Tim Houk

More good news about the Baton Rouge housing market: A real estate forecasting service says the Capital Region is one of the 10 best cities in terms of future home prices. Local Market Monitor, which produces the Home Price Forecast for more than 300 cities, says home values should remain level locally over the next 12 months. Officials with Local Market Monitor credit the same factors for Baton Rouge’s stability that have been repeatedly said during the national housing crisis: Home prices in the Capital Region never got out of hand, and economic growth has remained steady locally. Other cities with populations of more than 600,000 in the top 10 include Dallas, Houston and Rochester, N.Y. Alexandria, Monroe and Shreveport-Bossier City made the top 10 list for future home prices in cities with populations under 600,000. The worst housing markets were mostly cities in California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada, where price speculation got out of hand, places such as Las Vegas, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Read the article here

19617 W Piney Point Ave

“Custom built by Chuck Dupree with luxury pool and spa by Ewing Pools. This 20 year old home is effectively “better-than-new” because of high quality of construction and meticulous updates and maintenance. If you are looking only at “new” homes, you owe it to yourself to see this home! Mature, professional landscaping amongst towering, lovely trees creates your own private park and oasis. Nailed, antique heart pine floors in living room and dining room. Fine Mexican tile in kitchen, breakfast and keeping rooms. Italian marble floors in luxurious master bath. Gleaming cypress cabinetry in kitchen, keeping and living rooms. TWO fireplaces! Wood mullioned windows wrapped in wood mouldings are further evidence of quality craftsmanship. Custom draperies and antique chandiliers remain. The custom Ewing pool has tiled edges, brick surrounds, parapets and walkways to create a serene, classic personal resort for homeowner and guests alike. Built-in hottub of gunite and brick has seating for one or several and provides a refreshing waterfall into the pool. Multi-levels of patio give different perspectives and additional privacy. The park like rear yard has room for recreation or just more of Mother Nature’s gifts. Beautiful granite countertops and island top in the gourmet kitchen is a recent update. You may be hard-pressed to fill all the cabinets in the kitchen and pantry, but you can try! Split floorplan for in-laws or guests. Master bedroom views pool. Super high ceilings and great natural light throughout the day. Circular front drive gives guests ample parking and you can still access the rear laoding, double+ garage”

19617 W Piney Point Ave

What a remarkable complex in the heart of the city.  Tons of greenspace, walking trails, clubhouse, workout facility, pool, access to almost everything in minutes.  Take a look at these pictures of an upcoming unit and of the model unit.

From the Baton Rouge Business Report:

Baton Rouge home prices were up 2.4% in March, compared to the year before, another sign of market stability in the wake of a national housing downturn. The modest increase was a little worse than the February numbers from First American CoreLogic’s Home Price Index. In February, Baton Rouge home prices were 4.14% higher than what they were in February 2008. Nationally, home prices were down 11.5% in March when compared to the year before. In Louisiana, home prices were up 1.76% in March, the third-highest appreciation rate in the nation. Only West Virginia (7.45%) and South Dakota (1.95%) were higher. First American bases the HPI on public records sources such as property sales, tax assessments and mortgage filings. First American notes that 44 states had price declines in March, compared with 30 the year before, and the number of states posting double-digit price drops went from seven in March 2008 to 14 in March 2009. First American notes that U.S. home prices, which peaked in July 2006, have fallen more than 22% and are at their lowest point in five years

Deal of the week!

866 s burgess, baton rouge, la 70816 225-301-7467

There’s more than you expect in this 4 bedroom 3 bath home with over 2300 sqft of living. Be surprised by the size of the master suite that includes a glass walled walk-in shower, double vanity, walk-in closet and a full attached sitting room. Attached to the sitting room in a computer nook that is wired for everything. (As are most all of the rooms) Enjoy both a dining room & a breakfast area. Enjoy both a living room and a den. There is enough room to make this home very livable. The floor plan is split with the Master to the rear and the other 3 bedrooms to the other side of the house. Bedrooms 2 & 3 share the hall bath and bedroom 4 has its own bath with tile shower. Don’t miss the huge screened in back porch & fenced backyard. Note the metal doors with insulated windows, the tile & wood laminate floors, & the size of the utility room. This home needs some TLC but is a great value if you need lots of space on a nice street just off of Goodwood.

