New Orleans Louisiana Real Estate and Community Blog 

There are some wonderful homes for sale in the Slidell area. Here are just a few:

A Glorious Slidell Craftsman Home

On a spacious corner lot in central Slidell sits an old style craftsman cottage that has been modernized to the hilt– new wiring, plumbing, floors, siding, windows and roof – so that it gleams in the sultry Louisiana sun. With a chef size kitchen and all stainless steel appliances which are included in the sale, a large open floor plan and a huge outdoor deck, it’s a wonderful home to entertain and live in. Wood floors cover the oversized spacious living room, as well as the three bedrooms. One of the bedrooms can easily double as a study. Both bathrooms have new fixtures and tile. The master has its own bath suite with a separate shower and clawfoot tub. Located at 1208 St. Tammany, call Trish at 985-707-5035 at any time to make an appointment and see your next home. Priced at $144,900, with the seller offering to pay $3000 in buyer prepaids and closing costs, it’s a wonderful property for those ready to relax and enjoy life.

Charming Raised Acadian Home

Nestled in the back woods of Lake Pontchartrain near Coin de Lestin sits a majestic Acadian home that rises above the world into the peace and quiet on half an acre. A grand entry with heart of pine floors and a stately dining area greet you when you first walk into the home, followed by an open floor plan designed for living enjoyment. A large kitchen with granite counters, a center island, a full set of appliances, which are included in the sale, are waiting for you to come and play. The master suite sits privately on the first floor while the remaining three large bedrooms with plenty of storage space are located on the second floor. A large, open landing is also upstairs which can be used as a study, playroom or extra entertainment space. All this is wrapped by a picturesque front porch and a large back deck on which you can sit and what the world go by. Priced at $249,700, this home is located at 57411 Claiborne. An open house will be held on Sunday, August 31 from 12:00-2:00 or call Trish at 985-707-5035 and we can schedule a viewing when it’s convenient for you. Come make a deal and move into your next home!

As always, if you have any questions call me at 985-707-5035 or email me a pbennett@latterblum.com. Let’s get you moving! Anywhere in the country, I can get you there.

Posted by:Patricia Bennett

Often when you live in an area, things can become so second nature you may not remember that visitors may not have an inkling of what you are speaking about. A brick between post home is a perfect example of such terminology. Just what is that? It simply refers to a historic home most likely constructed in the 18th century whose walls are built with bricks placed between wooden posts. In the Creole vernacular, it is referred to as brique entre poteaux. For most visitors, Lafitte’s Blacksmith shop, located at the corner of Bourbon and St. Philip in the French Quarter, springs to mind as the best known example of a brick between post construction.

Most historians can trace the beginnings of brick between post construction to the establishment in 1725 of the first brick yard in New Orleans. At that point, brick foundations replaced rotting sills and bricks were soon placed between posts for greater stability and insulation in homes rather than basic wood construction. Due to the porous nature of our bricks and coupled with the exposure to the elements, it soon became apparent that it was necessary to cover the bricks first with boards and later with cement stucco for protection. The Pitot House Museum in the Faubourg St. John neighborhood is a prime example of a brick between post home covered with stucco. Today you occasionally can find an exposed brick between post home that has been restored and sits among our other great historic homes. The advent of sealers has meant that covering the bricks with stucco is no longer the only option, although it may be the correct historic option.

Learning about local historic architecture can prevent costly and unwarranted mistakes. Following Katrina, an investor bought a home in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood that had been neglected for several years. Imagine his surprise when during construction a brick between post home emerged with the addition of a painted advertisement on the brick for French Market coffee. What a find! Those of us in the area were thrilled at his good fortune and could not wait to see his ultimate restoration. Sadly, for whatever reason, the investor removed every brick and post in that historic home. It can never be replaced. Now it sits as a shell of itself while the investor and the Historic District Landmark Commission come up with a solution for what has occurred. Not a happy ending, but just a cautionary tale.

