“World's Most Complete Neighborpedia”
Explore:   What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Don Stern ~ Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate

Livingston Parish Market Update - September 2008

Livingston Parish Real Estate Market Update - September 2008

Livingston Parish, like Ascension and East Baton Rouge parishes, was negatively effected by hurricane Gustav. Unit sales fell dramatically during September. The following chart illustrates the impact of Gustav upon unit sales in Livingston Parish.

Livingston Parish Home Sales

Home have also remained a good investment in Livingston Parish. The following chart shows that average prices in the new home market segment increased during 2008 and homes in the re-sale segment held their values. This is a far different situation than we are seeing in some other areas of the country where the bubble has burst, foreclosures are up and prices have fallen. We will continue to closely monitor prices in our area as the country makes its way through the current economic crisis.

Livingston Parish Home Prices

The following set of charts shows absorption rates for the past five years as compared with 2008 and relates that rate to current inventory levels.

Livingston Parish Home Sales Absorption and Months Supply

Sales of new homes remains depressed compared with prior years. Home sales in the re-sale market segment have settled back to pre-Katrina levels. In the re-sale segment, inventories in the highest velocity price ranges (below $200K) are either in balance or insufficient to meet the demands of the marketplace. Over $200K it rapidly becomes a Buyer's market where supply exceeds the demand.

The preceding analysis was based upon data extracted from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors MLS system. The information contained herein is presumed to be accurate but is not warranted.

As always, I welcome readers to visit my websites at www.TheHomeVendor.com or www.LiveAscension.com or www.DonAndAlishaStern.com for real estate information about and to search for homes within the Greater Baton Rouge area. Click here to search for homes.

©2008 by Don Stern - all rights reserved

East Baton Rouge Parish Real Estate - Market Update September 2008

East Baton Rouge Parish Real Estate Market Update - September 2008

As previously reported for Ascension Parish, Hurricane Gustav did not impact the Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate Market like Hurricane Katrina did in 2005. In fact, it had the opposite effect. With massive power outages effecting the Greater Baton Rouge area the sales of detached single family homes plummeted during September. The following chart illustrates the impact of Gustav upon unit sales in East Baton Rouge Parish.

East Baton Rouge Parish Home Sales

Home have remained a good investment in East Baton Rouge Parish. The following chart shows that average prices in the new home market segment increased during 2008 and homes in the re-sale segment held their values. This is a far different situation than we are seeing in some other areas of the country where the bubble has burst, foreclosures are up and prices have fallen. We will continue to closely monitor prices in our area as the country makes its way through the current economic crisis.

East Baton Rouge Parish Home Prices

The following set of charts shows absorption rates for the past five years as compared with 2008 and relates that rate to current inventory levels.

East Baton Rouge Parish Home Sales Absorption and Months Supply

Sales of new homes remains depressed compared with prior years. Unit sales in the re-sale market segment are also down. The good news is that overall inventory is more or less balanced. In fact, in the lower price ranges it remains a Seller's market overall.

The preceding analysis was based upon data extracted from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors MLS system. The information contained herein is presumed to be accurate but is not warranted.

As always, I welcome readers to visit my websites at www.TheHomeVendor.com or www.LiveAscension.com or www.DonAndAlishaStern.com for real estate information about and to search for homes within the Greater Baton Rouge area. Click here to search for homes.

©2008 by Don Stern - all rights reserved

Ascension Parish Real Estate - Market Update September 2008

Ascension Real Estate Market Update - September 2008

Hurricane Gustav did not impact the Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate Market like Hurricane Katrina did in 2005. In fact, it had the opposite effect. With massive power outages effecting the Greater Baton Rouge area the sales of detached single family homes plummeted during September. The following chart illustrates the impact of Gustav upon unit sales in Ascension Parish.

Ascension Parish Home Sales

We live in interesting times. It will be interesting to see whether unit sales will rebound in October because, in addition to the effect that Gustav had on our local market, we are faced with the current financial crisis on a national level and the resultant limited availability of credit. Thus far, however, our area has not been affected as strongly as other areas of the country. In fact, the following chart illustrates that average home values in the parish have held at 2007 levels thus far during 2008.

Ascension Parish Home Prices

The following set of charts shows absorption rates for the past five years as compared with 2008 and relates that rate to current inventory levels.

Ascension Parish Home Sales Absorption and Months Supply

Sales of new homes remains depressed compared with prior years. The re-sale market has, however, remained relatively strong. While the surge in demand created by Hurricane Katrina is certainly finished, previously owned homes are still selling at pre-Katrina rates. In fact, it is a Seller's market for homes selling below $200K. It is, however, clearly a Buyer's market for homes in this segment that are priced above $300K.

The preceding analysis was based upon data extracted from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors MLS system. The information contained herein is presumed to be accurate but is not warranted.

As always, I welcome readers to visit my websites at www.TheHomeVendor.com or www.LiveAscension.com or www.DonAndAlishaStern.com for real estate information about and to search for homes within the Greater Baton Rouge area. Click here to search for homes.

