Expert: Dick Dennis - 4/28/2005

Question
I am sorry, but Lisa Carey wasn't able to answer your question

Hi...thanks for taking the time to answer my question.

I have a 2 part question:

1) What remodeling or other changes increase the value of your home and provide the largest return?
I am thinking of selling my home in the next year and have several things I am thinking of doing:
A) Adding paver patio
B) Re-Modeling bathrooms
C) Updating kitchen countertops
D) etc..

I'm wondering what changes increase home value the most...not just from my list of changes, but any suggestions would be great.

2) I currently live in Fernley, Nevada and am thinking about relocating to Mandeville, Louisiana. Currently I live in a 3BR, 2 Bath home taht I bought for $130k and think I will be able to sell for roughly $220k.

What kind of home price can I expect in Mandeville Louisiana next spring for a 4 BR home? Our family is growing...haha.

I'd like to get something in the $150- $175k range, but want to live in a nice neighborhood. Is this realistic? Are the home prices in Mandeville increasing as quickly as they are in Northern Nevada?

Thanks for the help.

Danny  

Answer
First of all, Danny, who is Lisa Carey (at the top of this message)?

You have asked some pretty good questions. Let me address them as they have been presented:

By far remodeling the kitchen is your best bet when you are ready to sell your residence. Please remember, it's the female that decides which house is to be purchased, mostly.

Next are the bathrooms. Finally the bedrooms. As for outside, making it prim and nice in most cases is sufficient. To spend money on outside paving (unless it terribly needs it) is money that will not bring as much return.

I don't know why you have to move to Louisiana, but be aware that it is probably one of the lowest priced states for housing. There's a reason: the humidity. They measure rain there in feet, not inches. But if you are looking to see what real estate values are there, I suggest you do a little homework with your computer. Call up some real estate offices in the area in which you are interested and get an idea of what prices are. Better yet, (I have done this myself when I anticipated moving elsewhere) go there and do your due diligence.

It so happens that Nevada is one of the fastest growing states in the country when it comes to population, mostly around Las Vegas, albeit, but nevertheless you may find price appreciation moving faster there. Louisiana has always been a slow mover, pricewise.

I do wish you well, Danny.

Dick Dennis,   dixiedee13@aol.com