Please call me at 504-812-8481 if I can be of any help in searching for one of our many historic homes including a brique entre poteaux!

Posted by:Carol-Jean Dixon

Your employer informs you that you have been transferred to New Orleans and have to be there in 30 days. Oh no! Susie is going to be a senior in the fall and little Johnny is a star ball player at the neighborhood playground. I have to break the news to my spouse who just received a promotion for the Widget Company. What am I going to do?

Don’t fret, the LATTER & BLUM Relocation Department can help!

With a call to either of our referral coordinators we can counsel you on the area and provide you with a custom relocation packet full of information on the area. The information will assist you in making an informed decision whether you decide to rent or buy a home. We can help you with your housing needs whatever you decide is best for you and your family. A typical packet contains housing data, rental guides, “Where Magazine”, Chamber Guides and a compact disc with school information, area demographics, health care, housing and much more. Our associates, who are matched to each transferee, are knowledgeable about the area and can help find suitable housing meeting your needs and requirements.

Regarding Susie, the senior, we have the ability of contacting local high schools and have one or more students contact her and welcome her to the new school. These students can make Susie welcomed long before she ever arrives to the new area. We have found that they share photos of the school along with the many activities, and most importantly to a young lady, fashion styles. Little Johnny is much easier because he is outgoing and easily adaptable to any situation. All he needs is a ball and bat, football or basketball and he can make a new friend anywhere. School pen pals can be of assistance to him as well.

Spousal assistance is another of the many services we can assist you with. Through our relationships with local companies and organizations, the resume’ of a spouse can be shared in hopes that it matches the needs of one of the companies. If the children and spouse are happy in their new location then the transferee can be productive in his/her job quickly. This makes the employer, transferee and his/her family happy – a Win-Win for all.

Posted by:Nancy Harmann

I’ve heard agents with other companies comment that holding an open house on Sunday for a listing is not a useful tool in selling a property. If you think that someone will walk in during an open house and right away say, “I’ll take it!” then yes, I’d agree that this truly is a rare event.

But to me, I think of an open house as an opportunity to plant a ‘seed of interest’ in a potential buyer. Even if a buyer doesn’t make an offer on a home they saw during an open house that same day, that doesn’t mean the open house was a waste of time. If a buyer likes the home as they take a tour, it will stick with them. Then, who knows? Perhaps they’ll like the home enough to go to a financial institution and get pre-approved for a loan. They may want a second viewing or tell a friend about the home, who in turn could become interested. Or maybe they’ll call for more specific information on the home to see if it’s something they could really want.

At a minimum, I try to hold an open house for a listing at least once every 3 to 4 weeks. Depending on the area and the price range of the home, I may hold an open house more often. Too, holding an open house must be in conjunction with the seller’s schedule. It’s a big chore for a seller to do a detailed cleaning of a house from top to bottom, cut the grass and weed the flower beds. Sellers should remember that it’s fair game during an open house for people to open closets, look inside cupboards, and go inside your bathrooms and laundry room. A home open to the public needs to look perfect for those few precious hours. But eventually, by holding an open house, that seed of interest will get planted with the right person until it eventually grows into an offer.

As always, if you have any questions call me at 985-707-5035 or email me a pbennett@latterblum.com. Let’s get you moving! Anywhere in the country, I can get you there.

Posted by:Patricia Bennett

The rate has been decreased to 26.40 mills, down from 26.85 mills.

A homeowner that occupies a home as their primary residence qualifies for homestead exemption of $75,000 of valuation.

Examples of the new rates for owner occupied property are:

One more reason …

St. Charles Parish is the place to be!

Posted by:Chuck Sheefel

Just over the nearly completed Interstate 10 bridge from New Orleans is Slidell, LA where a major discount mall existed before Katrina, you will find the new Slidell Commercial Center.

Today, new owners have refurbished the 250,000 sq ft center with a variety of beautiful exteriors, new roofs, and with well manicured landscaping.

