DMC Carter Chambers Inc, A Baton Rouge-based industrial equipment company has plans to spend about $10 million to build a new headquarter facility in the Baton Rouge area. While the company had considered relocating their headquarters to Houston, Texas, they have reverted back to their home and decided to stay put and expand here in Baton Rouge.
The Baton Rouge movers are thrilled at the new employment opportunities that will come to the city. Aside from construction and manual labor work to perform the upgrades, the expansion will add about 80 jobs over the next nine years.
Apartment complexes can be an interesting place to live, and you have to put a lot of trust in fellow tenants. Recently in Baton Rouge, a maintenance worker came across two homemade bombs while performing routine maintenance in an undisclosed apartment complex. Following police notification, units picked up the bombs and relocated them to a police shooting range where the were detonated.
Reports share that there are no known motives—or suspects. The Baton Rouge movers want to remind you to report any suspicious activity or strange behavior from people around you. It’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid any situations down the road.
According to The Advocate, home sales in the greater Baton Rouge area rose 21 percent in April. In raw numbers, there were 510 home sales in April 2011 and this April brought 616. In dollars, that’s about $16 million more than April 2011’s earnings. Sales were up in East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Livingston parishes.
But April isn’t the only month raking in sales—so far this year, 2012 figures are up 18 percent in comparison to this time last year, and financial figures are 16 percent higher. The Baton Rouge movers are optimistic at what the rest of the year holds for our local real estate economy and industry.
Baton Rouge isn’t the only city to sport the Twin Peaks restaurant—the company has decided to expand to fellow Louisiana city Lafayette. The restaurant, which prides itself on delicious food and refreshing beer in a mountain lodge style restaurant. Also famous at the establishment? The Twin Peaks girls, who serve food to Louisianians with a smile. The restaurant also plans to expand to Arizona, Texas and Indiana, as well as to other cities in Louisiana.
The company that owns Twin Peaks is a development company here in Baton Rouge, called C & L Enterprises. They have shared with the Baton Rouge movers that they intend to open a second Baton Rouge location soon.
According to statistics from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, home sales were up in March by 14 percent and rounded out the first quarter of the new year with a 17 percent increase of the same time period in 2011. The greater metro area is comprised of eight parishes.
For the March 2012 breakdown, the Baton Rouge movers have learned a few things:
-Dollar volume rose 8% (to $119.2 million)
-648 homes were sold in March; 1,590 for the quarter
-The average time a home spent on the market was 134 days
Though it’s been a rocky road to get here, the last few months have shown that there are positive things ahead for the Baton Rouge real estate market. New commercial tenants are coming to the area thanks to state privatization, and low pricing for natural gas is also bringing industrial development.
While interest rates have remained low, there is a lack of new construction happening in the area. Some feel this is better, as it will encourage the movement of current inventory, which the Baton Rouge movers know is good for the whole market. Also, there is still a definite market for apartments and multi-bedroom homes in the region as LSU remains a large draw for young adults and students seeking temporary housing.
New construction in the Baton Rouge area is showing signs of life again, most notably in the recent flurry of “For Sale” signs and construction material sales. The need for new homes is attributed to the amount of Baton Rouge residents looking to buy again. The Baton Rouge movers are certainly excited and hope the trend continues throughout the rest of this year.
Currently, south Baton Rouge hasn’t caught on as a place for development, mainly because of the high crime associated with the area. Despite the reputation, it’s a convenient part of town that buyers and builders are starting to see value in. While there are certainly other parts of town that have flourished, south Baton Rouge has the most convenient access to highways and other amenities around town. We are excited to see what developments come to south Baton Rouge.
The Baton Rouge real estate market is continually showing improvements, a trend that has carried over since the end of 2011. Currently, home sales rose 20% in February. 508 homes were sold this year in February, compared to last year’s 422.
Valuation of homes is also on the rise—it’s now 29% higher to the tune of $97.2 million. So far this year, about 940 homes have been sold, where the same period of 2011 sold about 795. That’s an 18% annual rise thus far.
The Baton Rouge movers are anxious to see if this trend continues, as we’ve waited quite a while for the local real estate market to hit an equilibrium again following the housing crisis several years ago. We’ll be sure to report March activity as it becomes available.
Louisiana is in need of up-front cash to avoid taking on debts, and Governor Bobby Jindal has an idea of how to make it happen. By selling a state mental hospital, a parking lot overlooking the Capitol, and also a central Louisiana prison, Jindal feels the state could garner $75 million. $35 million of this would go to next year’s budget, and $40 million to state savings.
The Baton Rouge movers know there is value in the properties, just not for the state. In fact, taxpayers are funding to keep these unused buildings in working condition—and sales could return them to a productive place that would also employ locals.
This session will serve as time to contemplate the sales.
Last weekend, Brad Pitt’s Louisiana charity, Make It Right, hosted “A Night to Make it Right” to raise money for New Orleans. While contributions are still being calculated, so far over $5 million has been tallied.
The event, which included New Orleans natives like Ellen DeGeneres, Baton Rouge natives like Randy Jackson, and Saints players such as Drew Brees, were treated to exceptional plates by Emeril Legasse and several other New Orleans chefs.
The goal at the moment is to complete 150 houses—right now, the charity is at 76. The fund raised will be enough to complete the remaining homes. The Baton Rouge movers are glad that such a charitable group turned out to contribute to a worthy cause here in the great state of Louisiana.
