Nobody Wants A Flooring Allowance--  The carpet looked like the deck of Noah's Ark. Feathers, feces, and finger nails seem to be the design theme. Before I could begin my listing presentation, the seller was mumbling something about a flooring allowance. And boy was it a reasonable offer! For what he was willing to "invest" a family of four could go to dinner, movies, and probably have enough left for a carton of cigarettes. But it was nowhere near enough to replace the soiled flooring... Let's take a moment to examine the flaw behind the flooring allowance... Buyers have ZERO imagination-- If I had a nickle for every showing that ending at the front door, I wouldn't be writing a blog post on a Saturday morning. "Staging" flooring samples in the room is worthless. Why would a buyer focu... 07/27/2013

Alexandria La Foreclosures--Things Every Buyer Should Know Searching for a great deal on an Alexandria La foreclosure? Have visions on getting real estate rich, one distressed sale at a time? Let's take a moment and learn more about buying real estate foreclosures. Buying a foreclosure in Alexandria La Have all your financials in order BEFORE looking for homes. Cash/Lender lines of credit work best, but there are other options Be sure to budget enough money for the remodel. Trust me, a 1/2 finished home is not going to return 1/2 your money. Get quotes from professionals up front, then add some for the unexpected Have your target buyer in mind from the beginning. What's popular with buyers in this area/ price range? Don't over develop! Have professional representation. The listing agent... 07/24/2013

It's a Home Tour, Not A Family Reunion    I swear aunt Bertha brought a pound cake. As the cars continued to pull into  the drive, I knew how the farmer must have felt the first morning of Woodstock. There were parents, cousins, friends, and oh were there children...  Was this a client appreciation party? Nope. A house warming for a recent buyer? Negative. T'was a second showing on a SMALL starter home. It seemed everyone brought both a friend and an opinion. Let's examine why such extended gatherings are a bad idea... Too many chefs spoil the soup-- Aunt Bertha will contradict Uncle George just because she does not like him. He thinks the home is a great deal, she thinks it's a dump. You will make one mad regardless of your decision. People will make decisions based on their needs, not... 07/22/2013

Alexandria La Real Estate-The Purpose Of Property Disclosure Forms Ready to put your Alexandria La home on the market? Well, get your favorite pen ready, we have some paperwork to do! Owners are often shocked at how much paperwork is required to list a home for sale. Thanks to our litigious society, don't expect this pile to shrink anytime soon. Let's examine the logic behind the property condition disclosure form 1) To aid the owner's memory-- After living in a home for 5 plus years, it's easy to forget some of the quirks. The form guides the owner through each of the major home systems, and the land the structure is built on. I can't tell you the number of times an owner has remember a "quirk" once prompted by the questionnaire. 2) To encourage the owner to fix any issues up front-- N... 07/18/2013

    We have a new Coffee House in Central Louisiana!! 1921 Jackson Street, A Coffee House ...is located at none other than 1921 Jackson St in Alexandria, LA   I was a first time visitor this weekend with my daughter Jennifer! This is a great spot to meet up with your friends and family! You will find ample parking in the back just off the alley between 19th Street and 20th Street. This charming historical property has been passed down generations since 1916, which is really phenomenal in my book!      I happened to be there on the day that co-owner Ginger had made some fresh Blackberry Lemonade...it was simply Delish! And I think it is great and highly commendable that they buy alot of their produce local at Inglewood Farms , which is also a pretty awesome location in CenLA. We were giv... 07/15/2013

Lessons I Wish First Year Me Had Understood  Sadly, real estate school does little to prepare the newbie for real estate practice. Interested in becoming a real estate agent? Read over this list to learn from my experience. Most of these insights came at a high costs. Leverage my experience! Interesting in becoming a real estate agent in Alexandria La ? Checkout my website www.LouisianaHouseHunter.com  and give me a call. Real Estate practice is a business, not a job-- Like most people, I came to the field from a traditional 9-5. The days of salary, health insurance, expense accounts (yes you pay for your own gas), and retirement are behind you. There is a 30-45 day gap from contract to paycheck-- Kudos for writing your first contract! If everything works out, you should get paid in 30-... 07/12/2013

Bayou Properties Realty-Your Alexandria/Pineville Real Estate Resource Need to buy or sell a home in Pineville or Alexandria? Call Doug Rogers (318) 613-1994, your Alexandria La real estate expert. Explore homes for sale, area information, and more at www.LouisianaHouseHunter.com Why Bayou Properties Realty An experienced, local owner. Custom marketing plan for EVERY client. An Aggressive internet campaign designed to get your home sold Guidance throughout the entire process. Access to our network of local professionals to make your transition a smooth one. First time buyers, short sales, and full listing service Satisfaction guaranteed Using Bayou Properties Realty to Sell your Pineville La home In home consultation designed to put your home in the best possible light Comparative Marke... 06/27/2013

