Charm & comfort await you in this well maintained, 3BR/2BA home in Springlake at Bluebonnet!  Convenient to shopping, dining, LSU & interstates, with a short drive to downtown Baton Rouge!  You’ll enjoy the casual setting in the living room with wood floors, high ceilings with crown molding and center fireplace with pretty mantle.  Neutral colors and beautiful décor continue throughout entire home.  Sunny dining area is open to kitchen with ceramic tile floors, counters & backsplash, island, plenty of cabinets and large pantry/laundry room.  The split floor plan features a separate master suite with recessed ceiling, crown molding, ceiling fan and plush carpet.  Loaded master bath features ceramic tile floors, separate his & hers vanities as well as walk-in closets, garden tub with glass block window above and separate shower.  Additional bedrooms are nice sized with plush carpet and great closet space.  Outside, you can relax on the front porch overlooking the landscaped front yard or enjoy the additional patio area in back – great for outdoor entertaining!  Two-car carport with attached storage room in back.  Call today to schedule your private tour!

Precious Acadian style cottage in Country Manor!  This home has it all inside and out!  Tree shaded front porch overlooks landscaped front yard.  The front door opens to foyer with crown molding and wood floors that continue to living room.  The vaulted ceiling in living room creates a dramatic effect.  A brick hearth and beautiful mantle highlight the gas log fireplace.  A nicely updated kitchen features ceramic tile floors, island with breakfast bar, plenty of cabinets and counter space plus newer appliances.  Light & bright breakfast area overlooks back patio.  The bedrooms are spacious and feature berber carpeting and neutral wall colors.  The master bedroom is large enough for a king size bed!!!  Both baths are sparkling clean.  Outside, you will enjoy the extra concrete patio - perfect for entertaining!  A nicely landscaped, tree shaded yard is fenced for privacy.  Not to mention the two-car carport with workshop attached in back.  This home has a lot to offer!

Fabulous 3BR/2BA home with gorgeous views of lake from several rooms and your own backyard! This home features a split floor plan with large family room adjoining the dining and kitchen - which makes for easy entertaining!  Crown molding & ceramic tile throughout all of the living areas, plus easy care berber carpet in bedrooms! The open & airy kitchen features ceramic tile counters, center island with breakfast bar, beautiful cabinets, nice size pantry, recessed lighting and all the appliances you need including refrigerator, washer & dryer. The master bedroom is in the back and has the best views of the lake. Sparkling master bath includes split vanities with plenty of linen storage, large walk-in closet, whirlpool tub & separate shower. The additional bedrooms are nice size with large closets. The hall bath has  ceramic tile floors & cultured marble vanity. Wonderful computer nook off kitchen near hall to bedrooms. Large covered back porch faces the lake!

Gorgeous custom built, 5 year old home with over 4400 sq ft living area.  The home features 10-12' ceilings, stacked crown, wide baseboards, and 8' doors!  Wood floors in the Foyer, LR, DR, Office, hallways, and Master bedroom.  The office has french doors to the foyer and built-ins.  The formal dining room is very elegant and spacious.  The living room has recessed lights and a fireplace with slate surround plus built-ins on both sides.  You'll love the kitchen/keeping/breakfast area with slate flooring, pecky cypress cabinets, large island with breakfast bar on two sides, Verdi's butterfly slab granite counters and slate backsplash with granite accents.  The stainless steel appliances include a 2 drawer DCS dishwasher, range hood, and professional 5 burner gas cooktop/gas convection oven, plus a wall electric convection oven and MC, Kitchen Aid icemaker, and refrigerator.  T he pot rack island light combo provides lighting over the island.  There is also recessed lighting and under cabinet lighting too.  Butler's pantry off the kitchen plus deep, walk-in pantry.  The large laundry room with ceramic tile floors and counters, built in sink and cabinets, connects the master bedroom wing to the other bedroom wing.  The extra spacious master bedroom has a sitting area, wood floors, & crown molding.  The master bath has a large L-Shaped vanity with double sinks, his and her walk-in closets, nice jetted tub and large, walk-in shower with ceramic tile floor, plus a cathedral ceiling and double linen closet.  The 2nd and 3rd bedrooms connect through a bath with double sinks.  The mother in law bedroom and bath are off the kitchen area.  Upstairs is a huge gameroom with walk in closet, bath, and wet bar plus refrigerator.  The pool table and ParaBody exercise machine can remain, as do the speakers. Outside is an over-sized aggregate patio off the porch area, a wrought iron fence with puppy pickets on bottom and fleur-de-lis toppers.  The house has a triple garage as well as a security system.

