New Orleans Real Estate by Eric

 In uptown New Orleans often the Street signs are on the sidewalk. Francesco De Carondelet was the govenor of Louisiana in 1791. In 1792 he was responsible for the forst street lighting in the City. These are great for walking. Since many of the street signs got blown away by Katrina these are indeed helpful. The satelite GPS is the thing to have in 2006. It saved me many wrong turns. I have no idea if other cities have such signs but would like to know. Guess if you driving a wagon, you could look down and see where you were going. No cars when this system started.  

Having public transportation does have an effect of values of real estate. In New Orleans the street cars are still a fixture in a lot of neighborhoods. Many think we are backward, but this may be a great thing in the future. Having not to drive to work is a great appeal to the current generation who value their time more than the Baby Boomers of which I am one. We all wanted to drive to work, build interstates, spend money on gas, and live where we could get a bigger and better home. The trends start out slowly and then catches on. The Greens should like it as it more efficient. If you like to read the paper or a book on the way to work this is the way to go. The street cars don't have A/C, you have to raise the windows and have the breezes you cool. Think of what you save in parking where that is an issue. New Orleans would never had a system like this today but people didn't wanted it taken away. When our leaders wanted to do away with this mode of transportation, the people spoke out to save what seemed to be old. It the best tourist dollar that a visitor could spend when coming to town. For $1.25 or there about you can ride the entire line. When I was growing up, it was only 10 cents. Some things to think about.

This is part of one of my web pages that is advertising a new listing that we picked up in the New Orleans French Quarter. One of the things I try to do is give a feel of a neighborhood. Its like localism in its early stages. You can take more photos, better photos than will be in the MLS and you can give people a lifestyle feel. People buy on emotion and want to get a feel for the area. You can be much more personal just like a blog. No one else is going to do this to any great degree. You can also give neighborhood links to help the internet client discover your property in another light. I do not do flash as not to bore people as they can scroll and see what they like as they like. The sellers like it as you can expand on the nice things about a property. Its another way to effectively marlet your property and save money on the print ads that no l;onger are of much value. This is especially true of the four line newspaper ad. 

Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras was today. Everyone gets a different idea of what carnival is. This is the side of Carnival thet the national media never mentions but this is what most locals do. Rex the king of carnival rollled this morning on Napoleon Ave before reaching St. Charles Ave. This is the same spot I watched Rex 30 years ago as we did with my two year old grandson today. Mardi Gras is a family affair before it gets into the French Quarter. Just wanted to share part of the parade from the Krewe of Rex under clear skys and 70 degree weather.

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I do business in New Orleans where people are beginning and continuing to buy primarily condos as a second home. I think it would be great to have this feature worked into the local market. I think a lot of people use the internet to search for this in particular. I get several calls per week on this. The value is to the client because they are not here to see what we see. They have to plan ahead and need good info on the trends that only someone who works these areas everyday is familiar with. This is a speciality business that I have developed and am trying to perfect it along with my residential sales. You have to be more prepared when someone comes in for a weekend or most two weekends to buy a unit. I think the internet market will become more and more of a niche market, any comments?         

             This is a view from a French Quarter Condo that I just listed that is a second home and most likely be  a second home again when it is sold. I did a nice page on the website 526 Madison, New Orleans

New Orleans Uptown is a neighborhood in the City of New Olreans. This area is blessed to have hundreds of Old Oak Trees that line the streets and fill Audubon Park where these pictures were taken today. The Oaks are evergreen so they stay green year round. It is great to have the shade during our summer months. many times I am trying to get photos of these homes but there is a tree in the way. It is better to have the tree in the way rather than not have them. You have to have the humid air and mild weather for these trees to grow. Its also great to put O back into the air. You can jog a mile and a half circle while always being in the shade in audubon Park. Its a City jewel that is kept up by and managed by the Audubon Institute. Better to keep the government out of the management of nice things. Let the people keep it up and its a great Park and zoo that makes Uptown a nicer place to live. Not your normal American neighborhood.               

New Orleans Uptown - A neighborhood View

 You never know when you will get quoted in a national article. If you are to found in google you to may get a call. Katrina has had numerous people doing articles on our city of New Orleans. The best way to answer is to tell the interviewer what you think straight and brief. Matt kept me on the phone for about 10 minutes. i was talking to him from the car. Should have asked him to link my site and blog. Have to wait until next time. 5 seconds of fame. Just be prepared, it was great because I had just blogged on this very subject this past week. I was ready thanks to Active Rain!     

 French Quarter's Most Expensive Homes

Matt Woolsey, Forbes.com

February 16, 2007

"It's a soft market right now because a lot of people who owned in the French Quarter were second home purchasers and they put their homes on the market all at the same time," says Eric Bouler from Prudential Gardner. "It created a glut of available properties, which lowers prices."

The good times will certainly roll next week when Fat Tuesday comes around, but realtors say the best time will be had when all of New Orleans' former residents make their way home."Having new people is great," says Bouler. "But the doctor who is living in Mobile, or the teacher that moved to Houston, that's who we need to get back. For us, for them, because those places just aren't the same."

As a realtor in New Orleans you still have to look at diaster week after week. I decided to take a couple of shots of this Lakeview double. It is exactly the way it was left after the water drained off. This was an upper clss neighborhood before the storm. On the average there are 2 people on each block that have come back and are rebuilding. Many have begun to tear down their homes or rebuild if they can. The area had a lot of older people that had to move elsewhere to never come home again. Selling these people takes a little patience and does take a little longer because you are putting an honest effort to find them a place. They are always laughing about not having to worry about clothes and furniture, its gone. They do not even want to go back other than to look after once. Many of my clients have lived in theses areas since the 50s. The things in the house below are just where they floated. Since this happened about 50,000 times I am wondering what we are going to do with the yards and weeds as the people trickle back. I have clients who want to move to the area they are so attached. Just wanted to pass this along when you start to feel like you want some material things. One good thing is most of the people have families that have taken them in and worked to get everyone settled in.

 I have lived in a lot of places, but none can hold a candle to South Louisiana if you like Seafood and Spicy dishes. People have a passion for food and neighborhood places that are not fancy. Guys love to cook and make a social outing out of cooking various Cajun dishes. I ate here today, but only ate half of this shrimp Po-Boy on French. Jack put his mug on the cups, this way he can use them as throws if he parades. take a look at the menu and you will not see these local dishes at  Apple Bees. I am going to try the Paneed Rabbit next time. Each neighborhood has tis own specialities. Most people who move here from other places are quickly adopted and fall in line with the passion for food and trying new dishes. These are two great local hot sauces that remain favorites. tabisco is made at Avery Island near New Iberia and Crystal Hot Sause in Saint James Parish. The New Orleans Plant was destroyed by Katrina. It opened again last week after being shut done of 18 months. These are local shrimp that come from the Gulf of Mexico fresh daily. Not from some farm in Vietnam that most of the USA gets to eat. There is a big difference. Thats my food review for the week.   

 These are Japanese Magnolias blooming this week in the New Orleans area. Thye always seem to bring their color out about the same time as Carnival. its early this year. Fat Tuesday is 40 days before Easter so Easter is early. These are great little trees that do not get big but love a shady spot in your yard. They bloom every year and have this splash of coror for several short weeks. The the leaves come out and still look nice as they are a light green against the dark leaves of our trees. This was in full bloom today. Some of you guys still have snow. Wanted to pass this along before they are gone. Begginning of Spring in South Louisiana. Crawfish season is around the corner.