There are many, many things that a good agent can and should do to expose your home to the largest number of buyers.  There are also many things that YOU, as the home owner and seller, can and should do before that first potential buyer even drives by and catches a glimpse of the bright and shiny “for sale” sign staked out in your front yard.

Need more tips on selling your West Bank home?  Contact Lisa Heindel.  It would be my pleasure to help guide you through today’s real estate market.

Copyright 2009.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

But if you are trying to sell your West Bank home, here are a few resolutions you might want to consider adding to your list.  Don’t have a list?  Use this one!

Top 5 New Year Resolutions for West Bank Home Sellers

1. I will keep my house ready for showings at all times.  Promise me that you will not say that no one can see your house today because the beds aren’t made, the sink is overflowing with dishes and the dog had an accident on the carpet you’ve been meaning to steam clean.  See  Home Selling Tips: Clean, Clean, Clean
2. I will make it easy for buyers to view my home.  Your showing instructions should not say anything like “Appointments available only on the 3rd Wednesday with a full moon”.  See Please Make Your Home Easy to Show!
3. I will be realistic about pricing my home.  When an agent pulls comparable sales in your neighborhood, I can assure you that they are not leaving anything out or trying to get you to take a lower price just to get rid of you.  My job is to educate you about the current market realties.  Ignoring that can come back to haunt you later.  See What Happens If My West Bank Home Doesn’t Appraise?
4. I will accept that print advertising is not effective.  You know all of that junk that shows up in your email box about people who will give you millions of dollars in exchange for your bank account number?  Those are all a hoax.  The fact that almost 90% of home buyers start their home search on the internet is not.  See Choosing a Tech Savvy REALTOR to Sell Your West Bank Home
5. I will put on my listening ears when receiving feedback from other agents and buyers. Feedback from buyers who have seen your home is vital to know what their thoughts are about the price and condition and if there is anything you can do to make your home more saleable.  See What Buyers Are Saying About Your Home

Have a very Happy New Year!

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Unfortunately, I could not help him.

Since he already has an agent who showed him property and wrote his offer, I referred Joe back to her.  His response? “This is only the third contract she has ever written and she doesn’t know what to do”.

While I have all the sympathy in the world for Joe, there was nothing I could do beyond advise him to go to his agent’s broker for assistance (something the agent should have done if she was over her head!).

All too often, out of town buyers and military relocations have no way of determining if the local agent they are choosing to work with is knowledgeable about an area and savvy enough to get them to a successful closing.

When people decide to sell their homes, they generally spend some time researching and interviewing agents to find one that specializes in their neighborhood and has the skills to best represent them.  They ask friends and family for referrals to agents they have used and been happy with.

So why, as a home buyer, would you not spend a little time doing that same research to find a good buyer’s agent?

If you don’t have anyone local to give you a referral to a great West Bank REALTOR, here are a few tips for choosing an agent to represent you in your next relocation home purchase:

• While you are cruising through all of the online listings looking at homes in the community you want to live in, note the names of some of the active, local agents and google them.  Which ones are easy to find and which ones are invisible?  Even a new agent should have a website with community information on it.
• Search online for information on your favorite West Bank neighborhoods.  Is there an agent who is providing good information about it?
• Once you have a few names, give each of them a call or send an email and explain your wants, needs, budget and time frame for relocating.  How do they respond to you?  Do they answer the phone or never call back?  Do they respond quickly to email or is it the next day before you hear from them?  Above everything else, you need to feel comfortable communicating with your REALTOR and know that they will be available to you.
• Narrow your choices to one agent and work with them exclusively. Many people think that by working with multiple REALTORS they will find a home faster.  Not true.  All agents have access to the same information – it’s what they do with that information that sets them apart from each other.

If you have questions about relocating to the West Bank of New Orleans, it would be my pleasure to help.

Related posts:

• Real Estate Talk for Buyers
• Relocating to New Orleans and the West Bank

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

The Blue Angels are making a welcome return to NAS JRB New Orleans for an air show in 2009.

Scheduled for May 2-3, 2009, the Air Show has been a staple on the West Bank for many years, until funding cuts in 2008.  With more military relocations to NAS JRB, I’m not surprised that we are back on the route – hopefully to stay.