4113 Pine Park, Baton Rouge, La 70809

ABUNDANT, ELEGANT FEATURES, AMENITIES IN THIS UPDATED CUSTOM BUILT HOME (DESIGNED BY DIXON SMITH, BUILT BY JIM SMITH) WITH QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP NOT COMMON IN THIS PRICING UNDER $120. SF! LARGE AND PRIVATE, PROFESSIONALLY LANDSCAPED LOT THAT BACKS UP TO ESTATE ACREAGE, TREES. FABULOUS PATIOS, PORCHES, ARBOR, WATER FEATURE WITH FOUNTAIN EQUALS WONDERFUL ENTERTAINING OUTSIDE! BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED RESIDENCE ON CORNER LOT, IMPRESSIVE CURB APPEAL, NEW ARCHITECTURAL ROOFING, NEW PAINT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, REFINISHED WOOD FLRS, NEW CARPET, 3 CM SOLID SLAB MARBLE KITCHEN COUNTERS, NEW UPSCALE KITCHEN AIDE AND BOSCH SS APPLIANCES, 5 BURNER MONOGRAM COOKTOP, SEP. ICE MAKER APPLIANCE, ELEGANT LITTLE BAR CLOSET, DESIGNER CERAMIC TILED PANTRY SHELVING AND LAUNDRY COUNTERS, SOLID CYPRESS DOORS, NEW WALL FINISHES AND SO MUCH MORE! LOTS OF FRENCH DOORS FROM MANY ROOMS INCLUDING MASTER BR THAT OVER LOOK PRIVATE REAR YARD WITH SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPING. INDOOR/OUTDOOR FLOWS EASILY WHEN GIVING PARTIES. THE FORMAL ENTRY AND LIVING ROOM WITH WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE IS WARM AND WELCOMING. MASTER BR HAS ROMANTIC FIREPLACE# 2 WITH ORNATE RETURN AIR GRILL, HIS AND HER BUILT IN COMPUTER/DESKS BEHIND 9 FT SOLID CYPRESS DOORS, PRIVATE FRENCH DOORS TO COVERED PORCH WITH GORGEOUS VIEWS. ENJOY THE SURPRIZE ENTRY TO THE MASTER WING OF THE HOME WITH A WALL OF BOOK SHELVING BUILT INS ON ONE SIDE AND A SPACIOUS, COMFY WINDOW SEAT AND HUGE WINDOW ON THE OTHER SIDE/ VIEW OF FOUNTAIN. THE UPSTAIRS 3 BEDRMS HAVE CLOSETS GALORE AND A “SECRET PLAYCLOSET” FOR CHILDREN. LOTS OF STORAGE, CABINETS, FINE DETAILING THROUGHOUT. THERE’S A GREENHOUSE TOO! THIS IS THE CUSTOM HOME OF YOUR DREAMS IN ONE OF THE MOST COVETED AREAS OF SOUTH BATON ROUGE. BEST IN VALUE

I have reduced the listing price on my condo to 125,000.00.  This unit is conventiently tucked away off of S. Harrells ferry road and sherwood forest.  FULLY FURNISHED. Seller willing to pay some closing cost with a decent offer. This is a corner unit. 1250 sq ft of living area.  Large closets, fireplace in the living room.

I attended the Trends seminar in Baton Rouge this morning and will be reporting the results throughout the next few weeks.  What I find most interesting is the state of East Baton Rouge parish.  Overall home sales fell from 5547 to 4,299 units in 2008.  Here is the kicker:  home prices actually rose almost 6%  from 204,532 to 216, 757!  How great is that!  I will be examining other aspects of the report and other parishes so stay tuned for updates!

Tim Houk

Keller Williams Redstick Partners

We saw a drop in mortgage rates this morning. Turn times for new loans are also getting much quicker then they have been. Hopefully, we will see them ease up a little bit!

Conventional 95%  30 yr. Fixed…..  4.75%

15 yr. Fixed…………………………. 4.5%

FHA  96.5%  30 yr Fixed…………….. 4.75%

15 yr. Fixed………………………….. 4.5%

Rural Development 100% 30yr fixed….5.25%

****all rates include 1 pt org. and assume 740+ credit, on a 15day lock*****

If you are interested in getting pre-approved, call or email me immediately!

Tim Houk

Keller Williams Redstick Partners

Baton Rouge Realtor

225.301.7467

If you are interested in working with a Baton Rouge area Realtor in investment property, I just posted a blog on active rain about some properties in our area. I would regurgitate it here but its much easier to go read it there   There are some good deals on foreclosure properties.  Contact me with questions!

Tim Houk

tim@timhouk.com

225.301.7467