B.R. home sales finish 2011 ahead of 2010, behind 2009

Though 2011 ended with relatively flat home sales in December compared to the year previous, the Capital Region posted a 3% annual sales increase over 2010, according to figures compiled by the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors. A total of 467 homes were sold in the eight parish area in December—up just four homes from the same month in 2010—marking the seventh straight monthly increase over the previous year’s sales. The association continually updates sales figures throughout the month, meaning the number could still rise slightly. Total sales in 2011 were 6,581, a 3% increase over the 6,386 sales in 2010—but a 4.6% decrease from the 6,899 homes sold in 2009. Among East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension parishes, Livingston was the only parish to see sales decline in 2011 from the year previous. Just 12 fewer homes were sold in Livingston Parish in 2011, representing a 1% drop from 1,116 homes sold in 2010. East Baton Rouge Parish recorded 3,603 home sales on the year, a 2.6% increase over the 3,510 sold in 2010. Ascension Parish saw a total of 1,290 homes sold in 2011, 43 more than the year before and a 3.4% increase. GBRAR lumps sales in West Baton Rouge, Iberville, East Feliciana, West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee parishes into the “other” category in its report. This category saw the greatest increase in 2011—14.1%, or 72 more sales than the 512 recorded in 2010. The average sales price in the eight-parish region dipped in 2011 to $190,340, down from $195,594 the year previous. Nonetheless, total sales volume was up, from $1.249 billion in 2010 to $1.252 billion in 2011. —Steve Sanoski