Acadiana Business

Most Expensive Home Sales of 2013

by Patrick Flanagan

Increases in higher-end home sales say a lot about the health of the overall market.

Last year broke the housing sales records in Lafayette Parish, eclipsing the staggering sales surge the market experienced in 2007. Home sales - 3,183 sold - in 2013 beat out 2012 by 21 percent and 2007 by 19 percent.

Like just about every category, high-end sales were hot. Six homes priced at $1 million and above sold in the parish in 2012, and 15 sold last year.

Van Eaton & Romero's Charlie Baudoin points out that while 19 homes in the upper end range of $750,000 to $3 million sold in 2012, an impressive 35 sold in that range last year. "So far in 2014 there are nine pending home sales $750,000 and up," Baudoin tells ABiz (his figures are Multiple Listing Service only, meaning they don't include homes sold by owners).

Taking in the MLS homes that sold for $500,000 or more boosts the 2012 number to 76 and the 2013 figure to 100, according to Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate's Steven Hebert. "I think looking at the $500,000 and up market gives a real good picture because there are so few $1 million-plus sales," Hebert says, noting that there are currently 81 homes on the market priced between $500,000 and $1 million.

"The reason I look at these sales is because they are a good forecast of what is coming. Buyers in this price range, in general, have the luxury to wait for the time to be right to buy and sell," Hebert says. "They typically are comfortable where they are [and] buy or sell out of desire instead of necessity. ... They are some of the first to buy in a market that has been down and recovering and continue to buy when they think real estate is going to continue to appreciate. The other factor is that they leave behind homes that provide inventory for move-up buyers. This inventory and any movement in the move-up market was lacking in the 2008 to 2010 period while this group sat on their hands, waiting for better times."

For the first time since 2009, a newly constructed home - 228 English Gardens Parkway in Brookshire Gardens Subdivision - sold for more than $1 million. That 5,400-square-foot home was purchased for $1.3 million. Right now there are 18 homes on the market priced at more than $1 million.

Both Baudoin and Hebert say the fact that the people with so much disposable income are in a buying posture signals good news for the market this year.

Lafayette Parish's Top 10

1.
Address: 114 KINGSWALK, $2,900,000
Subdivision: Kingswood Estates
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 5 Bedrooms, 5 Full Baths, 1 Half Bath
Total Square Footage: 5,096 on 1.9 acres (sale included 2,946-sq.-ft. guest house and two adjacent parcels on Ridgeway Drive)
Price Per Square Foot: $569.07
Year Built: 1997
Seller: James Hutchison and Claudia Daigre Hutchison
Buyer: Bryan Hanks and Michelle Bellard Hanks
Listing Agent: n/a
Selling Agent: n/a
Closed: March 15

Address: 3549 VEROT SCHOOL ROAD, $2,530,000
Subdivision: n/a
Bedrooms/Baths: 5 Bedrooms, 6 Full Baths, 2 Half Baths
Total Square Footage: 9,294 on 18.4 Acres
Price Per Square Foot: $272.22
Year Built: 6-10 years old
Seller: Dwayne Hargroder and Anita Hargroder
Buyer: Energy Solutions Consultants
Listing Agent: Teresa Hamilton/Van Eaton & Romero
Selling Agent: Robbie Breaux/Van Eaton & Romero
Closed: April 26
[Editor's Note: this home was completely destroyed by fire Jan. 19]

Address: 155 SHANNON ROAD, $2,425,000
Subdivision: Greenbriar Estates
Bedrooms/Baths: 4 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths, 3 Half Baths
Total Square Footage: 8,580 square feet
Price Per Square Foot: $282.63
Year Built: 16 - 20 years old
Seller: Dr. John Cobb
Buyer: Randolph Michael Moity Sr. and Donna Marie Doerle Moity
Listing Agent: Susan Coté/Coldwell Banker Pelican
Selling Agent: Janice Simar/Van Eaton & Romero
Closed: Jan. 28

Address: 540 BEAULLIEU DRIVE, $2,175,000   
Subdivision: Beaullieu Estates
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths
Total Square Footage: 6,148
Price Per Square Foot: $353.77
Year Built: 11 - 15 years old
Seller: Gregory Champagne
Buyer: Ronald Brumley and Alison Brumley
Listing Agent: Susan Strait/Van Eaton & Romero
Selling Agent: Wendy McCombie/Coldwell Banker Pelican
Closed: Aug. 9

Address: 111 THIBODEAUX DRIVE, $1,525,000    
Subdivision: Whittington Oaks
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 4 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths
Total Square Footage: 4,961
Price Per Square Foot: $307.40
Year Built: 1975 (31 - 40 years old)
Seller: James McQuitty and Claudia McQuitty
Buyer: Leslie Jacobs
Listing Agent: Missy Guilliot/Van Eaton & Romero
Selling Agent: Sandy Thibodeaux/Coldwell Banker Pelican
Closed: May 31


 
6.
Address: 203 SILVER OAK LANE, $1,325,000
Subdivision: Vintage Park
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 4 Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths
Total Square Footage: 5,934
Price Per Square Foot: $223.29
Year Built: 2008 (4 - 5 years old)
Seller: Robert Crosby and Susan Crosby
Buyer: Jeffery Landry and Sharon Landry
Listing Agent: Tiffany Chiasson/Coldwell Banker Pelican
Selling Agent: Tommy Hayes/Coldwell Banker Pelican
Closed: Sept. 16
  
7.
Address: 1414 E. BAYOU PARKWAY, $1,300,000
Subdivision: n/a
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 4 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths, 2 Half Baths
Total Square Footage: 6,273
Price Per Square Foot: $207.24
Year Built: 1952 (51 - 75 years old)
Seller: Estate of J.C. Chargois Jr.
Buyer: Helmer
Listing Agent: Allen Duhe/Van Eaton & Romero
Selling Agent: Marianne Steckler/Van Eaton & Romero
Closed: Dec. 2

Address: 200 SOUTHERN PINES DRIVE, $1,300,000
Subdivision: River Ranch
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 3 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths, 2 Half Baths    
Total Square Footage: 4,712
Price Per Square Foot: $275.89
Year Built: 2003 (6 - 10 years old)
Seller: Randolph J. Hebert
Buyer: William Roth and Jennifer Roth
Listing Agent: Teresa Hamilton/Van Eaton & Romero
Selling Agent: Teresa Hamilton/Van Eaton & Romero
Closed: March 15

Address: 417 BILTMORE WAY, $1,300,000
Subdivision: River Ranch
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths
Total Square Footage: 4,634
Price Per Square Foot: $280.54
Year Built: 2006 (6 - 10 years old)
Seller: Kelsey E. Roberson Intervivos Trust
Buyer: Beau Billeaud and Heather Billeaud
Listing Agent: Joan Navarre/Van Eaton & Romero
Selling Agent: Charles Baudoin/Van Eaton & Romero
Closed: Aug. 27

Address: 142-A GATEAU ROAD, $1,280,000
Subdivision: The Farm
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 3 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths
Total Square Footage: 3,884, on 35 Acres
Price Per Square Foot: $329.56
Year Built: 2005 (4 - 5 years old)
Seller: Daniel Menard
Buyer: Corbino
Listing Agent: Randy Lolley/THE LOLLEY GROUP
Selling Agent: Alison Martin/Keaty Real Estate
Closed: April 8