October 2012 Market Stats

Follow the link below for the Shreveport/ Bossier City Market Stats. Stay Up to date on whats selling, what areas are selling, and where to BUY. This report comes out Monthly at the beginning of the following month, if you would like Stats by Neighborhood, simply request at jennydawson@realtyexecutives.com or visit www.sbcrelocation.com Click Here for October 2012 Market Stats

JUST LISTED 423 Kennie Rd

423 Kennie Rd Shreveport, LA 71106 Brushy Bayou Beauty

Price : $188,750 Bedrooms : 3 Bathrooms : 2 Square Foot : 1,573 County : CADDO Property Type : Detached Year Built : 2005 MLS Number : N139911 click for more information and pictures Property Description Welcome to 423 Kennie Rd, this fabulous home has it all, you are greeted with a fabulous front porch as you enter into the foyer the Living room greets you, with an open concept floorplan into the kitchen and dining area. Off the dining area you have a quaint office area, with great built ins, with access to the covered back porch. The remote master suite has the trey ceilings with wood flooring that gives this master a warm feel. Come relax in the master bathrooms' whirlpool tub. This home won't last long, come take a look TODAY

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4 insider tips for getting multiple offers

4 insider tips for getting multiple offers

Who Pays A Realtor's Fee And What Are Closing Costs And Who Pays Those? | REALTOR.com® Blogs

Who Pays A Realtor's Fee And What Are Closing Costs And Who Pays Those? | REALTOR.com® Blogs

New Mortgage Rates will save homeowners $1000 a year

New mortgage rates will save homeowners $1,000 a year By Theresa Seiger WASHINGTON (RNN) - President Barack Obama held his first official news conference of the year Tuesday to announce changes in mortgage financing that he said will save homeowners approximately $1,000 a year. Mortgage rates for houses financed by the Federal Housing Administration will be cut by more than half, Obama said. The White House estimates that between 2 million and 3 million borrowers could benefit from the lowered rate. The FHA charges an up-front mortgage insurance premium of 1 percent of the borrower's loan balance and an additional 1.15 percent of the balance per year. The reduction would change the up-front premium to .01 percent for loans that were taken out before June 1, 2009 and change the annual fee to .55 percent. The president said the efforts are part of his goal of "ensuring this recovery touches as many lives as possible." More changes will come for military families struggling in the economic recession, including hundreds of thousands of dollars of compensation for service members who have been wrongfully foreclosed upon since 2006. Service members will also get refunds if they prove that they were wrongfully denied the chance to reduce their mortgage payments through lower interest rates. Obama also made another pitch for increasing taxes on high-income Americans, calling on Congress to vote on the Buffett Rule, a tax plan inspired by investor Warren Buffett. In early 2011, Buffet said that the rich should pay a higher tax rate than the middle class. The plan would raise the minimum tax rate for payers in the highest income bracket, "so we don't have billionaires paying a lower tax rate than their secretaries," Obama said. The comments came as economic confidence in the country experienced a sixth straight increase, according to research from Gallup. Although the rise has not been dramatic, confidence has reached average monthly high levels seen in the previous four years. According to Gallup, people making less than $24,000 a year had the most negative view of the economy while those making $90,000 or more had the highest perception. Obama's news conference came on Super Tuesday, as the GOP presidential hopefuls battle it out across 10 states for more than 400 delegates. Primaries are being held in Massachusetts, Vermont, Idaho, Virginia, Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Alaska. Mindful of the coming election, Obama told reporters that comments from the candidates on the possibility of war with Iran reminded him that "those folks don't have a lot of responsibility." "When I see the casualness of how these people talk about war, I'm reminded of the costs of war," he said. "There's nothing casual about it. When I see some of these folks who have a lot of bluster… but when you ask them specifically what they're going to do, they repeat the things that we've been doing for the last three years. "Those who are suggesting, or proposing, or beating the drums of war should explain clearly to the American people what they think those costs and benefits will be," he said. He reiterated his goal of achieving a diplomatic solution to the problem with Iran, a country rumored to be working on producing nuclear weapons. He said top intelligence officials from both the U.S. and Iran agreed this can be accomplished without war. However, he said there is no room for compromise when it came to allowing Iran to achieve nuclear capability. "Iran is politically isolated," Obama said. "We will not countenance Iran getting a nuclear weapon. My policy is not containment, it is prevention." Copyright 2012 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.

