http://www.appraisersinbatonrouge.com/ – Baton Rouge Real Estate in October 2009 Ranks Within The 20 Strongest Metro Areas In U.S.
(NOTE: This Photo, Taken in 10/2009, Shows New Construction By More “Economy Builders” Priced Below $200,000 Is Still Fairly Brisk Within The Outlying Areas Of Greater Baton Rouge Itself. This is the “New” New Construction Baton Rouge housing market, a market that is much more affordable in pricing. And, this is what is selling. Some of those builders that thought buyers would just keep paying $136/sf to $160/sf and never stop are the ones still holding inventory, paying interest and their banks are sometimes taking it on the chin. In new home construction, in general, under $200K is moving fairly well; Over $250K is Still Not Selling As Fast As It Did in 2006/2007. AND, these $200,000 new homes in the photo are being built in a “former” high end subdivision where the predominant values were $350,000 or about $135/sf. The new price per sq. ft. for the remaining 85% of lots is going to be in the $96/sf to $106/sf. OUCH!!!)
Mark Perry, with Wall Street Pit Global Market Insight, is reporting, along with Business Week, that Baton Rouge Real Estate in 2009 is within THE 20 Strongest Performing Metro Areas in the U.S.. The link to the article is here. A Snippet includes:
“BUSINESS WEEK (”The U.S. Metros Least Touched by Recession”) – America’s strongest economies have one thing in common — home prices that never got too hot or too cold (see charts above comparing the home price index in California to Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma over the last ten years).
Home prices in metros such as San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Little Rock, Ark., and Baton Rouge, La., remained steady through boom and bust. Although no metropolitan area entirely avoided the economic downturn, the most resilient metros were protected by a potent mix of recession-resistant jobs.
The upstate New York areas of Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, and Buffalo suffered from declining jobs in manufacturing, but got significant boosts from sizable health-care, education, and government sectors. Construction is booming in Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s capital, as firms take advantage of financing for post-Katrina hurricane recovery work and service-related companies expand to meet the needs of a growing population. Omaha and the state of Iowa have relatively strong insurance sectors.
Texas, the last state to enter recession, has been bolstered by its oil and gas industries — which have also helped Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Louisiana. Texas also has many other things going for it, including affordable home prices and relatively low wages, which attract corporations.”
A resident of Loranger and native of Alexandria, he died at 3:40 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, at his home. He was 88 and a retired agriculture teacher of 40 years at Loranger High School, an Army veteran of World War II and coached Little League baseball for many years. He was a member of Oak Grove Church of Christ, the Loranger American Legion post and a past member of Loranger Ruritan Club. Mr. Blalock won numerous medals in the Senior Olympics. He was a Future Farmers of America adviser and avid hunter. He played football, ran track and played baseball at Southeastern Louisiana University. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation will continue at Oak Grove Church of Christ, Independence, on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 10:30 a.m., conducted by Brother Dale Ziebarth. Interment in Loranger Cemetery, Loranger. He is survived by wife of 61 years, Vertalee Hayden Blalock, Loranger; two brothers, Leon Blalock and Charlie Blalock, both of Alexandria; two sisters, Francis McCain, Chicago, and Essie Marie Smith, Alexandria; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by father and mother, James Marion Blalock and Mary Essie Stewart Blalock; a brother, James Marion Blalock Jr.; and two sisters, Maude Jones and Elizabeth Moreaux. For an online guestbook, visit 
Tony Zito (
