Why Can’t You Sell Your New Orleans Real Estate? This is a very difficult real estate market that we are currently facing. We all know that, but what are some of the specific reasons why your property in New Orleans is not selling? Your home is probably not selling for a number of reasons, but I am going to focus on my Top 5 in this blog post. Stay tuned for future New Orleans Real Estate lists. You may also be interested in: New Orleans Real Estate - Top 10 Most Expensive Homes 1. Price - I really could have put price as the answer to all of the spaces in the Top 5. Price is by far the most important reason as to why you cannot sell your New Orleans real estate. There is so much competition out there that if you price your property incorrectly you will rarely sell your home in a short ... 03/05/2008

  Welcome to New Orleans! Congratulations on your upcoming move to the Crescent City and I'd like to be the first to welcome you.  Filled with history, culture, architecture and some of the most friendly people you'll ever meet, New Orleans is a great city and a place I'm proud to call home.  To help ease your transition, here are some helpful articles about living, working and having fun in the Big Easy all rolled up into one, easy to use place!     Information for Students and Parents Where Did You Go to School?  A little insider peek at one of the unique things about New Orleans, along with a list of area colleges and universities. A Guide to the Local School Systems  Information on public and parochial schools in Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes.  This covers most of the... 03/03/2008

Growing up in Algiers, I remember when Brechtel Park was originally located along Behrman Highway.  Mom and dad would take us out on the weekend to run through the park, play on the monkey bars and merry go round and get rid of all of the pent up energy we kids seemed to always be full of.  It was the scene of the first Earth Day concert in Algiers back in the 70s and the place for teenagers with a fresh drivers license to cruise through and show off their newfound freedom.In later years, the golf course was installed at the Behrman Highway site and the back side of the land was developed into the park's current location off of Lennox Drive.   As a parent, I have many fond memories of taking my own children there.  Feeding the geese and ducks, fishing from the banks of the ponds, attend... 03/02/2008

Home Sales in Zip Code 70131February did not turn out to be the great month for Algiers home sales that I hoped it would be.  Of the 47 pending sales noted at the end of January, only 11 of them made it to a successful closing.  Some of these may be part of the 46 currently pending sales, but others are back on the market due to what I call the IFs.  Failed Inspections and inability to obtain Financing are the most common reasons for a pending sale to be canceled. Currently active listings:  199 Currently pending sale listings:  46 Sold listings, February 2008:  11 Average list price of active listings:  $211,755 Average list price of pending sales:  $150,371 Average sales price, February 2008:  $141,225 Home Sales in Zip Code 70114The 70114 portion of Algiers, including Algiers Point, ... 03/01/2008

Ask any native New Orleanian that question and the answer will almost always be the name of their high school.  It doesn't matter if they have a doctorate from the most prestigious Ivy League university in the country, in New Orleans it's all about what high school you attended!  Folks who relocate to New Orleans may find this a little odd, especially given the great colleges and universities located right here in the city, but to me it's just part of the charm of my hometown.  Despite the fact that we are all proud of our high school alma mater, New Orleans is also home to some of the finest institutions of higher learning in the region.  Could one of these be right for you or your child? Delgado Community College  Delgado has 2 campus locations in New Orleans, the City Park campus and... 02/29/2008

 The boxes are unpacked, the new curtains are hung in the windows and the pantry has been filled.  The flurry of activity involved in moving has subsided.  You are a new resident in an unfamiliar city with small children - wondering, What now?Any move can be difficult, but if you are relocating to a new city as a stay at home mom, it can be even harder to adjust.  Spending your days at home with the kids can make it tough to meet new people and make new friends.  With four children of my own, I can relate to the stress of just being a mom.  Being a mom in a new town with no support system of friends and family to help out would be, I'm sure, overwhelming.  BUT, there's good news!  When relocating to the West Bank of New Orleans, whether for a civilian or military relocation, there is a ... 02/28/2008

Moving to a new city means adjusting to many changes.  Have you thought about the weather in your new home town?  If you are relocating to New Orleans or have a PCS to NAS JRB New Orleans, here's what you need to know about our climate.New Orleans has what is called a subtropical climate.  What does this mean?  Short, mostly mild winters and hot, hot summers!  January is traditionally the coldest month of year in New Orleans, with average daytime temperatures of around 55 degrees.  Nighttime temperatures can sometimes, but not often, fall below freezing.  During these cold nights, you'll hear the locals talks about the three P's:  pipes, plants and pets.  Raised houses with exposed pipes underneath can be at risk of freezing if the pipes are not wrapped, while the much loved tropical pl... 02/28/2008

