If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, mark you calendar and join us Saturday morning, December 10, at 11am at the library in Maurice. We’ll be talking about the loan process, the types of loans available to buyers, the home buying process, even investing in real estate. This is a free event for all!

If you’ve been thinking about a career in real estate, you’ll want to attend our career night in the Keller Williams’ office at 900 South College, suite 100, in Lafayette. This event is tonight (December 7th) and starts at 5:30. You will learn about the real estate business and what it takes to be successful as a Realtor. You’ll also learn about the Keller Williams’ model. Keller Williams is now the 2nd largest real estate company in the U.S. and it will not be long before we are number 1. Come find out why!

If you have any questions about real estate, feel free to call or email me. I’d be glad to help!

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Lafayette’s foreclosure listings have risen slightly in the past few months while the percentage of bank owned properties sold has remained pretty much the same. In April, I wrote that the percentage of active foreclosures on the market was 4.75% for Acadiana and 3.3% for Lafayette parish. It is now 6% for Acadiana and 4% for Lafayette parish (it is 4% also for the city of Lafayette).

Since April, the percentage of bank owned properties sold has remained stable. In Acadiana it is down 1% (from 14% to 13%) and in Lafayette parish it is the same at 8%. These graphs were produced using sold information in our MLS for all listings and REOs between June 1st and December 4th 2011.

If we compare to the same period last year, the percentage of sold foreclosures is up 2% in both Acadiana and in Lafayette parish. Not a large increase, but an increase nevertheless.

The average price for sold foreclosures in Lafayette parish in the past 6 months was $122,770 with a median price of $108,500. Only 10 of the 90 sold REOs were above $200,000.
As for currently active REO properties in Lafayette parish, the average price is $109,252 with a median price of $105,000. Only 4 properties are listed for more than $200,000 and none above $220,000. The foreclosure market in Lafayette and Acadiana is certainly great for investors and first-time home buyers at this point.

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever you are. I certainly have a lot to be thankful for in my life and today, I am certainly thankful that I don’t have to do much cooking. We will be visiting with my husband’s cousins and family and I’m bringing some desserts.

Tomorrow will be shopping day for many seeking sales around town and getting Christmas presents for their loved ones . I will be working and would love to help some of you shop for a new home. Indeed, if you found a home this weekend, you could move in just in time for Christmas! Why wait?

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

As a Realtor, I often get calls on my listings from people who are looking for homes to rent or lease (they want to know if my sellers would lease and well, most sellers actually want to sell). Unlike homes for sale which can be found in the MLS, there is no one database for rentals in Acadiana but there are a couple of places where you should look if you are looking to rent or lease a home in our area:

Quick Quarter: This is a Classifieds-only publication that comes out once a week. You can find it in convenience stores in the area and other local businesses. You can also browse online in the homes for rent section.

Homefinder: In the Sunday edition of the Daily Advertiser, there is a section called the Homefinder. While it mostly features homes for sale, some of the local property managers also advertise their rentals and you can find them in the last couple of pages of the insert. You can also browse rentals online here.

Key Property Management: This is one of the property management company in town and they features several rentals on their website.

Of course, if you are looking to buy a home in our area, I would love to assist you in finding the perfect property for you.  Contact me today!

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

With interest rates remaining very low, investors are out looking for properties where they can put their money to work for them and make a profit. One way some are doing this is by flipping properties or the process of finding, fixing, and reselling homes.

The book “Flip” is, in my opinion, the best “how to” manual on the subject (and I’ve read a few). In fact, when I received a call from a friend last week who told me she was looking for her first flip, I told her to get a copy of the book immediately.

As with any money-making venture, there are risks involved in flipping properties. What if it doesn’t sell fast once it’s ready or for the price that was expected? What if the renovations end up costing more (even a lot more) than anticipated?

On the other hand, some investors are very successful with this venture. A friend of mine even quit his job after a couple of years of flippin’ part time because he was making more money with this flips than with his job. He is now a full-time investor/flipper and doing very well.

The best way to approach flips is do to your homework ahead of time and make your money when you buy the property, as oppose to when you sell it. One of the key component of the process is also patience as it often takes time to find the right property at the right price. Again, “Flip” gives you the road map that will help you minimize the risks and maximize your profits.

And so, I am actively looking for properties that offer flip potential for my clients (perhaps even for myself). If you have or know of a property that has flippin’ potential, please contact me today and let’s make a deal!

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News