I don’t like leaving my blog for lengthy periods of times. I always feel guilty when I do that. My excuse: I just spent the most wonderful three weeks with my parents who live in Canada. Because of the distance, we do not see each other very often, once or twice a year at the most. Our visit began in Orlando and Disney for a few days. It was the first visit for all of us and what memories we now have.

My daughter who is 6 years old will likely remember this trip. She was a real trooper, too, wanting to go on all the rides and she just about enjoyed them all, even the scary and fast ones. She got to meet several Disney characters and even dance with Donald (he’s always been my favorite!).

After Disney, I attended Family Reunion, our Keller Williams’ annual convention in Orlando. It was a great event again this year and Keller Williams is about to become the #1 real estate company in North America. They also announced the opening of the first office overseas in Vietnam. I picked up lots of great information and tips that will help me serve my clients better.

After we all returned to Louisiana, it was Mardi Gras time! For my parents, it was their first. We went to a parade in Lafayette and to Eunice so they could see what our rural Mardi Gras look like.

Now, I am back in the saddle and took 2 new listings in the past couple of days. Watch for them here later today! One thing we talked about during Family Reunion in Orlando is that homes have never been as affordable as they are now and interest rates are also still at an all-time low. Contact me if you would like more information about buying or selling in Lafayette and Acadiana. I’m back and have a feeling that 2012 will be a great year!

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Pending home sales in Lafayette parish and in Acadiana are on the rise since the beginning of the year. As of February 4th, there were 525 homes under contract in Acadiana and 355 home sale pending in Lafayette Parish. A month ago, we had 420 sale pending in Acadiana and 262 in Lafayette Parish.

As we can see, pending home sales in Lafayette parish are reaching highs that we hadn’t seen since April of 2011. This is great news for the housing market in our area. For seller, it also means that home buyers are out there shopping, right now! Contact me if you have been contemplating putting your home on the market. I am working with several buyers right now and one may be looking for your home!

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

While less home were sold in January compared to December in Lafayette Parish, we’ve had the best January of the past three years.

The average price in Lafayette parish of home sold was $165,812 (or $97/sqft) with an average days on market of 102 days.

Inventory went up slightly in January but is still low when compared to what it was last year.

Home sales pending are also on the rise again after dipping in December. I will have this report for you tomorrow. Until then, if you have any question about the real estate market in Lafayette parish and Acadiana, don’t hesitate to ask me.

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Good news for Military Home Buyers!

The PenFed Foundation (Pentagon Foundation through the US Govt) is providing $5,000 Grants for First Time Military Home Buyers. The grants are available to Military Personnel,  (Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard or Veteran), to Department of Defense employees and to Department of Homeland Security employees.

Not exactly a first time home buyer? Well, there might be a loophole for you, too. The grant is open to you if you’re a first-time home buyer, OR you have not owned a home for the last three years, OR you have lost your home through divorce or disaster.

You have to contribute at least $500 to your down payment and Dream Makers will match your contribution three-to-one, up to $5,000.  In order to qualify, your gross household income, including allowances, that you use to qualify for your mortgage loan also has to be less than $55,000 per year, OR, A maximum of 80% of your community’s median income based on your family size.

You can fill out your Dream Makers application online by visiting the Pentagon Foundation here. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call or send me an email and I will put you in touch with the right lender and then we can go find your dream home!

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Almost all the sellers I meet these days want to know if they should wait until the spring to list their home. I tell them all the same thing: our inventory is low right now therefore there is less competition, and we have 473 homes pending in the area, including 305 in Lafayette parish alone. Your home could be one of those. Not to mention that buyers are out looking; I’ve shown properties to 4 different buyers this past week.

We usually think of the spring as the season for real estate, much like we think of the spring as the season for baby animals. On our farm however, babies are born whenever they’re ready and that is usually not in the spring. Two nights ago was one one of the coldest night we’ve had so far this year and that’s when this baby calf decided it was time. Same is true for buyers. When they find the right home, they don’t care what season we’re in.

It is true that more real estate is bought/sold in the spring and summer but buyers buy year round, much like baby animals are born year round. If you’re ready to sell, there’s really no time like now to put your home on the market!

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News