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

http://www.batonrougelistingsservices.com/ – Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate Elevated Photography Services Now Available by Bill Cobb with Baton Rouge Listings Services and AVG Accurate Valuations Group! Find out more at the url above in blue.

Below is a compare and contrast showing the marketing differences in perspective of home listing photo at normal elevation versus elevated elevations. Local Real Estate Agents prefer to combine normal photos and elevated photos in their marketing plan for their listings.

This service is also included in Bill Cobb’s AVG Pre-Listing Appraisals whether those are ordered by Local Real Estate Agents or for those selling FSBO without an Agent, see Greater Baton Rouge Pre-Listing Appraisals

Tags: pap, pole aerial photography, pole photography, baton rouge, baton rouge real estate, baton rouge homes, Baton Rouge Real Estate, Baton Rouge Housing, East Baton Rouge, Greater Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Realtors, Baton Rouge Real Estate Agents, Baton Rouge Homes For Sale, baton rouge real estate elevated photos

http://www.ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ – Ascension Parish Home Appraisers: The Lake At Twin Oaks Home Price Trends May 2011 Report.

According to the charting below, the Average Sales Prices have remained fairly STABLE each year since 2008. The Average Sales Prices have ranged from $390,000 in 2008 based on 2 sales to $390,000 in 2010 based on 4 sales with no MLS reported sales in 2009 or 2011 year-to-date. In 2008 and 2010, the Average Sold Price per sq. ft. were $129.94/sf and $127.89/sf.

Current Listings. Three (3) current listings, 2 active and 1 pending from $374,800, $575,000 and $475,000, priced very high from $145/sf, $151/sf and $154/sf. The term “very high” is used here because the local housing market is in its 8th month of home price correction per CoreLogic and the chart above shows support for $128/sf in 2010. This pricing above is $17/sf to $26/sf above 2010 support. Wow! There may be market support in 2011 for such pricing, not exactly sure! I’d strongly recommend a Pre-Purchase Home Appraisal before overpaying for Greater Baton Rouge housing as we continue to correct locally.

NOTE: Based on information from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®\MLS for the period of January 1, 2006 to May 31, 2011. This information was extracted on 5/31/2011. YES, permission was granted by GBRMLS to use Subdivision Price Trends Chart Report!

Bill Cobb is Greater Baton Rouge’s Home Appraiser frequently called upon by banks, homeowners, and savvy real estate investors to assess property values. A home appraiser with 20 years experience, Bill Cobb brings a wealth of knowledge to the table as a home appraiser.

Bill’s company, Accurate Valuations Group, serves Greater Baton Rouge (East Baton Rouge Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, Western Livingston Parish and Northern Ascension Parish).

Contact Bill Cobb and Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal Group for your next home appraisal:
Office: 225-293-1500, Cell: 225-953-0638
Fax: 1-866-663-6065
info@accuratevg.com
http://www.accuratevg.com/

http://www.batonrougerealestatebuzz.com/ – Greater Baton Rouge Housing Update For Week of April 22, 2011 (From April 16-22, 2011). This report covers the primary four (4) Parishes that make up Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate.

ASCENSION PARISH

SOLDS:

5 from $67,000 to $229,900, Average Sales Prices $168,180 or $99.98/sf, Median Sales Price $185,000, Average Days On Market 41.
LISTINGS:

Currently Actives Total: 744 $234,268 Average Listing Price and Median Price $198,200.
Currently Pending: 246 $194,128 Average Listing Price and Median Price $174,975.
New Listings: 40 With Average Listing Price of $195,992, Median Listing Price of $169,900
Pending Listings: 39 With Average Listing Price of $202,851, Median Listing Price of $189,000
Withdrawn Listings: 13 With Average Listing Price of $259,753, Median Listing Price of $224,900
Expired Listings: 7 With Average Listing Price of $155,673, Median Listing Price of $129,000

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH

SOLDS:
42 from $21,900 to $575,000, Average Sales Prices $222,343 or $102.28/sf, Median Sales Price $187,000, Average Days On Market 123.

LISTINGS:
Currently Actives Total: 2695 $247,876 Average Listing Price and Median Price $176,900.
Currently Pending: 613 $209,906 Average Listing Price and Median Price $167,900.
New Listings: 133 With Average Listing Price of $220,158, Median Listing Price of $175,000
Pending Listings: 102 With Average Listing Price of $203,939, Median Listing Price of $169,450
Withdrawn Listings: 18 Average Listing Price $184,066, Median Listing Price of $142,500
Expired Listings: 23 With Average Listing Price of $468,832, Median Listing Price of $214,900

WESTERN LIVINGSTON PARISH

SOLDS:
19 from $22,500 to $448,000, Average Sales Prices $124,242 or $74.59/sf, Median Sales Price $89,000, Average Days On Market 74.

