Well, 2008 has come and gone with incredible changes in the housing market and overall economy. Although the Shreveport market has fared better than most of the nation, we haven't been totally immune as the table below shows. While homes sales were down 123 and average home values were down 4%, it took just an average of 73 days to sell those homes.
All in all, Shreveport's housing market is doing well, but at a little slower pace. As I've written before, putting your house on the market involves more than hammering a For Sale sign in the front yard. In a nutshell, you must find your competition and prepare your house to outshine and outprice that competition to differentiate your home from the slew of homes on the market today. And because over 80% of consumers begin looking at homes online, you absolutely must have a major online marketing presence.
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You're at Home with Heather
Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana Real Estate
Shreveport Home Connection
Coldwell Banker J. Wesley Dowling & Assoc. LLC
Serving your real estate needs in Shreveport, Bossier City, Benton, Haughton, Keithville, Stonewall, Blanchard, and Barksdale AFB
Licensed in Louisiana
Although 2008 was a rocky year in many ways, we consider ourselves blessed. 2009 will bring belt-tightening, new beginnings, and a re-focus on family and friends. I'm looking forward to everything God is bringing into our lives in 2009. Our hope is not in the economy, the president, the auto or housing industries, but in Him alone.
Join with me in committing yourself to making 2009 the best that it can be for you in the areas of family, friends, business, and spirituality. I challenge you to make the lives of all those who cross your path, no matter how briefly, better because they came into contact with you. It's what we are called to do.
I'm looking forward to the beginning of 2009 like I have never looked forward to the beginning of a new year before. I'm not the only one feeling that way. It's a sentiment I've heard and read many times in the last week. I believe we are all wanting things to settle down and get back to "normal".
If you trust that the God who created the universe is still in control, then you must also trust that what He has brought into your life is for a reason. Never forget that all things work together for good for those that are the called according to His purpose if you will just learn from them.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, E
VERYONE! AND GOD BLESS!
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You're at Home with Heather
Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana Real Estate
Shreveport Home Connection
Coldwell Banker J. Wesley Dowling & Assoc. LLC
Serving your real estate needs in Shreveport, Bossier City, Benton, Haughton, Keithville, Stonewall, Blanchard, and Barksdale AFB
Licensed in Louisiana
Just a note to let you all know that I am shutting down until after Christmas. I'm taking the next week off in order to spend time with my family during this special time of year. I'll be wrapping gifts which is something I enjoy doing every year alone in my bedroom. I shut the door and lock it and get out all the gifts I've bought for the family and one by one wrap them up In pretty paper.
I'll be baking and making candy with my daughter, Gypsy. I've had a few specific requests, so I'll be making pecan pie, butter mint candies, and white bread dressing (isn't that a Yankee dish?). I also have a new fruit cake recipe that I want to try out. I know, I know. A lot of you are saying yuck. But it's not a fruitcake like you're thinking about.
The piece de resistance of the desserts will be The Twin Towers cake. This decadent cake recipe was reportedly developed by the chef at the New York City Twin Towers. I'll try to remember to post a pic before we dig into it. But let's just say it's a three-tier chocolate cake covered with chocolate ganache. Mmmmmm. And maybe I'll post the recipe in the AR Recipes Group.
And last, but not least, I'll be taking this time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new. I'll be evaluating my real estate business plan, my real estate investments, and my other endeavors. And I'll be reflecting on the great God in charge of us all, and how to manifest the goodness of His Son to everyone I come in contact with beginning with my husband of 26 years, RenRed, my sweet, sweet searching daughter, Gypsy, and my angst ridden, I-hate-high-school-drama son who always makes me laugh, Fiddler.
I'm imagining family movie time by the fire with hot chocolate and popcorn, but it happens to be about 75 degrees outside right now! And I'm looking forward to our family tradition of taking in a movie at the theater Christmas afternoon. A weekend in Dallas will wrap things up, and I'll be posting once again.
I'm sure I won't be able to stay away completely, but I've got other priorities right now, so comments will be few and far between and new posts will just have to wait.
So, MERRY CHRISTMAS one and all. May it be a joyous time for you and yours as we celebrate the birth of our Savior and the arrival of Santa. If you aren't celebrating one, I'm sure you're celebrating the other!
Hidden Trace is a small neighborhood tucked away off Norris Ferry Road in the southeast area of Shreveport. It is a gated community of only two streets, Grand Oaks and Hidden Oaks, which are lined with patio homes. There are still a few lots left for building and there are a few homes for sale in the neighborhood.
The small size of the neighborhood and the fact that it’s gated makes it a great place for families with small children, although you can also find empty nesters there. If you're looking for a home that's in a neighborhood that is quiet and peaceful and surrounded by woods, you might want to consider Hidden Trace.