Unlike many other similar sites, this center is entirely made up of commercial condominium units. Thus, someone wishing to open a business or relocate an office can either buy or lease spaces from 2,200 sq ft to 22,000 sq ft.

Other large commercial developments in St. Tammany Parish have held up construction due to the weak retail situation in today’s economy. However, this building is built, these streets are in, the parking lot is ready, and you can have your business up and running in a relatively short period of time. And, you are located right on Interstate 10 at Old Spanish Trail.

The owners are willing to build out to a plain vanilla box or to let you do things your way.

And did I mention rates? You can lease for as little as $12/sq ft/yr or purchase for as little as $60/sq ft… both of which are far less than the market rate for typical New Orleans commercial real estate, other comparable Slidell properties, and much, much less than what you would pay at the nearby Fremaux Summit complex when it becomes ready in a few years.

A great deal of the retail market in Slidell is shifting to this side of town as the proximity of the new bridge will easily transport drivers from New Orleans safely to the Gulf Coast or to the north.

Drop by www.skipweber.com for videos, more photos, and additional information.

Posted by:Skip Weber

As the summer winds down and kids start school yet again, those with homes still to sell begin to take stock of what has come and gone…and ask what else can be done to help get their home sold ASAP.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic spell that will immediately deliver a buyer willing to pay full asking price. But that doesn’t mean nothing can be done. Along with your real estate agent, here are some suggestions to help move towards that final goal of a sale:

1. Understand What’s Selling: The seller’s agent should provide every 4-6 weeks a market assessment of what comparable homes have sold within a 1 mile radius during the last 3 months. This ensures that the seller knows how price competitive their house is with established market values.


2. Price Adjustment: Hand in hand with #1 is that the agent and the seller regularly review their current pricing strategy and adjust it based on continuing market conditions. It’s often hard for a seller to hear that comparable homes sold for less than what the seller is currently asking. But better to adjust the home’s price now to draw in buyers than have to continually pay mortgage notes because your home isn’t attracting buyers.


3. Buyer Incentives: Most buyers are using every cent they have to buy a home. So offering incentives such as paying a portion or all of a buyer’s prepaid and closing costs, paying for a buyer’s home warranty or adding all of the appliances into the home’s sale are always attractive features to any potential buyer.


4. Adjust Marketing: Work with your agent to understand what additional marketing can be done to widen the home’s exposure. Sometimes it’s not just a matter of running more advertisements in the newspaper. Look at doing an online virtual tour of the home, broadening the home’s internet exposure on sites such as Twitter, Facebook and the agent’s real estate website.

Whatever the seller and their agent decide, the important thing to remember is patience and persistence. A home will sell. But make sure you are effective and efficient with how you pursue this goal….and work with your agent to continually implement creative ways to get your house sold!

As always, if you have any questions call me at 985-707-5035 or email me at pbennett@latterblum.com. Let’s get you moving! Anywhere in the country, I can get you there.

Posted by:Patricia Bennett

Everyone knows curb appeal is a big deal when selling your home. It’s so important to have the front of your house in immaculate condition and nicely landscaped. We’ve all seen stark mini-mansions with absolutely no or little landscaping. Shrubs, trees, vines, and flowering plants will perk your place up like no tomorrow. And, you don’t need a professional landscaper, do it yourself. It’s terrific therapy! It’s essential to show your real estate investment off at its best!

One of the Bywater houses I just listed had a back yard 15’ x 36’ covered with cement!!! Awful! Told the owners the concrete had to go. The sellers hired a company to remove and haul the cement for $800.00 and had sod installed for $558 (sod, delivery, and labor). It looks like a totally different home! The next door neighbor has a baby goat named Olatungee who’s eyeing the new grass with a drooling mouth–no way, girl!

Some showy plants for livening up a yard are Hibiscus, Texas Star, Knockout Roses, Yesterday Today & Tomorrow, Asters, Lantana, Gardenia (smells SO good), Althea (Rose of Sharon), Bleeding Heart (red and white or purple & red), Cherries Jubilee, Zinnias, Passion Plant, and Morning Glory (be careful with this baby as it will take over your yard, requires constant trimming!)

