New Orleans West Bank Living and Real Estate News: October 2007

Are you tired of shopping at all of the "big box" stores?  Tired of seeing the same in-store displays whether you are on the West Bank or in Metairie?  Looking for something unique...something with a local twist or a little lagniappe?  Searching for a way to support our local business owners and positively impact our New Orleans area economy? 

Post Katrina, there has been a terrific grass roots effort to shop locally owned and operated businesses.  How locally do you shop?  And how do you know which businesses are based right here in the New Orleans area?  

Enter Stay Local!, an organization advocating a return to shopping locally and using local and independent businesses and services wherever possible.  With a mission of continuing the New Orleans culture through commerce, the Stay Local! website already has over 1,100 local business listings in categories ranging from auto parts to wholesale foods and everything in between.  Need custom jewelry, a photographer, a neighborhood restaurant, a computer guru or a good tailor?  There are all here and then some!  Find addresses, websites, phone numbers and even maps to store locations of our own home grown entrepreneurs.

Are you a business owner who needs a supplier?  What better way to build a network than to join this quickly expanding group of other locally owned operations - spend your dollars here in the metro area too and let's all do our share to support our local economy.  Your business may depend on it!

What a positive impact we can all have on the recovery of the entire region by continuing to support our friends and neighbors - especially those who were among the first to reopen post Katrina.  When the big boxes were still boarded up, your corner store or coffee shop more than likely was open.  If you were not eating MREs, you were probably eating at a locally owned bar, grill or restaurant.  Need more convincing?  Stay Local! has a great list of the top ten reasons to shop local in New Orleans.

Stay Local! offers free listings for all businesses who meet their criteria:

• Business must be based in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard or Plaquemines Parish.
• Majority business ownership must reside in the above parishes
• Owner/operator must be responsible for his/her own decision making in marketing, operations and legal proceedings (i.e., an independent business)

Additionally, Stay Local! is offering a monthly email newsletter to keep locally owned businesses informed on a multitude of issues that may affect them.  Sign your business up here.

As we move into the holiday season, I hope that each of you takes the time to look over your shopping list and find your own ways to stay local!

Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist

Lisa Heindel, Realtor® and Latter & Blum Inc Realtors® are proud to be members of Stay Local!

Copyright 2007.  Lisa Heindel, Realtor®.  All rights reserved.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  Before all of the ghost and goblins hit the streets for Halloween this week, please remember a few safety tips:

• All children should be accompanied by an adult
• Remind all trick or treaters of the rules for crossing streets - look both ways.
• Only trick or treat at homes that have outside lights on.
• Don't forget your flashlight!
• Costumes should be short enough for a child to walk in.  If they are too long, they can be trip hazard.
• Props such as scythes, pitchforks, etc. should have rounded edges to avoid injury.
• Masks should have large enough eye holes for children to see clearly through - face paint is a terrific alternative to a mask.
• Do not leave candles burning unattended in your jack-o-lantern.
• Remind the kids not to eat any candy until it is inspected and OK'd by an adult.

Looking for a safe place to spend Halloween this year?  Here are some West Bank options for you and your family to try:

Aurora United Methodist Church

• Trunk or Treat
• 3300 Eton St. in Algiers
• 6 pm until ?
• Toddlers to age 12 are invited to trick or treat

St. Anthony School

• Trunk or Treat
• 900 Franklin Ave. in Gretna
• 6 pm until
• Trick or treating, with food and drinks for sale

Calvary Baptist Church

• Fall Fest
• 2401 Gen de Gaulle in Algiers
• 6 pm - 8 pm

West Bank Haunted Houses:

Haunted Fun House at Mardi Gras World 

• 233 Newton St. in Algiers by admission
• 7 pm - midnight
• A family oriented haunted house with some proceeds dedicated to the Greater New Orleans First Responders Fund.

Chinchuba's Haunted House

• 1988 Industrial Blvd. in Harvey, LA
• 7 pm - midnight
• A 20 year West Bank tradition in haunted houses, the annual event is a fundraiser for children with communicative disorders.  Admission is $15.

Gretna Goblin Night at the Market

• Gretna Market, Huey P. Long and 4^th Street
• 6:30 - 8:30 pm
• Children 10 and under
• Games, face painting, food and spacewalk
• Area restaurants will also be open for service

Have a safe and happy Halloween! 

Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist

Are you considering buying or selling a home on the West Bank?  Visit http://www.lisaheindelsells.com/ for more information on preparing your home for sale or getting financing for your new home.  Interested in finding the value of your West Bank home?  Get your free neighborhood market snapshot here.

