New Orleans West Bank Living and Real Estate News: October 2009

Current real estate activity in English Turn:

42 homes are for sale in English Turn

• High list price $1,995,000
• Low list price $395,000
• Average list price $688,392
• Median list price $557,383

3 homes are under contract or pending sale, with an average list price of $474,667

Based on the number of homes sold in September (1), there is a 42 month supply of homes for sale in the community

English Turn | Number of Homes Sold | September 2009

Year to date, there have been 18 home sales in English Turn, compared to 21 at the same time last year. 

3 of this years sales have been foreclosure or bank owned properties, which are selling for about $110 per square foot compared to $132 per square foot for normal resale homes in English Turn.

English Turn | Average Home Sale Prices | September 2009

Average home sale prices in English Turn are down to $507,378 as of the end of September 2009.  This is a decrease of 14% in the average sale price when compared to 2008.

My initial thought was that with so few sales, the handful of foreclosures were impacting the average prices.  But removing those from the mix resulted in an average of $507,607 – a negligible change not even worth noting.

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

Related information:

Algiers LA homes for sale
New Orleans West Bank Homes for Sale

Home Selling Tips
Home Buying Tips

Are you considering buying or selling a home in English Turn?  Feel free to contact the West Bank Living Team with any of your questions or just for a little advice.  It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your real estate needs.

Current real estate activity in Algiers LA 70131 (excluding English Turn):

198 homes are for sale

• High list price $895,000
• Low list price $35,000
• Average list price $188,261
• Median list price $154,950

39 homes are under contract or pending sale, with an average list price of $144,823

Based on the number of homes sold in September (25), there is a 7.92 month supply of homes for sale in the area

Algiers LA 70131 | Number of Homes Sold | September 2009

September saw the highest number of home sales in Algiers for all of 2009 AND the most homes sold since April 2008.  While we are still running behind this same time last year (160 this year compared to 175 in September 2008), it does appear that the market is flattening instead of continuing the steep drops that Algiers has experienced for the last couple of years. 

BUT (there’s always a but), remember that for a period of time this summer Algiers was included in the City of New Orleans soft second mortgage program for homes that suffered more than $5,200 in repaired hurricane damage.  When that money ran out, showing activity softened and slowed.  The majority of those allocations have now been closed, so we’ll have to keep an eye on the trends to see what impact that has on the sales numbers going forward.

Algiers LA 70131 | Average Home Sale Price | September 2009

In another bit of good news, the average home sale price in Algiers is less than $1,000 lower than the 2008 average and is almost on par with 2005 (our last normal market).   The expiration of the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers at the end of November may impact this as well, unless the credit is extended.

The choice of financing can tell you a lot about who is purchasing in a community.  FHA continues to be the choice of the majority of home buyers due to the low down payment requirements and the ability to have home sellers provide some assistance with closing costs.

So far in 2009, 53% of FHA buyers in Algiers have received closing cost assistance from sellers.  The amounts ranged from a low of $2,000 to a high of $11,500.  The average amount of closing cost assistance provided to FHA buyers in 2009 is $5,581 or 3.71% of the purchase price.

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

Related information:

Algiers LA homes for sale

Home buying tips
Home selling tips

If you are considering buying or selling a home in Algiers and have a question or just need a little advice, please contact the West Bank Living Team.  It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your real estate needs.

Current real estate activity for Algiers Point:

30 homes are for sale in Algiers Point

• High list price $550,000
• Low list price $123,500
• Average list price $276,403
• Median list price $278,500

3 homes are under contract or pending sale, with an average listing price of $229,300

Based on the number of homes sold in September (2), there is a 15 month supply of homes for sale in the area

Algiers Point | Number of Single Family Home Sales | September 2009

Algiers Point has had only 13 successful single family home sales this year, compared to 28 at the same time last year - a decrease of 54% in the number of closed sales. This marks the largest decrease of any of the West Bank communities that we track.

What about financing?

The buzz this year has been all about the first time home buyer’s tax credit. Most of these first time buyers are using FHA financing to purchase their homes. Given the percentage of conventional and cash deals in the Point, there appear to be very few first time buyers moving into the area.

