Foreclosures Up On the West Bank?

A recent article in City Business magazine states that foreclosures in the Louisiana real estate market rose 70% from the 4th quarter of 2007 to the 1st quarter of 2008.

One in every 944 households in Louisiana received a foreclosure filing in the first three months of this year. That’s well below the U.S. rate of one in every 194 households, according to an online foreclosure database.

Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac’s first-quarter 2008 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report lists 1,938 Louisiana properties with foreclosure filings, an increase of 70 percent from the fourth quarter of 2007 and 31 percent from the first quarter of 2007. 

 

Read the rest of the article here.

 

Although this is a drastic increase, Louisiana is still ranked #37 in the nation for foreclosures.  (Finally, a low ranking that we want).  The article made me realize that I haven’t taken a look at the foreclosures on the West Bank for quite awhile and that it’s time to see how this shift is affecting our neighborhoods.

 

Back in February 2008, there were a total of 77 bank owned or foreclosed properties on the West Bank listed for sale in the New Orleans Multiple Listing System (MLS).  As of today, there are 69 active bank owned or foreclosed properties for sale on the West Bank. 

 

While this may sound like it contradicts the City Business article, it is important to realize that when a bank starts the foreclosure process on a property, it does not list it for sale right away.  It takes time to go through the legal process of foreclosure…time during which the property is typically not well maintained is often without utilities.  With our long, hot, humid summers, a lack of air conditioning can cause a home to deteriorate very quickly, making repairs to it even more extensive AND more expensive.  Additionally, some disgruntled and frustrated owners are stripping their homes of everything they can, leaving behind a shell of a house when forced to move out by the bank.

 

I’ve received lots of inquiries recently from people who are convinced that the best deals to be had on the West Bank are in foreclosures.  And that may be true for some.  But many of these homes need more tender loving care than a first time home buyer or amateur investor is prepared to put into them in terms of time, money and effort. 

 

There are more homes for sale on the West Bank than we have seen in years in many areas.  Buyers should not let the media focus on foreclosures give you tunnel vision when shopping for your next home, causing you to pass up some of the great deals that can be had on properties that don’t require the repairs that a bank owned property may need. 

 

In the meantime, sellers need to keep a close eye on the number of foreclosed properties for sale.  When the number of bank owned homes in an area increases, it can have a negative affect on the prices of ALL of the homes in a neighborhood as buyers seek out the best perceived value for their mortgage dollars.  Staying up to date with your neighborhood competition just became more important than ever.

 

 

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Here’s the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed,

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.