After the volatile week experieced in the stock market, interest rates rose to 6.5% once more!!! Today, and who knows for what reason, the rates have dropped below 6%. We are advsing our buyers to hurry up and lock in their interest rates since we really don't know how the currect national economy is going to affect interest rates for home loans over the next few months.(comment)
Baton Rouge made the list in BusinessWeek for a city best situated to ride out a recession!! According to the article, the fact that we are NOT dependent upon the 'durable goods' market plus the benefits of GO ZONE financing in commercial and industrial sectors, gives us a 'cushion' of a sort to weather the current financial situation.
This is the second article about Baton Rouge..(read more)
Richard Allen, from Standard Mortgage, recently sent me a newsletter all about why now is THE time to buy your retirment home - which is what I have been saying for the past two years! (Nice to be validated!!). Anyway, the FIVE reasons he noted are below:
1. Owning real estate is Long-Term Wealth Building. Home prices are almost certainly going to increase over the..(read more)
Well, it's official! I saw advertisements in today's Sunday newspaper. 100% financing is back!!! Everybody has been waiting for this. Of course, we still have the rural development loans, but those are for specific areas. This new program is not confined to any particular area, and doesn't have limits on income, and allows the borrow to finance up to 103% so they..(read more)
Many of you have heard about the fall I took on the tennis court this summer where I broke my right elbow. I now have a plate and 4 screws in that elbow and am in the painful part of the deal - you know, therapy!!! I call it pain and torture sessions, trying to make this elbow bend and straighten! Do you know how hard it is to do my hair with just my left hand? And let's not..(read more)
The announcement of the location of Entertainment Arts, Inc new sports video game global testing facility to the LSU South Campus on GSRI Road is expected to give a boost to south Baton Rouge home sales. The leading video game company will employ 220 permanent and part-time workers in its quality assurance center. State officials describe this move as a big moment in the state’s effort..(read more)
New bond money with 4% assistance for first time homebuyers is available now. If you have been looking for a home in Baton Rouge, Ascension or Livingston parishes, call the Pat Wattam Team for information on the 4% assistance program.
Debbie Hanna
Buyer Specialist
(225) 298-6899
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Last night at the HOA meeting for Ascot Subdivision in Baton Rouge, I was asked if having a strong Home Owners Association was a good thing or just one MORE thing to have to deal with. The answer is definitely YES!!! A strong home owners association will help to retain home values because a standard of maintenance is required. Yards can't become junked up, and in some cases, the kind of landscaping..(read more)
The local Baton Rouge newspaper reported that the National Association of Realtors said that our Median price range had dropped to $164000 this year. However, according to the statistics presented by the Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors, this was inaccurate. Our market had indeed rises to $176000. Today's Baton Rouge paper, the Advocate, printed the correction from NAR stating..(read more)
My college friend, David Bruce Williamson, brought his three bearded collies to Baton Rouge to compete in agility trials. Enjoy the show!
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