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.batonrougerealestatebuzz.com/ – Baton Rouge Housing Statistics June 2010 Update: River Oaks Subdivision 70819

Solds In River Oaks from 1/09 to 6/19/10 revealed:
Average Sales Price: $129,370
Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $87/sf
Median Sold Price: $132,500
Number of Sales: 10
Low To High: $78,000 to $158,000
Number of Sold REO/Foreclosures Noted In MLS: 1
Current # Listings: 5
Current Listings Prices: $118,000 To $225,000

Author’s Bio:

Bill’s company, Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal 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.batonrougerealestateappraisal.com/ – Greater Baton Rouge Home Appraiser Offers Pre-Listing Appraisal Services

A smooth transaction is one when one has accurately represented the physical characteristics(in writing) of one’s home , whether it be listing the home with an agent or selling it yourself(FSBO). “The main step is to acquire the accurate living area during the whole process of obtaining the accurate representation of one’s property”, says William D. Cobb, CREA who is the owner of Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal Group in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. An agent will enlist a CMA or Comparative Market Analysis for determining a home’s listing price. Still, one should have with them, a precise calculation of the living area.

Also, to be on the safer side, it would be a wise decision to have a third-party measure the living area and value of the property before one signs the Listing Agreement. A residential appraiser is the best option in this case.

This has the following advantages:

When an appraisal report is done in a professional manner, it leaves a good impression on the potential buyer as it supports the price quoted as well.

An appraisal generally includes photographs, location map, accurate sketch, precise dimensions, outline of the neighborhood etc. Also, 3 to 4 comparable sales must be present adjusted to subject property.

Enlisting recommendations for repair or enhancements, if any. This listing appraisal can indicate a value for addition(s), items that require repairs, etc..

Accurate estimation of Living-Area size lends peace of mind, especially with values @ $100/sf +

In U.S, majority of real estate professionals base the price per square foot of a home on living area size. Living Area is measured from the exterior walls. All real estate professionals are to follow the ANSI Standards for Single-Family Residential Buildings (American National Standards Institute) when calculating area home sizes. In a seminar in Apex Appraiser Home Sketching Software and National ANSI Standards in Houston, TX, the ANSI instructor, who is also on the Appraiser Standards Board in South Carolina, stated that one of the most common lawsuits in Real Estate today is “misrepresentation of living area size”.

Consider: A 2,000sf home is for sale, priced at $240,000. Instead of measuring the home, the living area was obtained by County Records; estimating the typical home size in that development. The home is listed with a living area of 2,000sf. A purchase agreement for $240,000 is received and is accepted. The appraisal is ordered by the buyer’s lender. The sellers submit an offer on a $350,000 home in a neighboring development. The offer is accepted. However, the appraiser for the home turns in her appraisal showing 1,840sf and an appraised value of $220,800, much less than the purchase price. The sellers are asked to renegotiate the purchase price as the living area is 1,840sf, and not the 2,000sf. The sellers sue for misrepresentation of living area.

Thus, it’s crucial to have one’s home measured by the person listing your home. It is strongly recommended that when interviewing the person listing your home, one must confirm that they follow ANSI, that they will measure your home, and provide you a calculated sketch. Thus, a written verification of true living area is present.

Bill states that he recently performed a purchase appraisal in a South Baton Rouge Subdivision on a 2,026sf living area, for $260,000, listed FSBO. The home was marketed WITHOUT obtaining a professional opinion on the value of the home. The buyers end up with $9,000 in equity as the home appraised at $269k. So, as against a loss of $9,000 the seller should have paid $225 to get the listing appraisal done.

An appraisal helps homeowners make the best decisions like investment in homes and setting a competent sales price. Thus it is strongly recommended to have a Listing Appraisal before one lists their home.

Accurate Valuations Group
Office: 225.293.1500
Fax: 1-866-663-6065

http://www.batonrougehomeappraisal.com/ – Greater Baton Rouge Housing Statistics! Baker Louisiana Real Estate Housing Statistics For 2010

The above charting is an analysis of GBRAR MLS Solds since 4/17/2008+ within MLS Area 11, Zip Code 70714, extracted on 4/26/2010. DSF Home search parameters were:

$75,000 to $150,000

1300sf to 1600sf, 3-4 Bedrooms

Ages 16-20 Yrs to 76+ Yrs

REO/Foreclosures are included.

