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..

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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/

Welcome To The $100. 00 Greater Baton Rouge Comparable Sales Reports! Greater Baton Rouge Comparable Sales Reports Is A Desktop Appraisal Service Performed By William D. Cobb with Accurate Valuations Group, Serving East & West Baton Rouge Parish, Northern Ascension Parish and Western Livingston Parish. William Uses An Approved Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Appraisal Form (SSDVR) To Complete This Report.

What Is An SSDVR Report? A desktop appraisal report conducted by Louisiana State Certified Appraiser, William D. Cobb, CREA, License #R0851. Bill will drive-by the home being appraised, rely upon the physical data the client provides, research the MLS database, select the 3 most similar and competitive sales/comps and render a value opinion.

There’s some good news for the Baker housing market! A segment of the Baker market is now increasing in median sales price from the March 2009 period, see charting below. The parameters of the GBRAR MLS search included homes from $70,000 to $135,000, 16 years old plus, 3 bedrooms in 70714 zip code – data extracted on April 14, 2010.

Why I stated “some good news”. For the home I appraising at approximately 1,300sf, there were 33 competing listings, indicating an oversupplied market. And, since April of 2008, previous 2 years, 20% of solds in MLS were REOs or foreclosures (20 REOs out of a total 102 comparable sales). Baker was one of the markets that investors took advantage of immediately after Hurricane Katrina buying low and selling very high. This resulted in a series of foreclosures within the Baker market dating back to 2007.

Tags: Baker Louisiana Real Estate, Baker Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers, Baker Louisiana FHA Appraisers, 70714, Baker Louisiana Homes, Baker Louisiana Housing

In this video, FHA Appraisers East Baton Rouge Report on some good news for the Greater Baton Rouge Housing Market – Baton Rouge Makes Best of 2009 Housing Markets To Rise In Future!

Tags: baton rouge, Baton Rouge Estate Appraisers, baton rouge real estate, baton rouge real estate agents, baton rouge real estate appraisers, baton rouge realtors, Denham Springs, Denham Springs Appraisers, Denham Springs FHA Appraisers, Denham Springs Real Estate, Greater Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, FHA Appraisers Baton Rouge

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).

On Active Rain, Richard Vetstein is discussing “New, Stricter FHA Condominium Lending Guidelines Coming Nov. 2: First Time Buyers Affected”, which could eventually impact the Greater Baton Rouge Housing Market. Here’s the article link.

Here’s a snippet:

“Under revised guidelines which were to be effective October 1, 2009 but now delayed until November 2, 2009, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is implementing a new stricter approval process for condominiums to be eligible for FHA financing. Like the Fannie Mae regulations issued earlier in the year, the new FHA guidelines will surely slow down condominium mortgage financing, and negatively impact first time home buyers for condominium units.

For those who don’t know, FHA is a government program designed to help more people buy homes, and more borrowers will qualify with FHA financing than with conventional. It is a low down payment (3.5% down) program and the credit standards are much looser. The mortgage rates are typically better, as well.”

FHA Loan Pros is making more sense out of the FHA situation, read here.

Here’s a snippet:

“In a move intended to reduce taxpayers’ exposure to losses associated with defaulted FHA loans, legislation is being proposed that would tighten FHA loan requirements:

The minimum down payment would increase from 3.5% to 5% of the loan amount.
Closing costs would no longer be permitted to be “rolled into” the loan amount.
This would mean that potential homebuyers would need to have more cash available for coverin these costs. The principle concern behind these proposed changes is that lenient lending requirements can encourage people to take out home loans they;re not prepared to pay over the long term.

Demise of “Sub-Prime” Lending Increases FHA Market Share”