New Orleans Communities - Home

What’s A Good Time to Spring Forward?

2010-03-12T20:38:00Z

Well, let’s try Sunday 14 March at 2:00 in the morning. This is when Daylight Saving Time officially begins. Please set your clocks and timekeeping pieces ahead by 1 hour. Personally, I begin to set my timekeeping pieces ahead on Saturday afternoon.

Then, around 7 pm, I’m trying to recall if I set the clocks ahead, what time it really is.

Just a few things TO DO during the next few weeks.

Replace batteries in the smoke and fire detectors
Check battery backup for the security system
Inspect flashlights for battery power and bulb intensity< ... Continued on the blog.

First Time Homebuyer? Here's the Home For You in Slidell - Right near New Orleans!

2010-03-06T19:14:00Z

This cute, ready to move in home with 3 bedrooms and 1.5 baths has been remodeled top to bottom. With a little over 950 square feet, you’ll enjoy your newly remodeled kitchen with tile countertops and new appliances. Your bathrooms are in great shape as well with new tile, tub, sinks and flooring. Speaking of flooring, it is new throughout, with no carpet to maintain! Located in Audubon subdivision in Slidell, you are centrally located to the restaurants, shopping and interstate so that you can easily make it to New Orleans for work or to the coast for fun in the sun. With a new roof less than 2 months old, a large fenced y ... Continued on the blog.

Short Sales: The Tax Impact to Sellers

2010-03-04T18:40:00Z

By now, most learned real estate shoppers have heard about properties listed as “short sales.” For many of my first time homebuyer’s however, short sales are a foreign term. What is a short sale? Simply put, short sales occur when the owner of a home has fallen behind on their mortgage payments. In an attempt to rid themselves of this burden, they try to sell their home. But low and behold, in this time of falling real estate prices, the owners find that what they could get for their home in today’s real estate market is not enough to cover the total outstanding debt they have on the property. Thus with a sale they would be “shor ... Continued on the blog.

San Francisco in St. John Parish???

2010-03-04T16:15:00Z

Situated along Historic River Road that winds parallel to the mighty Mississippi River, San Francisco Plantation has been an attraction for tourists as well as local residents for many years. Beautifully arrayed in its yellow and blue exterior, it can be described as grand, magnificent, and luxurious. The surrounding buildings and grounds add to the grandeur of this majestic work of architecture.

This weekend, San Francisco Plantation will be the site of the 7th Annual Frisco Fest ... Continued on the blog.

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER …

2010-02-25T15:57:00Z

If you have been thinking about buying a new home or a resale home then the time is NOW. There is inventory and the interest rates are still historically low. Buyers have lots of inventory to choose from. It is a “Buyer’s Market”. The investors are saying that by year end we will see 6%, hope we don’t. Call a realtor to help you with the process, tell the Realtor what you are looking for and let the Realtor do your work for you.

The Northshore (Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville, Abita Springs) of New Orleans offers buyers a great lifestyle and affordable housing. The Northshore commuter is clo ... Continued on the blog.

It’s Here! All Under One Roof!

2010-02-23T16:32:00Z

The Pontchartrain Home Show at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner is here. In its 22nd year, the show also features The Breaux Mart FoodFest. For the latest on all types of products, services and technology for the home, inside and outside, please take advantage of this tremendous show.

This is a wonderful opportunity for all. There will be food samples, prize drawings, live demonstrations and activities for children.
Show dates are Friday, February 26th through Sunday, February 28th. For show information, call 1.800.776.4220.

What’s the connection? Easy. One Stop Shopping for one of the greatest assets ... Continued on the blog.

WHEN'S THE BEST TIME TO SELL MY HOME?

2010-02-22T15:53:00Z

This is a question home owners often ask. “Should I wait until after Christmas, or wait when the market improves, etc?”

Anytime is the best time to sell! It’s just a matter of having your home available for the right buyer to see when he/she’s looking.

What is important once you list your home is:

Have the grounds look well maintained and inviting…good curb appeal. Don’t leave your garbage can in front of your home. Weed that garden, mow the grass, and if the house has peeling paint, PAINT IT!

The ... Continued on the blog.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS WIN SUPER BOWL!

2010-02-09T15:09:00Z

New Orleans Saints have won Super Bowl XLIV and are the world champions and our city is so proud of our Saints. The coach, Sean Payton, the quarterback, Drew Brees and the entire Saint’s team all need to be congratulated on a job well done.

New Orleans has overcome a lot in the past 4 ½ years since Hurricane Katrina and Sunday,February 7th proved that New Orleans can finish on the top. This is a great story for the Saints and for New Orleans which is shown proven results of the recovery we have made in rebuilding the city.

