New Orleans West Bank Living and Real Estate News: October 2008

Just listed Harvey LA home for sale!

Located in the rear of the quiet Harvey community of Spanish Oaks, 1404 Quebrada del Sur is new on the market.  Well maintained, with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, an open floorplan and a terrific location. Minutes from both West Bank military bases and close to shopping, dining and entertainment, Harvey is on the list of top West Bank communities. Take a tour today.

Details about 1404 Quebrada del Sur Harvey LA 70058

Schedule an appointment

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

I've written before about Brechtel Park in Algiers, reminding everyone that we have a diamond in the rough - 112 acres on the America's Wetland Birding Trail that is right in our own backyards and has the potential to rival any other park on the West Bank. 

I try to keep up with what's going on with the park through newsletters from the Friends of Brechtel Park.  When my newsletter arrived this week, I was shocked to find out that there is no money (as in zero, zilch, nada) being budgeted by the New Orleans City Council for improvements to the park.  In both 2000 and 2004, Brechtel Park was included in bond issuances approved by New Orleans voters.  To date, no capital improvements have been made and now there are no funds being allocated for the next FIVE years.  Click here for more details about the lack of funding.

I remember when I was a teen and in my early 20s, the park would be jam packed on the weekends with people picnicking and grilling, fishing, playing baseball or softball and children running up and down the "hills".  I have pictures of my oldest son, who is now 23, fishing with a cane pole from the banks of the lagoon.  I have memories of kite flying contests and frisbee games and getting up early on a weekend morning to be sure that we could get a "good spot" to spend the day at.

Curiosity got the better of me after reading the newsletter, so I took a drive through Brechtel this afternoon.  It's a beautiful day...sunny, mild temperatures...perfect for being outside.  I can't begin to express how sad I was that I saw only a handful of people in the park.  One family was walking, one was packing up from lunch and playtime and the only person using the baseball field was the gentleman practicing his fly fishing technique.  My husband (who used to be a New Orleans police officer) remarked that years ago, there were regular police patrols through the park on the weekends because there were so many people crowding in.  That certainly is no longer the case....

From a distance, it's still just as beautiful as it ever was, even though many of the old trees were lost during Katrina. 

Up close, the tell-tale signs of neglect are evident in picnic tables that can't be used, benches overlooking the lagoon that are overgrown with vines, rusty pipes that used to hold BBQ grills, the old sand lot that is covered in weeds, and the single port-o-let that serves as the restroom for the entire back section of the park.

The original master plan for the park included a butterfly garden, a water park, additional restrooms, a bird viewing tower, a jogging and biking trail, a multi-purpose center and more.  After today's visit, I'd be happy to just see the badly needed repairs done.

What can you do to help?

First, consider joining the Friends of Brechtel Park - volunteer your time or your talent on one of the 13 committees that desperately need a helping hand.  There is currently an opportunity to apply for a $50,000 grant from the KABOOM organization to add playground equipment to the park and assistance is needed with the grant application.

Second, contact James Carter (District C Councilman), Jackie Clarkson (Council-at-large) and Ann McDonald (Parks and Parkways Commission) and advocate for funding for the park.

Third, make a donation! 

I have already volunteered to join the board - won't you join me?

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

None of us is immune from the news being broadcast every day.  The talking heads of the media have had a laser sharp focus on the economy and the real estate industry, mostly forecasting doom and gloom and making people nervous about their futures.

What the media forgets is that people will always need a place to live - a roof over their heads and a place to call home.  The changes in the real estate market on the West Bank of New Orleans simply mean that qualified home buyers have many, many (did I mention many?) options when choosing which roof it will be. 

All of those choices allow buyers to select the best of the best for their new home - and that's exactly what they are doing.  I recently listed a beautiful house in Gretna for a seller who did all of the right things to prepare their home for sale.  Combine the preparation with an individual property website, a virtual tour, video, and marketing to other West Bank agents and what was the result? 

The house went from for sale to SOLD in only 53 days!

Do you need some help getting your home ready to sell? Here are some articles to point you in the right direction:

• Are You REALLY Ready to Sell Your West Bank Home?
• Why Do a Pre-Inspection When Selling Your New Orleans West Bank Home
• Make Your Home the Star of the Neighborhood - Stage It!
• What Buyers Are Saying About Your Home
• 5 Dos and Don’ts for Home Sellers
• 4 Things You Should Expect From Your Agent When Selling Your New Orleans West Bank Home

If you are considering selling your West Bank home, I'd be honored to have the opportunity to share my marketing plan and local expertise with you. 

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Every now and again, it's nice to just get away for a few days - away from the city, the cars, the hustle and bustle that makes up our every day lives.  This past weekend we did just that.  Packed up the car, kids, canoe, 4 wheeler, food and friends and drove over to Flint Creek in Wiggins, Mississippi.

The less than 2 hour drive makes it perfect a quick weekend getaway destination and the weather cooperated and was spectacular.  Warm, sunny days and cool, star filled evenings were the recipe for relaxation (well, after I turned off my phone it was relaxing)!

Flint Creek is a state park that offers options for every type of camper - primitive camping, camp sites, RV hookups and cabin rentals for folks like me who like the outdoors but have no desire to sleep in it.  Rates are extremely reasonable - we rented a 2 bedroom cabin that sleeps 6-8 people for a little over $100 per night.  By the time we divided the cost between 6 adults and 2 kids, it turned out to be a very inexpensive way to spend the weekend.  With a refrigerator for food storage and indoor plumbing it was about as primitive as my camping experience will get! 

