Today was a great day in real estate for me!  I listed two new properties (details to follow shortly) AND had a closing!  What a nice save after a not so great day yesterday; an entirely different post topic!  There is nothing quite as rewarding than sitting at the closing table with a wonderul couple purchasing their first home and lovely sellers sharing memories of their mother's home with the buyers!  What a delightful afternoon!  Have a great weekend everyone! -Karin :) www.propertypromenade.com   09/18/2009

Just wondering if any states have started using Chinese Drywall disclosures yet.  I know Louisiana hasn't as of yet, but I'm sure it is coming.  I haven't encountered this problem myself.  I would love to hear your horror stories on this and what didyou do to remedy the situation. By the way there is a meeting tonight at Mandeville City Hall.  Senators Julie Quinn and A.G. Crowe will be there to try and answer questions.  Here is a recent news link to the story and meeting tonight. 09/16/2009

Mark your Calendars for the Slidell Newcomers Club Sell-A-Bration Arts & Crafts Show Saturday and Sunday, Oct 10 & 11, 2009 Saturday 10:00AM -5:00PMSunday 11:00AM - 4:00PM Location: Northshore Harbor Center - Slidell, La. Admission is Free.  For More Information please visit: http://sell-a-brationcraftshow.webs.com/     09/15/2009

**Save the date ** The Slidell Newcomer's Club is having it's 32nd Annual Bal Masque on Saturday, January 30, 2010 - 6:30 pm - 1:00 am The event will be held at The Northshore Harbor Center in Slidell, La. Tickets are $75.00 Per Person and Include Dinner and Open Bar - Semi Formal Attire This year's theme "IF EVER I CEASE TO LOVE" For more information you may visit their website: http://slidellnewcomers.webs.com/   I will be attending this event and will be sure to post photos!! -Karin 09/15/2009

I received an offer on one of my listings this weekend thank God.  Right now I can use all the business one can get.  I called the agent on the offer with the sellers counteroffer.  She listened and repeated to me every thing I told her.  She calls back about ten minutes later and asks me to go over the particulars again.  Of course me being the nice guy am glad to repeat them to her.  She told me everything was a littl fuzzy to her right now.  Seems she had an MRI that morning and was given sedation because she is highly claustrophobic.  Who says you can't do this business while loaded.  I had a big laugh with this one. 09/14/2009

Saturday, September 12th Camellia City Market when:Sep 12, 2009 at 8:00am where:Slidell, LA from:Camellia City Market category:Clubs and Organizations Sunday, September 13th Sunday Morning Worship Service when:Sep 13, 2009 at 8:00am where:Slidell, LA from:Christ Episcopal Church Of Slidell category:Religion and Spirituality Sunday Bible Study when:Sep 13, 2009 at 9:30am where:Slidell, LA from:First Christian Church Of Slidell category:Religion and Spirituality Sunday School when:Sep 13, 2009 at 9:45am where:Slidell, LA from:Pearl Acres Baptist Church Of Slidell category:Religion and Spirituality Sunday Morning Worship Service when:Sep 13, 2009 at 10:30am where:Slidell, LA from:First Christian Church Of Slidell category:Religion and Spirituality Sunday Morning Worship Service when:Sep 13... 09/11/2009

Home owners wanting to see what their property taxes are for this coming year are able to view them thru September 15 at the Parish Governmental Complex on Military Road in Slidell.  The hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  You will have until September 24 to appeal your assessments.  A bit of ggod news the Parish Council voted last night in a meeting to keep the milliages the same.  Bad news is some owners values still went up. Result higher taxes. 09/04/2009

Time is running out to claim the $8,000 first-time homebuyers tax credit. The credit is good for up to $8,000, or 10% of the purchase price, and applies to people who have not owned a home in the previous three years. (There are some income restrictions.) The best part: Unlike a similar program from 2008, the credit does not have to be repaid. The bad part: It ends on Dec. 1.Because it usually takes around 90 days to close on a house after a contract is signed, buyers have very little time left to act 08/30/2009

