Real Estate Information Archive

Sandy’ Team has some tips to help you look past the emotional excitement of a new home to the hard-core reality of the decision you’re trying to make?

True beauty is more than skin deep.  Lovely decorating or historic character is wonderful, but a home must do more than look good. That kitchen layout may be dramatic, but does it include enough cabinets?  Are there any towel bars in that beautiful old bathroom?  This is an especially important point to remember when you’re touring model homes or show homes, which are professionally decorated based on market research that has identified the touches and features most appealing to prospective buyers.  Of course, decorating is important.  Just don’t let it be the only thing you see.

Is it livable?  Think about where you spend most of your time in your current home, and then use those thoughts to evaluate the features of the home you’re considering. If you love to entertain, for example, make sure the kitchen is close to the dining room or has enough space to accommodate your guests while you’re preparing a meal. If you hate the dog tracking in dirt from outside, don’t buy a home with its main entrance opening into your formal living room. If your kids have to get ready for school at the same time, look for a home with easily accessible multiple bathrooms. If you have lots of company or kids, or enjoy long whirlpool baths, make sure the house you’re considering has a water heater large enough to accommodate your needs.

Can I maintain it?  A yard worthy of a botanical garden is beautiful.  But it will quickly be an eyesore if you don’t know or care about plants.  And intricate gingerbread on that Victorian home may become less appealing if you have to pay a painter to brighten it up every couple of years.  Think about what it will take to keep a home in good shape before you make a purchase decision.

15 Questions to Ask Your Lender

1.  How many loans do you write each month?

2.  How long have you and your processor worked together?

3.  How is your working relationship with your underwriter?

4.  What type of loans do you offer?

5.  What is your current interest rate for a 30 year fixed rate loan?  What other loan programs do you offer and recommend?

6.  What are the total application fees?  How much for the credit report, appraisal fee, and origination fee?

7.  Will I receive a good faith estimate with all the closing costs itemized?

8.  Will mortgage insurance be charged?

9.  Can I float the interest rate and/or lock it in?  What will it cost to lock the interest rate and how long will it last?

10.  Can I prepay the loan without a prepayment penalty?

11.  When will my first payment be due?

12.  How much money will need to be set aside to start my escrow accounts?

13.  How long will it take for my loan to be approved?

14.  When are payments considered late, what is the penalty?

15.  Who should be contacted if I have questions?

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As 2009 winds down, Sandy Ogburn Sandlin and her team are busily selling the merits of living in the Greater Baton Rouge area and in the process, selling houses. At the moment, according to Realtor.com, there are 8,201 home for sale in Baton Rouge, Lousiana.  That breaks down to 3,321 in East Baton Rouge Parish, 1,528 in Ascension, 2,317 in Livingston Parish,and and 150-250 in East Feliciana Iberville, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana. 

Greater Baton Rouge offers a lot of home for the money.  The cities and specific neighborhoods where home are available each have their own unique flavor.  Sandy’s Team are specialists in helping you find the place in a neigborhood that not only fits your pocketbook but your lifestyle as well.  Whether you want a home near work or want a more rural property, Sandy will find it for you.

If you want to see examples of the home in a specific area or if you want to get an idea of exactly what your home-buying dollars will get you, Sandy will deliver a list of homes that meet your requirements right to your inbox.  To get this handy service started, just enter your preference and your contact information right here.  Sandy’s Team is always available to answer any questions you might have about the neighborhod, the home itself, or how to get started with buying a home. 

With the home buyers tax credit in full force, Sandy can help you claim the credit as a first time buyer or a move-up buyer!

As part of the Midwest celebrated Christmas or its aftermath with snow, Ascension Parish and the surrounding area was pelted with so much rain that some roads remain flooded today.  With the kids out of school, holiday gifts to exchange, and homes to buy, no one wants to be inconvenienced or endangered when out on the road.

Here are some timely tips for driving in wet weather issued by Ascension Parish in mid-December.

First, check for updates on the Ascension Parish website or local TV or radio stations on the status of local roads.  If your destination is the midst of a flooded area, think about rescheduling or at least call ahead to make sure the place is open.

Second, plan ahead and allow for more travel time.  You might have to detour or drive more slowly. 

Third, drive slowly, especially if the roads are water-covered.  You will be better able to stop and avoid road hazards and refuse that has blown unto the road.

Fourth, keep ample distance from the car ahead of you!  Follow in their tracks if possible.

Fifth, brake early and gently.  If you pass through water, tap your brakes lightly to dry them out.  Remember not to try to stop quickly with wet brakes.

Sixth, avoid driving through standing water.  If you can’t see the road markings through the water, it’s better to turn down a side street or turn around.  A foot of moving water can lift your car off the road!

Seventh, if you hydroplane, slowly release the gas pedal and steer straight until you regain control rather than braking or turning the wheel suddenly.  Don’t use cruise control

Eighth, turn on your lights if you are using your wipers.  It’s state law and good sense.

Ninth, be extra careful at night. 

