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Shreveport, LA Real Estate News

By Jenny McCarty, "Jenny The Realtor"
(JTR Property Network at Keller Williams Realty Red River)
Lake Shreve Estates is a new community located in South Shreveport.  Just minutes from shopping and I-49 this neighborhood sits far enough out to feel the escape from city life but also close enough to enjoy the convenient amenities of the greater Shreveport-Bossier area.  It is just about a 20-25 minute drive to Barksdale. Home prices start at around $230,000 and go up to about $275,000.  Featuring mostly 3 bedroom homes, there are several 4 bedrooms (3+ bonus) homes sprinkled throughout.  These homes average between 1650 square feet to about 2200.  Lots are still available to build the home you desire!       HOA DUES:  $40 per month School Attendance Zones: (Click on school name for school report card)              Elementary              Forest Hill                         Middle   ...
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By Louise Thaxton NMLS 69996, Military Mtg Specialist - 866-960-9115 VA FHA USDA
(Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp Louisiana NMLS#2289 Equal Housing Lender)
So you want to be a ROCK STAR in your industry?  What can we learn from Elvis which would propel us to success and "stardom" within our industry - whether it be in real estate, mortgage banking, appraisal or title services?      On this day in 1954, Elvis Presley had his  first commercial recording session in Memphis, Tennessee, where he recorded "That's All Right, Mama".  Some regard this moment as the true beginning of the rock-and-roll revolution and set Elvis on the path to stardom. Here's some thoughts about Elvis that we could implement into our lives and businesses: #1 - Be true to yourself.  Elvis was an ORIGINAL!  He had a unique style and was not trying to conform to amy previous patterns!  Even amidst criticism, he was true to HIMSELF.   Are YOU an original?  Or, do you try t...
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By Chris Hayes, Your Shreveport/Bossier Real Estate Partner
(Keller Williams Realty Northwest LA)
Just want to keep you posted on the March 2010 residential real estate market... please take note of a few key numbers which may be to your benefit as a homeseller:  "Explosive Number of Closings in March '10"  - MORE HOMES SOLD IN MARCH 2010 THAN WELL OVER A YEAR!!!  Expectations are that April will have huge numbers to report as well; Notice - Only 4.3 months of inventory of homes on the market for sale - by textbook definition, March 2010 was a "sellers market"; Interest Rates are a little more volatile right now -  Still awesome rates - 5% (+/- ½%) - great time for buyers to borrow money & more purchasing power; Income tax credit - Deadline is April 30th, 2010 for your transaction to be negotiated - Will the President extend the tax credit again??? Give me a call at 318 564-5295... ...
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By Caroline Huising
(Huising)
Price: $229,900 FIZBER.com ID 15325305 Single Family with 3 bed, 2.0 bath, in Haven, 103 diana dr. Shreveport, LA, 71115 http://www.fizber.com/15325305/ Haven, 103 diana dr. - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: Haven, 103 diana dr., Shreveport, LA, 71115 Sq footage: 2132.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 2.0 Bedrooms: 3 Year built: 2002 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more Louisiana homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Property Features Single Family Property Status: Active Area: Univ. Tr/SE Sheveport Subdivision: THE HAVEN Year Built: 2002 Corner Lot, next to water, upfront location 3 total bedroom 2 total bath Approximately 2132 sq. ft. Single story Master bedroom Living room - Extended Dining room Office- Extended- Can be ...
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By Chris Hayes, Your Shreveport/Bossier Real Estate Partner
(Keller Williams Realty Northwest LA)
     Shreve Island is a small neighborhood that sits right on the outskirts of the larger and often more familiar Broadmoor Neighborhood. It is generally thought to be the area bordered by E. Kings Highway, Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, Clyde Fant Parkway and Dixie Garden Drive. It is a lovely neighborhood consisting mostly of homes built between the 1950's and 1970's. The architecture is generally Ranch, but there are a few more Modern style homes scattered through out. One of the more appealing aspects of Shreve Island is that the neighborhood elementary school is Shreve Island Elementary, the first elementary school in Caddo Parish to receive the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon School Award. It is also Shreveport's only year round school. Broadmoor Middle School and Byrd H...
