California market now).

AREA 53 FORECLOSURES (1 Surprise – University Club). In Area 53 since 2008, there has been a significant amount of fore closure activity broadly throughout this market. In Area 53, the subdivisions experiencing the higher percentage of fore closure sales were Hermitage, Mayfair Park, Perkins Village, University Club Plantation (3 and very higher end homes), and Village St George.

Ascension Parish Foreclosure Trends: 2009 2010 Foreclosure Sales Numbers! 2010 Foreclosures total 7% of sales YTD; 2009 Foreclosures totaled 6%, an increase of +1% since 2009. 5% of all Ascension MLS Listings are Foreclosures! Foreclosures are only moderately impacting this market.

Where Are The 2010 Ascension Parish Foreclosures Concentrated?

AREAS 90-92 2010 FORECLOSURES. In 2010, there have been 68 solds. The vast majority of these foreclosure solds were “Rural” properties (10). In restricted subdivisions, foreclosures of note were in Ascension Trace (2), Autumn Woods (2), Lakes At Dutchtown (2), Manchac Harbor (2), Oak Terrace (3) and Porte Cochere (3).

Above $200,000, Both Solds and Current Listings. The number of 2010 foreclosures that sold above $200,000 has been 19 or 28%. Out of the 46 total REO MLS listings, there are 16 current listings above $200,000 or 35%.

Above $300,000, Both Solds and Current Listings. The number of 2010 foreclosures that sold above $300,000 has been 8 or 12%. Out of the 46 total REO MLS listings, there are 3 current listings above $300,000 or 7%.

Livingston Parish Foreclosure Trends: 2009 2010 Foreclosure Sales Numbers! 2010 Foreclosures total 13% of sales YTD; 2009 Foreclosures totaled 9%, an increase of +2% since 2009. 7% of all Livingston MLS Listings are Foreclosures! Foreclosures are negatively impacting this market.

Where Are The 2010 Livingston Parish Foreclosures Concentrated?

AREA 80 2010 FORECLOSURES. In Area 80 in 2010, there have been 17 solds. The vast majority of these foreclosure solds were “Rural” properties and 3 in Three Rivers Island.

AREA 81 2010 FORECLOSURES. In Area 81 in 2010, there have been 51 solds. These foreclosures were concentrated in Acadiana Place, Easterly Lakes, Gravesbriar, Hidden Oaks Condos, Linda Lee, Richmond Place, Watson Little Farms, Wisteria Place and Wolf Creek Place. Wisteria Place is no surprise to this appraiser for a development which has experienced marketing challenges since the beginning.

AREA 82 2010 FORECLOSURES. In Area 82 in 2010, there have been 21 solds. The vast majority of these foreclosure solds were “Rural” properties and 2 in Spring Lake. There were 1 each in Lakes at Fennwood, Lakeview Acres, Live Oak Landing, North Walker Estates, Park Place, Peaks Crossing, Shalimar and Tall Oaks.

AREA 83 2010 FORECLOSURES. In Area 83 in 2010, there have been 24 solds. These foreclosures were concentrated in Forest Ridge, Plantation Park, South Point, Westminister Estates and Woodland Crossing. There were 1 each in Carter Hills, The Cove, Falconcrest, Quail Run Acres, South Haven and Stone Hill.

West Baton Rouge Parish Foreclosure Trends: 2009 2010 Foreclosure Sales Numbers! 2010 Foreclosures total 7% of sales YTD; 2009 Foreclosures totaled 5%, an increase of +2% since 2009. 4% of all MLS Listings are Foreclosures! Foreclosures are only moderately impacting this market.

There’s A Major “Caveat” with the numbers below! It’s also stated here that an article (The Landmines Within by Michael Tarabotto http://activerain.com/blogsview/930436/The-Landmines-Within ) stated that as much as 70% of REOs never make it into the MLS – Meaning that it might be impossible to know or state the exact # of competing REOs if they’re not being listed and that the foreclosure problem could be larger if up to 70% of REOs aren’t being listed.

REO is “Real Estate Owned”!

Data used with permission of the GBRMLS. Search dates are 1/1/2009 to 10/16/2010. Extraction date was 10/16/2010.

http://www.ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ – Where Are The 2010 Ascension Parish Foreclosures Concentrated?

The chart above represents the number of recorded Ascension Parish REO or Foreclosure Sales within the Greater Baton Rouge MLS as of 10/16/2010, with the exception of Manufactured Housing sales. GBRMLS Areas for Ascension Parish are 90, 91 and 92.

