About Ouachita Parish, LA

Another round of Craigslist scammers copying local real estate listings and offering them for rent or sale at outrageously low prices. The sad part is that there are people falling for "wire me the deposit and I'll send you the keys" or they wouldn't keep doing it.

•(1) Victims need to report the scam to their local police department in the town where the rental is located and the state police. This is a crime, so it should be reported.

•(2) Report this to the Internet Fraud Center at the FBI: http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

•(3) Report it to the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

(4) Finally, report it to Craigslist: 800-664-0633 There will be a menu, choose the one for Law Enforcement. Hours of Operation: Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 4:30pm PST. Email if you prefer: help@craigslist.org Be sure to include the 10-digit Craigslist ad number.

Please note that if the scammers are from Nigeria, there is nothing anyone can do to recover the money.

Typical ad (complete with incorrect word usage):
5 BR home, 3.5 baths, fantastic location, great schools, separate dining hall, eat-in kitchen, granite, hardwoods $599 per month. Must sale it immediately! 5% down payment. Avail the benefit of buyer's property market and Purchase home at 60% off. We offer low interest rate program to all buyers. Rate for 20 years 5%. Contact us over phone 24/7 to visit our homes.

Bottom line, if it sounds too good to be true, IT IS!

How to Sell a House in Monroe, La that Didn't Sell

If your home has just come off the market and hasn't sold, don't be discouraged. The reason your home did not sell may have nothing to do with your home or the market. In reality, your home may have been one of the more desirable properties for sale.

So Why Is It Still on the Market?

Last year in Ouachita Parish about 20% of homes listed for sale never sold at all, and many sellers found that there was a tremendous amount a homeowner needed to be educated on to sell their home for top dollar in the shortest time period.

Don't risk making the wrong choices and losing both time and money on your investment.

I specialize in "hard to sell" property. A lot of time the "hard to sell" property isn't really hard to sell at all you just need a gameplan. This is a link http://preview.tinyurl.com/y89aero to the testimonials of my previous clients. Several of these folks had their home on the market for close to a year and I was able to sell it in less than 90 days.

Aggressive marketing, a great internet presence, and constant contact between me & the home seller is needed to get your home sold quick, for top dollar!!

Please contact me with any quesitons.

-Alivia A. Roberts

Keller Williams Realty Parishwide Partners 1390 Hudson Monroe LA 71201, USA 812-SOLD *each office independently owned & operated. Licensed in La.

A popular golf course community, Frenchman's Bend is a favorite place to live for many families moving to the Monroe area to work at ULM, CenturyLink, Dow, and many other local employers. The neighborhood has continuted to grow over the past 20 years with over 450 residences now completed.

The housing market in the Bend is always busy, but activity has picked up some since the beginning of the new year.

• 5 homes SOLD
• Average SOLD price = $312,800
• Average days on the market = 130
• Average price/sq.ft = $112

4 Homes are under contract or Pending Sale, ranging in price from $255,000 to $379,000.

There's still a big inventory, however. As we move into the most active season for selling homes, the time is NOW to be sure your home is in top condition and PRICED RIGHT! As of March 1, 2010, there are

• 17 Homes are for sale
• High List Price = $639,000
• Low List Price = $279,999
• Average List Price = $411,358
• Average days on the market = 222
• Average price/sq.ft = $115

Homeowners in this pretty neighborhood can take advantage of the golf course, the clubhouse and restaurant, and many activities planned for families to get to know each other. This is one reason Frenchman's Bend is such a popular place to live.

The Homeowners Association is sponsoring "brunch" with the Easter Bunny on Sunday, March 21st from noon - 2:00pm. Bring your children and grandchildren to the clubhouse for a fun and memorable visit with the Easter Bunny. All homeowners are invited to this event. Make sure you bring your camera.

I LOVE Mo Anderson. She is the heart and soul of Keller Williams, and this makes me proud to be part of such a wonderful, caring group of people. At our recent Family Reunion in New Orleans, Mo took the time to speak to the people who would be serving all of us at a brunch in the Convention Center. Who else would think of such a thoughtful gesture? Take a look:

Stop by to see me and view this lovely home. I'll be there today, 2-4:00 pm. It's a 3BR/3.5-ba with an enclosed pool area. North Pointe is one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Monroe. I LOVE showing and selling homes there!

By the way, I do not represent the seller, so you can be honest with me and tell me what you think :-)