Charming 3BR/2BA home - totally renovated just one year ago! Updates include kitchen cabinets, counters, flooring, paint, lighting & more! The new front door opens to foyer w/updated ceramic tile floors, also in kitchen, and laminate wood floors that continue from living room and dining room down the hall to all the bedrooms! Spacious LR has a vaulted ceiling, brick fireplace and two sets of sliding glass doors. Open living area makes for easy entertaining! The home has new faux wood blinds & other window coverings that remain also. Fabulous kitchen w/new formica, cabinets, knobs, lights, ceramic tile floors, range/oven, dishwasher & refrigerator. The MBR is very spacious and has a nice size MBA w/new sink, large closet & stand-up shower. Additional bedrooms are nice size. Hall bath is also updated w/new vanity & vinyl floor, plus "stucco" finished walls. Home will have a security system.  You'll also enjoy the two-car garage, large attic and fenced backyard. Cute, cute, cute!!

Nice 2BR/2.5BA condo, updated just 2 years ago!!!  The updates include laminate wood flooring in the living room and kitchen, paint throughout, carpet, range/oven, washer, flooring in baths and roof!  The living room has two ceiling fans and plenty of room to create a dining area.  There is a large pass through to the kitchen, which makes the kitchen feel roomy too!  The kitchen features ample cabinets, electric range/oven, dishwasher and laundry closet with washer and dryer to remain.  The half bath, located under stairway, is perfect for guests!  Upstairs you have two nice size bedrooms, both with walk-in closets and private baths.  One of the bedrooms has a lovely balcony overlooking the complex.  There is also a linen closet at the landing area.  The back door opens to small patio area with walkway along back of condo.  Assigned covered parking!  The HOA dues include water, sewer, roof, pool and exterior maintenance.

Darling updated 2BR/2BA cottage in Capital Heights! Beautifully framed by trees in front, the large front porch is perfect to enjoy the lazy afternoons! High ceilings with crown molding & gorgeous wood floors continue throughout home. Open living/dining room with beautiful wood windows bringing in tons of natural light. The old fireplaces in living room and front bedroom are non-working but have nice mantles to decorate. Totally remodeled kitchen with ceramic tile counters & backsplash, breakfast bar, plenty of cabinets & storage, pantry and laundry closet. You won't believe the size of the bedrooms & baths, plus tons of closet space. Both bedrooms have private baths with framed mirrors, updated vanities & ceramic tile flooring. Front bedroom has deep walk-in closet & back bedroom has two closets! Step out the back door to the large, raised wood deck overlooking tree shaded backyard w/vegetable garden. One car garage w/door opener plus room for workshop! Home is situated on 1 1/2 lots!

Lovely 2BR/2BA condominium in Jefferson Hills.  Conveniently located near the intersection of Jefferson Highway and Bluebonnet, the fabulous location is also close to Mall of Louisiana, Perkins Rowe and Town Centre.  Not to mention all the restaurants, movie theaters, hospital, etc!!!  The unit is in excellent condition and features two bedrooms, each with good size walk-in closets and two private, full baths - like having two master bedrooms!  Rich designer colors in living/dining room with plush carpet.  The decor is enhanced by an antique style chandelier in dining room, with sliding glass doors to balcony.  Sparkling kitchen with easy care vinyl floors, pantry, electric range/oven, dishwasher & refrigerator to remain.  Laundry room is located off kitchen.  Ceiling fans are in living room and both bedrooms.  Attic space & two assigned parking spaces in front of building!  Community amenities include swimming pool, fitness center, clubhouse and picnic area!

Enjoy summer in your very own pool in this updated, 3BR/2BA home in Riverbend Landing! Many updates, tasteful decor & lots of fresh paint inside & out! Updated laminate wood floors & stacked crown molding continue from foyer to dining room & den. The den has corner fireplace & French doors to back patio overlooking gunite pool. Kitchen features 22" diagonal ceramic tile floors, updated slab granite counters and granite tile backsplash, breakfast bar, pantry, flat cooktop & refrigerator to remain. Nice size breakfast area with bay style window. Large master bedroom with plush carpet, ceiling fan & raised ceiling. Special master bath features ceramic tile floors, his & hers vanities as well as closets, jetted tub & separate shower. Additional bedrooms are nice size with plush carpet, one with a walk-in closet. Hall bath with updated slab granite counter, ceramic tile floors & framed mirror. The gunite pool is focal point of backyard.  Security system & huge storage area off California garage!

