Real Estate Quarterly

by Barbara Corbett
October 2012
www.BarbaraCorbett.com

Home Prices Moving Up With Increased Activity

Lousiana REALTORS Association recently published that Louisianas residential real estate market continued its positive upward track with a 12.7 percent increase in the number of homes sold for the second quarter of 2012. Sales in the Alexandria-Pineville metro increased 3.5 percent during 2Q12 and is up nearly 7 percent year to date. The average home sales price in central Louisiana jumped 5.1 percent during the second quarter and is up 6.6 percent year to date. In general, the Louisiana housing market has shown significant growth in 2012, and is expected to continue the upward trend. Rising prices are a positive sign being seen in an increasing number of markets nationwide, with half of the nations metropolitan statistical areas showing price gains during the second quarter from a year earlierexactly what the quarterly numbers in Louisiana are showing. Sales activity has been up for a while now, but many industry observers have been waiting for home prices to start bouncing back before declaring the housing market to be in recovery, said Rick Roberts, Louisiana REALTORS president. Prices in markets throughout the country have started moving upward during the spring and summer, and Louisiana is following that trend.

Cenla Residential Market Update

The third quarter of 2012 was better than the third quarter in 2011! Average Sales Price rose again in third quarter. It is now at $160,975 for the month of September. Average Days on the Market was 90 days in third quarter. With prices up and excellent interest rates, now is a good time to get your home on the market! Call me with any questions regarding the market in your neighborhood, city or Parish.

Food for Thought

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. -William Morris Call me to help stage your home.

2010 - 2012 Residential Sales

# of Sales
120 100 80 60
40

Rapides, Avoyelles, and Grant Parishes

2010 2011 2012

20 0 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Barbara Corbett
Key Realty, LLC 1216 MacArthur Dr. Alexandria, LA 71303

If you are currently working with a Realtor, this is not intended as a solicitation.

Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Report:

CENLA Residential Market September 2012 Price Range # Sold

Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc. released its annual ranking of top pro-business states, with Louisiana rising to No. 16 in the U.S. Louisiana has climbed 24 spots in Pollinas ranking since 2008, making it the most improved state in the country over the last four years. Pollina ranks the 50 states on 32 factors, including evaluation metrics such as business tax burdens, workforce training programs, workers compensation costs, economic development incentives, energy costs, marketing programs and state economic development efforts. Louisiana climbed from No. 40 in 2008 to No. 27 in 2009, No. 20 in 2010 and No. 18 in 20011.

$0 - $29,000 $30,000-59,000 $60,000-79,900 $80,000-99,900

7 6 2 9

$100,000-119,900 $120,000-139,900 $140,000-159,900 $160,000-179,900 $180,000-199,900

12 12 12 9 6

Home Staging Tip: Gather From Your Yard

Staged homes are almost always graced with fresh flowers and pricey orchid arrangements, but you can get a similar effect simply by gathering from your own yard or garden. Budding magnolia clippings or unfurling fern fronds herald the arrival of spring, summer blooms add splashes of cheerful color, blazing fall foliage warms up your dcor on chilly autumn days and holly branches heavy with berries look smashing in winter. Visit Home & Garden Television for this tip.

$200,000-249,900 $250,000-299,900

14 5

$300,000-399,900 $400,000-499,900 $500,000 + Totals

4 2 1 101

Networking, Service, Results with Barbara Corbett

Cell 318-715-0367 Office 318-442-3300 Toll Free 888-749-2600