So you just got hired on the latest block buster film being shot in New Orleans but you have one big problem, where are you going to live? Due to the explosion of the movies being shot in New Orleans finding short term, furnished housing has become one of your next great missions. As a Realtor we have access to to furnished short term housing of every sort from condos to houses , privately or corporately owned located in almost every part of New Orleans. Most of these properties include utilites and can be emailed to you. Why spend your extra time and money running around town trying to hooking up utilities and moving furniture. With a few click on your keyboard or a short phone call a list of available short term furnished housing can be heading right to your in box. A added bonus is b... 01/18/2010

Cold and raining in New Orleans! Buyers have stopped Looking! Not at All !!! They look on the internet!  Buyers Agent, Selling your Condo       Not many New Orleans buyers are  physically looking at condos or homes bad weather and rain.  That however does not mean they are not interested.  They are looking on line using the Internet to search for places that they may like.  They are using all types of sites to see what is out there for them.  They are looking for information and going to all the places that they can find.  Some of the sites are: Local Broker Sites- Such as Latter and Blum and Prudential Gardner will have all the listings in the local MLS.  All the listing by all the brokers will be on those sites.  The New Orleans Realtor board does not allow agents to have these proper... 01/15/2010

I met with a seller this week who was upset.  Not with me, but with a family that had viewed their home with the kids in tow.  Apparently, during the showing no one was watching the 4 year old as she darted from room to room, touching and moving things all along the way.  The owners were forced into the role of babysitter to protect their belongings from sticky little fingers because neither the parents nor the agent was paying attention.  Unfortunately, this happens all too often. Before you begin your West Bank home search, here are a few dos and don’ts to remember when visiting: DO Try to schedule appointments ahead of time.  “Honey, stop the car!” usually doesn’t work.  As a matter of fact, I counsel all of my sellers to turn away people who just show up at the door, instructing the... 01/14/2010

Most people, unless they’ve been involved in a krewe, don’t get to attend Mardi Gras balls in New Orleans.  Some of the newer, huge organizations sell tickets to the public, but it’s usually to a very large, overcrowded event that is lacking in tradition. That’s why I love being part of the Krewe of Choctaw.  It’s not the biggest krewe in the area, but it has a long history as part of Mardi Gras on the West Bank, and this year we are celebrating our 75th anniversary.  To kick off the season, the annual Big PowWow (our version of a ball) was held at the River City Ballroom.  New Orleans natives will remember it as the building that fronted the short lived River City Casino.  We’ll remember it for the fabulous gala that showcased this year’s royalty to members, family and friends. Tables ... 01/12/2010

26940 Chef Menteur Hwy - New Orleans, LA $650,000 INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY NEXT TO FORT PIKE. LARGE AMOUNT OF LAND READY FOR DEVELOPMENT. SUBDIVIDE AND BUILD HOUSES, EACH WITH THEIR OWN WATER ACCESS OR BUILD CONDOS ALSO WITH THEIR OWN WATER ACCESS. CONVENIENT ACCESS TO LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN, LAKE ST. CATHERINE, AND THE GULF OF MEXICO. ONLY 40 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS. FIRST TIME FOR SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC SINCE THE 1930'S. ALL MEASUREMENTS APPROXIMATE/NOT GUARANTEED. To search New Orleans Properties, please see New Orleans Property Search. Click here to view Darryl Glade’s Real Estate Profile. 01/12/2010

1/11/2010 UNDER CONTRACT: 727 Barracks St. Unit 8 New Orleans, La.70116 - French Quarter Condo This amazing French Quarter Condo located at 727 Barracks Street, Unit 8 is now under contract!  This unit is located on Barracks street between Royal and Bourbon in the residential section of the French Quarter.  The unit is being sold tastefully decorated - fully furnished.  There is a fabulous dog-park - Cabrini Park - less than two blocks away to accomadate the buyers lovely pets!  Beautiful condo, excellent neighborhood! Karin Smith is representing the buyers - Buyers Agent - in this transaction. Karin Smith is representing the buyers - Buyers Agent - in this transaction. Looking for a French Quarter Condo?  Be sure to contact Karin Smith- ABEK Real Estate! 01/11/2010