Realty Times - Relying On An Agent

Realty Times - Relying On An Agent

Will the $26B mortgage settlement help you? - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |#.TzvQ-XLWllI.facebook#.TzvQ-XLWllI.facebook#.TzvQ-XLWllI.facebook

Will the $26B mortgage settlement help you? - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |#.TzvQ-XLWllI.facebook#.TzvQ-XLWllI.facebook#.TzvQ-XLWllI.facebook

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How to improve your Credit

How To Improve Your Credit If you have had credit problems, be prepared to discuss them honestly with a mortgage professional. Responsible mortgage professionals know there can be legitimate reasons for credit problems, such as unemployment, illness or other financial difficulties. If you had a problem that's been corrected, and your payments have been on time for a year or more, your credit may be considered satisfactory. If your credit is not in terrible shape, you can reduce your other expenses, even if it means making hard choices or changing your lifestyle to fit your income. Consider selling a second car, taking equity out of your home, applying for a non-secured signature loan, obtaining a loan from a relative, selling your home and paying off your debts with the proceeds and then renting, cashing out your 401K/retirement benefits or selling family heirlooms, jewelry, etc. If your credit is already damaged or one of the above isn't an option, go through Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS). Check your yellow pages for the local number. CCCS may be able to help you pay off your debts as if you were in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, but you don't actually file for bankruptcy. If CCCS won't take you, you may want to consider bankruptcy. Claiming Chapter 13 bankruptcy takes longer than a Chapter 7, but your credit will end up in a little better standing. Chapter 13 bankruptcy gives you up to 5 years to pay off your debts. The disadvantage is that you're in bankruptcy for up to 5 years plus your credit report shows your bankruptcy for 7 more years after you have finished paying off your debts. If you are so far in debt that you can never repay it, then the best solution may be a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the least desirable from a credit standpoint, but you are typically out of bankruptcy in 6 months and you don't have to repay any debt. The disadvantage is that this shows on your credit report for 10 years from the date of filing your bankruptcy. Creditors are starting to tighten their credit requirements, and you may have a tough time getting future financing. If you're debts are under control now, but want to improve your bad credit history, the most important factor is to make your monthly payments on time. Use pre-addressed envelopes enclosed with your statements to mail your payments and call the company if you don't receive your usual statement. Also send your payment as early as possible if you carry a balance. Most companies calculate interest on a daily basis, so the sooner they receive your payment, the less interest you'll pay. Don't procrastinate. It's the day your payment is received that counts, not the postmark date. Give the post office sufficient time (five business days is a good guideline) to deliver your mail. Late payments may mean late fees, higher interest, and/or a negative mark on your credit report. Never send cash. Open a checking account if you don't have one, or spring for a money order and keep your receipt. Finally don't forget to tell your creditors your new address when you move. If you are worried about making payments, make a list of your debts and when the payments are due. Contact your lenders immediately if you think you will have trouble meeting the monthly payments to arrange a payment schedule. Taking money from your retirement account or tapping the cash value of your life insurance policy to pay bills or living expenses may have serious implications you haven't considered, so try to get advice from an expert before you take any major financial actions. Credit cards can be invaluable in a crisis, since they allow you to charge items and pay them off over time. But they can also be dangerous if you aren't careful and charge more than you can afford. If you do use credit cards, choose those with the lowest interest rates and pay them back as soon as you can to cut your costs. 771 Lois Drive, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 | Phone: (608) 837-4800 | Fax: (608) 837-4723

Housing Market Down Nationally, Booming In Shreveport/Bossier City

SHREVEPORT, La -- The U.S. Housing Market suffered its worst year in half a century in 2011. So far in 2012, it has failed to recover.

According to an AP source, at the end of last week, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.89 percent, down from 4.8 percent last year. 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.24 percent, dropping from 4.09 percent last year. Several markets have seen huge declines in home values. Atlanta saw a decline of 11.8 percent, followed by Las Vegas at 9.1 percent.

While many suffered painful losses, some places saw a comparative boom. Realtor.com released a list of the five best housing markets in 2011. The Shreveport/Bossier City area ranked second, only behind Ft. Myers, FL. Our area locally saw a median list price of homes jump to $168,000, which was a 7.01% gain.

Chris LeGrand with Reality Executives in Shreveport says that one of the reasons the Shreveport/Bossier City area has thrived is the low interest rates nationally.

"Lets say seven years ago, interest rates were almost twice what they were now, over the long run that saves people thousands and thousands of dollars," said LeGrand.

Some places have been unable to take advantage of the low rates because of a slumping economy. That hasn't been the case in the Shreveport/Bossier City area, where the economy has continued to thrive.

The unemployment rate locally has hovered around 6 percent, well below the national average.

David Hoass, Professor of Economics in the Frost School of Business at Centenary College says that this has allowed job seekers the ability to tap into the wide variety of industry in the area. This includes the Haynesville Shale, the casinos and other staples.

"We have Barksdale Air Force Base, there not going anywhere, we have state and local government, that's not going away," said Hoass.

According to an AP source, with the spring home selling season on the horizon, many expect the housing market nationally could recover this year.

Watch the newcast here http://www.ktbs.com/news/30385856/detail.html

Going it Alone: Do You Need an Agent?

