It wasn’t that long ago that you could purchase a home with no down payment. It was the thing to do! Find your dream home, make an offer, and move in. It was almost as simple as that. Times have changed. After the recent economic crisis, lenders have strengthened their standards. Not only is a down payment expected, it is required. With this change come several questions for home borrowers. The first question maybe simply, “Why?” For a lender the down payment is a way to make sure the person borrowing the money is borrowing within their means. It is a way for them to tighten their standards. Part of the crisis we are facing came from home owners who borrowed more than they could handle and who have no equity in their home. Having someone bring a down payment to the table gives them a ca... 04/08/2009

For those moving to Prairieville, or Gonzales, or other areas of Ascension Parish, the school's website is a great source of information on public school district boundaries.  You can click on and view the attendance boundaries of various public elementary schools and feeder schools for the high schools. There are numerous sources such as  Standard and Poor's or paid webistes  to get a comparison of school performance, but be aware many of these ratings are based on past statistics so be careful as you evaluate various choices.  Last August ACT Scores Properlled Ascension into the Top 5 ranking in the state of Louisiana. "When compared to the 70 public school districts across the state, Ascension scored exceptionally well ranking fifth. St. Tammany led the state with a score of 21.7, fo... 04/06/2009

Well, it is not a leap year according to the calendar, but it looks like February decided to make it a leap month anyway.  Existing home sales took a surprising leap in February and offered a possible sign the real estate market may be stabilizing.  The National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes grew 5.1 percent to an annual rate of 4.72 million last month, from 4.49 million units in January.  It was the largest monthly sales spike since July 2003, with first-time buyers accounting for about half of all transactions. We may continue to see small increases.  The figures from February do not reflect the new $ 8,000 stimulus for first time home buyers.  This credit is helping first time home buyers feel a little more secure in taking the leap into home ownership.  One of... 03/31/2009

For Ascension Parish there are gift programs that provide cash for down payment and closing or eliminate mortgage interest compbined with low interest rates to help a first time homebuyer get into their home.  Two of these are rural development financing (a federal program) and Louisiana state bond funding assistance which can provide up to 4.5% of the purchase price, depending on your salary.  There are two programs, the Home program and the regular assistance.  The home program has a lower interest rate and 4.5% assistance.  The regular program has a higher interest rate and 4% assistance.  In either of these programs, the seller can help with closing costs, giving the buyer an opportunity to purchase a home with very little cash out of pocket. Many are wondering if the $8000 tax cred... 03/29/2009

We have all heard the saying, "Who keeps score anyway?"  Well, right now, everyone is.  Now, more than ever your credit score carries a lot of weight.  It was not that long ago, a few blemishes on your credit report did not really affect you much.  Beyond a doubt, that has changed.  A credit score below 620 can make it very difficult, if not impossible, to be approved for a loan.  If you do get approved, it will be at higher rates.  So is there anything you can do to improve your score?  There is a good chance there is.  The first thing to do is know your score. Credit Scores can range from 300-850.  The higher your score, the better your credit rating will be.  So how do you find out your score?  You can get a free copy of your credit once a year. You can go to AnnualCreditReport.com, ... 03/24/2009

One of the great things about the new 1st Time Homebuyer tax credit is that it can be claimed as soon as you close on your home.  If you have already filed can file an amended 2008 tax return with a 1040X form.  This can be done even if a home was purchased early in 2009 and the original tax return claimed the $7,500 credit from last year.   Specifically home buyers use IRS Form 5405 to determine their tax credit amount, and then claim this amount on Line 69 of their 1040 income tax return.  You will want to be sure that you qualify under the limits of the 1st Time Homebuyer tests. 03/20/2009

Is it time to stay or time to go? Should you sell your home and upgrade or just remodel your existing home? These are the questions that many homeowners are asking themselves. There are a few things to take into consideration when making that choice. Let's take a look at some things that you may want to think about when deciding which option works for you and your family. First and foremost, what will give you the most value? When selling your home there are several costs that you need to calculate. Take a look at what you think you could get for your home. Then, look around. If you were moving into it today, what would you have to do to make it appealing enough for you to buy again? If you are not sure what your home is worth (or to verify even if you think you know), contact a real es... 03/19/2009