LISTINGS:
Currently Actives Total: 778 $193,809 Average Listing Price and Median Price $159,900.
Currently Pendings: 171 $151,976 Average Listing Price and Median Price $148,000.
New Listings: 37 With Average Listing Price of $186,735, Median Listing Price of $153,900
Pending Listings: 21 With Average Listing Price of $159,738, Median Listing Price of $146,900
Withdrawn Listings: 15 Average Listing Price $162,826, Median Listing Price of $147,500
Expired Listings: 17 With Average Listing Price of $170,894, Median Listing Price of $167,900

WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH

SOLDS:
1 for $179,700 or $127/sf, Median Sales Price $179,700, Average Days On Market 267.

LISTINGS:
Currently Actives Total: 109 $196,436 Average Listing Price and Median Price $186,300.
Currently Pending: 21 $186,897 Average Listing Price and Median Price $185,900.
New Listings: 3 Average Listing Price of $204,900, Median Listing Price of $134,900
Pending Listings: 2 Average Listing Price of $175,900, Median Listing Price of $175,900
Withdrawn Listings: 1 Average Listing Price $49,900, Median Listing Price of $49,900
Expired Listings: 1 With Average Listing Price of $195,000, Median Listing Price of $195,000

NOTE: Based on information from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®\MLS for the period of April, 16, 2011 to April 22, 2011. This information was extracted on 04/23/2011.

Author’s Bio:
Bill Cobb is Greater Baton Rouge’s Home Appraiser frequently called upon by banks, homeowners, and savvy real estate investors to assess property values. A home appraiser with 20 years experience, Bill Cobb brings a wealth of knowledge to the table as a home appraiser.
Bill’s company, Accurate Valuations Group, serves Greater Baton Rouge (East Baton Rouge Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, Western Livingston Parish and Northern Ascension Parish).
Contact Bill Cobb and Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal Group for your next home appraisal:
Office: 225-293-1500, Cell: 225-953-0638
Fax: 1-866-663-6065
info@accuratevg.com
http://www.accuratevg.com/

http://www.batonrougerealestatebuzz.com/ – Greater Baton Rouge Housing Update For Week of April 15, 2011 (From April 9-15, 2011). This report covers the primary four (4) Parishes that make up Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate.

Ascension Parish

Solds: 9 from $86,700 to $385,000, Average Sales Prices $186,403 or $100.32/sf, Median Sales Price $137,500, Average Days On Market 59.

Listings:

Currently Pending: 229 $191,106 Average Listing Price and Median Price $172,500.

New Listings: 48 With Average Listing Price of $197,932, Median Listing Price of $174,950

Pending Listings: 39 With Average Listing Price of $195,857, Median Listing Price of $189,000

East Baton Rouge Parish

Solds: 31 from $5,500 to $1,054,000, Average Sales Prices $216,768 or $106.51/sf, Median Sales Price $161,000, Average Days On Market 96.

Currently Pending: 585 $208,328 Average Listing Price and Median Price $166,000.

New Listings: 120 With Average Listing Price of $268,194, Median Listing Price of $186,000

Pending Listings: 100 With Average Listing Price of $208,382, Median Listing Price of $165,000

Western Livingston Parish

Solds: 10 from $29,000 to $455,000, Average Sales Prices $189,525 or $97.54/sf, Median Sales Price $168,500, Average Days On Market 98.

Currently Pending: 177 $149,140 Average Listing Price and Median Price $147,900.

New Listings: 31 With Average Listing Price of $175,716, Median Listing Price of $168,900

Pending Listings: 24 With Average Listing Price of $120,687, Median Listing Price of $127,950

West Baton Rouge Parish

Solds: 4 from $51,500 to $226,000, Average Sales Prices $166,600 or $106.33/sf, Median Sales Price $194,450, Average Days On Market 68.

Currently Pending: 21 $187,983 Average Listing Price and Median Price $193,000.

New Listings: 0

Pending Listings: 1 Listing Price of $124,900

NOTE: Based on information from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®\MLS for the period of April, 9, 2011 to April 15, 2011. This information was extracted on 04/16/2011.

Author’s Bio:

Bill Cobb is Greater Baton Rouge’s Home Appraiser frequently called upon by banks, homeowners, and savvy real estate investors to assess property values. A home appraiser with 20 years experience, Bill Cobb brings a wealth of knowledge to the table as a home appraiser.

Bill’s company, Accurate Valuations Group, serves Greater Baton Rouge (East Baton Rouge Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, Western Livingston Parish and Northern Ascension Parish).

Contact Bill Cobb and Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal Group for your next home appraisal:
Office: 225-293-1500, Cell: 225-953-0638
Fax: 1-866-663-6065
info@accuratevg.com
http://www.accuratevg.com/

http://www.ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ – Ascension Parish Prairieiville La Housing Trends: Manchac Crossing 2005-2010 Home Sales Report

One 2011 Sale $205,000 or $124/sf. It appears Manchac Crossing Median Sales Prices are continuing to Decline from 2008 highs of $242,750. Median Prices since 2006 have been $218,000, $219,950, $242,750, $237,500, $233,250 and now $205,000 in 2011. So, there was the rise in prices after Hurricane Katrina, then the deflating of the market!