If you are looking for a family friendly weekend getaway that's not too far from the West Bank, I would highly recommend Flint Creek.  You can check out cabin and campsite placements online and start planning your own weekend retreat right now.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

I've been so busy over the last couple of months that the weekend events have been pushed to the back burner and I've missed out on some great times...

In an attempt to remedy this, here are some of the upcoming things to do on the West Bank that I'm really trying to squeeze in - if only I could be in three places at one time!

West Bank Halloween Events

Pumpkin Patch at Aurora Methodist Church in Algiers - A fund raiser for the mission group, the pumpkin patch is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm and on Sundays from noon to 8:00 pm.  Crafts, snacks, story time and pick your own pumpkin, gourds and Indian corn.  Groups are welcome, just call ahead at 504-394-5483.

Bayou Segnette will have a Halloween themed craft day on Friday, October 24th from 10-11 am, then on Halloween night there will be trick or treating from 6-9 pm, hay rides and a chance to vote for the best decorated camp site.  Wouldn't spending the night in the swamp be the spookiest Halloween treat ever?

Music Events

Wednesdays on the Point has returned for the fall with free concerts from 5:30 to 7:30 pm each Wednesday in October.  Visit Wednesdays on the Point for the schedule of shows and weekly locations.

Also returning for the fall is the free Rockin' on the River concert series in Gretna.  Taking place at Huey P. Long and the Mississippi River, the concerts take place every Friday from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm until November 14th.  We attended several of these shows in the spring and it's a family friendly atmosphere with food and drinks available to purchase.  There will be a Halloween costume contest on the 31st, so start planning now.  Don't forget your lawn chairs or blankets!

Algiers Point Home Tour

The annual Algiers Point home tour takes place on October 18th and

19th from 11am to 5pm each day.  The home tour is a wonderful way to spend a weekend day walking through historic Algiers Point and gives you the opportunity to sneak a peek into some of the most stunning homes in the area.  Tickets are available at Mount Olivet Episcopal Church (530 Pelican Avenue).  Be sure to leave room for lunch or an early dinner at the church's Pasta Festival.  More information about the home tour.

During the Home Tour, an outdoor art show will be held at Mount Olivet Parish Hall from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Saturday and again on Sunday from 11:14 am to 3:30 pm.

Area restaurants and bars will be open during the home show to make your walking tour even easier.

Party in the Market

The new Westwego Farmers and Fisheries Market, located at Sala Avenue and Fourth Street, will have food and music on Sunday, October 19th from 11 am to 2 pm.  Tickets are only $5 for adults, $2.50 for children and blankets and lawn chairs are welcomed.

West Bank Recycling

Jefferson Parish is sponsoring a recycling event on Saturday, October 18th at the Alario Center (2000 Segnette Blvd in Westwego) from 9 am to noon.  Plastic containers 1 through 7, paper products , cardboard and metal cans will all be accepted and do not have to be separated.  The Arc of New Orleans will also be on hand, collecting donations of Mardi Gras beads and throws.  Please note that NO glass, plastic bags or hazardous materials will be accepted at this event.

Free Immunizations

Children up to age 18 can receive free immunizations every Thursday in October from 2-6 pm at the West Bank Toys R Us (4800 Lapalco Blvd in Marrero).  Shot records must be presented for all immunizations.

Did I miss anything?  I'm sure I did, so if you know about an October event that should be added here, drop me a line at lisa@westbankliving.com and I'll get it on the list.  Have a great October!

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Current real estate market statistics for Algiers LA zip code 70131 excluding English Turn:

• 218 active listings, priced from $22,000 to $990,000
• Average active list price is $191,697
• 8 listings are pending but continue to show, priced from $19,900 to $385,000
• 27 under contract, priced from $24,900 to $249,000
• Average days on market for pending sales is 86
• Based on September sales, there is over a year's supply of homes for sale in this portion of Algiers

Algiers LA 70131 Number of Homes Sold September 2008

The number of home sales in Algiers zip code 70131 has remained fairly steady during the 3rd quarter of 2008. However, with less than 10% of the available listings making it to closing each month, home sellers need to continue to review their pricing strategy to ensure that they remain competitive.

If other homes in your neighborhood have dropped their asking prices and you have not, you are at a distinct disadvantage when negotiating with buyers who have a large number of choices in today's market. Changes in the availability of credit have also reduced the number of buyers who are qualified to purchase, making the competition for buyers even stiffer.

Algiers LA 70131 Average Home Sale Prices in September 2008

The average sale price for September dropped substantially from August, but the average is a little misleading since there were 6 sales under $57,000 that skew the numbers a bit. If those extremely low end sales were removed, the average sale price would increase to $176,518.

This number seems more realistic to me, since I've seen quite a bit of showing activity in Tall Timbers, Park Timbers and New Aurora. A number of incoming military transfers to NAS JRB in Belle Chasse will take place before the end of the year and their home searches and purchases have already begun. While Belle Chasse seems to be the community of choice for many of them, lower home prices in Algiers make it a close second.

Correct pricing remains the most critical factor for home sellers not just in Algiers, but across the West Bank. While our area offers some of the most reasonably priced real estate in the metro area, condition and location must still be taken into account when determining the best price to get your home sold.

For a detailed look at home sales in your neighborhood or for a complete marketing plan, contact Lisa Heindel.

Related Reading:

• English Turn: September 2008 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports
• Algiers LA 70131: August 2008 Home and Real Estate Sales
• 4 Things to Expect From Your Agent When Selling Your West Bank Home
• Are You REALLY Ready to Sell Your West Bank Home
• Home Selling Tips: Staging Your Home

All data provided by GSREIN and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living. All rights reserved.