The number of houses sold in metro Baton Rouge was down 22% in May, when compared with the year before. There were 604 homes sold in the Capital Region in May, according to figures from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. That compares with the 774 sales that happened in May 2008. The average sale price was down 9% when compared with the year before, the May average was $193,398, compared with $212,229 in May 2008.
Ascension Parish actually saw an increase in the number of houses sold, going from 116 transactions in May 2008, to 121 last month. But the average sale price fell from $224,681 to $207,064.
East Baton Rouge Parish had 360 home sales in May, with an average price of $197,371. That compares with 487 home sales in May 2008, and an average sale price of $222,599. Livingston Parish had a 23% drop in home sales, going from 123 in May 2008 to 95 last month. The sale price fell less drastically, going from $169,052 to $164,628.
In the other category, which includes MLS sales in East and West Feliciana, West Baton Rouge, Iberville and Pointe Coupee parishes, there were 28 home sales with an average price of $180,876. That compares with 48 sales with an average of $187,561.
Year to date, the number of home sales are down 21%, from 3,309 as of May 2008 to 2,614 as of the end of last month. The average sale price is down 8.3%, from $208,838 to $191,489.—Timothy Boone