 Now that the news is out about the American Recovery and Reinvestment act for 2009 , many questions have surfaced about the $8000 first time homebuyer credit.  I will discuss these this week.  One of the first I get is "What Is a 1st Time Homebuyer and who is eligible to claim this tax credit?".    A first time homebuyer is a person who has not owned a home in the last 3-year period prior to the purchase.  For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse. For example, if you have not owned a home in the past 3 years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the credit.  However, unmarried joint purchasers may allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buye... 03/15/2009

People who find themselves unemployed and behind on the mortgage, may find help coming from an unusual source, their mortgage company. Even though CitiMortgage is facing tough times as its stock plunges to almost $1 a share, they have not forgotten they are the not the only ones facing hard economic times. The company has announced recently it has plans to help homeowners who are behind on their mortgage. CitiMortgage announced on March 3rd, that they will be reducing the payments of homeowners who have lost their jobs and are behind on their payments. Borrowers who find themselves 60 days or more behind on their payments,  or those who are in foreclosure may be able to reduce their mortgage payment to $500 per month for three months. You cannot participate if you are eligible for a lon... 03/10/2009

You grab your morning cup of coffee and the paper and sit down for a few moments of quiet reading. Then it happens. In the blink of an eye, your quiet day is gone. You cannot believe your eyes!! The object of all your desires is on sale. Your blood begins to pump as you grab blindly for your car keys and wallet, when for the second time that day, something catches your eye. Can it be true? The desired object is on sale at TWO different stores! Have all the stars aligned? Should I stop and buy a lottery ticket? You head out the door to the store with the lowest price.  Many people will drive through a snow storm with 6 foot drifts to save money. Admit it. You know you are one of those savvy shoppers. We all like to get the most for our money. This is even more true when it comes to the b... 03/09/2009

As soon as the President signed the new law for the $787 stimulus package, states began considering ways of using the aid to improve different areas in their states. Faced with budget shortages, governors and mayors are envisioning how the stimulus might help their local areas. The main concerns are improving roads, bridges, improving schools, creating jobs, improving health care, and the development of new energy programs. Louisiana could put the funds to good use, but officials are concerned about "strings" attached to the funds, so they are planning slowly. With an estimated 11% of the stimulus aimed at improving infrastructure, Louisiana is looking to receive $308 million. The state already has plans to improve roadways, lessening congestion into major cities throughout the south. O... 02/26/2009

On February 19th, 2009 Sandy Ogburn-Sandlin and her team at RE/MAX Excellent Properties attended the annual RE/MAX Awards luncheon. The event was held at the Marriott Hotel in Baton Rouge to honor the most successful RE/MAX associates in Louisiana.  Sandy was awarded the highly coveted Circle of Legends Award, recognizing her achieving $10 million in gross commission after being with RE/MAX 10+ years. Sandlin is the only agent in Louisiana to ever have won the award. Also awarded to Sandy and her team was the Diamond award. This award was given for the highest annual commission earned in the state. Other awards included highest number of homes sold and the highest number of sales per agent. When asked how she achieved such accomplishments with declining real estate values Sandy said "Bu... 02/22/2009

Yesterday President Obama signed into effect the Economic Stimulus Act.  A portion of that is targeted to help the failing housing market and stabilize values in neighborhoods, by giving first time homebuyers a tax credit.  Some Things to Know:  (1) First Time Homebuyers for Principal Residence (2) Calendar year 2009 only  (3)There are Income Limits. (4) It's Refundable even if you don't have that much tax liability (5) Buyers have to own the home for at least 3 years or return the credit if they sell early.  While more details of this opportunity will be forthcoming, here's a summary to get you started planning from U.S.News and World Report's Luke Mullins. Don't wait!  With record low interest rates combined with this tax incentive, there's never been a better time to own your first ... 02/18/2009