Alexandria Louisiana Real Estate Report-- Late Spring 2013 As we near the half way point of 2013, the Alexandria La continues to show signs of health. Lets take a closer look at recent trends from our local MLS. Got a particular question concerning your Alexandria La home? Call Doug Rogers (318) 613-1994 or click Alexandria Louisiana real estate for an appointment. Homes Currently For Sale  As of June 5th, there are 207 homes for sale in Alexandria La, priced from 75k-309k. Homes priced below this range are typically considered investment properties. Whereas  a home priced North of 310k would be considered a luxury home in this area. The average list price is 171,400 dollars. Thanks to historically low interest rates such properties appeal to a wide range of buyers. Recent Homes That Ha... 06/05/2013

3 Bedroom Home For Sale in The Alexandria La Garden District Call Doug Rogers (318) 613-1994, your Alexandria La real estate expert. Located at 2311 Hill Street, this home has been extensively updated inside and out. What to compare how 2311 Hill Street stacks up to the local competition? Click Alexandria Real Estate to view other homes for sale in the Garden District. Why 2311 Hill Street ? Stunning hardwood floors Multiple living areas Private fenced backyard Man-cave just off the kitchen Fresh interior/exterior paint Garden District Home Overview Maps Photos $122,500 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 UnitInterior: 1,965 sqft Location 2311 Hill StreetAlexandria, LA 71301USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" butto... 05/16/2013

Real Estate Lessons From The Car Lot After eight years of loyal service, it became time to retire the beloved Liberty. She served with distinction (got me through the bulk of the Great Recession with no car note), but facing a busy summer I decided to go with something new.  The Honda Pilot had caught my eye, so with pricing research in hand I headed to the local dealer. Thankfully the dealer matched an out of town price so I was able to buy local. In addition to four years of debt, I was able to pick up some real estate lessons from the dealer... 1) Successful car sales folks arrive early-- The "ten deal a month club" get to work before 8am. 2) There was no middle class-- In speaking with my sales guy there are two groups at the dealer. 1) the ten deal gang, and 2) the broke folks. Mor... 05/12/2013

4 Bedroom Home For Sale Alexandria La--104 Magnolia Ridge Call Doug Rogers (318) 613-1994, your Alexandria La real estate expert. Located at 104 Magnolia Ridge (Just past Tunks Cypress Inn), this four bedroom home has been recently reduced to 269,000 dollars. Click Alexandria La Real Estate to see how this home compares to the competition. Why 104 Magnolia Road? Located near Kincaid Lake Three FULL bathrooms Spacious kitchen with ample storage/cabinetry Multiple living areas Large Home Near Kincaid Lake Overview Maps Photos Video $269,000 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms3 Bathrooms1 UnitInterior: 2,421 sqftLot: 0.75 acre(s) Location 104 Magnolia RidgeBoyce, LA 71409USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Doug Roge... 05/10/2013

Do You Think The Great Recession Is Finally Over? I started in the real estate industry in 2008, just as things we tanking. So admittedly, all I have know in my real estate career are "interesting times". Short sales, REO, low appraisals. strict lending. Heck, it was not considered a "real" deal until 2-3 MAJOR problems were solved.  But this year things seem to be different. In my market 2012 was a productive year. But 2013 seems to have more optimism in the air. Houses are making appraisal, Fewer financing issues creep up at the last minute (perhaps due to a better pre-approval process), and overall deals are closing. Yes, there are still storm clouds on the horizon. The debt is out of control, hiring is weak, and the health care debacle over the next few years should be "fun". But pe... 04/30/2013

Every Seller. Every Friday. No Exceptions The best ideas are the ones we boldly steal from our friends. Late in 2012 I started systematically calling on expired listings. Very quickly I noticed a common complaint with sellers. "That agent stuck the sign in the ground, then disappeared". Tales of going 4-6 weeks with ZERO communication was not uncommon.  Delayed client communication is like constipation, neither get better with time. In talking to my friend and fellow agent, David Beckham, I learned that he communicates with his sellers once a week. Faster than he could say, "you owe me lunch", I adopted his idea and made it my own. Now my sellers get a call on Friday afternoon regardless of circumstances. Just like lead generation, this time is untouchable. And I must say my life has go... 04/30/2013