Algiers Point | Average Single Family Home Prices | September 2009

While there was a jump in the September average (due to one high end home selling), the year to date average home sale in Algiers Point is $225,431, up slightly from the 2008 average.

While the prices may be holding their own, the number of sales (see above) is down dramatically and apparently sellers are not getting the message. The majority of homes on the market in the Point are priced above $250,000 - the homes selling are generally not. As we move towards the end of the year, it may be time to review your pricing strategy to see if it still makes sense in today’s market.

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

Read more:

Algiers LA homes for sale

Home Buying Tips

Home Selling Tips

Questions about the Algiers Point real estate market? Feel free to contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your New Orleans area real estate needs.

Current real estate activity in Algiers LA 70114:

104 homes are for sale

• High list price $550,000
• Low list price $22,500
• Average list price $162,589
• Median list price $139,450

13 homes are pending sale or under contract, with an average list price of $134,992

Based on the number of homes sold in September (7), there is a 14.85 month supply of homes for sale in the area

Algiers LA 70114 | Number of Homes Sold | September 2009

Year to date, there have been 58 successful single family home sales in the 70114 zip code of Algiers, compared to 89 at the same time last year. This decrease of 35% is one of the largest on the West Bank, making Algiers the hardest hit areas for declining home sales. While reduced sales in Algiers Point have had an impact, the condition of properties being sold is also an issue, with a substantial number of homes in Poor, Fair and Average condition being marketed.

A large percentage of the 2009 sales in the area have been to cash buyers, and a review of those sales indicates that a large number of them are to investors and buyers who are willing to take on a fixer-upper. It remains to be seen if these properties will come back on the market as renovations or if they are being held as rental units and personal residences.

Algiers LA 70114 | Average Home Sale Price | September 2009

Prices have taken a hit as well – they are down 14% from 2008. Although much of this can be attributed to fewer sales in Algiers Point, which typically has the highest priced real estate in the zip code, the large percentage of homes in need of repair is pushing prices downward as well. If you are considering selling your Algiers home, be sure that your agent is pricing it to compete with other homes in the same condition rather than just using the average sale price.

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

Read more at:

Algiers LA homes for sale

Algiers Point real estate market updates

Home Buying Tips

Home Selling Tips

Have a question about buying or selling a home on the West Bank? Contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your real estate needs.

Current real estate activity in the 70094 zip code:

129 homes for sale

• High list price $369,000
• Low list price $35,000
• Average list price $133,781
• Median list price $118,000

39 homes are under contract or pending sale, with an average list price of $103,667

Based on the number of homes sold in September (12), there is a 10.75 month supply of homes for sale in the community

Westwego Avondale Bridge City | Number of Homes Sold | September 2009

Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City ended September with a total of 104 homes sold in 2009, compared to 130 at the same time last year (a 20% decrease in the number of sales).  In my opinion, part of the reduction in sales can be attributed to the condition of properties in the area. 

Almost 50% of the sales were of homes that were in Poor, Fair or Average condition and were more likely to appeal to an investor or a do-it-yourselfer looking for a home they could put a little sweat equity into.  Typically, these homes may not qualify for FHA financing unless the purchaser is willing to use an FHA 203(k) and pay a higher rate to be able to finance repairs into their mortgage.

Westwego Avondale Bridge City | Average Home Sale Prices | September 2009

Values in the 70094 zip code are holding steady, with a less than $1,000 difference between the 2008 and 2009 average sale prices.  As more homes are rehabbed, I would anticipate a slow increase in values due to improved conditions of the properties themselves.

FHA remains the financing option of choice for the majority of home buyers in Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City.  However, the large number of cash purchases indicates a fairly high level of investor activity in the community as well.  Since this has always been one of the most reasonably priced real estate markets on the West Bank, it’s not surprising to find that people are snapping up the lower price range in an attempt to either rehab and rent or flip the properties. 

Year to date, there have been 43 sales of homes for less than $75,000 in the area, making up 41% of all sales.

