Baton Rouge Real Estate Appraisers

Archive for October, 2009

http://www.appraisersinbatonrouge.com/ – Baton Rouge Real Estate in October 2009 Ranks Within The 20 Strongest Metro Areas In U.S.

(NOTE: This Photo, Taken in 10/2009, Shows New Construction By More “Economy Builders” Priced Below $200,000 Is Still Fairly Brisk Within The Outlying Areas Of Greater Baton Rouge Itself. This is the “New” New Construction Baton Rouge housing market, a market that is much more affordable in pricing. And, this is what is selling. Some of those builders that thought buyers would just keep paying $136/sf to $160/sf and never stop are the ones still holding inventory, paying interest and their banks are sometimes taking it on the chin. In new home construction, in general, under $200K is moving fairly well; Over $250K is Still Not Selling As Fast As It Did in 2006/2007. AND, these $200,000 new homes in the photo are being built in a “former” high end subdivision where the predominant values were $350,000 or about $135/sf. The new price per sq. ft. for the remaining 85% of lots is going to be in the $96/sf to $106/sf. OUCH!!!)

Mark Perry, with Wall Street Pit Global Market Insight, is reporting, along with Business Week, that Baton Rouge Real Estate in 2009 is within THE 20 Strongest Performing Metro Areas in the U.S.. The link to the article is here. A Snippet includes:

“BUSINESS WEEK (”The U.S. Metros Least Touched by Recession”) – America’s strongest economies have one thing in common — home prices that never got too hot or too cold (see charts above comparing the home price index in California to Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma over the last ten years).

Home prices in metros such as San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Little Rock, Ark., and Baton Rouge, La., remained steady through boom and bust. Although no metropolitan area entirely avoided the economic downturn, the most resilient metros were protected by a potent mix of recession-resistant jobs.

The upstate New York areas of Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, and Buffalo suffered from declining jobs in manufacturing, but got significant boosts from sizable health-care, education, and government sectors. Construction is booming in Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s capital, as firms take advantage of financing for post-Katrina hurricane recovery work and service-related companies expand to meet the needs of a growing population. Omaha and the state of Iowa have relatively strong insurance sectors.

Texas, the last state to enter recession, has been bolstered by its oil and gas industries — which have also helped Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Louisiana. Texas also has many other things going for it, including affordable home prices and relatively low wages, which attract corporations.”

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisers.net/ – Baton Rouge Real Estate Appraisers: This Month In Real Estate Video Update October 2009

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisers.net/ - Baton Rouge Real Estate News: Improving Baton Rouge Home Sales Numbers For September 2009, Up 46% From Hur, Gustav Lows

Tony Zito (Zito Real Estate Group Baton Rouge) has some interesting new numbers regarding comparisons of 09/2008 versus 09/2009 showing a +46% increase in home sales (374 vs 547). While this is positive, one must remember that in 09/2008, there was a sharp decline of home sales due to Hurricane Gustav. The 09/2009 are encouraging at 547 home sales for the month, shows this market is improving. 09/2007 numbers were 655, so we’re only off 16% from the 2007 highs…..VERY ENCOURAGING!

Actives and Pending aren’t moving significantly. Actives/Pendings on 9/5/09 were 3694 and 1057. Actives/Pendings on 10/5/09 were 3647 and 1006.

10/05/09
Active-3647
Pending-1006

09/05/09
Active-3694
Pending01057

Solds:
Sep 09-547
Sep 08-374
Sep 07-655
Sep 06-841
Sep 05-1766
Sep 04-635

Source: Tony Zito, Zito Real Estate Group and GBRAR MLS (Data Used With Permission).

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisers.net/ - FHA Commissioner Stands Behind Home Loan Programs

FHA Loan Pros is reporting FHA Commissioner is standing by FHA Policy, read here.

Here’s a snippet:

“In a recent letter to the New York Times, FHA commissioner David H. Stevens responds to allegations that FHA loans are taking the place of the sub-prime loans that were largely responsible for record foreclosure rates. Concerns about heightened risk prompted a proposal to increase down payments for FHA loans to five percent from the current minimum of 3.5 percent.“