The number of houses sold in the Capital Region fell by nearly 20% in April, when compared with the year before. According to figures from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors Multiple listing service, there were 570 houses sold locally last month, compared with 711 in April 2008. At the same time, the average sale price fell by 15.4%, from $219,123 in April 2008, to $185,288.
Ascension Parish home sales were the closest to meeting their 2008 standards. There were 110 houses sold in the parish last month, compared with 122 in April 2008. The average sale price in Ascension fell by 6.5%, from $217,427 in April 2008, to $203,289 last month.
While the number of houses sold was down from 103 to 80 in Livingston Parish, the average sale price went up 3%, from $166,364 in April 2008, to $171,376 in April.
East Baton Rouge home sales dropped from 435 to 349, with the average sale price falling from $236,927 in April 2008 to $181,9927 last month.
In the other category, which includes MLS sales in parishes such as West Baton Rouge, Iberville and East and West Feliciana, there were 37 houses sold, with an average sale price of $193,002, compared with 51 sales with an average price of $177,880 in April 2008. Through the end of April, the number of houses sold was down 21%, from 2,535 to 1,996 in 2009. The average sale price fell by 8.2% from $207,805 in 2008, to $190,816.