Don’t forget the interior or your home–flowers brighten up a room and give it some pizzazz!

All the plants in these photos are from my yard…Happy planting!

Posted by:Lane Lacoy

It’s Sunday morning and you have been wanting to see some homes in your area .

How about visiting an Open House or two?

While you enjoy your favorite morning beverage, think of the approximate size, price, and location of a home you might like to visit .

To find where an Open House will be held, use this handy link to the Latter & Blum website …

and then click this icon :

While you are there, learn about not only the homes that you want to visit, but other homes in the area so that you can compare. Then, if you find the Open House you visit doesn’t suit your needs, you will have an idea of what others are available.

So get out there and see some homes … before the great deals get away !

See you soon!


Posted by:Chuck Sheefel

When selling a home, everyone knows a neat, clean tidy home makes a great first impression, and can often mean the difference between a showing and a sale. Sometimes we don’t always see what a potential buyer may see. Or we may not always showcase our home in the best light. Often it’s the smallest things that can make one home shine over another. So think in terms of these suggestions when preparing your home for sale:

• Clean and freshen your patio, front entrance, and yard with new plants and flowers. Remove and replace dead plants. No one likes seeing wilted life at an entrance!
  
• Thoroughly clean your house including your front entrance, all doors, and all windows. Pretend the President is stopping by for a visit.
  
• Remove as much stuff and clutter from the floor like waste baskets, pet beds, litter boxes, magazine baskets, etc, as possible. It will open your room up and give the appearance of more space. Okay, pull it out again after every showing, but trust me, it makes your home more inviting! No one wants to see or smell a litter box!
  
• Consider removing (gasp!) about 30% of your furniture. This will visually open up your rooms and allow for more space, a key component of every buyer, young or old. Everyone is looking for more space when they buy.
  
• Remove photographs and mementos from your refrigerator door. I know this is hard, but trust me, potential buyers will often stop and stare at your personal stuff, and you really want the attention on the house not your beach photos! In fact, if you can manage it, remove all personal photographs. It is just too tempting for potential buyers to stop and gaze on your life’s activities. I see it every day!
  
• Clear your kitchen counters of small appliances and clutter. No peanut butter jars, loaves of bread or dirty dishes.. Again, space and cleanliness are essential.
  

• Clear your bathroom vanity of all clutter including makeup, hair brushes, hair dryer, etc. Even your toothbrush. As strange as it sounds, remove your toilet plunger, put out a full roll of toilet paper on your roll, and remove wet towels. Your bathroom should look like a showplace.
  

• And didn’t your momma teach you to make your bed and hang up your clothes?
  

Well, the list isn’t a complete list, but it certainly gets you moving in the right direction. Once you start to de-clutter you will become an expert a making your home shine to a potential buyer! What you are trying to accomplish, is for a potential buyer to imagine themselves in your home. A clean, clutter free home that reflects that same sort of lifestyle-clean, clutter free and stress free.

Please call me at 504-812-8481 or email me at cjdixon@latterblum.com if I can be of any help!

Posted by:Carol-Jean Dixon

If not now then when!

For a while now, we have been bombarded with negative news about the economy. So how has it really effected us? Last December we were told to expect gas prices this summer to be in the $5.00 dollar range, not at $2.50. With the second lowest unemployment in the south, Louisiana has become one of the fastest growing states in the nation. New Orleans has continued to grow at a rapid rate surpassing many other communities with major conventions, sporting events, movie making, construction, and industry…

Purchasing a home is a major decision, so why miss a great opportunity? With some of the lowest interest rates in 25 years in a buyers market, a homebuyer should find a nice home at a good price and a great investment. Don’t be sorry you didn’t act. Opportunities like these won’t last.

If the Westbank of New Orleans sounds like the place for you, click here to search for properties.

Posted by:John Moore