This truly magnificent home and setting, located in one of Baton Rouge's best kept secrets, is now available for sale. Private, gated community.  Not only do you have gorgeous lake views from most rooms in the house, but you have a gunite pool (resurfaced in '08), surrounded by palm trees and lush landscaping, situated on approximately 2 acres of land.  Home was recently professionally decorated with new wall colors, custom window treatments and curtain accents, slab granite counters in  kitchen, all crown molding repainted, recessed lights added in kitchen.  The home features beautiful nail down wood floors, Anderson windows, custom cabinets throughout.  Foyer with  marble tile floors and beveled glass double doors lead to the LR with wood floors, built-ins with glass shelving next to fireplace, plus corner built-in cabinet for your flat screen TV, wet bar with slab granite counters and pass thru to outside, and a wall of windows overlooking the porch/pool area. Step up to formal Dining room with gorgeous lake view, built-in cabinet with glass shelving and lighting.  The kitchen/keeping room has ceramic tile floors, slab granite counters, ample cabinet and counter space, huge island w/breakfast bar, built-in sub Zero refrigerator, undermount sink, smooth top Jen-air cooktop, double oven, and pantry w/revolving shelving.  The keeping room has a vaulted ceiling, fireplace and great views also!  Large laundry room with shelving, cabinets, sink, etc.  Separate master bedroom with wood floor, vaulted ceiling, lots of windows to front and back views.  The master bath has glass block curved walls for the shower with multiple shower heads and for the toilet/bidet area.  The bath also features a vaulted ceiling with skylight over the jetted tub,  his and her vanities, large linen closet,  his and her walk-in closets with built-ins, and an outside door to pool area.  One more bed and bath downstairs and upstairs is another 'master suite' with private balcony overlooking pool/lake and a bath with separate shower and jetted tub.  The other upstairs bedroom has a walk-in closet also and a private bath.   The garage area holds 3 cars (garage plus large boatport)Too many amenities to mention here. You must see to appreciate. 

Conveniently located in the Baywood Quarters gated community, this wonderful condo features amenities such as granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, wood flooring, furniture vanities, and much more. The kitchen has lots of storage in a country French antique décor along with designer pendant lights and tiled backsplash with accents. The open floor plan flows into the dining and living areas featuring beautiful wood flooring, contemporary down lighting, stacked molding, and a gas fireplace with granite tiled hearth.

In the master bedroom you’ll find a tiered ceiling with beautiful crown molding. The master bath features beautiful tile flooring, a lovely antique style two sink vanity, jetted tub and walk-in shower.

Other features of this beautifully maintained condo include: soft radius corners throughout, pre-wired for security system, enclosed patio area, two car attached garage. All window treatments, rods, blinds to remain

Beautifully updated with gleaming wood floors in living room, hall, and bedrooms!!!! Home in immaculate condition with many updates including wood floors, ceramic tile floors, paint, roof, HVAC, water heater, storm doors, exterior doors, oven, paint, door hardware, double paned windows, double insulation in attic. From the moment you walk in, you know this house has been meticulously maintained! Living room features a large front window, front door with oval beveled glass, and, of course, those beautiful wood floors! Large kitchen/dining area with updated ceramic tile floors, cooktop ('92), oven ('99), lots of cabinets and counter space too! Nice size laundry room. Hall bath with updated ceramic tile floor and nice sized vanity. Bedrooms have above average looking ceiling fans! The 3rd bedroom has two closets (extra closet door in storage), large master bedroom and master bath featuring double sinks, updated ceramic tile floors, separate tub area, plus walk-in closet. The home also has a nice back yard with extra large patio for entertaining! Great location! Near hospitals, shopping, I-12, etc.!

Great location, convenient to Town Center! Updated home with added master suite (just redone after storm damage). Gorgeous wood floors run throughout the house as well as crown molding in all rooms! The freshly landscaped front yard leads into this gorgeous home. The foyer has slate floors and the living room with large, double paned windows also features crown molding and hardwood floors. The generous sized dining room also has wood floors and crown molding and leads to the breakfast/kitchen area. The breakfast room also has wood floors. The kitchen with updated ceramic tile floors, counters, and backsplash, also has a breakfast bar, stainless range/oven, and lots of cabinets as well as a pantry. Large laundry room with sink, cabinets, and more! The loggia also has wood floors and features floor to ceiling windows overlooks the private New Orleans style courtyard. The master bedroom wing has been recently redone. The Master Bedroom features 10'+ ceiling, crown molding, wide baseboards, heart of pine wood floors, a sitting area with ceramic tile floors, and a wall of windows and doors leading to the gorgeous sunroom with ceramic tile floors. The sunroom also leads to a wood deck overlooking the private backyard. This wing is a bit of paradise to go to after a hard days' work! Wait until you see the master bath! His and her vanities with tile counters, beautiful framed mirrors, ceramic tile floors, large separate shower, deep jetted tub and a nice sized walk-in closet. On the other side of the house you have the original master bedroom and bath with ceramic tile floor and counters, linen closet, pretty wallpaper, and walk-in closet. Outside is easy maintenance. The garage has nice built-ins and window A/c unit, and there is also a covered patio for entertaining or parking another vehicle. Exterior is brick and Hardi-plank. Front section is on a slab, rear addition is pier and beam construction. One year Old Republic Home Warranty provided by seller.

