Baton Rouge, LA Real Estate Market

This chart shows you the trend of average home values in Baton Rouge, LA. The average estimated value of a home in Baton Rouge, LA was $178,581 in December 2009, down 0.08% from November 2009. Homeowners can use average estimated value to gauge the current equity in their home or to determine a potential sales price. Average estimated value can help indicate if purchasing a home in this area will yield a positive return.

This chart displays the trend of average sales price in Baton Rouge, LA. The average sales price of a house in Baton Rouge, LA was $187,772 in December 2009, down 0.04% from November 2009. Homeowners can use average sales price to help them determine a price point for their home. Conversely, home buyers can use average sales price to estimate the price they could expect to pay. Higher average sales prices may indicate better than average homes, while lower average sales prices may indicate homes in less demand (discounting special circumstances such as foreclosures).

The total number of sales is an indicator of turnover in the Baton Rouge, LA market. Home sales in Baton Rouge, LA for December 2009 totaled 113, which is down 35% compared to the transactions recorded in November 2009. Total number of sales can help homeowners gauge when to sell a home. Sales volume can occur during a time of prosperity or hardship. Therefore it is important to compare the sales price to the home value to determine if there is growth or contraction in the market. Home buyers can use the same information to identify areas where sales are occurring. Because home prices lag sales volume, prices typically increase as more sales occur.

Neighborhood density represents the number of homes that are inhabited, while household size tells you how many people on average live in each inhabited house. These metrics can be an indicator of how well Baton Rouge, LA maintains its housing inventory. The population of Baton Rouge, LA is made up of 89,466 households with 2.40 adults per household. On average, the median age of a home in Baton Rouge, LA is 34 years. Comparing neighborhood density to the number of properties, vacancies, and the number of new homes or neighborhoods can help to assess growth in a particular area.

The number of sold homes is a count of sales from the last few months (varies per location). Looking at the number of homes and the average time homes are on the market (for sale) in Baton Rouge, LA can indicate how long homeowners are willing to wait to sell their homes. It took an average of 146 days for homes in Baton Rouge, LA to go from a listing to a ratified contract. Conversely, average and maximum days on market will help sellers set an expectation for how long it may take to sell a house. Note that many variables influence the number of days a house in on the market before it sells

The total inventory of available homes in the Baton Rouge, LA market in February, 2010 stood at 1,958 homes. Foreclosures made up the majority of the homes for sale. This accounted for 1275 real estate properties or 65% of the Baton Rouge, LA real estate market. The rest of the market comprised of resale homes and new homes totaling 683 and 683 houses respectively. These numbers do not represent all homes, as not all homes are marketed the same. The number of existing or resale homes is those found in most MLS's. New homes are a good indicator of housing growth, while foreclosures can indicate problem areas. Given recent events, foreclosures can also be good purchase opportunities given their reduced cost.

The occupancy chart shows the ratio of rentals to homes for sale in Baton Rouge, LA. There are 47% of homeowners and 43% of renters in Baton Rouge, LA. Home vacancy accounts for 9% of the Baton Rouge, LA real estate market. In addition, the vacancy rate of homes helps home buyers determine if a housing market has weak or strong competition. It also highlights areas of investment opportunities.

House appreciation provides three indicators of the home value trend in Baton Rouge, LA. The appreciation rate signifies whether the market has increased or decreased in value. Median value is the worth of a typical home in the area while average monthly rent can be used a proxy to compare with your monthly investment. The average market value for a home in Baton Rouge, LA for in February, 2010 was $177,408.

Caveat: There are many factors that determine both the price and value of a home. AOL Real Estate cannot and does not guarantee that the trend will retain its current course. We recommend viewing the other charts to get as many perspectives on this area as possible.