Copyright 2007.  Lisa Heindel, Realtor®  All rights reserved.

Located within the boundaries of Woodland Dr., Eton St., MacArthur Blvd. and Ramsey Dr., New Aurora is an established, family friendly neighborhood in Algiers.  There is an active civic association, but no home owner dues are required when purchasing a home in the area.  The civic association annually sponsors a large Night Out Against Crime, allowing neighbors to meet and visit with one another while enjoying food, music and fun.

Only a few miles from the New Orleans Central Business District, New Aurora provides easy access in minutes to the downtown New Orleans area via the Crescent City Connection. 

Places to go in and around New Aurora:

Norman Playground

Aurora Swim and Tennis Club

St. Andrew the Apostle Church

Aurora Methodist Church

Woodland Presbyterian Church

Close to convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants in Algiers

Schools in New Aurora:

St. Andrew the Apostle (Catholic elementary and middle school)

Alice M. Harte (Public charter school)

The real estate market in New Aurora:

Active Listings

There are currently 20 homes for sale

List prices:  $159,900 to $259,000

Sizes:  3-5 bedrooms, from 1,817 square feet to over 3,000 square feet

Under Contract Listings

There are currently 2 pending sales

List prices:  $179,000 to $224,000

2007 Sales

25 homes have sold in the area since January 1, 2007

Low sale price:  $144,540

High sale price:  $243,000

Average sale price:  $190,165

Average days on market:  84

Are you considering buying or selling a home on the West Bank?  Visit http://www.lisaheindelsells.com/ for more information on preparing your home for sale or getting financing for your new home. 

Interested in finding the value of your West Bank home?  Get your free neighborhood market snapshot here.

Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist

Homes for sale in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero and more

It's Friday...looking for something to do on the West Bank this weekend? Check out some of these activities for you and the family to close out October on a high note:

N'Awlins Air Show

• Naval Air Station - Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, LA
• Saturday and Sunday - gates open at 8:00 am, last plane flies at 4:30 pm

There is no allocation in the military budget for an air show in 2008, so don't miss this opportunity to see the Air Force Thunderbirds deliver the final performances on Saturday and Sunday.

Open again this weekend is the Haunted Fun House at Mardi Gras World

• 233 Newton St. in Algiers by admission
• Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7 pm - midnight

A family oriented haunted house with some proceeds dedicated to the Greater New Orleans First Responders Fund... BOO!

Gretna Fall Concert Series on the River

• Huey P. Long at the River in Gretna, LA
• Free admission
• Friday, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
• Featuring live zydeco music by Rockin' Dopsie, Jr.

Food and drinks provided by Common Grounds Restaurant

St. Anthony Octoberfest

• 900 Franklin Ave. in Gretna, LA
• Featuring games and activities for the whole family, great food, a sweet booth, a raffle and live music.

Saturday, 10/27/07 from noon - 10 pm

• Class performances from 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
• Presentation of court 4:00 pm
• Live music with Chicken on the Bone 7-10 pm

Sunday, 10/28/2007 from noon - 8 pm

• Class performances from 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
• Live music with Iberville 3-5 pm
• Live music with Refried Confusion 5-8 pm

Holy Name of Mary Fall Festival

• 500 Eliza St. in Algiers Point
• Games, food and music in the heart of Algiers Point

Saturday from noon - 10 pm

• Red Bean contest at noon on Saturday

Sunday from noon - 9 pm

Entertainment by: Charmaine Neville, Luther Kent, Westbank Mike and Davell Crawford

Christ the King Parish 17th Annual Crafts Fair

• Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm
• 535 Deerfield Road in Terrytown, LA

Get a jump start on your shopping with handmade holiday decorations and other items for the home. Food and drinks will be available for sale.

The weather is forecasted to be beautiful...make it another great West Bank weekend!

Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist

You are welcome to come be a part of our West Bank community! Get market information for West Bank neighborhoods.

JUST LISTED!

Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist

Here we are at the end of October...the trick or treaters haven't even knocked on the door yet, but the Christmas decorations are all over the drug stores, malls, and department stores. Trees, stockings, wreaths, bows, wrapping paper. Sparkling, shiny, beautiful temptations just calling to you from the shelves. Pick me...pick me...

STOP! Step away from the garland and remember that your house is on the market.