Beautifully updated 2BR/2.5BA townhome in excellent location!  Quiet neighborhood, tucked away off Antioch Road!  Spacious floor plan features many updates including HVAC inside and out only 4 years old, roof in 2008 and dishwasher & smooth top range/oven less than one year old.  Open living/dining area with corner wood burning fireplace.  Very user friendly kitchen that opens to living/dining area with large breakfast bar.  Refrigerator, washer & dryer to remain!!  Half bath is perfect for guests.  Upstairs features two bedrooms with full baths and large closets.  Master bedroom has lovely balcony overlooking front of townhome.  New hardware in all baths.  Cypress picket fence added in the private backyard - perfect for grilling or pets!  All the major upgrades have been done, just waiting for you to add your special touch!!

The process goes like this: The Borrower provides proper documentation to his or her mortgage lender(s) to show a hardship to pay the mortgage and requests the lender take a “short” payoff on the outstanding mortgage balance. The mortgage lender (or bank) takes a loss (or write-off) on the mortgage because the value of the home has fallen below the mortgage balance and the homeowner has suffered a legitimate financial hardship that has caused the borrower to fall delinquent and is unable to continue to pay the mortgage on time.

Once the bank approves the “short” payoff on the mortgage, the home can be sold for a price near the market value without the Seller having to come up with cash to cover the shortfall. The mortgage is satisfied and the foreclosure process stops. It is recommended that a homeowner considering a short sale consult with a CPA, attorney, and of course, a qualified real estate agent experienced in short sales.

Luckily, here in the Greater Baton Rouge Area we have not experienced many of these types of properties on the market, but we have seen enough that two team members have become Certified Distressed Properties Experts.  If you wonder if you might qualify for this type of service to get out from under your mortgage, give us a call and let us see what we can do for you.

Five Things to Know About a Real Estate Agent
What's Your Number? – Ask how many properties the agent has sold. You want to see a proven track record, and someone who sells 10 homes a year probably won't get the job done as well as someone who sells 50 or 60 homes. Also, you want to find someone who is experienced in selling homes in your neighborhood.

It Ain't Pretty – A good real estate agent will make nice but honest suggestions on how to cosmetically improve your home. Don't take it personally. Listen, make the changes, and get your home sold. Simple.

Out To Lunch – Do they work full time? The odds are that agents who sell homes part time or just on the weekends won't be available when you need them. Ask them about their system for finding buyers and communicating with you as the seller, as well as if they have a team to cover for them if they are sick or on vacation.

Show Me the Odds – Ask what the agent's list-to-sell ratio is. What percentages of houses that they list actually sell, and what percentage of asking price do they get? The agent who wants to sell a house for the highest price is probably not the right person. Anybody can ask a high price, but that doesn't mean they can sell it for that.

Not All in the Family – Don't list your house with a family member or friend just because of the relationship. This is a business transaction, and if they are not good at the business, then your house doesn't get sold. If they are the top real estate agent in the market, then that's a different story. But hiring someone based purely on relationships is always bad.

The Pat Wattam Team at RE/MAX First has always addressed these questions with our clients.  We believe you need to know how we sell houses, how we communicate with you, and what are our back up systems when one of us is out (like last week when Buyer Partner, Kyle Petersen and wife Michele enjoyed the birth of their son, Connor!). 

Our goal is to take the mystery and the hassle out of the home selling and home buying process so that you, our client, can make the best possible decision.  Call us anytime for a free consultation!  225-298-6900 #realestate

The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that the median sales price for previously occupied homes rose in 67 out of 151 metropolitan areas in the October-December quarter versus a year ago. That’s a sharp improvement from the third quarter, when prices rose in only 20 percent of cities.

In Baton Rouge, where the housing market has never cratered as bad as it has in a number of other markets nationwide, the median home price for a previously occupied home rose $1,000 to $157,400, an increase of 0.6 percent.

The housing news reflects what I consider to be the health of our economy.  With a great selection of homes to choose from, buyers will enjoy taking advantage of the tax credit as well as the excellent value here in the greater Baton Rouge Area.