My name is Sandy Ogburn Sandlin.  I offer you a big Southern hello from Prairieville, Louisiana, just outside of Baton Rouge.  Though I'm new to Active Rain, I've been serving buyers and sellers in East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Ascension Parishes for nearly three decades.  If you look at my Sandy's Team website, several things should stand out to you. First, you will notice that the motto that appears on every page of my site says "We specialize in the homes that should have sold but didn't."   While many people who want to sell their homes come to us first, we also have many clients who list with us after other realtors failed to sell their homes.  Time after time, these new clients lament that their previous agent didn't seem to work too hard to market their home.  Maybe he didn't... 02/15/2009

http://ascensionparishfhaappraisers.com/ - FHA Appraisers Ascension Parish (Prairieville) Report On Ole Homestead Subdivision 70769 Solds In this Subdivision from 01/01/2007 to 12/31/2007 revealed:  Average Sales Price: $265,667Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $117.23Median Sold Price: $270,000Low Sales Price: $224,000High Sales Price: $305,000Average # of Days On Market: 73# of Sales: 9 Solds In this Subdivision from 01/01/2008 to 12/31/2008 reveals:  Average Sales Price: $271,150Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $116.88Median Sold Price: $257,450Low Sales Price: $200,000High Sales Price: $399,000Average # of Days On Market: 73# of Sales: 6Listing Price To Sales Price Ratio Has Been: 99.17% Therefore, based on the median sale price barometer (the barometer used by the NAR National Associ... 12/18/2008

Ashton at Alligator Bayou 12/10/2008

Wordless Wednesday.  Cypress Swamp, Alligator Bayou, Prairieville, Louisiana 12/03/2008

http://ascensionrealestateappraisers.com/ - Silverstone Estates Market Direction: Up or Down?   I recently completed a home appraisal in Oakleigh/Silverstone Subdivision and made this discovery below.  An MLS CMA of this Subdivision from 09/18/2006 to 09/18/2007 reveals:  The Average Sales Price: $194,960The Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $114.52/sfThe Median Sold Price: $189,900Low Sales Price: $169,900High Sales Price: $231,000Average # of Days On Market: 44 Days On Market# of Sales: 6 An MLS CMA of this Subdivision from 09/18/2007 to 09/18/2008 reveals:  The Average Sales Price: $193,540The Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $118.38/sfThe Median Sold Price: $192,500Low Sales Price: $168,000High Sales Price: $219,000Average # of Days On Market: 60 Days On Market# of Sales: 10 Therefore,... 09/21/2008

http://greaterbatonrougerealestate.tv - Prairieville Louisiana Homes For Sale Reporting On Homes For Sale In Ridgewood Subdivision and delivering 1 year solds summary. Data Used With Permission From Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors. Accurate Valuations Group Appraiser, William D. Cobb, has operated as a home appraiser for 16 years now primarily in the Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana market. For more information about Accurate Valuations Home Appraisal Group, visit, Baton Rouge Home Appraisals dot com. An MLS CMA of this Ridgewood Subdivision from 7/1/07 to 7/4/08 reveals: Average Sales Price: $137,000 Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $117.12/sf Median Sold Price: $137,500 Low Sales Price: $133,000 High Sales Price: $140,000 Average # of Days On Market: 13 # of Sales: 4 # Of Homes For... 07/09/2008

Ascension Parish FHA Appraiser, William D. Cobb, Reports On Galvez Oaks SubdivisionAn MLS CMA of Galvez Oaks from 01/01/2007 to 04/23/2008 reveals: The Average Sales Price: $175,820The Average Sold Price Per Sq. Ft.: $101.14/sfThe Median Sold Price: $177,500Low Sales Price: $156,900High Sales Price: $185,000Average # of Days On Market: 64 Days On Market# of Sales: 10Galvez Oaks Subdivision data is presented with the permission of the Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors. Ascension Parish FHA Appraisers 04/27/2008