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By Gary and Rebecca Bolda
(Ark-La-Tex Virtual Media )
Virtual Staging has arrived in the Shreveport / Bossier City area!  New from Ark-La-Tex Virtual Media!  In today’s real estate market with more and more homes being vacant due to foreclosures virtual staging is now more in demand than ever.   Are you a Real Estate Agent? Are you looking for additional property marketing services to make you and your listing stand out from the crowd? If you answered yes to both of these questions then look no further. A powerful property marketing tool packing a dramatic eye-catching punch is here! Everyone is aware of the cost of home staging.  But now, Ark-La-Tex Virtual Media in conjunction with RTV is able to offer real estate agents and FSBOs this new virtual home staging product at an extremely low price.  Now you can turn that empty, hard to sell...
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By Gary and Rebecca Bolda
(Ark-La-Tex Virtual Media )
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and this holds especially true with real estate photos.  They show the viewer a glimpse inside the home allowing them to determine if it interests them.  The viewer can see everything from layout of the home to features such as counter top types, wall color, flooring type, dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor and well kept lawns.  Photos and virtual tours are a driving marketing force in the sale of a home and it is important that these photos help not hinder the sale.  Below are 7 tips for great real estate photos. Tip 1: Tidy up. Your photos are an open house 24/7.  As you prepare, go through each room tidying up. Items on counter tops such as the basket of mail in the kitchen or the toiletries on the bathroom counter should be rem...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
For years, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has educated consumers about not giving out personal information over the telephone or to anyone who shows up at their front door. With the US Census process beginning, the BBB advises people to be cooperative but cautious so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 US Census is under way, as workers have begun verifying addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 US Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address, including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data.  "Most people are rightfully cautious and won't give out personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors; ho...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
Comparing the absorption rates for Shreveport and Bossier City single family homes, statistics show favorable numbers for sellers.  There were 43 fewer homes sold this April compared to 2008.  However, there were 239 fewer homes listed for sale this April compared to last April.  What does this mean?  Simply that there is a 6 month supply of homes on the market, and that figure has not changed to any significant degree since last year.  Market Activity in April - 2008 2009 Closed Transactions: 352 309 Average Homes Sold per Month: 29.33 25.75       Listings Currently Active on MLS: 2149 1910 Months of Supply on Market: 6.11 6.18       Average List Price: $155,702 $152,626 Average Sales Price: $155,703 $152,709 Average List to Sales Price: 100.00% 98.08% As you can see, the average list ...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
This from a fellow bird lover in Ellerbe Road Estates neighborhood in Shreveport.  He sent an email out to his neighbors generously alerting us to the migratory birds now passing through. "I wanted to alert you that the beautiful Rubby-Throated Hummingbirds are now arriving in our neighborhood. I have a pair that started feeding 2 days ago.I have had many Goldfinchs all year, but they are just now turning that beautiful golden yellow of their summer feathers. The Housefinchs stay here year around. The males have red on their upper parts.If you have a hummingbird feeder, it's time to put it out. You only need to put about 1/2 cup of sugar water in it now. Later as more Rubby-Throated arrive you will need more.In about a month I will have 10-12 feeders out, each containing 2 cups of sugar...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
There is good news on the home front for those of you who have been trying to decide if now is the time to buy a house.  In plain language, interest rates are expected to drop .25 to .5 percentage points in the next few days and to stay low.  This comes on the heels of the news that the Federal Reserve will buy $750 billion more in mortgage-backed securities and $300 billion in long-term government bonds. Unfortunately, this won't help homeowners facing foreclosure or who have no equity in their homes in order to refinance.  It also won't be any help to buyers who don't have stellar credit scores (740+ to get the best rates) and 20% of the purchase price for a down payment. Those it will help are homeowners who aren't upside down on their mortgage who want to refinance and buyers who ha...