The weather forecast for the weekend is sunny with temperatures in the low 70s, perfect for some outdoor activities on the West Bank. If you are not out on the golf course or picnicking at the park, here are some other West Bank events you might enjoy.  Gretna BMX RacewayA recent addition to fun things to do on the West Bank, the Gretna BMX track is  now open on Saturdays, with registrations from 10 am to 2 pm and races starting at 2:30 pm. Staffed completely by parent volunteers, the motto of the BMX track is "Nobody Sits the Bench". Races are held each Saturday for all entrants, from beginners to more experienced riders, with race results posted online each week. My 12 year old has been begging to go here, so we have it penciled in on the schedule for this weekend!  West Bank Theatre ... 02/28/2008

New Orleans Real Estate - Buyer’s Market?   Everyone wants to buy at the bottom of the market. “Buy low, sell high!” The problem is that you won’t know when the bottom hits until you pass it! Take a look at the graph to the left…That dotted vertical line in the middle of the trough is the exact bottom. As you can see, after the bottom the market goes up! Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to buy New Orleans real estate! The time is now! At some point, we will hit the bottom and all of these great deals would have past you by. Interest rates are low, your choices are aplenty, and insurance prices may be coming down. Take a second to consider that there have been countless renovations to New Orleans real estate since Katrina, there has never been a time when properties have been in ... 02/25/2008

I know that New Orleans is a great place to live, but a recent poll shows that others think so too!  Rankings by Forbes.com put New Orleans in the Top 20 Cities for Singles across the nation.  Coming in at #17 overall, New Orleans also ranked in the top 20 in the following singles categories: Best Cities for CultureNew York, Paris, Rome...New Orleans?  You bet.  A long program of cultural events takes place in New Orleans throughout the year in addition to the list of art, music, theatre and more that is always available for your enjoyment.  Read all about it at You Want Culture?  New Orleans Has Got It!   Best Cities for NightlifeWell, duh!  Who hasn't heard a friend's story about Bourbon Street or Mardi Gras (or lived their own!) at least once in their lifetime?  But more than Mardi G... 02/24/2008

Are you ready to spring into the West Bank home buying market?  With temperatures in the low 70s expected for this weekend, it's a perfect time to get out of your old house and into a new one!This terrific, newly renovated home in the Old Aurora section of Algiers, LA will be open this Sunday, 2/24/2008, from 1-3 pm.  Stop in and take a look at all you can get for only $144,500:3 bedrooms1 full bathHardwood floorsEat in kitchenLiving roomDenInside laundry roomOversized lot with mature landscaping and trees I hope to see you on Sunday!When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice.  Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyer, sellers and military transferees ... 02/22/2008

Well here we are, almost to the end of another week of hard work on the West Bank.  Let's have some fun this weekend!West Bank TheatreThe Jefferson Performing Arts Society presents Flanagan's Wake at the Teatro Wego! Dinner Theatre, starting Friday, February 22nd.  The hilarious, interactive show will run through March 16th, will performances on Fridays and  Saturdays at 7:30 pm and a matinee show on Sundays at 2:00 pm.  A buffet is available before each show.  For reservations or more information, visit the Jefferson Performing Arts Society website.The Great American Trailer Park musical continues its run at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre through March 9th.  Shows will be held every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees will be performed at 2:00 pm.  Buffets are avai... 02/21/2008

Spring is right around the corner, the beginning of the traditional "hot" time for selling a home.  I've been out showing homes to several different potential buyers in the last few weeks and have had the chance to get their honest impressions and assessments of the homes we are touring.  It's information that home sellers who can't figure out why their house is sitting on the sidelines like a wallflower at the high school dance need to know.   Your new roof is not an upgrade.  Neither is your new hot water heater or the laminate flooring you installed yourself.  Buyers are funny - they expect that the home they purchase will have a functional barrier to keep out the rain, hot water for a shower and flooring that is hopefully younger than they are.  The fact that these items have been r... 02/20/2008

FOLLOW UP - Myth: Mortgage Interest Rates Will Plummet in 2008 I wrote a blog post on my New Orleans real estate blog a few weeks ago stating that mortgage interest rates are likely to rise amidst all of these rate cuts by the Fed. Let’s take a look at where we are now and see if I was right or wrong! Click here if you haven’t read the initial blog post: Myth: Mortgage Interest Rates will Plummet in 2008 So guess what…I was RIGHT…whoohooo! Well, not that exciting since being right means that interest rates have gone UP in the past two weeks. In fact, long-term mortgage interest rates have risen by about .25%. Not so good for those of you looking to buy New Orleans Real Estate. This mortgage interest rate increase follows that basic economic principles that I discussed in the previous b... 02/19/2008

