I recently completed a Baton Rouge Home Appraisal in Homewood Subdivision and used 1 comp from within Barkley Place Subdivision and discovered these 2012 home price trends based on 1 sale. Average sales price per square foot has been $79/sf. Median Sales Price $170,000. Average size home sold 2,152 sf. Average days on market 125 days. Average Listing-To-Sales-Price-Ratio is 95% meaning homes are selling for 95 percent of asking prices, 5 percent less than asking price.

This Baton Rouge Housing Market Report is brought to you by Bill Cobb, Appraiser with Home Appraisals Baton Rouge.

NOTE: Based on info from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®MLS for the period of 01/01/2012 to 08/24/2012. This information was extracted on 08/24/2012.

Baton Rouge Real Estate, Not All Projects Help Increase Values from the Glenda Daughety Team Blog

Baton Rouge Appraiser Comment: I would certainly agree with these 2 articles.  The 3 major problems I see are homeowners wasting tens of thousands of dollars into their yards, which isn’t really an “investment” and can be foolish into thinking they’re increasing their value, over improving and over building.   Adding slab granite counters in a subdivision where predominant home values are in the $100,000 range is not going to significantly increase value.  And, if the average home in your subdivision is 1,500sf, don’t add that 700sf addition and believe you’re drastically increasing the value of your home. 

Not all projects help Baton Rouge real estate values. Appraisals are an important part of the selling process an not all improvements will recoup the costs. So, what do you do when you are making changes to your Baton Rouge property? Think about what you are looking to achieve.

The most important thing to remember when planning a project for your Baton Rouge home is to evaluate your purpose. Are you making a change for you or to enhance the value of your home? If for you then it is more important to make changes that suit your needs. If you are making changes to enhance the value of your Baton Rouge real estate then you should give considerable attention to the expected return on your investment.

Continue Reading Glenda’s Entire Article Plus the “Five Areas That Can Hurt Your Appraisal” at the link below

Source: Glenda Daughety Team Blog

See on blog.glendadaughety.com

How Do I Strengthen My Home for Wind?

Wind is the most common and most costly cause of damage to light frame structures in the United States. During hurricanes, wind speed can exceed 75 mph and may include debris, which significantly increases the damage.

Several things you can do, however, can reduce the potential damage from high winds. Studies completed following recent hurricanes show that typical light frame structures (stick-built homes) have some weak places. By strengthening these crucial points, you can make your home much safer against wind.

Here are the crucial weak places in your home,

Roof – Gabled Roofs
Exterior doors and windows
Garage doors
Connections (Roof-to-wall, wall-to-foundation)

Source: LSUAGCENTER.COM

See on www.lsuagcenter.com

This is a new video I found on YouTube that I wanted to share. YES, it’s from an Agent in Alexandria, VA. However, I totally agree with the advice “Rot” is offering – to remain extremely flexbible during the home sales Appraisal process. Some homes don’t appraise for the Purchase Price. YES, there are still some homes NOT appraising for the Purchase Contract in Greater Baton Rouge…this just happened this weekend on a report I completed. The major reason this does happen is because the home was listed above obvious, well established market support without any recent sales to show or prove it’s a hot sellers market and the Appraiser should adjust upward 5% based on such comps. Appraiser must use market proof in order to make increasing markets adjustments. If there were any seller’s markets in Greater Baton Rouge righ now in September 2012, they might be in Areas 52 and 53 along Highland Rd and not far from Perkins Rowe.

From YouTube: “What is an appraisal and why should we care? Appraisal are used by lending institution/banks to determine value. They are mostly used when your trying to buy or refinance a home. They are done by third party vendor to unsure there’s no outside influence and the appraisal value is a true and honest number. We re talking about appraisals because in the DC metro market we are seeing a shift in how these appraisals are affecting the overall market. The current DC real estate market is very low in active listings. Buyers are forced to compete for homes and that competition drives up the prices. The problem that we are seeing is the appraisals aren’t reflecting the shift in the overall market thus we are seeing low appraisal more and more. Sellers should be aware that just because you receive price over your list price, your sale and price are contingent on the appraisal. Buyers should also be mindful to keep their appraisal contingencies in the contract and know that even if they have to make a higher offer they are protected by this appraisal.”

See on www.youtube.com

Hello! My name is Bill. I and this site are here as a resource for the Greater Baton Rouge public and if I can help solve your home valuation problem, please let me know.

For Homes Valued Under $350,000 and Located In Restricted Subdivisions

FSBO is a part of Baton Rouge Real Estate and For Sale By Owner Baton Rouge.

Are you thinking about selling your Baton Rouge Home For Sale By Owner, FSBO? Your home is possibly your largest investment. Did you know that in 2012, the average sold price per square foot is $114 dollars per square foot and if your home isn’t properly measured, you could lose out on $11,400 dollars in equity per 100 square feet of error. Bill Cobb Appraiser provides FSBO Pre-Listing Home Pricing Appraisals throughout Greater Baton Rouge. Your home will be properly measured based on National ANSI Standards. A professional color hardcopy of report will be mailed to answer potential buyer questions. Bill is State Certified by Louisiana Appraisers Board and has 21 years experience. Visit gbrprelistingappraisals dot com and watch Bill’s multiple videos on the Pre-Listing or Pre-Purchase Home Appraisal process.

Video URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yL8DPu8r-8

Based on my experience, the ANSI 5′ Slanted Wall Height Rule is one of the most misunderstood or ignored rules for measuring homes. I recently took the time to draw a diagram illustrating the rule based on ANSI Standards, Z765-1996, Page 2, which states,

“ To be included in finished square footage calculations, finished areas must have a ceiling height of at least 7 feet except: under beams, ducts, and other obstructions where the height may be 6 feet 4 inches; under stairs where there is no specified height requirement; or where the ceiling is sloped. If a room’s ceiling is sloped, at least one-half of the finished square footage in that room must have a vertical ceiling height of at least 7 feet; no portion of the finished area that has a height of less than 5 feet may be included in finished square footage.”

See the Diagram and Video Below:

Author’s Bio:

Bill Cobb, CREA, is Greater Baton Rouge’s favorite and most reputable home appraiser frequently called upon by banks, homeowners, and savvy real estate investors to assess property values. A home appraiser with 17 years experience, Bill Cobb brings a wealth of knowledge to the table as a home appraiser.
Bill’s company, Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal Group, serves Greater Baton Rouge (East Baton Rouge Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, Western Livingston Parish and Northern Ascension Parish).

Contact Bill Cobb and Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal Group for your next home appraisal:

Office: 225-293-1500

Cell: 225-953-0638
Fax: 1-866-663-6065

fastvalue2@cox.net

http://www.getfastvalue.com

Greater Baton Rouge Home Appraiser, Bill Cobb, has been appraising homes or houses now for 21 years, 2 years in the Alexandria LA metro area and 19 years in the Greater Baton Rouge Housing Market. Bill’s specialty is:

Baton Rouge Pre-Purchase Home Appraisals

and

Baton Rouge Pre-Listing Home Appraisals

Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal Group (AVG) Serves The Greater Baton Rouge Metroplex!

With Boundaries North by Zachary, South by Sorrento, West by Port Allen and East by Livingston.

Contact Information:
Accurate Valuations Group (Home Appraisals)
P.O. Box 40515
Baton Rouge, LA 70835
Baton Rouge Office: 225-293-1500
Toll Free: 1-888-678-3544
Toll Free Fax: 1-866-663-6065
Denham Springs Office – Local #: 225-709-6013
Staff Email: info@accuratevg.com
Website: http://www.accuratevg.com/