2010 Foreclosures total 7% of sales YTD; 2009 Foreclosures totaled 6%, an increase of +1% since 2009. 5% of all Ascension MLS Listings are Foreclosures! Foreclosures are only moderately impacting this market.

AREAS 90-92 2010 FORECLOSURES. In 2010, there have been 68 solds. The vast majority of these foreclosure solds were “Rural” properties (10). In restricted subdivisions, foreclosures of note were in Ascension Trace (2), Autumn Woods (2), Lakes At Dutchtown (2), Manchac Harbor (2), Oak Terrace (3) and Porte Cochere (3).

Above $200,000, Both Solds and Current Listings. The number of 2010 foreclosures that sold above $200,000 has been 19 or 28%. Out of the 46 total REO MLS listings, there are 16 current listings above $200,000 or 35%.

Above $300,000, Both Solds and Current Listings. The number of 2010 foreclosures that sold above $300,000 has been 8 or 12%. Out of the 46 total REO MLS listings, there are 3 current listings above $300,000 or 7%.

There’s A Major “Caveat” with the numbers below! Based on a 7% REO sold rate, which does appear to be an indication REOs are only moderately negatively impacting this market. It’s also stated here that an article (The Landmines Within by Michael Tarabotto http://activerain.com/blogsview/930436/The-Landmines-Within ) stated that as much as 70% of REOs never make it into the MLS – Meaning that it might be impossible to know or state the exact # of competing REOs if they’re not being listed and that the foreclosure problem could be larger if up to 70% of REOs aren’t being listed. MLS is reporting 46 current REO listings for all Ascension MLS Areas out of a total 951 total listings. So, 5% of all Ascension MLS Listings are Foreclosures!

REO is “Real Estate Owned”!

Data used with permission of the GBRMLS. Search dates are 1/1/2009 to 10/16/2010. Extraction date was 10/16/2010.

http://www.ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ – Ascension Parish Residential Building Permits Charting 2000 – 2010 Year To Date

NOTE: This chart can be viewed in a larger scale @ http://www.batonrougerealestatetrends.net/building-permits/

According to Chad Calder‘s The Advocate article below, for the first half of 2010, Ascension has issued approximately 399 permits, which was a 27% rise over 2009. NOTE: IF the pace of first half residential building permits continues throughout 2010, then 2010 will surpass the 786 permits for 2009. However, with the slowdown in new home construction, this is doubtful. It’s believed by this appraiser, which concurs with Chad’s article, that much of the new home construction is taking place within the more affordable markets now, under $200,000 and closer to $100/sf to $110/sf instead of the $136/sf to $150/sf of the elevated 2006-2008 era.

http://www.ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ - Ascension Parish Gonzales Home Appraisers: New Ascension Parish Video Shows The Sites!

There have been two recent videos with Ascension Parish as the theme published on YouTube this month. View them below.

Ascension Parish Video Project With Photos

Ascension Parish Cultural Landscape

http://www.ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ – Will Half Of Ascension Parish Homebuyers Who Claimed 2009 Tax Credit Have To Repay The Government?

There’s a new report out by CNNMoney.com and eCreditDaily.com that says 950,000 Taxpayers Must Repay Homebuyer Tax Credit according to the U.S. Treasury. Read the entire articles at the links above. Buzz is providing a few snippets below.

CNNMoney.com states, “Nearly half of all Americans who claimed the first-time homebuyer tax credit on their 2009 tax returns will have to repay the government. According to a report from the Inspector General for Tax Administration, released to the public Thursday, about 950,000 of the nearly 1.8 million Americans who claimed the tax credit on their 2009 tax returns will have to return the money. The confusion comes because homebuyers were eligible for two different credits, depending on when their homes were purchased. Those who bought properties during 2008 were to deduct, dollar for dollar, up to 10% of the home’s purchase price or $7,500, whichever was less. The catch: The money was a no-interest loan that had to be repaid within 15 years. Had they waited to buy until 2009, they could have gotten a much sweeter deal. Congress extended the credit and made it a refund rather than a loan.”

eCreditDaily.com states, “Nearly 1.8 million taxpayers claimed a total of almost $12.5 billion under the popular first-time homebuyer tax credit program, but more than 950,000 taxpayers will be required to repay the credits because their homes were purchased in 2008, according to a U.S. Treasury report released today. And many more may have to repay the credits “if the homes cease to be the primary residences of the taxpayers within 36 months,” according to the report released by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). TIGTA said the Internal Revenue Service is improving its methodology to more precisely determine how many have to repay the tax credits. Nonetheless, the announcement will come as a shock to taxpayers who purchased homes to take advantage of a program meant to revitalize the depressed housing market.
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 created a new “First-Time Homebuyer Credit” equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of the home, limited to a maximum amount of $7,500. But that original credit served as an interest-free loan that must be repaid over a 15-year period. The following year, the homebuyer tax credit program was expanded and converted into a full credit that does not have to be repaid.”