The overall median sales price since 4/2009 has remained stable showing a +0.89% increase.

http://www.appraisersinbatonrouge.com/ – Baton Rouge Housing Real Estate News Update 4/13/2010

Baton Rouge Real Estate Housing News Update April 13 2010. Baton Rouge FHA Appraiser, Bill Cobb, quickly highlights the area real estate news.

http://www.appraisersinbatonrouge.com/ – Baton Rouge Real Estate Home Selling Tips: 4 Ways To Sell Your Home Faster. This article was written for homeowners and may be helpful for Real Estate Agents as well.

CBS Money Watch is reporting on 4 Ways To Sell Your Home Faster! Click the blue link to read the article! Here’s a snippet:

“Home sellers, buckle up: Spring selling season is here, and it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

For now, the April 30 deadline for closing on a house to claim the home buyer tax credit is boosting sales. But with mortgage rates edging up, deals are fragile and lenders are on edge. “Last-minute glitches are holding up things far longer than we have ever seen before,” says Michael Onorato, president of the Illinois Association of Realtors.

Just because you have a real estate agent, that doesn’t mean you can sit back and let the pro sell your house. To get top dollar, you’ll need to take control of the relationship and micro-manage like nobody’s business. Follow these four steps to sell your house fast.“

The 4 Ways To Sell Your Baton Rouge Home Faster:

1.) Keep Your Agent on a Tight Leash

2.) Prove Your Home’s Value

3.) Get a Fair Appraisal

4.) Get Your Home Staged

http://www.batonrougerealestatebuzz.com/ – Video Of Baton Rouge Homes Value: How Much Value Do Pools and Metal Buildings Add?

In this video, Realtor and Broker, Tony Zito, and Home Appraiser, Bill Cobb, discuss how appraisers value pools and metal buildings. Generally, the return might be 1/4 to 1/3 of investment, but not always. Sometimes pools have no value at all, especially the older the age of the pool. Some people likes pools and others don’t and end up filling them in with dirt. However, if you’re buying a home to live there forever, enjoy that home and add what you can afford to install…..just don’t expect to get a dollar-for-dollar return on your investment of items in your yard.

I wrote more about this topic here, “Greater Baton Rouge Homeowner Should Not Have Added $60,000 Pool In A $150,000 Subdivision“

and

“Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate Question: Is It Wise To Invest $60,000 For A Pool and Landscaping For A $250,000 Home“

NOTE: Just don’t let that pool salesman convince you that adding that pool will significantly increase the value of your home.

http://www.batonrougerealestatebuzz.com/ - Baton Rouge Real Estate Agent Tips: The Importance Of Sending Those Thank You Notes!

Back in early 2004, I released the “Reapptools” Home Appraiser Marketing Guide. Some of the readers of this blog purchased that guide. While the implementation HVCC has eliminated some of the marketing methods recommended in the guide, there was a section about the power of thank you notes and referral gifts. These generally included a thank you with a small very inexpensive Jim Rohn booklet on success. I received a thank you note with success type booklet recently from site sponsor, Lore DeAstra with Continental Appraisal and was reminded of the power of thank you notes.

What about that appraiser or home inspector that recently sent you a listing referral? What about that Attorney that recently sent you the listing referral? What about that family friend that referred your services to their neighbor? Did you take time to send them a thank you note? The point in the Reapptools guide was that thank you notes positively reinforce that behavior over and over again.

To help me make sure I follow through on sending thank you notes, I keep a stack within arms reach. That’s why I also bought my Dymo Label Writer 400 years ago so I could print an address label in a snap!

John Jones’ Tuesday Morning Coffee video today is about the power of thank you notes. John’s recommendations are that they be hand-written, sent within a couple of days of the kind gesture, reference the kind gesture (thank for the listing appraisal referral) and use the words “you” and eliminate “I” and “we”. Enjoy! Bill Cobb

http://www.appraisersinbatonrouge.com/ – Certified FHA Appraisers Baton Rouge: Good News For Greater Baton Rouge Housing Market? The “Guys” at TBWS Have Good News For A Change!

“Foreclosures are upon us, but someone has to sell them. 5 reasons there isn’t going to be a double dip. Home Depot is hiring, 64% of Americans feel now is the time to buy.”

http://www.batonrougerealestateappraisal.com/ – Video: How 2009 Major Appraisal Industry Changes Have Impacted Baton Rouge Real Estate, Part 2

Baton Rouge Real Estate: How 2009 Appraisal Industry Changes Are Impacting Baton Rouge Housing, Part 2. In this video, Bill Cobb Appraiser and Realtor/Broker Tony Zito discuss home appraisal industry changes and how those changes are impacting Baton Rouge home appraisals.