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Unless you are on the West Bank of New Orleans, watching the sun set on the East Bank… It’s a little confusing for folks that are new to the city,but, if you look at the region on a map, it makes perfect sense because of the way the river snakes through and across the area before turning north. Want to be even more confused? Part of the West Bank is also south of the city. There’s a reason that when we tell you how to get somewhere, the directions are along the lines of “towards the river” and “away from the lake”. You’ll get the hang of it :)   For information about living on the West Bank of New Orleans, feel free to contact the West Bank Living Team. We live, work and play here, and would love to welcome you to our community. Search Ne... 01/11/2010

cafe du monde New Orleans Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Beignets Some here have speechless photos. In New Orleans our day starts anyway but speechless. This morning my gang wanted a New Orleans original Cafe Du Monde Beignets. There are two location in Greater New Orleans. One in the French Quarter and other in Metairie, LA. TIPS: #1 If your a diabetic you may order your order of Beignets without sugar. #2 The French Quarter location seat yourself. Whether your coming for NAR in November, New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Hornets or just a wild weekend on Bourbon Street stop by for a treat of Beignets. 01/10/2010

New Orleans Streets were once lined with Shotgun Singles ! Many are still as they were!        The shotgun single homes in New Orleans still line many streets.  Before lawnmowers people in the city did not want lawns to care for.  They then had time to sit on their steps and talk to each other.  The neighborhoods knew everyone and many were related.  Those were the neighborhoods before suburbs and television.  They could walk to the grocery, the French Market, the schools, the churches, and the corner bars as well. 01/08/2010

So much for our subtropical climate.  Like most of the rest of the country, it’s cold in New Orleans today with a forecast of more cold and colder.  My garden, which is full of tropical plants, is taking a beating.  One too many nights of below freezing temperatures have resulted in a sea of brown.  What’s not brown looks like it melted :( At least I have the camellias and roses to bring a little color, since they don’t seem to mind the cold at all.                       There was a live chat with Dan Gill, the premier Louisiana horticulturalist, on nola.com yesterday.  You can read the replay here for some practical information about protecting your plants from the freezing cold expected for the next few days. Stay warm!   For information about living on the West Bank of New Orleans, ... 01/08/2010

New Orleans Holiday Season: King Cake Season History of Mardi Gras One Holiday season ends another starts. Today January 6th marks the beginning of Carnival Season. In Catholic religion, the Epiphany officially starts Carnival Season which last through Mardi Gras Day. Of the many activities of the Carnival Season my favorite is the King Cake. The King Cake is bread dress with sprinkling of colored sugar. Secondly, the Carnival balls of the various Mardi Krewes are just beautiful. Finally the actually Mardi Gras 2010 Parades Schedule which are most noted. Just another reason for family gathering in New Orleans. Tonight in New Orleans there are two parades. The weather is very cold but I am sure the crowds and krewe will have a great time. This year there is a special twist to the Mardi ... 01/06/2010

New Orleans Warehouse District Condos, Strength of the market is in the 2 bedroom/2 bath !  Market Trends, Warehouse District        The strength of the New Orleans Warehouse District Condo Market is currently in the 2/2 condos selling between 250k and 500k.  On the surface the supply looks great but on a closer look you have fewer and fewer choices.  There are 40 condos currently for sale in this category.  There are 10 recent sales of units that have sold or now under contract.         There are 13 units for sale at 1201 Canal Street in the old Krauss building although technically in the Warehouse it is much more a French Quarter Place.  There are 8 units for sale at the Rotunda at 330 Julia Street.  Take these away and you are left with 9 choices.  This is not a lot as potential buye... 01/04/2010

I had a long conversation with a friend recently. She moved from the West Coast to the East Coast last year and is feeling a little like a fish out of water in her new city. The culture is completely different from what she is used to and, in her opinion, the people just aren’t as friendly. That’s not to say that everyone on the East Coast is unfriendly. Nothing could be further from the truth. But, my friend hasn’t found those like minded people yet that will allow her to feel more at home and less like a transplant. As we were talking, she told me that she has had several job offers in southeast Louisiana, but that she’s not ready to make another move quite so soon. Although I tried to cajole her with tales of diversity and our love of the eccentric, she’s not budging. But, it got me ... 01/04/2010