I’m thrilled to see the Angels returning to Belle Chasse and hope that you’ll be able to attend.  Don’t know where the show is?  Head south on Belle Chasse Highway and hook at right at this plane:

For more information about the Blue Angels and a schedule of 2009 performances, visit the official website.  For more information about the air show, visit www.nawlinsairshow.com or call (504) 678-3260.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

• 127 Active listings, priced from $46,550 to $399,000
• 12 pending sales (homes still being shown) priced from $49,900 to $105,725
• 13 homes are under contract, priced from $39,900 to $66,830
• Average listing price:  $137,504
• Median listing price:  $120,000
• Based on November sales, there is over a 2 1/2 year supply of homes for sale in zip code 70094, which includes all of Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City

Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City # of Homes Sold November 2008

After a brief uptick in September and October, home sales in Westwego dropped again in November.  The good news is that more homes have been sold in 2008 than in 2007.  While home sales are still down substantially from the boom, at least they are holding steady.  This is mostly due to the fact that Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City continue to offer the most affordable housing prices on the West Bank.  When the expansion of the Huey P. Long Bridge is complete, I would expect that the community will be more in demand with better commuter options.  Obviously, I’m not the only one that believes this if you’ve seen the number of new subdivisions going up in the area.

Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City Average Home Sale Prices November 2008

Average home sale prices in Westwego are down 8.6% from last year.  Not surprising, given the ups and downs we’ve seen in the market this year with bad economic news and the end of seller down payment assistance programs.  Most buyers in this market and price range need some assistance from the seller in getting into a home, usually by having some of their closing costs paid.  This trend will more than likely increase in 2009 with FHA minimum down payments going up, increasing the amount of cash a buyer needs to have on hand to purchase a home.

All data provided by GSREIN and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Related Reading:

• More Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City Real Estate Updates
• Home Selling Tips and FAQs

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

• 251 Active listings, priced from $49,900 to $2,650,000
• 13 pending sales (homes still being shown) priced from $64,900 to $131,153
• 3 open predication listings (waiting on buyers home to be sold) priced from $120,000 to $225,000
• 38 homes are under contract, priced from $49,500 to $148,704
• Average listing price:  $168,757
• Median listing price:  $146,900
• Based on November sales, there is a one year supply of homes for sale in Marrero LA

Marrero LA Number of Homes Sold November 2008

The number of homes sold in Marrero is down almost 30% from this same time last year. That’s a pretty significant drop in the number of sales, and it continues the downward trend we’ve been tracking for almost 2 years now, not just in Marrero but across the entire West Bank.

Smart home sellers in Marrero are realizing that the demand is just not what it has been in the past, and they are not only preparing their homes before they go on the market, but they are also pricing their homes to stand out from the competition and sell.

Smart home buyers in Marrero should realize that rates are low, mortgages ARE still available and it’s a buyers market in most price ranges.

Marrero LA Average Home Sale Prices November 2008

The average sale price in Marrero for 2008 is $155,025, down about 7% from 2007.  Average homes values in Marrero haven’t taken quite as hard of a hit that we’ve seen in other West Bank communities, many of which are running at 2004 prices.  Of course, these holding prices could also be the reason that the number of sales are down so drastically.  If buyers don’t see value, they aren’t buying.  Is your home the best value in the neighborhood? With very low interest rates and Jefferson Parish bond money available for buyers, now is the time to be sure that you are priced right.

All data provided by GSREIN and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Related Reading:

• More Marrero Real Estate Market Updates
• Home Selling Tips and FAQs

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

The calendar has a permanent place on my site here, so feel free to bookmark the page and check back for new community happenings!

p.s.  If you know about an event that is open to the public on the West Bank, email me to get it added to the calendar.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Belle Chasse LA Number of Homes Sold November 2008

Watching the number of homes sold each month in Belle Chasse is like watching a pendulum swing!  However, the good news is that it looks like 2008 will end on par with the number of sales meeting or exceeding 2007 levels.  While it is still about 25% lower than in 2004, at least the market seems to be stabilizing as far as the number of buyers.  If home prices continue to drop while interest rates are low, I predict a busy spring for Belle Chasse home sellers.

