December was a great month for home sales in Acadiana and in Lafayette parish. In the parish, more homes sold in December than in November or October. This may be a sign of great things to come for this beginning of 2012.

If we look at home sales in Lafayette parish for 2011 when compared to 2010, we see the same trend up towards the end of the year. There were fewer home sales in Lafayette parish in 2011 (2134 vs 2265 in 2010), however, the average sale’s price was up from $192,794 to $199,849.

In Acadiana as a whole, there were 16 more home sales in 2011 than in 2010 (3357 vs 3341) and the average price was very slightly up: $168,673 in 2010 to $168, 877 in 2011. Home sales in volume were up by about $3,5 Million in 2011.

Inventory is down to begin 2012. This is a good time for sellers to list as there is less competition out there and plenty of buyers looking. The black column shows inventory in Acadiana while the white is inventory in Lafayette parish.

There are currently 432 home sales pending in Acadiana and 273 in Lafayette parish.

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Every year, the National Association of Realtors conducts a survey to determine where home buyers found the home they eventually purchased. The numbers for 2011 are in. The Internet is the big winner again (40%) while print advertising keeps losing ground (2%).

If you are a seller, you need to make sure that your agent is properly marketing your home on the Internet and to other agents. This also means that your home needs to look good online. Buyers will decide to tour your home in person based on the pictures they see on the internet. The more showings your home gets, the faster you’ll sell it. Once your home is listed, Google it and take a look. What do you see? Does your home look its very best?

If you are a buyer surfing the web on your own in search of that pearl, you could double your chances of finding the perfect home by working with an agent. In fact, I have on several occasions found homes for my buyers that were not listed and that were not on the Internet. Go ahead, give me a call. I can help you find that special place you’ll call home!

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

In the past few weeks, I’ve talked to several sellers who said that they are waiting to put their home on the market because more homes sell in the spring than in the winter. That is true. However, what most do not consider is that there are also more homes hitting the market in the spring, which means more competition.

There are buyers looking to buy year round. In fact, in Lafayette parish, more homes sold in December 2011 than in November or October. Yours could have sold, too, if it had been on the market.

If you are ready to sell, you need to do three things: 1. Price your home right; 2. Get it staged; 3. Work with a Realtor that will properly market your property.

That’s it. That’s all there is to it.

If you are ready to sell your home, why wait? Give me a call today.

 

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

The year 2011 is history and today begins 2012. The weather is beautiful here although a bit windy. Like most, I’ve been thinking about personal goals and professional ones today and what I would like to achieve this year.

Today, I’m also grateful for this past year and want to extend my thanks once again to all those who trusted me with their real estate needs. I hope to be able to help many more of you in 2012.

From Maurice in Louisiana, I wish all of you a wonderful new year filled with health, love, success, money, and all it is that you wish for!

Bonne année à tous!

 

 

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

My daughter is usually not girlie but every now and then, she surprises me. This week it was with these flowers. They grow in the fields around our home and we think of them as weeds. According to my husband, locals call the plant “herbe sainte” or holly grass. If cows eat it, he says it makes their milk bitter. When you get a handful and put them in a vase, they look pretty and last for days.

 

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News