This continues the trend we have seen since the housing market collapsed across the nation a couple of years ago.  Although we are seeing a few more foreclosures in the Baton Rouge Real Estate Market, they tend to be on the high end homes or the low end.  The middle prices seem to be doing quite well, and that is probably still fueled by the tax credit. 

There are plenty of great homes for sale in the greater Baton Rouge area and with the Tax Credit, it's a great time for people to make that move!

One of the requirements for becoming a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network® is to provide my community with critical real estate information so you can make the best possible decision when buying or selling a home. To that end, I wanted to pass along some key facts about the extended and expanded tax credit that are critical for you to understand in order to take advantage of this opportunity:

1.    Eligibility: The tax credit is now available for first-time home buyers and eligible current homeowners. A first-time home buyer is an individual who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. This law applies for both parties in a married couple; if you haven’t owned a home for three years, but your husband has, then neither one of you can qualify for the tax credit. A qualified current homeowner who wished to move to a different home, must have owned and resided in their residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight.

2.    Salary requirements: Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with a joint income up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit. Single taxpayers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000, and married couples who earn between $225,000 and $245,000 are eligible to receive a partial credit.

3.    Amount of credit: The maximum credit amount for first-time home buyers is $8,000; the maximum credit amount for current homeowners is $6,500. The federal tax credit amounts to 10% of the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit of $8,000 for first-time home buyers and $6,500 for current homeowners. Under the new legislation, a tax credit may only be issued for homes purchased for $800,000 or less. The tax credit is a true credit—it does not have to be repaid unless the homeowner sells or stops using the home as their principal residence within three years after the purchase.

4.    It’s refundable: The tax credit is fully refundable, meaning the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if you owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax owed. The credit is claimed using Form 5405, which you file with your original or amended tax return.

5.    Timeline: The credit is available for homes purchased on or after November 7, 2009 and before May 1, 2010. The federal income credit can be claimed on one’s individual or joint tax return for the purchase of any single-family home (newly-constructed or resale, single-family detached, townhomes or condominiums) between the dates of November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010. Home purchases subject to a binding sales contract signed before May 1, 2010 will also qualify for the tax credit as long as closing occurs by June 30, 2010.

Give us a call and we'll get you under contract in time for you to take advantage of the tax credit!

The tax credit for first time home buyers helped us have a strong finish to 2009 but the start of 2010 is dramatically different, and it is strictly due to the tax credit extension and the additional tax credit for existing home owners.  I have never seen a January so busy!  We have been told that the Federal Government will NOT extend the tax credit again and for us to get that word out to our clients!!

So, let's get into the statistics for 2009.  

This Graph shows the average list price for the new listings, the homes currently on the market, the homes pending, and finally the homes sold.

Sold Statistics for 2009 (EBR, ASC, and LIV parishes)

Ave List Price:  $197,861      Ave Sold Price $192,081    Median Price  $168,000 

Average Days on market were 94 - up 2 from last year.  This is the number to keep watching.  This should stabilize but it significantly longer than the past 5 years.

Comparison Stats:

YEAR   AVE LIST $$     AVE SOLD $$     MEDIAN $$      DAYS ON MARKET

2009     $197,861           $192,081            $168,000              94

2008     $208,438           $202,994            $171,500              92

2007     $201,342           $197,313            $167,103              69

2006     $211,550           $208,798            $193,000              41

2005     $187,685           $184,514            $152,000              32

2004     $157,173           $152,890            $133,000              44

Another interesting note is that the closed price vs listing price is still very close.  Many people think they can come to our area and get a house 20-30% off list price need to look at these numbers!  This shows that we have a very healthy and stable real estate market!!!

 If you want to keep up with the real estate prices for your home, and you are in my MLS area, sign up for the Market Snapshot.  It's an automated system that will send out a report to you once a month with properties for sale and sold within a half mile of your home.   

This graphy shows the type of loans most popular with buyers.  FHA (government backed loans with 3.5% downpayment) have become very popular again - much like they were 20-30 years ago.  Buyers are scraping togehter downpayment money but asking nearly every seller to contribute (rather, let the buyer fincance in their purchase price) money at closing to pay for the buyer's closing costs and prepaid items.

I hope you find this information useful!  If you have any specific questions, please call or email me anytime!