David Stewart | ABEK Real Estate | (985)710-1728 512 Voters Rd, Slidell, LA First Time Homeowners Come get you $8,000 tax credit 1BR/1.5BA Condo offered at $82,900 Year Built 1986 Sq Footage 1,100 Bedrooms 1 Bathrooms 1 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 1 Uncovered spaces Lot Size 2,500 sqft HOA/Maint $130 per month DESCRIPTION FANTASTIC RENOVATED CONDO WITH TILE FLOORS DOWNSTAIRS*SLATE FIREPLACE AND SS APPLIANCES IN THE KITCHEN. MASTER BEDROOM UPSTAIRS WITH LOFT. REFRIGERATOR AND STACK WASHER AND DRYER. REAR YARD HAS PATIO AND STORAGE AREA. CLOSE TO I-10 AND LOW MONTHLY CONDO FEES see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace - High/Vaulted ceiling - Tile floor - Family room - Bonus/Rec room - Dining room - Breakfast nook - Dishwasher - Refriger... 08/26/2009

I have to make a rant today about something that recently happened to me.  One of my listings went under contract recently.  Seems the appraisal company chosen to perform the appraisal didn't have access to the property.  They gave me a one day notice and I already had appointments for the time they were coming.  Seems they aren't willing to pay for the e-key.  What's this cost about $250 a year?  So since you are a cheapskate I need to come over and let you in?  Well when it's convenient to me.  Can you believe this?  You work in the business and won't spend a small sum to make you lively hood easier and save time waiting for others to let you in.   08/25/2009

Karin Smith | ABEK Real Estate | 985-707-7624 2129 Wellington, Slidell, LA Beautiful 3 or 4 Bedroom home in Springhill Subdivision! 3BR/2.5BA Single Family House offered at $195,000 Year Built 2005 Sq Footage 2,350 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION You are going to love this tastefully decorated beauty! Step into the grand entry foyer with soaring ceilings, to the right through double french doors is the dining room and half bath. This room could easily be used as a 4th bedroom, office or study; it has a closet! Continue forward and you'll enter the warm and welcoming family room with wood plank flooring and a wood burning/gas fireplace. The large eat-in kitchen is just off to the right of the fa... 08/19/2009

I am enjoying a quiet weekend today.  Seems most potential buyers are either shopping for school supplies or at the beach.  I wish I were at the beach.  More fun than cutting my grass. Well at least training camps are open for the football teams.  Like a kid, I am hopeful for the New Orleans Saints this year.  We should know by the end of September how good they will be this year.  Be safe and watch out for the school zones this coming week.  School starts in St Tammany parish this coming Friday. 08/01/2009

In less you live in a vacuum, anyone living in hurricane prone areas is aware of this.  Among having a stash of supplies (food,water etc), one needs to have adequate insurance in place. Do you know the most common form of disaster in the U.S.?  If you said flooding you are correct.  One does not have to live in hurricane area to flood.  Case in point, just last week West Virginia had a rather large area of flooding from persistent rains the past month or so. Here is a link to access your flood risk.   Also want to know your cost?  Well click here. As an experienced victim of Katrina,(3 feet in my home in Slidell, Louisiana) take my word for it.  You will be glad you had flood insurance should you ever need it.  While thousands finally were bailed out by the Federal Government.  They had... 05/12/2009

Mayors Office  646-4333 City Council Office  646-4307 Chief of Staff's Office  646-4330 City Hall  646-4300 Police  643-3131 City Attorney  646-4396 Airport  641-7590 Animal Control  646-4267 Civil Service Personnel  646-4377 Cultural and Public Affairs  646-4375 Engineering  646-4270 Finance  646-4316 Parks and Recreation  646-4371 Permits  646-4323 Planning  646-4320 Public Operations  643-6140 Water Billing  646-4309 Contractor's License  646-4324 Occupational License  646-4310 City ofSlidell Website: 05/08/2009