GEAUX SAINTS … . we are all proud of each and everyone of you and look forward to seeing you in the parade today.

Posted by:http://www.neworleanscommun ... Continued on the blog.

New Orleans Saints: Super Bowl XLIV Champions

2010-02-08T20:38:00Z

I don’t know about pigs flying, but I do know “The Saints did go marching in!” And, are the victors!!! For the 1st time in the Saints history, the team has won the Super Bowl to become National Football Champions. During this season, the Saints celebrated many firsts.

1st time as National Football League Champions!
1st time playing in the Super Bowl!
1st time winning the Super Bowl.

And so many other 1st’s. WHO DAT! Congratulations to the WHO DAT! Nation. Translation: all of the Saintsational fans and supporters of the New Orleans ... Continued on the blog.

New Rules Set Requirements for Contaminated Drywall in Homes

2010-02-02T23:04:00Z

In a positive step forward last week, the federal government defined what homeowners must do to formally determine that they have contaminated drywall in their home. These requirements are useful because they not only establish what evidence a homeowner must collect to prove they have a problem, but should help ensure homeowners do not destroy evidence when remodeling if they later want to take part in a lawsuit and/or obtain proposed government financial assistance.

When gathering the required contaminated drywall evidence, homeow ... Continued on the blog.

First Time Homebuyers - Buy Now or Pay Later!

2010-02-01T15:03:00Z

If there’s one thing that is certain, it’s that time waits for no homebuyer. And this definitely applies to the benefits a first time homebuyer can receive if they buy a home now versus waiting.

One of the main benefits of a first time homebuyer signing a contract before April 30, 2010 to buy their first home is that they can receive an up to $8000 tax credit when they file their 2010 taxes. There’s no gimmicks with this credit. It is added to the “bottom line” of your taxes and refunded to you when you file. For example, if you owe $2500 on your 2010 taxes and claim this first time home buyer tax credit of $ ... Continued on the blog.

How sweet it is… in the town of Gramercy in St. James Parish

2010-01-28T20:29:00Z

The town of Gramercy in St. James Parish has been selected as the home of Louisiana Sugar Refinery. LSR is a Joint Venture with the following entities:

Cargill, Inc.
Imperial Sugar Company
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The refinery will be situated along Historic River Road and in close proximity to Imperial Sugar Company. Cargill, Inc. is some miles down the River Road in adjacent St. John Parish. What a “sweet” boost for the economy in the ... Continued on the blog.

CHARMING BYWATER AND MARIGNY….WHERE IT’S AT!!!

2010-01-22T07:45:00Z

Many out-of-towners ask, “what’s the big deal with Bywater and Marigny?” Oh, my goodness!!! These two New Orleans’ neighborhoods just ooze authentic southern charm! They have lots of other qualities going for them, too…..here are a few:

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Marigny is located across the street (Esplanade Avenue) from the world-famous French Quarter. This quaint faubourg (neighborhood) is divided into two sections…the Marigny Triangle and the Marigny Rectangle. The Triangle is closest to “THE QUARTER” and the rectangle is a bit further away. They’re both an easy walk to the French Quarter ... Continued on the blog.

GREEN Homes: What is an ENERGY STAR Home Rating?

2010-01-19T20:25:00Z

Over the past six months I’ve begun to immerse myself in green building technologies, practices and certifications. Already I’ve become NAR Green Certified and am in the process of becoming a Certified Green Verifier through the New Orleans Home Builder’s Association.

Nationally, there are currently four different ‘green’ certifications and/or guidelines a home can obtain – ENERY STAR, LEED for Homes, NAHB Green and Builder’s Challenge. All have their own rating system, guidelines and certifications. (See my earlier BLOG for a summary of these programs. But I’ll focus on ENERGY STAR in more detail here.

ENERGY STAR is a federal program under the EPA designed to promote energy efficiency within a home. M ... Continued on the blog.

A CALL TO AUCTION: Calling All Investors! Calling All Owner-occupants!

2010-01-14T00:05:00Z

An On-site AUCTION is scheduled for Saturday, 20 February 2010 at 1:00 pm (CST).

You can invest in this property by submitting the successful offer prior to this date.

This is the second of my property listings that has been scheduled for sale at auction.

The first one sold prior to the auction. Cash sale. In less than a month’s time, the property was leased. Only minimal repairs were required.

This is YOUR opportunity to put your investment dollars to work.

Property Address: 2408 Van Arpel Drive, LaPlace. The property is located in New Era subdivision, St. John http:/ ... Continued on the blog.