Area home sales get boost in January

Baton Rouge-area home sales rose 15 percent in January, as Realtors in the eight-parish area sold 429 homes compared with 372 that month in 2011.

The figures, compiled by the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, showed that the total dollar volume of homes sold was up 11 percent to $76.3 million from a year ago.

Local real estate agents have said in recent months that the market seems to be picking up, as buyers gain more confidence in the national economy and take advantage of historically low interest rates.

In East Baton Rouge Parish, which accounts for about half of area home sales, Realtors sold 212 compared with 192, a rise of 10 percent. Dollar volume rose 14 percent to $40.2 million.

In Ascension, Realtors sold 94 homes compared with 72, up 31 percent, while dollar volume rose 16 percent to $18.4 million.

In Livingston, Realtors sold 88 homes compared with 74, up 19 percent from a year ago, and dollar volume rose 5 percent to $12.4 million.

The “other” parishes category, made up of West Baton Rouge, Iberville, East and West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee, saw 35 homes sold, one more than January 2011, while dollar volume fell 7 percent to $5.2 million.

The association also reported the inventory of available homes was down — 10 months compared with 12.6 months the year before. Six months is considered a healthy market.

The average current days on the market for a house was 127 days compared with 138 days a year ago.

The median sale price was $157,000 compared with $165,587, meaning half the houses sold for more and half for less than those amounts for each period.