A lot of traffic in Ascension these days is due to people who want to take advantage of the home buyer’s tax credit.  Sandy Ogburn-Sandlin and her team at RE/Max Excellent Properties can show you new and resale homes in Ascension Parish as well as neighboring cities in the Baton Rouge market that offer great values for first time buyers and repeat buyers!  It's likely that homes will move quickly with the new incentives in place, so contact Sandy's Team today to jumpstart your housing search!  Drive as quickly as conditions allow to take advantage of the great home values today!

With the holidays nearly here it may tempting to put your home buying or selling activities on hold. Whether you are buying or selling in the Greater Baton Rouge area, it is easy to make the assumption that real estate transactions hardly fit into the busy seasonal plans.  This isn’t necessarily true, and your real estate agent can show you how to make holiday home buying or selling work out just fine

Sellers:

You may be tempted to take you home off the market for a while, so you can enjoy the season without having to do quick clean ups for unexpected showings.  Showing might also cut into gatherings you have planned.  If you are preparing for a party and elbow deep in bread dough, that is the last time you want strangers dropping by.

The reality is your agent can schedule showings around your schedule and not authorize ones by other agents the day you are having your annual holiday open house.

This year, incentives for buyers (which include you if you planning to buy another home) are so great that there is reason to keep your home on the buyer’s radar.  You have a real opportunity to sell the home more quickly than in the past months.

The only way selling might otherwise inconvenience you during the holidays is that you still need to keep the decorations modest.  If home usually resembles Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation dwelling, dial things back a notch and go for a minimalist look inside and out so the beauty of your home shows through. 

If you have a showing, your home will come off as warm and friendly if it smells of pine and bayberry and has a plate of cookies on the counter.

Buyers:

Just because it is the holidays doesn’t mean you can afford to put off your house shopping until after New Year’s.  Especially at lower price points, homes are moving quickly. With the home buyer tax credits and low interest rates on your side, this can be your time to beat the rush most realtors expect in January.

It is likely more homes will come on the market after the holiday. With fewer other buyers out, the holidays are a great time to look at homes already on the market that may be a match for you.  If you don’t fall in love with one, you can move on to the new offerings in January.

If you’ve have been transferred, your lease is up, your family is expanding – you may need to find a great home quickly,  Since fewer people are competing for homes during this time of year, you will have more chance of having a reasonable bid accepted on a home you love.

As a buyer, there are a couple of holiday rules you need to follow.  First, though are in a rush, the sellers may not always be able to make the house available on short notice.  Give them a little slack as they may have had plans before you called for the showing.  You will probably not be welcome on Christmas Day or 9 am December 26 or January 1.   Second, remember to look past the holiday décor when viewing the home.  That Christmas tree won’t always be in the living room or family room.

With holiday sales, Buyers can receive the wonderful gift of a Baton Rouge area house and sellers can unwrap the prized signed contract they have been waiting for..  Liven your holiday with a call to Sandy and her team.  They can find you the perfect place to call home in the new year in Greater Baton Rouge area, including Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Gonzales, Denham Springs, Watson, Walker, Central, Greenwell Springs, Zachary, Baker, Port Allen, Brusly, Geismar, and St Amant.  We can also you answer any questions you might have about the home buyer's tax credit - $8,000 for first time buyers or $6,500 for repeat buyers.

At the beginning of 2009, Baton Rouge was 9^th on Housing Predictor's midyear list of the 10 hottest housing markets for buyers.  It is now was ranked 7^th on the list by midyear.  Things are getting hotter and for good reason!

Housing prices in some sections of the country have been a roller coaster ride for buyers and sellers. This has caused buyers to hold off buying as they thought the prices would decline further and caused sellers to put off selling or grit their teeth and price their property low.  In Baton Rouge and a few cities around the country, this has not been the pattern.  They may have felt some impact of the housing recession, but the economy has generally been strong.

As previously noted in our blog Baton Rouge Area Economy Growing in Midst of Recession,  Baton Rouge area housing prices have remained stable in the 9 parishes that make up the Greater Baton Rough area.  Though housing sites like Trulia show that prices are down at the moment, the area is viewed as a market where prices will rise.  In mid November, the average listing price of a Baton Rouge home is $259,189, with a median selling price of $167,250.  

Unlike other markets, Baton Rouge has not been battered by foreclosures that would leave the landscape flooded with bank owned homes.  Per the Brookings Report, there was 1 bank owned home per 1,000 mortgages.  More conservative lending prices in past shielded the city from much of the housing crisis felt elsewhere.

Bask in the heat of the Baton Rouge housing market!  Let Sandy and her team show you a wide selection of beautiful new and pre-owned homes in the Greater Baton Rouge area, including Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Gonzales, Denham Springs, Watson, Walker, Central, Greenwell Springs, Zachary, Baker, Port Allen, Brusly, Geismar, and St Amant.  We can also you answer any questions you might have about the home buyer’s tax credit - $8,000 for first time buyers or $6,500 for repeat buyers.