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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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