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Realty Executives

It’s 2012. You can find nearly anything and anyone on the Internet. Do you really still need a to put an agent in the middle of your real estate transaction? What’s to stop you from finding a home online, going straight to the source, and saving yourself a few percent on the commission?

Nothing at all. But before you decide to buy or sell a house without an agent, take this to heart: You’ll probably lose money on the deal. A lot of it. We’ll repeat that for emphasis. Even if you save on commission, you’ll probably lose money in the end. Why? For the same reason you don’t represent yourself in court, or fix your own transmission. You’re not an expert.

There’s nothing shameful about that. No one can be an expert in everything. You should certainly educate yourself as much as possible about your market (it’s your house, after all), but you don’t spend all day, every day working in the field. You may have researched comparable homes in your area, but you don’t know what other buyers and sellers are thinking. You don’t know what’s hot, what’s not, and what other opportunities might be steering prices up or down.

A real estate agent is a negotiator who knows the ins and outs of your market. She knows what buttons to push, how to remain objective, and when to move on. She’s also done this dozens of times before, and can guide you through legal and regulatory issues that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars. If you’re dealing with a short sale, a foreclosure, a rental unit, or any other property with special guidelines attached, this guidance is critical.

You can certainly buy or sell your own home, but doing so will cost you time, money, and frustration you could save by handing the job to a pro–letting you focus on finding the perfect home.

Tips for First Time Homebuyers

Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
Posted on January 24, 2012 by Realty Executives

Your first home purchase is exciting, but it can also be stressful. Here are some tips to limit the trauma and help you find the home of your dreams the first time around. The most important step in selecting a home is knowing how much you can spend. If you already use an electronic budgeting system, you’re ahead of the game. If not, track your expenses for the past several months to a year. Try to quantify the “gray areas” of cash withdrawals that disappear on small purchases. Now add up your current rent and other related expenses. If you’ve been saving money toward your down payment, note that, as well. Finally, ask yourself where you can tighten your belt with your existing discretionary purchases. This is the maximum amount you could pay per month. Now ask yourself if this is reasonable, given your current savings and possible expenses.

Only you know the answer to that. When you’ve arrived at a comfortable number, write it down, and save your calculations. You’ll take this to the bank when you apply for loan preapproval. For now, you have an estimated payment you can use while shopping online. Set your Criteria A home is the biggest purchase you’ll probably ever make. Stay focused and don’t let emotion guide you. If you have one child and no plans for more, four bedrooms are probably a waste. Write down a list of must-haves, nice-to-haves, and can’t haves before you start visiting homes. You’ll save time, help your agent work more productively, and keep yourself from getting carried away—into the wrong house.

Important criteria include:
■Age of house
■Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
■Size of lot / yard
■School district requirements
■Type of street (Are busy streets OK, or do you want a cul de sac? Do you need to be near a bus or light rail line?)
■Type of home (Single-story? Mutli-level? Are there any dominant architectural styles in your area that you refuse to buy?)
■Central heating and cooling
■Expensive additions, such as in-ground pools Make a list of Homes After you’ve made this list, search online and find several representative homes.

If you have time and you’re fairly local, drive by a few of them to get a feel for the neighborhoods. Write down your impressions. This will help you understand home much of a home’s description is fact versus fluff, and give your real estate agent a good idea of your likes and dislikes.
Find a Realtor® Most home buyers select a licensed Realtor® to represent them, and they are almost always happy they did. Realtors® are real estate agents who subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are acknowledged experts in the field. A Realtor® knows your local market, and can help you through every step of the home buying process, from finding your dream home to negotiating the best possible terms, explaining everything along the way.

Bring a Camera Your Realtor® will take you on a number of open houses, and your opinions can be lost in the blur. To keep things straight, bring a digital camera on your trips. Take a picture of the street number of each property, then photograph each room during your walk-through. Photograph a house even if you decide it’s wrong for you—there may be furnishings, construction tips, or other features you notice later that could come in handy when you find the right home.

Closing Costs

Closing costs are the actual expenses that the lender incurs in the origination of a new home loan. Some of the costs are related to your loan application, such as the expense of a credit report on all applicants. Other fees are related to the house itself, such as the property appraisal. Others are payment to the lender for processing your application, such as the loan origination fee. Unless the seller offers to pay them for you, these expenses are charged to the buyer and often runs between 2 and 3 percent of the amount being borrowed. Because different states have different fees and taxes that are a part of these costs, it's impossible to generalize nationwide. Common closing costs can include processing and underwriting fee, mortgage insurance premium, appraisal fee, the cost of a credit report, tax service fee, application, commitment, wire transfer fee, etc. Escrow accounts are often required for many loans for homeowners insurance, real estate taxes, and homeowners associations and require cash deposits at closing. After your initial meeting with a mortgage professional, you should receive a Good Faith Estimate that includes all the estimated costs to close your loan.