GOLF in New Orleans Stonebridge Golf Club of New Orleans1500 Stonebridge DrGretna, LA 70056www.stonebridgegolfofno.com29 HolesGolf Carts with GPSClubhouse ExcellentAnother must play golf club in New Orleans just minutes away from downtown. Yesterday in the First Tee of New Orleans Winter/Fall golf series the second place team. Team:Henry KuczynskiJacob RubiJulia Simon 01/03/2010

Even though it’s not Twelfth Night yet (the official start of the Carnival season), the 2010 balls have begun taking place all around the metro area. We were lucky enough to be invited to the King Arthur ball this weekend, so we gussied up in our finest, found our seats and were treated to a beautiful tableau of Mardi Gras royalty and costumes. The intricate head and shoulder pieces and trains are stunning and are designed and created locally. I love the way the light shines through the feathers on the king’s costume as he is approaching the stage. People who don’t live in New Orleans often don’t realize that Mardi Gras is not sponsored by anyone…the krewes do this because they love it and members pay for costumes and throws out of their own pockets. I, for one, am glad they do. For inf... 01/03/2010

I’ve been told that photos are one of the most important things I can provide here for people considering a relocation to the West Bank of New Orleans.   Being able to really see the area, not just some bad MLS photos of houses, seems to be helpful. With that in mind, I’m trolling through the hundreds of photos that I’ve taken over the last year in the various communities.  I’ll be sharing them with you, hopefully a new one each day, but I’m sure that sometimes life and business will get in the way. This shot was taken at Woodland Park in Algiers.  The park is located on the corner of Woodland and Patterson (known locally as River Road), directly across the street from the Mississippi River levee and next to the Pakenham Oaks subdivision.  It’s not a fancy park, basically just an open s... 01/02/2010

After Katrina, with the city in turmoil and everyone uncertain about the future, my family seriously considered relocating to another state.  We even started looking for houses in a couple of locations that appealed to us because they were close to family and possible jobs.  The one thing that stood out to me when house hunting was that most of the homes were pretty much the same from neighborhood to neighborhood.  There seemed to be about a half dozen floor plans that all looked the same from the outside and were all finished the same on the inside.   I mean, really, how many times can you look at the same old, same old and get excited about the thought of putting your roots down there?  I even asked the agent who was helping us “where are the houses that have some character?” If you a... 01/02/2010

When Buying a condo ! Think about the resale value? When you are Buying!        When you are looking to buy a New Orleans condo in this type of market you as a buyer need to make sure you are thinking about the resale value down the road.  In a fast market it was not as important as it is now.   I see a lot of condos and show a lot of people.  Most people tend to think along the same lines.   Here are some of the ideas I have come up with to think about when you are looking. 1.  Price- Make sure you do not overpay for what you are getting.  Have all the negatives been factored in. 2. Condition of the Unit- People want to buy things in prime condition these days.  Buying something needing cosmetic updating is OK if you can stay within a budget. 3. Condo Association - Is condo association... 01/01/2010

Yep, it’s that time of year again when we all decide that we are going to lose weight, quit smoking, start exercising and become more organized. Calendars and planners are flying off the shelves as everyone tries to start the New Year off on the right foot, hoping for an improvement over last year. Whether it was a good year or not, we always want more, more, more and the beginning of the year is the time that we plan out our paths for the next twelve months. While making my own list of resolutions, I put together some suggestions for home buyers and sellers that might help your real estate goals for 2010 come true. Home Seller Resolutions Make your home the best value in the neighborhood Your home may be the most beautiful, with the most updates, but if it’s not priced to attract the b... 12/30/2009

      You ever see a house that just catches your attention.  This one caught my attention several years ago.  I had sold a condo about a block away and wanted to send my client an album on Facebook of the neighborhood.  The sun was going down so the light was great, the colors were lush, the lines striking so I took several photos.  It was a good idea as I can use many of these photos in my Neighborhood Photo Blog about New Orleans that I have started. Its easy to do a post a day!!!  12/29/2009