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

Related Reading

Find Westwego and Avondale homes for sale
Westwego, Avondale & Bridge City Market Reports

Home Buying Tips
Home Selling Tips

Find out what's going on in your West Bank neighborhood with this week's free market snapshot.

Do you have questions about the West Bank real estate market?  Feel free to contact the West Bank Living Team.  It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your real estate needs.

Current real estate activity in Marrero LA 70072:

254 homes are for sale in Marrero

• High list price $2,500,000
• Low list price $24,900
• Average list price $186,682
• Median list price $149,900

56 homes are under contract or pending sale, with an average list price of $136,680

Based on the number of homes sold in September (24), there is a 10.6 month supply of homes for sale

Marrero LA 70072 | Number of Homes Sold | September 2009

Year to date, there have been 266 homes sold in Marrero, compared to 286 at the same time in 2008.  This 7% decrease in the number of home sales is typical of the current West Bank real estate market, which has seen sales slide across the area since the high point of 2006.

FHA remains the financing option chosen by the majority of home buyers in Marrero.  Why is this important?  Because 62% of the FHA buyers in September also required an average of $5,557 in assistance from the seller with their closing costs and prepaids (insurance, lender fees, etc.).  When selling your home, you need to know what concessions other sellers are making in order to successfully sell their properties.

Marrero LA 70072 | Average Home Sale Price | September 2009

Average sale prices in Marrero are down 9.5% from the 2008 average, but are running just a hair above the 2005 average.  Unless you purchased your home post-Katrina, you more than likely have built at least a little equity in it.  Of course, this varies from neighborhood to neighborhood, with some performing better than others.  Find out what's going on in your neighborhood with this week’s free market snapshot

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

Related Reading:

Search Marrero LA homes for sale
More Marrero Real Estate Market Updates

Home Selling Tips
Home Buying Tips

Do you have questions about the Marrero real estate market?  Contact the West Bank Living Team today for professional real estate services and advice.  It would be our pleasure to assist you.

Current real estate activity in Harvey LA 70058:

157 homes for sale

• High list price $585,000
• Low list price $20,000
• Average list price $180,021
• Median list price $155,000

70 homes are under contract or pending sale, with an average list price of $152,624

Based on the number of homes sold in September (16), there is a 9.8 month supply of homes for sale in the area.

Harvey LA 70058 | Number of Homes Sold | September 2009

Harvey has seen 147 homes sold through September 2009, compared to 200 at the same time last year (a decrease of 26.5%).   Like most other areas, the majority of Harvey home buyers are using FHA financing.  These loans require the lowest down payment possible (3.5%) and appeal to the first time home buyers who are trying to get closed before the tax credit expires at the end of November.

Of note is the fact that 44% of the September buyers received an average of $2,756 in assistance from the seller with their closing costs and prepaids.  If you are considering selling your Harvey home, be sure that the agents you talk to can provide you with adjusted sales prices to take any of this assistance into account when determining an acceptable sales price.

Harvey LA 70058 | Average Home Sale Price | September 2009

While the average sale price dropped from August to September, the year to date average is still almost 7% higher than in 2008 – a rare occurrence of increasing prices in today’s market!  Remember, though, that this average does not take into account any seller paid assistance or allowances provided to the buyers at closing and your agent should be able to provide details such as this for sales in your neighborhood.

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

Related reading:

Harvey LA homes for sale
Harvey LA Real Estate Market Reports

Home Buying Tips
Home Selling Tips

Find out what's going on in your West Bank neighborhood with this week's free market snapshot

Questions?  Feel free to contact the West Bank Living Team for any of your real estate needs.  It would be our pleasure to assist you.

Current real estate activity in Terrytown and Gretna LA 70056:

167 homes are for sale

• High list price $1,390,000
• Low list price $16,900
• Average list price $209,418
• Median list price $165,000

67 homes are under contract or pending sale, with an average list price of $172,469

Based on the number of homes sold in September (15), there is an 11.13 month supply of homes for sale

Terrytown and Gretna LA | Number of Homes Sold | September 2009

Although they are down about 9% from this time last year, the number of home sales in Terrytown and Gretna is holding fairly steady from month to month.