This Saturday, (tomorrow), the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is performing at the amphitheater in Slidell'sHeritage Park.  The concert begins at 7 p.m..  Admission is free.  I suggest any one interested to get there early.  Some of the music played will include Tchaikovsky's Waltz from Sleeping Beauty, Khachaturian's Sabre Dance and Brahm's Hungarian Dance No. 5. Before the concert there will be an Art Walk from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Don't forget you lawn chairs, food, drinks and anything else needed to enjoy this show. 05/01/2009

The following is a line from an email I received today from Senator David Vitter R- Louisiana concerning the automatic pay raises for our elected government.  Wouldn't we all like to vote on an automatic pay raise for each and every one of us? The U.S. Senate has finally passed a bill to end automatic pay raises for members of Congress, and I've sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to schedule prompt consideration of this important bill.   Now it is up to us to keep pressure on these turkeys.  I will say it until I die.  Term limits on all of them.  It seems every local district blames the other states districts for the problems.  I blame them all. 03/31/2009

Monday April 6, Kevin Pearson, the representative of District 76 in the Slidell Louisiana area will be conducting a town hall meeting at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium.  The time is from 6-8 p.m.  He is promoting his bill elevating. not raising the homestead exemption in Louisiana.  Under this bill the first $10,000 of every home in the state would be taxed and the next $75,000 will be exempt.  Anything over $85,000 will be taxable. This would spread out the cost of taxes to everyone.  Everyone uses these services.  He intends to file the bill before the April 17 deadline.  I am of the opinion if everyone has to pay taxes they will be less likely to approve new taxes.  Please try to attend this meeting.  The resale of your home (in St. Tammany) may depend on it.  For more information ... 03/26/2009

Spring fishing in lake Pontchartrain in Slidell Louisiana is now in full swing.  My dad and I caught these today trolling the trestles.  This trout run will last until early June.  We were using the B-2 squid hot pink and chartreuse green.  The pink one was the lure of choice.  Anyone can access the trestles launching at the old Tites Landing at the foot of the Highway 11 bridge in Slidell.  I urge you to use caution since it has been closed since the storm.  Also be patient since some fisherman aren't as well organized as you.   As for me I am spoiled.  My father lives on Carr drive in Northshore Beach subdivision.  His boat is in the boathouse.  I wake up ten minutes before I plan to go fishing.  Flip the switch and the boat is in the water.  Man it's a tough life, but someone has to ... 03/17/2009

Kensington Estates Subdivision in Slidell, La. Kensington Estates in Slidell, La. is located off of Gause Boulevard just north of interstate 10.  The houses in this subdivision are 0-3 years young and are mostly traditional style construction.  You will find a range of 3-5 bedrooms and 1800-2750 square feet.  Kensington Estates is close to many department stores and restaurants.School District:Bonne Ecole Elementary/Slidell Middle/Slidell High1/2008 - 2/2009Sold Price Ranges: $240,000. - $263,500.Average Days on Market: 103 For more information about Kensington or other Slidell, La. Subdivisions check out; www.PropertyPromenade.com www.PropertyPromenade.com Your Source for Slidell, La. Real Estate. 03/04/2009

Cross Gates Subdivision in Slidell, La.   ALL HOMES FOR SALE IN CROSS GATES SUBDIVISION, CLICK WWW.PROPERTYPROMENADE.COM - UPDATED DAILY! COURTESY OF: SMITH REALTY GROUP, SLIDELL, LA. Cross Gates Subdivision in Slidell, La. is off of Military Road east of Gause Boulevard.  It is super convenient to the wonderful Cross Gates Gym!  The houses in Cross Gates range from 5 to 30 years of age and are 1600-3300 square feet.  The construction is a mix of acadian, ranch and traditional style.  School District:Elementary: Honey Island & Cypress Cove/Middle: Little Oak and Boyet/High: Northshore1/2008- 2/2009Sold Price Ranges: $165,000 - $295,000.Average Days on Market: 125 For more information about Cross Gates or other Slidell Subdivisions check out: www.PropertyPromenade.com www.PropertyPromena... 03/04/2009