You want buyers to walk in and imagine themselves at home. Remember all of those staging tips your agent gave you when you listed your house? Perhaps you had a professional stage the home for you. This is the time of year when lookers turn into buyers. Lookers do not take the time to tour homes during the holidays, but serious buyers do.

If you absolutely must have holiday displays, here are a few dos and don'ts for decorating while selling your home:

~ Don't fill the front yard with animated snowmen, reindeer, or Santa and the elves. Potential buyers should be able to actually see the house, not get lost in a winter wonderland making their way to the front door.

~ Don't trim every available window sill, eave, gutter, bush, shrub and tree with lights. Your home is not a landing strip for aircraft and should not be visibly blinking from miles away.

~ Don't put a different theme tree in every room of your house. The buyer's focus should be on the space and not on your Star Trek ornament collection. One small tree with presents neatly stacked underneath is sufficient...anything large will take up too much space and make the room appear smaller than it is.

~ DO place a simple wreath on the front door to greet guests. No battery operated models allowed...fresh greenery with a modest bow will suffice.

~ DO buy some fresh seasonal flowers or plants to place on the hearth of the fireplace, if you have one, or to use as a centerpiece on the dining room table. Please remember to water them, since dead plants don't exactly reflect the spirit of the season or make the home show well.

~ DO allow some apple cider or cinnamon sticks to simmer on the stove before a showing to fill the home with a nice fragrance.

Selling your home during the holidays can be challenging, but with a little preparation and common sense you can be ready to usher in the New Year in your new home.

Want more information on buying or selling your West Bank home? Check out Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist. Wondering what your home is worth? Get your free neighborhood market snapshot delivered to your email in minutes.

A Bear Stearns analyst has recently predicted that housing prices in the New Orleans area may continue to decline through 2008 and into 2009.  A rebound of prices is not expected until late 2009 or early 2010.  Read the entire article here. 

What does this mean for sellers on the West Bank?

According to my research, NOT A LOT at this time!

Average home prices are holding fairly steady in most areas of the West Bank:

Belle Chasse:  Average sale price from 7/1/2007 to present:  $300,088.  This is an increase of 9% over the average 2006 sales price.  Average days on market has increased from 63 to 81.

Algiers, Algiers Point:  Average sale price from 7/1/2007 to present: $172,965.  This is a decrease of 3% from the average 2006 sales price.  Average days on market has increased from 60 to 93.

Gretna and Terrytown:  Average sale price from 7/1/2007 to present: $166,957.  This is an increase of 0.23% from the average 2006 sales price.  Average days on market has increased from 52 to 88.

Marrero, Harvey and Lafitte:  Average sale price from 7/1/2007 to present:  $181,631.  This is an increase of 7.5% from the average 2006 sales price.  Average days on market has increased from 52 to 66.

Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City:  Average sale price from 7/1/2007 to present:  $124,691.  This is an increase of 0.83% from the average 2006 sales price.  Average days on market has increased from 56 to 68.

While West Bank homes are taking longer to sell, they are continuing to hold their values at this time.

Is it time to sell your West Bank home?

• When putting your home on the market, the best strategy is to price it right from the start.  Don't be one of the highest priced homes in your neighborhood - be one of the lowest!  Houses are still selling across the region, but buyers are much savvier and know that some sellers are clinging to a high list price in vain.  How much will holding out for a higher price cost you in the long run with continued mortgage payments, taxes and insurance?
• You must closely review your Realtors® market analysis of your home and neighborhood.  What are the average days on market for property in your area?  What is the average sale price?  Unless you are willing and prepared to hold your property for longer than the average, price it to beat out the competing listings. 
• Don't offer buyer incentives such as closing cost assistance or paying for the first year's insurance premium.  Instead, reduce the listing price by how much you are willing to contribute and make your property more attractive to the buyers that are looking now.
• Don't forget condition!  Your home should be in top showing condition before the first potential buyer sets foot across the threshold.  Need some guidelines for preparing to sell?  Check out these articles:

1. Getting Ready to Sell
2. Getting Ready to Sell - Part II
3. Getting Ready to Sell - Part III

• Stay up to date on the rapidly changing market.  For a free report of sales and listings in your area, sign up for my West Bank Real Estate Market Snapshot.  You choose how often you would like to receive updates on your neighborhood, delivered automatically to your email. 

Whether you are buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans, please contact Lisa Heindel, Realtor® for all of your real estate needs. 

Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist

The spotlight this week is on the Bellemeade subdivision in Gretna, Louisiana.