While the media focus has been on the first time home buyer tax credit and FHA loans, amazingly enough there were no FHA loans that closed in Terrytown in September.

Terrytown and Gretna LA | Average Home Sale Price | September 2009

The bad news is that average home sale prices are down 5% from last year – and that’s really not so bad when compared to some of the other West Bank neighborhoods that have been hit hard. 

The good news is that unless you purchased your home in 2006-2008, you more than likely have built equity in it, just not at the same rate we saw in the early 2000s.

Homes that are priced right and in excellent condition continue to attract the most attention and sell faster than homes that need a little TLC.

Home Selling Tips

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

Terrytown and Gretna LA homes for sale

Home Buying Tips

Find out what's going on in your West Bank neighborhood with this week's free market snapshot.

Questions?  Contact the West Bank Living Team.  It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your real estate needs.

Current real estate activity in Gretna LA 70053:

53 homes for sale

• High list price $287,100
• Low list price $24,900
• Average list price $148,388
• Median list price $135,000

15 homes are under contract or pending sale, with an average list price of $142,841

Based on the number of homes sold in September 2009 (9), there is a 5.9 month supply of homes for sale in Gretna (a balanced real estate market).

Gretna LA 70053 | Number of Homes Sold | September 2009

Year to date, Gretna has seen 54 successful home sales, compared to 59 at the same time last year.  Not bad, when the majority of the West Bank has seen the number of sales drop substantially from 2008 to 2009.

The average Gretna home sold in September had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1373 square feet of living area and was on the market for 46 days.  Homes priced right and in the best possible condition can still sell quickly!

The best news for Gretna is that the supply and demand of homes is in balance at this time.  That could change quickly if a large number of homes come on the market for sale, but for now it’s one of the most stable markets on the West Bank of New Orleans.

Home Selling Tips

Gretna LA 70053 | Average Home Sale Prices | September 2009

While the number of Gretna homes sold is holding fairly steady, the average sale price has dropped by 7% from 2008.  This is still not nearly as dramatic of a decrease as some other communities on the West Bank have experienced.  The first time home buyer tax credit is about to expire, so it will be interesting to see if the average prices increase or decrease when that option is no longer available. 

Home Buying Tips

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

Gretna LA homes for Sale

Find out what's going on in your West Bank neighborhood with this week's free market snapshot.

Questions?  Contact the West Bank Living Team.  It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your West Bank real estate needs.

Long term, owning real estate can be one of the most profitable ways to invest your money.  Given the opportunity to own most of an entire block, investors will be jumping at these West Bank properties.  Located just off of Ames and Lapalco in Marrero, walking distance to grocery and convenience stores and right on a public transportation route, 6 doubles are now on the market – with tenants included in 11 of the 12 units.

Each of these all brick, 1800 square feet units are laid out the same and are next door to each other.  The owner has installed ceramic tile flooring in 11 of the units for easy clean up, making the occasional transition from one tenant to the next quick, easy and inexpensive.

Individual units have 2 bedrooms and 1 bath per side, with laundry rooms on the exterior.  Tenants pay all of their own utilities and supply their own appliances except for the range/ovens.  Central air and heat, newer roofs (replaced in 2006) and a total of $8,100 in monthly rent currently being collected.

Available properties and rents are:

5545-47 Jordan Drive -  5545 is currently rented for $800/month, 5547 is rented for $700/month

5549-51 Jordan Drive – both sides currently rented for $700/month each

5553-55 Jordan Drive – both sides currently rented for $700/month each

5557-59 Jordan Drive – 5557 is vacant (recently updated), 5559 is rented for $700/month

5561-63 Jordan Drive – 5561 is currently rented for $800/month, 5563 is rented for $700/month

5565-67 Jordan Drive – 5565 is currently rented for $900/month (section 8), 5567 is rented for $700/month

For more information about these properties, please contact the West Bank Living Team.