Get ready for Summer in your own backyard! Ewing built pool with rock waterfall feature!! New roof, exterior paint, and dishwasher in the past year or so. Wonderful home with Brazillian cherry wood floors in the living room, along with stacked crown molding, corner fireplace, and lovely built-in bookcase. Large kitchen/dining area with ceramic tile floors and island counter top, two walls of windows in the dining area but plenty of wall space for your china cabinet. This area also features a vaulted ceiling, track lighting, breakfast bar on the island, gas cook top and large pantry. The Mater Bedroom has a deep recessed ceiling with stacked crown molding, and french doors to patio/pool area. The Master Bath with his and her vanities and walk-in closets, skylight, garden tub and separate shower. Faux wood blinds throughout the house. Bedrooms 2 and 3 have crown molding, ceiling fans, and bedroom 2 connects to the hall bath. BR 3 also has a 'chalk board' wall - great for kids! The hall bath has ceramic tile floors and a separate tub area. The inside of the house is beautifully decorated but the outside is truly special!! Lush tropical landscaping surrounds the pool area - and you have a nice open patio leading to the pool area. The property also has a wrought iron gate and fence across the driveway and the home has a security system.

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Charming home with easy care vinyl siding and brick exterior plus a wonderful covered deck with spot for your TV - great for entertaining during sporting events!  The house has a nice floor plan that flows easily.  The living room has plush carpet and a fireplace with nice mantle, plus the room is open to the dining room.  The dining room has a long wall, perfect for your china cabinet!  The top of the walls have cut outs to the kitchen area - a nice place to decorate!  The Dining room also overlooks the sunroom thru a wall of french doors!  The sunroom has tile floors and a wall of built-in shelving- you will LOVE this room!  The kitchen and breakfast area have ceramic tile floors and two walls of windows - making it nice and bright. The kitchen features an island, a trash compactor and more!  The laundry area has shelving too.  You'll enjoy the split floor plan. The separate master bedroom is huge and features 9' ceiling, ceiling fan, and leads to the master bath with ceramic tile floors,  skylight, oversized jacuzzi tub, separate shower, and double sinks, plus a deep linen closet and large walk-in closet.  The 2nd bedroom, on the front of the house, is also very spacious, features a large special window,  and has two closets with sliding mirrored doors.  The Hall bath has glass doors on the tub.  The roof is less than 1 year old!

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!

Elegant garden home located at the end of the street overlooking quiet, peaceful common area and Dawson's Creek.  The home has high ceilings and crown molding in every room.  The LR features wood floors, recessed ceilings, and a wall of windows overlooking the multi-level deck and the common areas.  It is open to the dining area and kitchen which have brick pavers, and, again, lots of windows to enjoy the wooded view!  The kitchen has granite tile counters, island with breakfast bar, separate set of cabinets with glass fronts and wine rack.  The kitchen has a gas cook top, nice sized pantry, MW, REF, and DW.  The study, off the living room, features 12'+ ceiling, wood floor and is absolutely charming.  The half bath downstairs is easily accessible by your guests.  The master bedroom is also downstairs and also features wood floors and windows taking advantage of that great view! The master bath has tile floors, his and her walk-in closets, his and her vanities, linen closet, large separate shower and jetted tub.  Upstairs is a nice landing area, plus another full bath with ceramic tile floor in the separate tub area.  Bedroom number 2 overlooks the deck and the view, plus it features recessed lights and the closet also has built-ins.  The 3rd BR and bonus room are attached -which means you have many ways of working these areas together.  Use one as a bedroom and one as a gameroom for the kids or any other configuration you can think of.  The bonus room portion has a wall of windows overlooking the yard and common ground.  Upstairs are two walk-in attic entrances with flooring - a GREAT area to store everything from Christmas Decorations to furniture (depending on weight, of course!).  The home features speakers throughout (currently not connected to anything), a security system, and a 2 car garage with small storage areas.  The multi-level deck is a great place to enjoy some quite time or for cookouts!  The small, separate storage building remains and is a great place for your garden tools

