Friday Favorite

I wanted to share a few great ideas on this beautiful Good Friday!!!

I hope everyone has a happy Easter!

Parade of Homes 2013

The Acadian Home Builders Association is putting on their annual Parade of Homes event:

April 6, 7, 13, & 14
1:00 p.m. - 6 p.m

This is an opportunity to see the latest in home building.  The public gets to see newly constructed homes and get a sneak peak at home trends, designs, and products.  You will also have the opportunity to talk to AHBA builders about your home building plans.  Tickets include an official guide book, pictures, descriptions and a map to all the homes being featured!

During normal business hours tickets are sold:

Doug Ashy Building Materials (Johnston and Verot locations)
Acadian Home Builders Association (135 N. Domingue Rd.)

During Parade hours only tickets are sold:

Copper Meadows Subdivision (on HWY 89 in Youngsville)
Village at Broussard Subdivision (on Pinhook in Broussard)

Official Rules:

• The Parade is a self-guided tour.
• Homes will be open during Parade hours only.
• Attendees may visit as many homes as they like in any order they choose.
• Each person and child in a party must have a ticket, including real estate agents.  Children under 2 are admitted for free.
• Tickets will be checked at the door of each home.
• Ticket holders may enter each home only ONCE unless given a return pass by the builder.
• Each ticket is good for all four days of the event.
• Builders reserve the right to close homes in inclement weather.
• NO STROLLERS.  All children must be handheld.
• Absolutely NO PHOTOS, FOOD, or DRINKS inside the home.

Click here for participating builders.

Featured properties will be listed here two weeks before the event.

Friday Favorite

I found the most INGENIOUS idea!  I was searching the "home" section on Pinterest and TA-DA!

Smart Tiles

They are peel and stick tiles for kitchen back splashes or Bathrooms that are already pre-grouted!  You simply measure, cut to fit, peel and stick into place.  I think they look fabulous in these pictures.  I'd love to see them in person.  The website says you can find them at Home Depot.

 

Demand Is Back In Lafayette!

During the post hurricane Katrina/Rita boom years of 2005-2007, sales soared 29% above 2004’s pre-storm level. Then in 2008, reported sales fell dramatically. Closed sales bottomed out in 2011 with 2,141 reported for that year – a decline of 20% from 2007’s  high of 2,675 sales reported.

However, in 2012 sales rebounded, increasing by 22.7% over 2011 and less that 2% off 2007’s record high.

Planting

I was looking at HGTV's website for ideas and I found the coolest page.  It's on their garden site!  You put in your zip code and it tells you all the different kinds of plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, etc. that are good for your area.  You can even choose what kind of shade you need (i.e. full sun, partial sun, etc.) and moisture level!

This is what your options look like:

With Spring always comes the time to freshen up your landscaping.  Check out this site and plan what you want to buy before you go to the Nursery and get overwhelmed by all the choices!

Friday Favorite!

Downtown Alive!

I LOVE living in a city that has so many fun things to offer!  It's a gorgeous day today AND it's Friday! Go enjoy some great music and the outdoors!

Playing tonight is Cory Ledet & his Zydeco Band at Parc International

Downtown Alive's facebook page

How Lafayette's Real Estate Has Changed Throughout the Years

For some reason this chart isn't showing the whole year, but know that the first year is 1991 and it goes till 2012.  

In the 17 years from 1991 – 2007, the average sale rose by 165%.

From its $205,550 peak in 2007, the  average sale price dropped each year until bottoming out in 2010 at $192,794 - a decline from peak to trough of 6%. However, since 2010, the average sale price has risen by 4%.

2012 ended with the average sale price of $200,499 only 2.5% below the $205,550 peak in 2007. 

Is the housing bust coming to an end?!

After six long years (2006-2011), the U.S. housing market finally appears to have bottomed out. Interestingly, six years is the international, historical average duration of the housing bust which inevitably follows a mortgage credit and house price bubble, as calculated by Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff in their book, This Time is Different (2009).

As shown in the chart, the average U.S. house prices, after falling about 34%, are moving generally sideways, and are slightly above their level of a year ago. As also shown on the chart, they have fallen below their trend line, and have returned to the levels of 2003. One 2012 survey found house prices rising in about 40% of the 384 U.S. metropolitan areas it covered and observed that “It is now cheaper to buy than to rent in many U.S. markets.”      Source: Case-Shiller

Friday Favorite!

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I just LOVE popcorn ceilings?!"  I certainly haven't.  Click on the link below and it will tell you how to cover up the eye sore without having to do the tedious job of scraping the ceiling!  This idea is genius and can update any space! 

I found this on Pinterest first, but when I clicked on the picture it brought me to a step by step how to!  I LOVE when that happens!  I just hate when it brings me to a picture, but doesn't explain the steps.  

So this idea was found on Lowes website.  It looks fairly simple and would TOTALLY update your space.  

Do you wonder who the best real estate company is?!

If you're ever wondering what Real Estate Company to go with, numbers don't lie! The first graph shows the number of sales for the top companies in Lafayette Parish for all of 2012 and the second one shows for January 2013!  As you can see, Van Eaton more than doubles the number of their closest competitor!  I'm proud to work for such a successful company!  I'm proud to know that I help to contribute to that success.

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the REALTOR Association of Acadiana Multiple Listing Service. Neither the Board nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Board may not reflect all real estate activity in the marketplace. 

House sold!

ANOTHER ONE SOLD!  

Don't forget to call me if you want to sell your house or find your perfect home.... or both!  

HGTV's March 2013 Color of the Month

Carrot!

This orangish-yellowish hue screams Spring!  I love spring and am so happy it's right around the corner, so it's fun to add spring colors outside and in.  Orange can be a fun pop of color in any room with pillows, flowers, or any other accents!

*** All pictures found on Pinterest

Friday Favorite

*** Picture found on Party Resources blog

How about this awesome monogram to add some curb appeal?  It's sophisticated and chic, and the best part?  You get to take it with you when you sell your home and move to another one!  You can order them from Holly Mathis Interiors and it is very affordable too!