©2008 by Don Stern - all rights reserved

Livingston Parish Market Update - April 2008

Livingston Parish Real Estate Market Update - April 2008

This update examines the condition of the real estate market in Livingston parish. For the purposes of this analysis, data for detached single family homes in Livingston Parish that was extracted from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors MLS database was used. Sales recorded through April 2008 are included in the analysis as well as the inventory of active listings as of 5/5. The data and my subsequent analysis, while deemed reliable, is not guaranteed.

Livingston Home Prices

The average price of a home in Livingston parish is more or less the same in 2008 as it was in 2007. The good news is that Livingston parish hasn't seen the dramatic drop in prices that some other portions of the nation have experienced.

Livingston April Home Sales

April unit sales were down in both the re-sale and new home market segments. While the re-sale segment has seen April unit sales drop to pre-Katrina levels, new home sales remain at a five-year low.

Livingston Unit Home Sales

Overall the six month moving average for unit sales is still trending downward but the re-sale segment is holding steady. One expects to see improvement as seasonality kicks in and we should see improvement during the peak selling season.

Livingston Re-sale Home Aborption

Over 80% of re-sale homes sold in the parish during 2008 were priced at or below $200K. The supply of homes over $200K exceeds the demand and it is a buyer's market. While only 20% of 2008 home sales were over $200K, over 40% of the inventory is priced over $200K

Livingston New Home Absorption

For new homes, there is a 7.4 month supply overall at current 2008 absorption rates... a little too much but not that bad. The price range with the highest velocity is $151K-200K. The market is relatively balanced here with a 6.1 month supply of new home. The next highest velocity is seen in the $101K-150K price range where it is a sellers market with only 3.6 months supply on hand. There is a surplus of new homes prices over $200K with over a year's supply in all price ranges from $200K up. Over 46% of the inventory is in these upper price ranges while accounting for only about 26% of the demand.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this report or if you'd like to discuss representation in buying, selling or building a home. Customized reports for a particular market segment or area can also be generated.


As always, I welcome readers to visit my websites at www.DonAndAlishaStern.com, www.TheHomeVendor.com, www.LiveAscension.com or www.PelicanPointHomes.net for real estate information about and to search for homes within the Greater Baton Rouge area. Click here to search for homes.

Contact me via e-mail or call me at (225) 413-3624 for more information.

Don Stern Realtor Blog Subscription

©2008 by Don Stern - All Rights Reserved

East Baton Rouge Parish Market Update - April 2008

East Baton Rouge Real Estate Market Update - April 2008

This update examines the condition of the real estate market in East Baton Rouge parish. For the purposes of this analysis, data for detached single family homes in East Baton Rouge Parish that was extracted from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors MLS database was used. Sales recorded through April 2008 are included in the analysis as well as the inventory of active listings as of 5/5. The data and my subsequent analysis, while deemed reliable, is not guaranteed.

East Baton Rouge Home Prices

The previous chart shows that home prices have not fallen in East Baton Rouge parish as they have done in other parts of the nation. In fact, the average price of a new home has risen substantially while the average price of a previously owned home has remained relatively the same as 2007.
East Baton Rouge April Unit Sales

On the other hand, unit sales have fallen when compared to April home sales in previous years.
East Baton Rouge Unit Home Sales

Looking at all periods since 2003, we can see that the East Baton Rouge Real Estate market has softened but just a bit. While there was a smalldrop in overall unit sales from March 08 to April 08, a similar drop has occurred in two out of five of the previous years. Nevertheless, we'll be watching this statistic closely.
East Baton Rouge Re-Sale Absorption

Examining absorption rates of re-sale homes and comparing that with current inventory levels shows a very healthy market with only a 5.4 month supply overall. In fact, in the lower price ranges (below $200K) it is clearly a seller's market. Not until the price exceeds $350K does it become a buyer's market.
East Baton Rouge New Home Absorption

With new construction, on the other hand, an 8.5 month supply exists... a buyer's market overall. In the lower price ranges it is, more or less, a neutral market and in the high price range (over $350K) a buyer's market exists. One niche opportunity that builder's may want to explore is in the $300K-350K price range where only about 3-months supply exists. The demand exceeds 5 homes per month and there are only 16 homes available. Finally, it is interesting to note that the demand homes over $400K is substantial and equivalent to the demand in the $200K-250K range. There are simply too many of these $400K+ homes currently available... a 16.3 month supply.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this report or if you'd like to discuss representation in buying, selling or building a home. Customized reports for a particular market segment or area can also be generated.


As always, I welcome readers to visit my websites at www.DonAndAlishaStern.com, www.TheHomeVendor.com, www.LiveAscension.com or www.PelicanPointHomes.net for real estate information about and to search for homes within the Greater Baton Rouge area. Click here to search for homes.

Contact me via e-mail or call me at (225) 413-3624 for more information.

Don Stern Realtor Blog Subscription

©2008 by Don Stern - All Rights Reserved