3 BR/2BA garden home with no carpet - easy to maintain!! A few updates include paint 3-4 years, updated ceiling fans in MBR and LR, popcorn ceiling removed in both baths, hot water heater replaced in 2007, A/C about 7 years old, heat pump about 5 years old, Home also has gutters, no carpet - all vinyl flooring. The living room has a wood burning fireplace. The kitchen overlooks the living room, making the house feel very open. Washer and dryer also remain at no value and no warranty. The master bedroom has track light, a separate outside entrance, and large walk-in closet. The hall bath is also a nice size. All the bedrooms have ceiling fans. The home comes equipped with a security system. The rear alley drive and rear 'California' garage are a nice touch!

Overlooking the water, this unit is located in popular Holly Ridge Townhomes off Coursey Blvd. There are so many wonderful things about this end unit townhouse that you must see it to appreciate! The huge master bedroom (upstairs) is what draws in many owners, plus the large walk-in closet (and walk-in attic). The open Living Room and dining room have lots of natural light and take advantage of the water view. The home features crown molding in the LR, DR, KIT, hall, and Master BR. The galley kitchen has ceramic tile floors, a new dishwasher and updated faucet, stainless steel range/ oven and microwave plus it has a nice pass through into the dining room. The two downstairs bedrooms overlook the private courtyard and have plantation blinds. Both baths have nice sized vanities with updated faucets and separate tub area with ceramic tile floors. The owner has maintained the home over the years including adding gutters, patio cover, added concrete design to front sidewalk and porch, replaced flooring, paint and wallpaper in '01, added triple glass insulated windows in '04, and just replaced the marble surround in upstairs bathtub. But the most striking feature of the property is the patio on the water - what a great place to visit with friend or read you book on a lazy spring afternoon. You can fish in the lake (a finger of Lake Sherwood) or just enjoy the peaceful setting! A few other features include a garage, private courtyard, and a security system.

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!

Charming home with large covered deck overlooking the lake!  Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac, this home features an open floor plan with high ceilings and lots of windows to enjoy the lake view!  Living room with crown molding, fireplace with gas logs, ceiling fans with remote control.  Kitchen with nice cabinets and pantry cabinet.  BR 3 with built-in shelving and large walk-in closet.  The master bath and large hall bath has updated faucets, light fixtures, and ceramic tile floors.  The laundry room features cabinets plus freezer space.  BR 2 is very spacious also!  You'll love the tree shaded yard, the views, and the convenient location!!  The house also has a new roof ('08), replaced HVAC in 2002 with annual inspections, siding soffit, deck with cover, gutters and two outdoor fans 2003.

House to be sold in 'as is' condition at act of sale.

The simple solution here is to keep a trickle of water running.  Since the ground rarely freezes here that keeps +32 degree water in the pipes, so no freezing and no bursting.  It can run up the water bill though. 

If you're going to be gone during the time of a freeze and can't monitor the situation, then drain the system.  If you don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty you can shut off the water at the street meter using T-handle shutoff tool available at most home centers and hardware stores.  Just be aware that sometimes these street valves can be a "bear" to move.  If you're lucky, you will have a shutoff valve at the house connection.  No tools needed, just turn it off like a water faucet.  Then open the inside faucets and unscrew the drain plug outside.  It's just above the shutoff valve and looks like a tire valve stem cap.  If there is no drain plug or house shutoff valve, then open the outside faucets to drain and be sure to insulate the portion of the pipe bteween the ground and the faucet since it will still have water in it.

If you haven't found a house you like, then don't be rushed.  This is your home, a place you plan to live for the next few years.  If nothing out there appeals to you, then wait until you find the right house.  BUT, I do have to say, if you can't find ANYTHING to buy, perhaps you need to look at your criteria again.  If there is nothing that fits your budget, then you just need to save up more money or pay down debt so you qualify for more.  Of couse, if you are only need to go up in price $8000-10,000, then buy now and use the Tax Credit to repay yourself!  But if all the houses need some updating, take your tax credit and make the house into what you want! 

Either way, you need to make a decision now.  Call us for help in finding the perfect home.  We'll help you see the pros and cons of your homes to help you make the right decision - timely!

Kyle Petersen, ABR