NOTE: Based on information from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®\MLS for the period of January 1, 2005 to March 25, 2011. This information was extracted on 03/25/2011. YES, permission was granted by GBRMLS to use Subdivision Price Trends Chart Report!

http://www.batonrougerealestateminute.com/ – Ascension Real Estate Minute The Lake At Manchac 2010 Housing Review

Total # 2010 Sales: 3
Average Sales Price: $258,833
Median Sales Price: $255,000
Average Sold Price: $127.25/sf
Average List To Sale Price Ratio: 98.3%
Average Days On Market: 88

One 2011 Foreclosure or Below Market Sale for $227,900 or $106/sf

NOTE: Based on information from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®\MLS for the period of January 1, 2010 to 3/18/2011. This information was extracted on 3/18/2011.

http://www.ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ - Ascension Parish Home Appraisers, Prairieville Louisiana 70769 Manchac Harbor Subdivision 2010 Update. Housing Numbers Report. Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate Trends Report.

http://www.homeappraisalsbatonrouge.com/ – Greater Baton Rouge Housing Trends For January 2011 Residential Sales Update!

Ok, we know from the recent LREC release that in all of 2010, the number of home sale was down -7.3%. Total home sales volume was down -5.2%. And, that the “Average Sales Price”, which I am not a fan of reporting on, rose 2.3% from $197,587 in 2009 to $202,138 in 2010. To find out why I’m not a fan of using Average Sales Price, see this explanation under “AVERAGE SALES PRICE IS NOT INDICATOR WHAT WE SHOULD BE RELYING ON! .

WHAT INDICATIONS CAN WE DRAW FROM JANUARY 2011 NUMBERS? So, with 2010 being a down year for the number of home sales, how did January 2011 perform to give us an indication of what 2011 might result in?

On Facebook in 2011, there’s been a lot of positive comments from local Agents about the uptick in Agent showings and buyer interest. Is that translating into actual increase in the number of home sales?

Number Of Home Sales Down 9%. January home sales were down 9% from 2010 with 328 total sales recorded for the first month of the year versus 360 for January 2010.

No Improvement In Number Of Sales By Parish. There was no improvement in the number of home sales for ALL four local Parishes. Ascension had 73 sales in 2010 versus 72 in 2011, down 1%. East Baton Rouge had 206 sales in 2010 versus only 183 in 2011, down 11%. Livingston had 74 sales in 2010 versus 66 in 2011, down 11%. And, West Baton Rouge had 7 sales in 2010 versus 7 in 2011, unchanged.

Average Sales Price Unchanged. Average home sales prices were up 0.61% from 2010 $188,529 to $189,688 for 2011.

Median Sales Price Up 2.5%. Median home sales prices were up 2.5% from 2010 $164,850 to $168,950 for 2011.

Average Sales Price Per Sq. Ft. Down 2.3%. Average home sales prices per square foot was down 2.3% from $99.70/sf in 2010 versus $97.40 in 2011.

Days On Market Increased. Marketing time periods also increased in 2011 to an average of 103 days versus 92 days in 2010

Number of Existing Home Sales Down, Prices Up Just Slightly. Existing home sales made up 79% or 259 of the total sales recorded with an average sales price of $189,356, median sale price of $159,900. In 2010, Existing home sales made up 76% or 274 of the total sales recorded with an average sales price of $185,144 and median sale price of $159,450. So, the 2011 average sales price is up 2.3% while the median sales price was virtually unchanged.

Number of New Home Sales Down, Prices Up. New home sales made up 21% of the total sales recorded. There were 69 new homes sold in 2011 with an average sales price of $202,197 and median sales price of $179,900 versus 86 in 2010 with and average sales price of $199,313 and median sales price of $176,598.

Number of Foreclosure Sales Up 15%, Prices Down! Bank sales were up 15% from the prior year and average bank sales prices were up 21%. Average REO Sales Prices in 2010 were $113,265 versus only $106,247 in 2011. There were 60 “REO” sales in 2011 versus 52 in 2010.

NOTE: Based on information from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®\MLS for the period of January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2011. This information was extracted on 02/11/2011. Source For Quarterly Indicators chart is LREC.

Search Parameters were Ascension, Livingston, East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge Parishes, All property types except Manufactured Housing and All ages.

Tags: Ascension Parish Real Estate, Baton Rouge FHA Appraisers, Baton Rouge Home Appraisers, Baton Rouge Homes, Baton Rouge Housing, Baton Rouge Housing Market, Baton Rouge Real Estate, Baton Rouge Real Estate Agents, Baton Rouge Real Estate Housing, Baton Rouge Real Estate Trends, Livingston Parish Real Estate, West Baton Rouge Parish

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.