About Caddo Parish, LA

Most buyers have a lavish and grand idea of what they want their perfect house to look like. All too often though, they soon find out that many of their focal points don't match up with the price points. This is when I tell my buyers to look at the big picture. Step back a minute, and take a good look at the house. What does it have that you love? What does it not have that you want? Do the improvements necessary to make this your perfect house match up with the value it will add to the house? (And remember there are only a few improvements that actually give you 90+ % return on your money... So decide if a 40-70% return on your money will suffice given the added comfort and updates.) Make sure that points you're focusing on, aren't points that can easily be fixed. Paint, windows, fixtures, knobs and faucets, these can all be fixed and changed with relative ease. Instead only try and worry about big restoration projects such as new roofs, HVAC units, kitchen/bathroom remodeling... These are the big things that aren't cheap but will definitely hold value to your house. Little improvements and repairs can be done along the way. Remember, you're buying a house because you want to make it yours. Just because it might take a little while to get there, don't stress out or give up. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email. For all of your real estate needs, make the call... Joel Hall

Allstate Corp. (ALL), the largest publicly traded U.S. auto insurer, is investing in energy and real estate as near record-low interest rates squeeze income from bonds, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Wilson said.

“For insurance companies or long-term investors, obviously, low interest rates reduce the economic upside we have from investing in America,” Wilson said in a phone interview yesterday after Allstate announced fourth-quarter results. “It encourages people to invest in different things. Sometimes those different things are real assets.”

Insurers invest in fixed-income securities to back policyholder liabilities and generate income. Yields on their portfolios have been under pressure as the Federal Reserve holds its benchmark interest rate at between zero and 0.25 percent.

The central bank last week extended its pledge to keep interest rates low through at least late 2014. About half of Allstate’s $95.6 billion portfolio was in corporate bonds as of Dec. 31, according to a presentation on the Northbrook, Illinois-based company’s website. The insurer also has holdings of Treasuries, municipal debt and mortgage-backed securities.

“When you’re getting less than 2 percent on a 10-year Treasury, or 3 percent on a corporate bond for 10 years, it doesn’t feel like as good of a return relative to the risk,” said Wilson. The insurer has increased investments in oil and gas assets and equity real estate, he said.

I currently have 8 listings in the Shreveport/Bossier areas. 6 of the 8 would be considered investment or rental properties. They are: 7040 and 7044 Amie, 319 Robinson, 6127 Lexington, 6117 Willard, 113/115 E. Herndon. The other single family properties I have listed are 1142 N Kirkwood in the Southern Hills subdivsion listed for $149,900. The other house is a beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bath house with over 1969 sq ft in The Haven listed for $232,000. Call if you're interested!

For all of your real estate needs, make the call... Joel Hall

In swift response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, James Pethokoukis, a columnist for American Enterprise, characterized Obama’s housing proposal as “a housing policy bombshell” for the real estate and banking industries.

The president was sketchy about the details but talked about giving every responsible homeowner an opportunity to refinance at today’s historically low interest rates. He said on average each homeowner who refinances would save about $3,000 a year that could be spent on other needs, thus bolstering the economy. A small fee on the largest financial institutions was also proposed to ensure the mass refinancing plan would not add to the deficit and would give banks that have been rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust.

Pethokoukis quoted analyst Jaret Seiberg of Guggenheim Washington Research Group as saying such a mass refinancing could harm holders of mortgage-backed securities when prepayment of mortgages accelerate. Also, he said, the move could permanently drive housing financing costs higher because burned investors are likely to demand a higher premium in the future.

Seiberg said he believes the president’s plan would help more than 20 million borrowers refinance their mortgages regardless of whether their loan is backed by the government and whether they owe more on their mortgage than their house is worth.

Seiberg surmised that the Obama’s plan, which Congress would have to approve to become reality, would apply only to borrowers who have been current on their loans for at least six months, possibly as long as a year. So it is meant for borrowers who can afford their mortgage.

Builders’ new official

Steven Schuyler, of Chino Hills, started work today as vice president of government affairs for the Building Industry Association of Southern California. He will be responsible for leading the association’s public policy efforts and will work closely with the regional association’s four chapters on their local issues, according to association spokesman John Frith.

Schuyler, 49, has more than two decades of experience in public policy and government relations, most recently as the principal of The Strategy Center, a home-based business in which he represented a variety of clients on issues including land use and environmental concerns.

He also has been an advocate for the Western States Petroleum Association. Earlier in his career he worked for elected officials including former U.S. Rep. Jay Kim, R-Redlands, Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer and former Assemblyman Fred Aguiar, a Republican from San Bernardino County.

“Steven has a rare combination of political and technical competence to lead our efforts in these areas,” association President Bob Yoder said in a statement.

“He is a skilled negotiator who thoroughly understands the needs of our industry and of state and local government officials, and his understanding of environmental compliance issues will be particularly valuable,” added Yoder, who is also Southern California division president for Shea Homes

I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again. I LOVE Inviting people to ActiveRain! It makes me feel great that I will be introducing them to ALL of YOU! So much knowledge, so many skills, such great friendships are all available right here on ActiveRain.
It is the BEST place to network in the Real Estate Industry.

I would like everyone to stop by and welcome COLTON HAGLER to ActiveRain. He is the owner of Scope Home Inspections based in Shreveport Louisiana. He has been in the construction industry for over ten years. He has a bachelor of science degree in Construction Engineering Technologies from Louisiana Tech University and has worked in all aspects of construction, as a superintendent and field engineer, from startup to finish out. LHI #10760 InterNACHI Certified Home Inspector.

Colton has posted several blogs for our enjoyment, that have all rolled by on the blog roll SOOO FASSST I bet you didn't get a chance to see them. He is brand new to ActiveRain so please add him as an associate, and subscribe to his blog. He's written VERY Helpful and INFORMATIVE Home Inspection Articles.

Blog #11, Day #11 of the Challenge: 2012 BIG Jumpstart Back to Basics Blog Challenge
Day 11 - Blog #11; Second of 2; I -Interaction c.) Invitations