Avoid The "I skipped The Professional Home Inspection" Blues In life sometimes we take risks. After a careful calculation of the odds, we take that perilous leap of faith. On occasion our gambles pay off, other times not so much. Ever wondered how casinos stay in business with so many people gambling? Because most of the time the house wins!  In the housing game, sometimes buys will spin the fate bottle and skip the professional home inspection. Let's take a look at some common reasons consumers take the leap of faith... We can't afford the home inspection-- In Alexandria/Pineville home inspections are generally under 400 bucks. Don't have the cash? Borrow from a friend or family member. Still can't come up with the money? Then let's wait another month to find you a home. Yes, it's that... 04/28/2013

Responding To A Low-Ball Offer The euphoria of a new offer is quickly crushed by the writing on the paper. Dreams of a quick closing and moving on with your life are soon dashed by terms that would make even a rascal blush. So what now? Reject the offer and hope for something better? Perhaps take the home of the market and wish for better days? Before you sign that termination agreement, let's examine how to properly respond to a low ball offer... Remove emotion from the transaction-- Don't get caught up in buyer request for update allowances, closing costs, or other considerations. Focus on the bottom line. Determine how much you will net from the offer and go from there. Avoid atempts to "teach the buyer a lesson"-- I have had sellers want to counter OVER their initial asking price, j... 04/25/2013

Alexandria La Open Houses--104 Magnolia Ridge April 21 2pm-4pm Call Doug Rogers (318) 613-1994 for more information regarding this great Alexandria La open house. Located near Tunks Cypress Inn minutes from Kincaid lake, this home is perfect for someone who demands the outdoor lifestyle and close proximity to Alexandria. For only 276,500 dollars this home represents a great housing value. Stop in Sunday and see for yourself! Large Home Near Kincaid Lake Overview Maps Photos Video $276,500 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms3 Bathrooms1 UnitInterior: 2,421 sqftLot: 0.75 acre(s) Location 104 Magnolia RidgeBoyce, LA 71409USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Doug Rogers Century 21 Millennium(318) 640-2121dougsoldit@gm... 04/19/2013

Is Your "Great Home For Active Family" A Fair Housing Violation? I'm not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV. I did represent myself once while pleading a speeding ticket. By the time the proceeding was done I was facing the death penalty. So I am slooow to give legal advice but... I cringe while reading agent descriptions on the MLS. A new listing today proudly stated, "Great home for the active family". I guess slothful singles need to keep looking. Once one ad mentioned the home being in a "safe" neighborhood. Good thing it was in one of the many "dangerous" neighborhoods in our fair city. Why should I care what other agents write? Recently an agent in Florida got sued due to a listing on his website. Was it his listing? Nope, this came straight from an MLS feed that he had zero con... 04/17/2013

How Far Can ActiveRain Take you? All the way to the Chicago Tribune You never know where love or ActiveRain will take you. Consider the similarities...1) both cost money (but less as the relationship matures), 2) With love and blogging it pays to keep harsh words to yourself, and 3) both require consistent effort over time. But enough about romance, why the Chicago Tribune snip? Apparently one of my blog posts was picked up by the Chicago Tribune! Along with a couple of other ActiveRain members, my thoughts were included in an article on home upgrades.  My sphere may forget I am a real estate agent, but they won't forget that I was mentioned in a national newspaper. As soon as copyright issues are worked out, I'm getting a Tribune tattoo on my back. On second thought, perhaps I should s... 04/15/2013

My First Venture Into BlogTalkRadio-Introducing The Real Estate jungle In our business nothing is static. What was cutting edge in 2012 looks "Little House on the Prairie esq" in 2013. With that in mind I would like to introduce my first attempt at Blogtalkradio. I was introduced to this forum by a sales manger in Baton Rouge. In our field replication is the sincerest form of flattery. Yes the audio is a little rough for the first 22 seconds. Silly me thought this would be easy to clip and fix. Nope. But like my coach says,"If you wait for perfection, nothing gets done. Here goes! Listen to internet radio with The Real Estate Jungle on Blog Talk Radio 04/12/2013

Burning Up Your Home's Equity, One Cigarette At A Time Besides the healthy risks to smoking, lighting up can be hazardous your home's equity as well. Got a home to sell in Pineville La that has been smoked in? Here are some steps to help reduce the damage. Stop smoking inside ASAP-- This means RIGHT NOW, 100% of the time. Even when it is cold outside, go outside to enjoy that smooth tobacco flavor. "Containing" the smoke in one room is about as effective as "low-Tar" cigarettes. Remember them? Replace or Remove All drapes and bedding-- That fabric has served as a "smoke sponge" the last twenty years. And grandma's couch? Better put it to the curb as well... Allow the house to breathe-- Weather permitting, open all windows and doors every day. Paint interior walls--Ever removed a paintin... 04/12/2013