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By Gary and Rebecca Bolda
(Ark-La-Tex Virtual Media )
Its no secret that the customer base for many businesses has moved online.  This is especially true of the real estate market.  The number of  buyers shopping online has steadily increased yearly for several years.  Now, that number has reached 87% according to the 2008 National Association of Realtors(R) Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, making an effective online marketing campaign essential if you want your business to continue to grow. So, how do you get noticed on the world wide web? One essential is SEO.  Just what is SEO? Do I need one? Where do I get one? Is it easy to use? Does it come with instructions or , even better, a hotline? If you are one of the many who ask yourself questions like this, then read on… Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is essential if you want your webs...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
We have some great festivals in and around the Shreveport area. I've previously written about theRed River Revel. It rolls around every year at the beginning of October and in my mind is associated with cooler weather, food, and art. In Shreveport when spring rolls around, you know it's time for the festivals to begin again.  The season starts of with Mardi Gras parades and parties. That has come and gone for this year, but that doesn't mean all the fun is over.  Here is a list of festivals coming up in Shreveport, Bossier City and other towns across northwest Louisiana.  I hope to see you at a few of them! Mardi Gras in Shreveport - Mardi Gras is officially over, but this link will take you to pictures from the various parades in the area if you want to see how Shreveport does Mardi Gr...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
Stranger Alert! I don't want to scare anyone, but want to make everyone aware that there is a man who has been entering homes in Shreveport that have For Sale signs in the front yard.  He was spotted at several homes Sunday afternoon in the South Highlands neighborhood. He actually parked in the garage and entered one home.  The teenage daughter was there, but fortunately so was the dog and the man left.  He was next seen in the back yard of another home that is for sale. Police have been notified of both instances.  Please, if your house is on the market, be sure to lock your doors and keep your garage door down when you're at home.  This is a good practice for everyone, but this guy seems to be targeting houses with a For Sale sign in the yard. I would appreciate it if you would pass ...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
In an effort to encourage first-time home buyers to jump off the fence and begin looking for a home, the recently passed “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” made some changes to the tax credit for this group.  The bill, which was signed into law yesterday, gives a maximum $8,000 tax credit to first-time home buyers when they purchase a home as their principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. This is a true tax credit in that it does not have to be repaid unless the owners sell before three years.  Most of the mechanics of the credit will be the same as under the 2008 rules:  the credit will be claimed on a tax return to reduce the purchaser's income tax liability.  If any credit amount remains unused, then the unused amount will be refunded...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
Thanks to Jason Sardi for this education about FHA 203(K) loans.  Although Shreveport real estate hasn't experience as many foreclosures as other parts of the nation, we do have our share.  This loan program makes it possible for more buyers to consider purchasing one of these homes. When You Find The "Almost" Perfect House, But Want To Make It Home. This should lead it off quite nicely:) Back in my early days of lending, I recall quite vividly the very first Rehab Loan I did.  While I did some legwork in actually knowing the ropes of that particular product before advertising the bejesus out of a very niche loan, I still was caught like a reindeer in some oncoming car's speeding headlights when trying to get them closed in a streamlined sort of fashion.  And then, I had it mastered.  A...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
Shreveport Homes Sales Statistics for January 2008/2009 The table below compares the details of the homes sold in January for the Shreveport, Bossier City market. It includes data for single family homes. January Statistics 2008 2009 % Change Number of Homes Sold 266 206 -23% Average Home Price $149,712 $134,992 -10% Average Home Price per SF $81.81 $71.37 -13% Average Days on Market 53 59 11% Average Sale Price to List Price Ratio 96% 89% -7% The source for the Shreveport home sales statistics is the Northwest Louisiana Association of Realtors MLS, Inc on 02/09/2009. This information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed.
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
January 2009 Absorption Rates - Residential Sales Inventory of residential housing is down in the Shreveport market, but unfortunately, so are sales. Below I've shown the listing and sales figures of single family homes for the Shreveport area for January 2009. In total, there are 1790 homes for sale in Shreveport, Bossier City and surrounding areas. Last month only 206 homes actually sold. That's over an 8 1/2 month supply of homes if no more homes come on the market, however, in January, 600 homes came on the market. Currently there are 105 homes above $400,001 for sale in Shreveport/Bossier. Last month only 2 homes actually sold in this price range. That's over a 52 1/2 month supply of homes if no more homes come on the market. Last month 21 homes came on the market in this price ran...
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By Gary and Rebecca Bolda
(Ark-La-Tex Virtual Media )
We at Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours are pleased to announce the release of our new YouTube channel. YouTube is one of the most powerful video marketing sites on the web today and we are now able to harness this power for our Shreveport/Bossier City area clients, giving them a more dynamic property marketing experience. The new channel features slide show style videos coupled with short descriptive text and a link to the 360 virtual tour, providing our clients one more avenue through which to share information about their real estate listing. This is an avenue which is informative and provides an engaging and interactive experience for the real estate shopper. This comes in addition to our already powerful online solutions which include SEO optimized virtual tours, our listing exposure engine...
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By Heather Goodwin, Results That Move You
(Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission)
In all my writing about neighborhoods in Shreveport, I always try to provide information about the home owners association.  The best way to do this is to give the website address.  Until recently, I could find nothing online for Shreveport's gated community of Acadiana Place. Well, I'm happy to report that through a Google alert, I now have the URL the Acadiana Place Home Owners Association. The is the address for the Home Page. Click on this link to view the members of the board of directors. Go here if you would like to contact the association. Ask questions, take a look at the neighborhood covenants, and go visit!  It's a great neighborhood close to just about everything.
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