New Orleans Real Estate - Top 10 Most Expensive HomesCurious about the most expensive real estate sold in New Orleans in 2007? Me too!  So I did a bit of research and to the best of my knowledge, I created the top 10 list of the most  expensive residential real estate sold in New Orleans last year. I think that it is pretty interesting that the 7 out of 10 of the most expensive properties sold in 2007 were over $2,000,000.  And everyone is saying the high-end buyers aren't out there...ha!10.  $1,800,000 - 1523 Soniat - Turn of the century stucco mansion. 8,169 total sq. feet. 6 beds and 4.5 baths.9.   $1,800,000 - 3 Poydras 3E/F - One River Place condominium. 5,042 total square feet. 4 beds and 4.5 baths.   8.   $1,900,000 - 817 Dumaine - 1830's French Quarter townhouse. 5,954 total squ... 02/19/2008

Foreclosures and bank owned properties are now for sale on the West Bank of New Orleans in Algiers, Gretna, Terrytown, Belle Chasse, Harvey, Marrero and Westwego.  While these properties often need a little tender loving care to make them sparkle, they can be an excellent opportunity to purchase a home in an area that might otherwise be outside of a buyer's price range.Typically, bank owned homes and foreclosed properties are sold in "As Is"  condition, with no repairs being done by the seller and oftentimes, no utilities being provided for inspections.  Fortunately, there are lending programs available to buyers that will allow them to finance not only the purchase of a home, but the cost of necessary repairs as well.  A meeting with your mortgage professional to determine your price r... 02/18/2008

Any relocation, civilian or military, is filled with questions about your destination.  Top of the list for families with children is "How are the schools?"   Every parent wants their child to attend the best possible school, but how do you go about choosing one in a new city?  In the New Orleans metropolitan area, there are are multitude of school options for parents to choose from. Orleans Parish Schools (City of New Orleans)Post Hurricane Katrina, the public school system in New Orleans became a complex network of schools run by the School Board, the State of Louisiana and a system of charter schools.  The application process has often been confusing to parents and left them wondering if they made the right choice.  Additionally, there are private and parochial school choices, adding... 02/15/2008

Does relocating to New Orleans mean you have to leave hiking, canoeing and some of your other favorite outdoor activities behind?  Not a chance!There is a reason that Louisiana is known as the "Sportsman's Paradise".  Take a quick tour with me of the many outdoor experiences that are just waiting for you.  Located in Belle Chasse, LA, the Woodlands Trail and Park was created to preserve and highlight the native plants and migratory birds that are an integral part of south Louisiana.  Perfect for hiking and bird watching, Woodlands Trail is less than 10 miles from downtown New Orleans, making it a great day trip destination for nature lovers.  Stroll through the many miles of trails and see how many native plants you can identify.  Barataria PreserveThe Barataria Preserve offers a chance... 02/14/2008

 Valentine's Day DanceThe Knights of Columbus Archbishop Blenk Council 1905 is the sponsor of this weekend's Valentine's Day Dance to be held on Friday from 8 pm - midnight with music by DJ Corey.  $15/person or $25/couple.  475 Franklin Avenue, Gretna, LA.  For more information, call 368-1905.  West Bank TheatreThe Great American Trailer Park musical starts its run at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre on Friday, running through March 9th.  Shows will be held every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees will be performed at 2:00 pm.  Buffets are available before each show.  For reservations or more information visit the Jefferson Performing Arts Society website.  Friday Fish FryThe Lenten tradition of the Friday Fish Fry continues on the West Bank.St. Anthony School  900 ... 02/14/2008

How Bush’s new economic stimulus package effects New Orleans Real Estate Yesterday, President Bush signed a $168 billion economic stimulus package into law. That is a ton of money but will it have any real effects on our economy? Let’s first start with the details: Tax rebates of $600 to individuals who make $75,000 or less, and $1,200 to couples who make $150,000 or less. After those income limits, recipients get 5 percent of however much their income exceeds the limit. Tax rebates of $300 for individuals and $600 for couples who make at least $3,000 from income and Social Security benefits. Each child in a household gets an extra $300 in the rebate. The limits on the size of mortgage loans that can be insured by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be increased from $417,000 to up to $729,... 02/14/2008