http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisers.net/ – East Baton Rouge Parish Quarterly Sales By Zip Code Q1 2010 versus Q1 2011 Report. Report shows an increase in number of home sales over 2010, but significant declines in Average Sales Prices overall. Report includes ALL housing types in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Accurate Valuations Group (Home Appraisals) has completed an analysis of the East Baton Rouge Parish housing market from First Quarter 2010 versus First Quarter 2011. The results are below. Click the chart to view in a larger size.

This is a lot of data to report on in one (1) article with “20″ zip codes. A short summary follows:

Number of Home Sales Increased Over 2010! For the number of home sales, only 9 zip codes reported a smaller number of sales. And, Ten (10) Zip Codes experienced more sales in Q1 2011 than in Q1 2010, which is great news for our market.

Average Sales Prices Overall Decline! This is consistent with the CoreLogic report on national home prices falling for the 7th straight month, as reported on Thursday, April 7, 2011. Thirteen (13) of the 20 Zip Codes showed declining average sales prices versus only Seven (7) showing increases. Local home prices are continuing to correct.

Average Sales Price Per Square Foot Overall Declines! This is consistent with the CoreLogic report. Fifteen (15) of the 20 Zip Codes showed declining average sales prices per sq. ft. versus only Seven (5) showing either no change or just slight increases.

Biggest Gainers. Zip Code 70807, the Scotlandville market, showed a 450% increase in number of home sales. Zip Code 70739, the Central or Greenwell Springs market, showed a +16.2% increase in Average Sales Prices AND +5.6% in Average Sales Price Per Sq. Ft.. Central is a “hot” market viewed by locals as having a favorable school district.

Largest Declines. Zip Code 70820, the market below LSU off Brightside, showed a -35.3% decrease in number of home sales. Zip Code 70802, the market in and around Central Business District, showed a -33.4% decline in Average Sales Prices AND -30.2% decline in Average Sales Price Per Sq. Ft..

Visit Baton Rouge Real Estate Buzz Here

Visit Baton Rouge Real Estate Buzz On Facebook

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.batonrougerealestateappraisers.net/ – Baton Rouge Housing Trends: Shenandoah Hills Subdivision 2010 Home Prices Increase!

Solds In Shenandoah Hills Subdivision from 1/2010 to 12/31/2010 revealed:

Average Sales Price: $146,357 ($133,260 in 2009)
Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $108.12/sf ($99.34/sf in 2009)
Median Sold Price: $149,500 ($132,500 in 2009)
Number of Sales: 7 (5 in 2009)
Average Number of Days On Market: 44 (48 in 2009)
Low To High: $129,900 to $152,000
Number of Sold REO/Foreclosures Noted In MLS: 0
Current # Listings: 3, 0 Are Foreclosures
Current Listings Price: $140,900 to $150,900 or $105 to $113/sf

The Median Sales Price has increased from $132,500 in 2009 and $144,000 in 2008 to $149,500 in 2010.

NOTE: Based on information from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®\MLS for the period of January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. This information was extracted on 1/1/2011. YES, this appraiser does have the permission of GBRMLS to use the chart above Subdivision Price Trends Report!

Tags: Baton Rouge Estate Appraisers, Baton Rouge FHA Appraisers, Baton Rouge Housing Market, Baton Rouge Real Estate, Baton Rouge Real Estate Housing, Baton Rouge Real Estate Trends,

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisers.net/ – Tremendous Opportunity in Greater Baton Rouge Pre-Foreclosures – Buyer Beware!

Tremendous Opportunity in Pre-Foreclosures – Buyer Beware! This was an email I received today and found the advice helpful!

“Real estate professionals, investors, and others that know a good opportunity when they see one, realize that today’s real estate market holds tremendous potential for helping them to reach their financial goals. If you’re thinking about jumping into this market, it’s important that you do your homework before investing, to ensure that you’re as happy after your purchase as you were before. Here are some pitfalls to avoid if you’re thinking about jumping into today’s market.

Don’t Get Loan Pre-Approval – One of the fastest ways of failing with a pre-foreclosure investment is by having no clear idea of how you’ll close the deal. Lenders want to know that they’re dealing with legitimate buyers. One of the best ways of establishing credibility with the lender in a pre-foreclosure property is to know how much you can spend. This will also allow you to pull the trigger quickly once the lender says it’s a go, which is critically important for lenders that need to move quickly.

Avoid Getting Accurate Comps – Comps – also known as comparative values – are used by potential buyers and lenders in establishing the actual value of a property. If your comparative values are flawed, you might overpay for the property, and not know it until it’s too late. Determining property value is somewhat formulaic; plug in the wrong number and the results are as deeply flawed as any politician.

Invest in High-foreclosure Areas – One of the quickest ways to get in over your head with pre-foreclosures is by investing in high-foreclosure areas. While the prospect of multiple properties in a given neighborhood might have some appeal, a closer examination of the facts shows that this is a bad investment strategy for one very good reason: too many foreclosures can mean that property values are going to decline even more, leaving you in control of a property that is worth less than you paid for it.

Guess at Repair Costs – This sounds like a no-brainer, but some investors have purchased real estate site unseen. With better market conditions, it might have made sense, but in today’s environment, you must know what your repair costs will be. Pre-foreclosures have a higher incidence of deferred maintenance and other repair issues, but in most cases, you can inspect the property prior to making a purchase decision. Take advantage of this opportunity, and accurately estimate repair costs. You’ll be in a better position to make a decision as to whether you want to move forward once you’re armed with the facts.

There are no guarantees when buying pre-foreclosures. This type of investment is relatively simple: Locate pre-foreclosure properties, negotiate a short sale (or other purchase) transaction with the borrower and their lender, close the deal, and either hold it for cash flow and potential appreciation or sell it for a quick profit (assuming you can buy it at a price that permits a fast re-sale at a good price). But to find pre-foreclosures, you need information, the kind you can find at www.defaultresearch.com“

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisers.net/ – Baton Rouge Real Estate: Elevated Interior Photos Of Baton Rouge Housing

These Are Recent Interior photos Taken With Kodak Zi8 with Wide Angle Lens On 6′ Monopod held in the air. These same photos are also on Flickr @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/billcobb/sets/72157625267645543/

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisers.net/ – Listing That Greater Baton Rouge Home?  Leave The Tape Measure At Home And Pull Out Your iPhone $0.99 App!

Commentary From Rob Jansen aka “Peanut” With John C. Jones Realtor:

“You know you hate it. You’re at a listing and fighting that measuring tape to go where you want it, how you want it, and stay in place. Agents meet the Sonar Ruler. This new iPhone App can measure distances of up to 60 feet by sending a short pulse (more like a clicking noise) to the wall of what-have-you and measuring how long it takes to return to the phone…and it’s pretty darn accurate. I wouldn’t measure inches with it by any means, but for measuring smaller rooms this inexpensive app allows you to get a very close estimation, which you’re more than likely going to round anyway. I still haven’t found a cheap solution for larger rooms, so you’ll probably still need your tape measure if the home’s got good sized living space, but for your typical bedrooms the Sonar Ruler iPhone App is just the ticket.”

Sonar Ruler Demo from cc laan on Vimeo.