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You're at Home with Heather
Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana Real Estate
Shreveport Home Connection
Coldwell Banker J. Wesley Dowling & Assoc. LLC
Serving your real estate needs in Shreveport, Bossier City, Benton, Haughton, Keithville, Stonewall, Blanchard, and Barksdale AFB
Licensed in Louisiana
Just a quick note to let you all know that the home owners association at Twelve Oaks has an online newsletter called Twelve Oaks Times. This HOA could be a model for many of the other gated developments here in Shreveport. They are organized and active.
The newsletter contains different categories such as:
It's chock full of information for current residents and those interested in living in the development.
Building activity is still going on in the Bienville Place section of the neighborhood. Fortunately, Shreveport real estate hasn't been hit as hard as other areas of the nation. Homes are still selling and still being built which is good news for you if you've been watching to see how things are going to go. With interest rates at an all-time low, now would be a great time to jump off that fence and buy or build.
Kudos to the HOA board at Twevle Oaks for setting the standard for HOAs.
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You're at Home with Heather
Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana Real Estate
Shreveport Home Connection
Coldwell Banker J. Wesley Dowling & Assoc. LLC
Serving your real estate needs in Shreveport, Bossier City, Benton, Haughton, Keithville, Stonewall, Blanchard, and Barksdale AFB
Licensed in Louisiana
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Shreveport and Bossier City, in the northwest corner of Louisiana are two great places to live. I'm here to make your real estate transaction as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Internet Last but not least, your home will be priced to sell. I will show you a current market analysis of the homes for sale that are similar to yours, so that you can see the prices of your competition. I will also show you the homes that have currently sold, what they sold for, and how long they were on the market. These are the tools to determine the home's selling price so that it will sell quickly and not languish on the market as buyers pass it by. In today's housing market, correct pricing is the key to whether your home will sell.SEARCH FOR HOMES
IN SHREVEPORT, BOSSIER CITY, BENTON, HAUGHTON, STONEWALL, KEITHVILLE, BLANCHARD, AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
You're at Home with Heather
I am not a high-pressure, overly aggressive real estate agent with a make-the-sale-no-matter-what mentality. I consider myself to be a down-to-earth, approachable real estate professional with the abilities to guide you through your real estate transaction with the least amount of stress possible.
Rest assured, that you'll never feel pressured to make a decision until you are absolutely sure it's the right one for you!
To learn more about the way I work and the Shreveport real estate market, when you're finished here, please visit My real estate blog.
Are you in the market to Sell?
Advertising
I ensure that your home receives outstanding promotion to the largest number of buyers - those that use the Internet for finding their next home and those who still read the real estate ad in the Sunday paper or drive through neighborhoods and attend open houses.
Your home will appear in the newspaper every Sunday until it is sold and every REALTOR® in the area will receive an email flyer announcing that your house is on the market. Many times they have a client looking for a house just like yours.
On the internet, your home will be promoted on over 25 of the most-visited real estate websites, such as ColdwellBanker.com, Realtor.com, and Trulia.com to name just a few. You will also have the option to have your home featured on its own website with unlimited photos, information, and a virtual tour.
Photographs
Great pictures are always important, but especially because now over 85% of buyers begin their home search on the internet. Photos on the internet are the front door to your home for most of your potential buyers. Photos for my listings are taken by a professional photographer at no cost to you to ensure the pictures are of the best quality.
Staging
I'll help you prepare your home for the market with staging advice to give you the best possible opportunity to sell for top market value. And if you're interested, professional home staging services are available.
Showings
You will have access to the showing system I use that allows you to track your home's showings and the feedback given by the showing agents and potential buyers.
Pricing
Are you in the market to Buy?
MLS Access
I am able to save you a lot of time by setting up searches on the Multiple Listing Service that will identify homes that truly meet your criteria. You'll have the opportunity to review a list of homes specific to your needs, rather than all those that happen to fall within your price range.
Comparative Market Analysis
Once you've narrowed down your home selection, I will conduct a comparative market analysis to determine how your home of interest compares in pricing with other recently sold homes in the area.
I'll work with you to help you find the perfect home for you - not just the first one you look at, and I'll streamline the process of getting from contract to closing with the least stress possible for you.
Please call me if I can be of any help to you!
An important part of the success of the client-agent relationship is effective and timely communication. A key part of the service I provide is to make sure that you are kept up to date on what is happening in your real estate transaction all along the way. I am confident that the skills I offer will make a difference in the success of your next real estate transaction. Give me the opportunity to earn your business! When you're ready to make a move, call me at 318-918-8248, or send me an e-mail.I look forward to visiting with you. If you visit my blog, please leave me a comment! Thanks,
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