Belle Chasse LA Average Home Sale Prices November 2008

Obviously, average home prices in Belle Chasse have bounced around as well, but are holding in the mid $200k range – still higher than most areas of the West Bank.  Sale prices below $250,000 will continue to attract incoming military personnel, while those in higher ranges are taking a little longer to sell due to the smaller number of qualified buyers.  Belle Chasse remains the community of choice for many West Bank residents, especially move up buyers who can afford to spend a little more.

That doesn’t mean that your home should be over priced though! Even buyers who are determined to live in Belle Chasse won’t spend much time looking at homes that don’t present a good value.  Are you the highest priced home in your neighborhood?  If so, take a look at current (90 days) sales in the area and make sure you are still competitively priced.  You want to be sure that you greet the new year ready and priced right.

All data provided by GSREIN and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

Related Reading:

• Previous Belle Chasse Real Estate Market Reports
• Home Selling Tips and FAQs

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

• 180 Active listings, priced from $54,900 to $196,051
• 7 pending sales (still allowing showings) priced from $115,000 to $140,814
• 37 homes are under contract, priced from $20,000 to $269,000
• Average listing price:  $196,051
• Median listing price:  $159,900
• Based on November sales, there is a 10.6 month supply of homes for sale in Harvey LA

Harvey LA Number of Homes Sold in November 2008

On average so far in 2008, there have been 21.3 homes per month sold in Harvey, compared to 26.7 per month in 2007.  With the exception of the boom following Katrina, home sales in the community have been trending downward for the last 5 years as home prices continued to rise and 2008 will not be an exception to the rule.

What does this mean for home sellers in Harvey? You MUST be priced right and in the best possible condition before you hit the market in order to compete with the existing inventory of homes for sale.  If you don’t have to move right now, then it’s not yet the time to “test” the market.

Harvey LA Average Home Sale Prices November 2008

After a small decrease in home sale prices from 2006 to 2007, we have seen a return to prices comparable to those of 2004 and 2005.  The average Harvey home sale price in 2008 has dropped a little over 8% from last year, at the same time that the number of homes sold decreased.  Remember, we are no longer in that post Katrina, buy anything we can afford environment.  Today’s buyers are carefully choosing homes that present the best value, and that is usually not the highest priced home in a neighborhood, no matter what the upgrades are.

All data supplied by GSREIN and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

Related Reading:

• Previous Harvey LA Real Estate Market Reports
• Home Selling Tips and FAQs

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

• 185 Active listings, priced from $31,900 to $1,590,000
• 8 pending sales (homes still being shown) priced from $30,000 to $259,900
• 20 homes are under contract, priced from $35,700 to $499,000
• Average listing price:  $235,663
• Median listing price:  $179,500
• Based on November sales, there is a 18.5 month supply of homes for sale in Terrytown and Gretna
• Note: A separate report is prepared for the City of Gretna home sales

Terrytown and Gretna LA Number of Homes Sold November 2008

The typical end of year drop off in sales hit Gretna and Terrytown in November, with only 10 homes sold during the month.  2008 will end the year with the lowest recorded number of sales in the area for the last 5 years.  Why?  Well, if you look further down the page at the average sale prices, you’ll see that they climbed every year from 2004 to 2007.  As prices remained much higher than typical, the number of sales dropped off steeply.

Sellers would do well to realize that we are no longer in a post Katrina market.  Buyers will not take just any old house that happens to fit their budget.  They are shopping longer and looking harder at every thing before making a decision, and they are being careful to choose homes that need the least amount of work or improvements.  Will your house make the cut?

Terrytown and Gretna LA Average Home Sale Prices November 2008

Overall, average home sales prices in 2008 are running about 10% lower than in 2007 and 2006.  Given the excessive amount of inventory on the market right now, I encourage home sellers who can wait to not even jump into the fray with all of the other listings.  If you must sell now, then take a hard look at the sold prices in your neighborhood.  You must be the best of the best to win right now, whether it means spending a few dollars to get your home ready for the market or reducing your price to make it the best value in the neighborhood.  Doing both of those things would be even better.

All data provided by GSREIN and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Related Reading:

• Previous Terrytown and Gretna Real Estate Market Updates
• Home Selling Tips and FAQs

If you are thinking about buying or selling in Gretna or Terrytown, please contact Lisa Heindel.  Home owners are invited to sign up for Market Snapshot, a free online report of listings and sales in your neighborhood.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.