Home, Garden and Lifestyle Show

Mark your Calendars for the Home, Garden and Lifestyle show.

Cajundome Convention Center
February 16 - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
February 17 - 11 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Acadian Home Builders Association (AHBA) puts on this event.  It will have more than 100 local exhibitors featuring the latest building materials, floor treatments, appliances, new trends in decorating and more!  It will also feature cooking demonstrations from local chefs and educational seminars for do-it-yourself projects.

Tickets will be sold 2 weeks before the event at the AHBA office at:
135 N. Domingue St.
Lafayette, LA 70506

Friday Favorite

I found this on Pinterest and think it's very useful if you are looking for colors to paint your house.

TOP 100 Benjamin Moore Colors found on South Shore Decorating Blog.

They are organized by basic colors in these categories:

• Whites
• Beiges
• Yellows
• Browns
• Blues
• Grays
• Greens
• Blacks
• Pinks and Reds

If you are thinking of painting your house and want to see pictures of example colors that you want this is a great blog to read!

Lafayette's 2012 Overall Market Report!

It has been a very good year for our area’s housing market. In fact, it is the second best year on record. Here are some of the highlights taken from our enclosed year-end market report.

• Lafayette Parish housing sales reported the REALTOR Association of Acadiana MLS actually dipped in December below December 2011’s total. The 178 housing sales reported to the MLS in December 2012 was 2.73% below the 183 sales reported for December 2011. This is the only month in 2012 where the number of sales reported was less than the same month of 2011.

• Despite the decline in December home sales, the number of pending sales reported in December 2012 versus December 2011 was up by over 28%. That should translate into higher closed sales in January 2013. 

• The cumulative 2012 home sales reported to the MLS from Lafayette Parish rose just under 22.5% over 2011. The highest number of annual home sales ever reported to the MLS from Lafayette Parish was in 2007 with 2,675. In 2012 the home sales were less than 2% below that historic total with 2,622 home sales reported for the year. Additionally, the 2622 home sales reported in 2012 increased over 2008, 2009 and 2010 by 14.7%, 15.6% and 15.8% respectively. 

• In Lafayette Parish newly constructed homes was the overwhelming winner with sales rising 30.56% over 2011. However, sales of existing homes also fared very well rising 19% over 2011. (Page 2).     

•  Home sales in the surrounding parishes also reported positive increases over 2011 although not as dramatic as in Lafayette Parish. For 2012 home sales reported from outside Lafayette Parish rose by 8.36%. 

• The dollar volume of home sales in Lafayette Parish also showed significant gains during 2012 rising nearly 23% above 2011 levels to $525,605,192. In terms of closed dollar volume that puts 2012 slightly less than 4.5% behind 2007’s record level and 16.4%, 18.9% and 20.4% over 2008, 2009 and 2010. 

• The average sale price of  2012 homes sold in Lafayette Parish was $200,459 up only slightly (0.35%) over the $199,750 average sale price in 2011. The median sale price rose by $7,500; from $170,000 to $179,500.

Overall the housing market performed remarkably well in 2012 and seems poised to do the same in 2013.  

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.

Friday Favorite!

*** photo from Pinterest

I love this idea for your kitchen cabinets!  You can tack on your recipe and hang it there while you cook!  It'll be convenient AND stay clean!  You can also have a chart for measurements and substitutions!  I think it's clever! 

January 2013 HGTV color of the month

HGTV posted the color of the month and it's GOLD!

I, personally, love to decorate with a little gold!  What are your thoughts?

sherwinn williams color of the year

Sherwinn Williams announced their color of the year the other day!  It's.....

ALOE

*** Picture from Apartment Therapy

According the Shewinn William's director of color marketing, Jackie Jordan, "This is no ordinary pastel — Aloe is funky and glamorous, demure and free-spirited. While Aloe's vibe can verge on retro, when paired with caviar blacks, crisp whites or soft grays, suddenly Aloe has a new soul and attitude. And Aloe is highly adaptable, making it a perfect pick for everyday spaces such as a breezy sunroom or a well-dressed living room."

***The following pictures were found on Pinterest

What do you think about this color!?!?!

Is your New Year's Resolution to Buy a Home?

If you want to buy a new home in 2013, here are 10 resolutions to accomplish in order to get you in a new home!

According to realtor.com you need to:

1.  Decide what you want:  

• What kind of house? Where do you want it located? When do you want to buy? How much can you afford?

2.  Get your financial house in order:

• How much do you have for a down payment?  How much monthly note can you afford?  Do you have money for closing and taxes? 
•  Meet with a lender before you bid on a home and look at your loan options.

3.  Get your pre-approval before house hunting:

• Meet with a loan officer, get your credit reviewed and get qualified for a loan amount.

4.  Find your realtor:

• That's easy!  Call me:  337-849-4051!  :)

5.  Find your new home:

• You've already decided what you want (go back to #1), but now your realtor can show you the houses.  Looking at as many as possible is smart so you know in the end you picked the best one for you!

6.  Understand your mortgage options:

• Loans with less than 5% down are available.
• Buyers with solid credit will have more options.

7.  Make an offer:

• You can accept the list price and get a contract
• Suggest different terms and make a counter offer
• Or you can reject the counter and keep looking.

8.  Protect yourself with insurance:

• Title insurance is purchased with a one time fee at closing.  Title insurance protects the owner in the event that the title of the property is found invalid.
• Homeowner's insurance provides fire, theft, and liability coverage.  This is required by lenders.
• Home warranties on new homes are often provided by the builder.  Warranties on existing homes usually only last for one year and are typically bought by the seller.

9.  Close on your new home:

• After signing documents, the title is transferred from seller to buyer.
• The buyer receives the keys and the seller receives payment for the home.

10.  Tie up loose ends.

• Save the settlement papers you received at closing.  They are important.
• Make sure the utilities were paid in full by the seller at closing and transfer all the services to your name.