http://www.appraisersinbatonrouge.com/ - Baton Rouge Real Estate 2009 Metro Area Declines Of 4.3% Year Over Year

Zillow.com is reporting that Baton Rouge Metro (Greater Baton Rouge) had a -4.3% decline since 1/2009, see the charts below. The Zillow report can be read here! Also according to Zillow, the Shenandoah market, comprised of approximately 2,800 homes, experienced a -2.3% decline in the same period.

For Your Greater Baton Rouge Home Appraisal Needs, Give Accurate Valuations Group A Call at 225-293-1500

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisal.com/

http://www.accuratevg.com/ - Baton Rouge Real Estate Videos of Mayfair Park East Subdivision 2009 Housing Statitstics as presented with permission of the GBRAR and Baton Rouge’s Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal Group!

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisal.com/ - Baton Rouge Real Estate: Greater Baton Rouge Homeowner Should Not Have Added $60,000 Pool In A $150,000 Subdivision

I ran across a situation in the Greater Baton Rouge Housing Market where a homeowner, located in a subdivision where the average home is worth $150,000, installed a $60,000 Gunite Inground Pool recently. Now, their home is on the market and they are about to be taken through the “school of hard knocks” when the appraiser doesn’t give them any more than $5,000 to maybe $7,500 contributory value for their pool. I’ve been appraising now for 18 years and see these types of situation several times per year and just shake my head when I see this happen.

Why only $5,000 to $7,500 contributory value for a $60,000 “gunite” pool? It’s not that “blankety blank” appraiser’s fault. It’s actually the market, the buyers, that don’t reward such expensive overimprovements. And mortgage underwriters that scrutinize the appraisals when appraisers do.

Is It Common For IG Pools In That Market? Let’s venture this thought process in the eyes of the appraiser! You have to look at the overall market and ask if it’s common for $60,000 inground pools to be installed in subdivisions where the homes are $150,000, which it’s not. Then ask yourself if the average owner in Such-And-Such Subdivision has an inground pool and the answer is no. Look at an aerial map for proof. Is it common for any buyer in the general Greater Baton Rouge market to pay more than $7,500 for a pool on an existing home sale where the price of the home is below $200,000? That answer is generally no as well. There may be exceptions, but they would be very rare.

Mortgage Underwriting Questions? What happens if the appraiser gives more than $5,000 to $7,500 on a pool is the underwriters coming back with a request for comps where the market actually gave that much for a pool. It’s at that point where the sale may fall apart because the appraiser can’t support giving the subject home that much value for that $60K pool in a $150,000 subdivision. I’m sure from the photos that it’s a nice pool, but in this national mortgage meltdown market where this loan may be underwritten in New Jersey, Manhatten NY or California or elsewhere where pools don’t carry much value, then giving too much value to the pool may even cause the lender not to want to do the loan and/or throw up red-flags.

There’s two lessons here!

1.) If you plan on remaining in your home until you die, then live it up and build whatever you want in your backyard (ig pools, metal workshop, that covered patio, wood decking, stone walk-ways, etc..).

2.) If you don’t plan on remaining in your home until you die, and your investment dollars must be wisely spent, then be very cautious about installing ig pools, metal workshops, covered patios, wood decks, stone walk-ways, etc.. because they don’t bring much return on investment. The lesson here is not to invest money in the your backyard and expect to receive dollar-for-dollar return on your investment. The lesson is to invest on the home itself before investing in your backyard.

Greater Baton Rouge’s Home Appraiser – Bill Cobb! Your Local Home Value “Trust Agent”! http://www.accuratevg.com/

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisal.com/ - Baton Rouge Real Estate Appraiser’s Report: Riverbend Subdivision 70820

Market Direction: Up or Down?

Solds In Riverbend Subdivision from 1/2007 to 12/2007 revealed:
Average Sales Price: $340,142
Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $121.89/sf
Median Sold Price: $345,000
Average Days On Market: 68
Number Of Sales: 18

Solds In Riverbend Subdivision from 1/2008 to 12/2008 revealed:
Average Sales Price: $325,374
Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $121.21/sf
Median Sold Price: $317,400
Average Days On Market: 69
Number Of Sales: 18

Solds In Riverbend Subdivision from 1/2009 to 12/2009 revealed:
Average Sales Price: $333,587
Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $120.44/sf
Median Sold Price: $330,000
Average Days On Market: 91
Number Of Sales: 13

Therefore, based on the median sale price barometer within Riverbend, the market direction declined from 2007 to 2008 but increased from 2008 into 2009. The gap between the high and low median sales prices was $27,600. However the Aveage Sold Price Per Sq. Ft. only varied $1.45/sf within this 3 year period, which shows a fairly tight, supportive market.

For Your Greater Baton Rouge Home Apprasial Needs, Give Accurate Valuations Group A Call at 225-293-1500 or visit http://www.accuratevg.com/