Residential real estate in Lafayette Parish did it again in 2014, besting 2013’s total sales of 3,184 homes by 3.2 percent to set yet another record. The dollar value of homes reported to the Multiple Listing Service in Lafayette Parish rose about 7.8 percent, increasing from $674.2 million in 2013 to $726.9 million last year. Buoyed by a strong December dollar volume increase of 13.3 percent, average and median sales prices also outperformed 2013.
The real story of the year, however was new home sales, which posted a remarkable 22 percent increase. In all, 1,116 new homes were built and sold in Lafayette Parish alone last year, totalling $278 million, with an average sales price of $249,500. The year before 988 homes were built and sold for $228 million, with an average price of $231,000.
Probably not wise to bet on another record this year. “Anything and everything you have heard in the last 25 years about the diversification of the Lafayette and Acadiana economy will be put to its biggest test in 2015,” Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate’s Steven Hebert writes in his year-end report. “Uncertainty looms against a background of drastically falling crude oil prices.”
Still, we’re mighty content with the year that was. And once again, ABiz looks back on the biggest home sales of the year.
LAFAYETTE PARISH’S TOP 10
1. $3.73 MILLION
ADDRESS: 2617 Robley Drive (includes additional acreage)
SUBDIVISION: N/A
BEDROOMS/BATHS: 6 bedrooms/6 full baths, 2 half
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 10,000
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $372.50
YEAR BUILT: 21-30 years old
SELLER: William J. Dore
BUYER: Delmar Roman Crochet and Rickie Landry Crochet
LISTING AGENT: Janet Begneaud, Van Eaton & Romero
SELLING AGENT: Paula Gamble, Van Eaton & Romero
CLOSED: 4/10
2. $2.33 MILLION
ADDRESS: 157 Shannon Road
SUBDIVISION: Greenbriar Estates
BEDROOMS/BATHS: 6 bedrooms/5 full baths, 1 half
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 7,011
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $331.62
YEAR BUILT: 21-30 years old
SELLER: Daryl G. Byrd and Laura E. Byrd
BUYER: Theo B. Bean Jr. Family Trust
LISTING AGENT: Melanie Lunn, Van Eaton & Romero
SELLING AGENT: Deborah Foreman, Keaty Real Estate
CLOSED: 11/21
3. $1.3 MILLION
ADDRESS: 410 Biltmore Way
SUBDIVISION: River Ranch
BEDROOMS/BATHS: 4 bedrooms/4 full baths, 1 half
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,691
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $350.85
YEAR BUILT: 2008
SELLER: Gwendolyn A. Rieber
BUYER: Michael Joseph Schutte and Mary Jo Stalter Schutte
LISTING AGENT: Frances Prejean, Southern Lifestyle Realty
SELLING AGENT: Sara Whitney, Van Eaton & Romero
CLOSED: 9/8
4. $1.21 MILLION
ADDRESS: 234 English Gardens Pkwy.
SUBDIVISION: Brookshire Gardens
BEDROOMS/BATHROOMS: 6 bedrooms/4 full baths, 2 half
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 5,040
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $240.87
YEAR BUILT: 2012
SELLER: James Timmy Bearb and Karen OReilly Bearb
BUYER: Frank C. LeBlanc and Patricia Borison LeBlanc
LISTING AGENT: Corrine Dupont and JoEllen Coussan, Van Eaton & Romero
SELLING AGENT: Tonya Ellis, Van Eaton & Romero
CLOSED: 9/4
5. $1.14 MILLION
ADDRESS: 205 Waterside Drive
SUBDIVISION: Fernewood
BEDROOMS/BATHROOMS: 4 bedrooms/4 full baths
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,653
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $243.93
YEAR BUILT: 1998
SELLER: William Stanley Hawthorne
BUYER: Neal Guidry Onebane and Donna Marie McGee Onebane
LISTING AGENT: Melanie Lunn, Van Eaton & Romero
SELLING AGENT: Adam Angers, Keaty Real Estate
CLOSED: 3/6
6. $1.05 MILLION
ADDRESS: 901 Richland Ave.
SUBDIVISION: River Ranch
BEDROOMS/BATHROOMS: 4 bedrooms/3 full baths, 1 half
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,299
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $244.24
YEAR BUILT: 11-15 years old
SELLER: Stephen M. Sullivan and J’annine Louise Sullivan
BUYER: Joshua Scott Landes and Christine Marie Landes
LISTING AGENT: Roz Kenny and Marianne Steckler, Van Eaton & Romero
SELLING AGENT: Carole Horn, Van Eaton & Romero
CLOSED: 11/3
7. $1.05 MILLION
ADDRESS: 203 Worth Ave.
SUBDIVISION: River Ranch
BEDROOMS/BATHROOMS: 5 bedrooms/4 full baths, 1 half
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,977
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $262.76
YEAR BUILT: 2010
SELLER: John D. Escott and Shauna B. Escott
BUYER: John Milton Egle and Beverly Hebert Egle
LISTING AGENT: Bill Stephens, Van Eaton & Romero
SELLING AGENT: Bill Stephens, Van Eaton & Romero
CLOSED: 3/26
8. $985,000
ADDRESS: 106 Glenleven Drive
SUBDIVISION: Fernewood
BEDROOMS/BATHROOMS: 6 bedrooms/5 full baths, 2 half
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 5,703
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $172.72
YEAR BUILT: 1997
SELLER: David G. Rainbolt and Gayelyn Rush Rainbolt
BUYER: Gaylyn Rae Lombard Hebert
LISTING AGENT: Deborah Foreman, Keaty Real Estate
SELLING AGENT: Emily Babineaux, Par Realty
CLOSED: 10/30
9. $950,000
ADDRESS: 428 Shelly Drive
SUBDIVISION: Whittington Oaks
BEDROOMS/BATHROOMS: 4 bedrooms/four full baths, 2 half
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 5,471
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $173.64
YEAR BUILT: 41-50 years old
SELLER: Michael W. Musso and Anna D. Musso
BUYER: Joshua Lee Proffitt and Susan Taylor Proffitt
LISTING AGENT: Teresa Hamilton, Van Eaton & Romero
SELLING AGENT: Eliana Ashkar, Van Eaton & Romero
CLOSED: 6/5
10. $900,000
ADDRESS: 120 English Gardens Pkwy.
SUBDIVISION: Brookshire Gardens
BEDROOMS/BATHROOMS: 4 bedrooms/4 full baths, 1 half
TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,130
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $217.92
YEAR BUILT: New
SELLER: Kenneth Wayne Bernhard Jr. and Rohini Sood Bernhard
BUYER: Courtney Lynn Meagher
LISTING AGENT: Matt Andrus, Dwight Andrus Real Estate
SELLING AGENT: Matt Andrus, Dwight Andrus Real Estate
CLOSED: 6/12
Source: All information obtained through public records
What’s Missing?
Not on this year’s list is one of the largest residential transactions of the year, 421 Biltmore Way in River Ranch, a private sale not run through the Multiple Listing Service. ABiz was unable to determine the exact sales price (the price is recorded as $1,000 “and good and valuable considerations” in the parish courthouse). Real estate sources, however, confirm that the home sold for more than $500 a square foot, potentially a record for River Ranch. City-parish permitting records indicate the home has 6,685 square feet of living space, which would value the transaction at about $3.34 million on the lower end. A recording in the tax assessor’s office dated Sept. 29 notes that the seller was J. Michael Poole Sr. and Terri M. Poole and the buyer Melanie Christine Mosing.