The Bellemeade subdivision is divided into two sections, Bellemeade North and Bellemeade South.  Conveniently located, Bellemeade has easy access to both Belle Chasse Highway and Lapalco Blvd. making it a snap to get anywhere on the West Bank in minutes.  Have a golfer in the family?  Bellemeade is just around the corner from Timberlane Country Club and golf course.

Bellemeade residents enjoy an active homeowners association (Bellemeade Civic Association) and a private swim club located inside the boundaries of the subdivision at 501 Brookmeade Drive.  Get more information about the swim club at http://bmswimclub.googlepages.com/.

Here is a market snapshot of Bellemeade sales activity for 2007:

Active Listings

• There are currently 17 homes for sale
• Price range:  $159,900 to $207,000
• Size range: 1,700 square feet to over 2,500 square feet
• All homes are 3 or 4 bedrooms, with 2 to 2 ½ baths

Under Contract Listings

• There are currently 3 homes under contract
• Price range:  $80,000 to $189,900
• Size range:  1,800 square feet to 2,900 square feet

2007 Sales Activity

• There have been 25 homes sold this year
• Price range:  $78,500 to $235,000
• Average sales price:  $179,000
• Average Days on Market:  95
• Homes sold with a home warranty:  16 (64%)
• Homes sold with seller providing closing cost assistance to the purchaser:  11 (44%)
• Average closing cost assistance paid by seller:  $4,507

Buying or selling on the West Bank?  Contact me with any of your real estate questions.

Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist

Today was election day in Louisiana. I performed my civic duty, going to the polling place and casting my ballot. I truly believe that every eligible voter in our state should be involved in choosing our next representatives, from the state level to the local level. You get out of government what you put into it.

Driving through Algiers today, I had to wonder...why do the candidates think that cluttering up the street corners and neutral grounds with their campaign signs will get us to vote for them? It's a mess out there today - signs lining the streets and clustered at the corners. I hope those same zealous volunteers who took the time to put the signs out this week will be back tomorrow to pick them all up! These signs violate the city's sign ordinance. I guess our candidates missed that one...

Do For Sale By Owners know that when they place a "For Sale" sign on public property they are also in violation of the local ordinances? Fines can be assessed and the city or parish can confiscate any signs on public property. The local laws are as follows:

• Orleans Parish - Open house signs allowed on public property for a maximum of 4 hours on the day of an open house. Directional signs (arrows) and for sale signs are not allowed on city property, including neutral grounds.
• Jefferson Parish - No signs on public right of way. $500 fine per day/per sign.
• Plaquemines Parish - No restrictions at this time
• City of Gretna - No signs on public property.
• City of Westwego - No signs on public property.

Trying to sell your home on your own can be a taxing experience. Don't get caught in a situation where you are assessed a fine trying to market on your own. If you need to sell your home, call your local REALTOR®. Don't have a REALTOR®? Call me, I'll be happy to help.

Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist

Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded - Jess Lair

Like a lot of others my age, when I was growing up, my mother did not work outside of the home. She was waiting when I arrived home from school at the end of the day, making sure I did my homework before I was allowed to go outside to play or ride my bike. Times have certainly changed....

Single parent families, families where both mom and dad must work to make ends meet, children being raised by extended family members who also have jobs. Where can these kids go after school if there is no one waiting at home?

On the West Bank, they can attend the newly reopened West Bank Boys & Girls Club in Gretna. The Boys & Girls Club has a mission of helping young people in need. They encourage and guide young people to become productive citizens and better students. They are leading our community by example by providing a safe, caring environment to serve the educational and recreational needs of children ages 6-17 for a nominal fee per child.

Rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina, the location at 900 10^th Street in Gretna is open on weekdays from 2-7 pm and has all of the following amenities and activities for the kids:

• Power Hour - a period after school when the kids are given homework help by paid professionals
• A gymnasium for athletic activities
• A computer lab
• A teen room
• An arts and crafts area
• A game room

The majority of the funding for this program comes from private donations. The West Bank Boys & Girls Club will hold their "Celebration of Rebuilding" on Friday, November 9^th from 7-10 pm at the Club. Open to the public, this is a very worthy cause and allows each of us the opportunity to help in the fundraising effort while enjoying a great evening out. Tickets are $50 per person and include door prizes, food and refreshments and music provided by Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys. Contact my friend, Loren McGhee at lorenmcghee@aol.com to purchase tickets or for additional information.

You can make a difference in a young child's life. Please make plans to attend the Celebration or make a donation today.

Your West Bank Real Estate Specialist