To view the Treaury report, go to: http://www.ustreas.gov/tigta/auditreports/2010reports/201041086fr.pdf.

Image Source: http://ecreditdaily.com/

Tags: Homebuyer Tax Credit, Mortgages

http://www.ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ – North Ascension Parish Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers: Info on Granite Countertops. Prairieville, Gonzales, Geismar, Saint Amant Areas.

http://www.accuratevg.com/ – Greater Baton Rouge Named Second Best Economic Development Market!

The Baton Rouge Business Report AM is delivering Great News for the Greater Baton Rouge housing market. The link to the article is here!

Here’s the good news:

“Baton Rouge is ranked second by Southern Business and Development magazine among the top 10 mid-markets of the decade, based on the amount of new and expanded project wins over the last 10 years. Some of the notable projects in the top-10 issue include: Albemarle, Electronic Arts, SNF Holding Company and The Shaw Group. Project wins that affected rankings must have consisted of 200 or more jobs and/or $30 million or more in capital investment. Huntsville, Ala., was the only city to top Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge was also ranked third-best metro area in economic development in 2009 by Site Selection magazine.

Adam Knapp, BRAC president and CEO, says he attributes the area’s success to the chamber’s “Campaign for a Greater Baton Rouge.” The Southern Business and Development Story can be found here.“

http://www.ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ – Gonzales Louisiana Ascension Parish Real Estate Home Selling Tips: 4 Ways To Sell Your Home Faster. This article was written for homeowners and may be helpful for Real Estate Agents as well.

CBS Money Watch is reporting on 4 Ways To Sell Your Home Faster! Click the blue link to read the article! Here’s a snippet:

“Home sellers, buckle up: Spring selling season is here, and it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

For now, the April 30 deadline for closing on a house to claim the home buyer tax credit is boosting sales. But with mortgage rates edging up, deals are fragile and lenders are on edge. “Last-minute glitches are holding up things far longer than we have ever seen before,” says Michael Onorato, president of the Illinois Association of Realtors.

Just because you have a real estate agent, that doesn’t mean you can sit back and let the pro sell your house. To get top dollar, you’ll need to take control of the relationship and micro-manage like nobody’s business. Follow these four steps to sell your house fast.“

The 4 Ways To Sell Your Gonzales Ascension Parish Home Faster:

1.) Keep Your Agent on a Tight Leash

2.) Prove Your Home’s Value

3.) Get a Fair Appraisal

4.) Get Your Home Staged

http://www.batonrougerealestatebuzz.com/ – Baton Rouge Real Estate Agents: Would A Geographical Competency Map Of Your Previous Listings Help You Earn More Listings? If you’re an experienced agent, it certainly would by adding hundreds of red labels on a Google map.

As the map above illustrates, I recently learned how to use Google Maps to Geocode some of the home addresses I’ve been appraising. This process created a “Geographical Competency Map” illustrating my competency to appraise homes in certain local housing markets. In an HVCC era, this helps me to prove that I’m “geographically competent” to appraise homes locally and that I’m not traveling 50 miles out of my normal marketing area or beyond my market competency.

Question: If you as a local real estate agent created such a map to show to your listing prospects, would it help you earn more listings? I think it would!

I learned to create such a map by watching this video below and checking out REBliss.com’s How To Use Google Maps to Show Your Geographic Competency.

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisal.com/ – Baton Rouge Certified Home Appraisers: Area Home Sales See Gains In March

The Advocate Newspaper and Chad Calder are reporting “BR-area home sales see gain in March“, click on the link to read the entire article. Below is a snippet:

“The number of homes sold in the Baton Rouge metro area rose slightly in March, though the first quarter was down 2 percent.

The March bright spot is largely due to an increase in Ascension Parish.

The figures, compiled by the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, account for about 85 percent of the market in the eight-parish area.

Realtors sold 600 homes in the metro area in March, 1 percent more than the 594 sold in the same month last year. Dollar volume in March was up 2 percent to $118.0 million.

The quarter, however, still reflects the downward trend that has characterized recent years. There were 1,406 homes sold during the first three months of the year, compared to 1,431 the year before.

Dollar volume was also down 2 percent to $270.3 million for the quarter.“