For Military Families | West Bank Living

Archive for the 'For military families' Category

lisa on Apr 23rd 2008 Algiers LA, For Buyers, For military families, West Bank Neighborhoods

New Aurora: West Bank Neighborhood of the Week

Bounded by Woodland Drive, MacArthur Blvd, General Meyer Avenue and Ramsey Drive, New Aurora (also known as Aurora Gardens) is one of the most demand areas in Algiers, LA. The active Aurora Civic Association helps keep neighbors involved and informed about all of the happenings in the area. Membership in the civic association is completely voluntary and there are no annual home owner dues required when purchasing in the neighborhood. The civic association plans the Annual Night Out Against Crime block party each August, which is a great way to get to know your neighbors and enjoy their company!

With quick and convenient access to both NSA New Orleans and NAS JRB New Orleans, Aurora is a terrific option for military families who are relocating to the West Bank. And working in downtown New Orleans does not put Aurora out of reach…even during rush hour, it’s a quick 6 mile commute.

What’s nearby?

Aurora Tennis & Swim Club, a family friendly club featuring 3 pools, a playground, 11 lighted tennis courts and an indoor exercise room
Norman Playground is walking distance from most homes in New Aurora and features play equipment for the little ones
Several churches are right in or close to New Aurora, including St. Andrew the Apostle, Aurora Methodist, Woodland Presbyterian, General de Gaulle Church of Christ and Oak Park Baptist
Grocery stores, coffee shops and cafes, drug and convenience stores, banks and gas stations, local and national dining and fast food options
Temporary location of Algiers Regional Library
Brechtel Park Golf Course

View Larger Map

School information

Algiers Charter schools

New Orleans Parochial School Information

The Real Estate Market in New Aurora

Resale homes in New Aurora are available from the upper $100s to the mid $200s, depending on size and amenities. The average home in the neighborhood features 4 bedrooms and about 2,300 square feet of living area.

The most recent sales in New Aurora show an average sale price of $177,625 for a 4 bedroom, 2,300 square foot home. Average days on market for 2008 is approximately 125 days.

Interested in Buying or Selling in New Aurora?

Be sure you work with an experienced West Bank REALTOR®, that knows the ins and outs of the Algiers real estate market, to help you along the way.

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 buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

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lisa on Feb 15th 2008 For military families, Local schools

Relocating to New Orleans: A Guide to the Local School Systems

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? That answer, of course, depends on where you decide to purchase or rent your new home. In the New Orleans metropolitan area, there are many 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 to the often overwhelming job of picking the right fit for your child.

There are some terrific resources available to help research all of the options in New Orleans schools.

New Orleans Public and Charter School Information

New Orleans Parochial School Information

Is your child a budding artist, musician, dancer or actor? The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts is an exclusive institution that serves as a training ground for these students with specialized classes held on their riverfront campus. Attendance is selective and an audition may be a requirement for admission to the program. Note that NOCCA does not offer core academic subjects, but serves as an adjunct to the student’s regular school.

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts

Jefferson Parish Schools

Jefferson Parish public schools, while suffering damage from Katrina, have not evolved into the spider web of school systems like Orleans Parish has. School boundaries are generally determined by your home address, so doing a little research prior to your relocation is critical to ensuring you choose to live in an area that is served by your favorite public school. Of course, private and parochial schools are also available to students who live both in and outside of the parish.

Jefferson Parish Public School Information

Jefferson Parish Parochial School Information - select the Outside of New Orleans link on this page for elementary and high school information

Plaquemines Parish Schools

Plaquemines Parish has long held the reputation for excellent schools, making this a sought after area for parents who want to take advantage of the public school system. While private and parochial schools accept students regardless of their home address, Plaquemines Parish requires proof of residency for enrollment into any of their public schools.

Plaquemines Parish Public School Information

Plaquemines Parish Parochial School Information - select the Outside of New Orleans link on this page for elementary and high school information

Special Options for Military Families

On the West Bank of New Orleans, the NAS JRB New Orleans offers an on-base school option for military families with elementary and middle school age children. Belle Chasse Academy is a charter school with the goal of providing an excellent educational environment for the children of military families in the New Orleans area.

Related articles:

Education Week - 2008 Report on Louisiana Schools

If you need local expertise and assistance with your relocation to the New Orleans area, please feel free to contact me by phone at (504) 616-6262 or by email at lisa@lisaheindelsells.com. I’d love to help you discover your new home in your new city!

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 in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

West Bank Homes for Sale – Find a home for sale on the West Bank or other New Orleans metropolitan area.
Contact Lisa Heindel for help buying or selling your New Orleans area home
Free online home evaluation of your New Orleans West Bank home

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lisa on Jan 7th 2008 For military families

Louisiana Military Reservists - Do You Know About the Military Family Assistance Fund?

When military reservists are called to active duty, they not only leave behind their families, but their jobs as well. Although some large companies may continue to pay a salary and benefits, most do not. When military pay falls short of a reservist’s civilian salary, how does a family cope with this financial loss?

The State of Louisiana has a Military Family Assistance Fund that provides help for activated reservists and their family members to assist with the costs of food, housing and medical services. Eligible families may receive up to $10,000 per year in assistance from the Louisiana Department of Social Services.

Who is Eligible?

"Any Louisiana resident who is a member of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard and who has served a minimum of thirty consecutive days of active duty or active state service since September 11, 2001 may apply for assistance from the MFA fund. Immediate family members of eligible solders may apply on behalf of the soldier". (From the Louisiana Treasury Department website)

How Can I Apply?

Applications are available in person at all parish VA offices, or online at the Louisiana Department of Treasury website. Also available online are Application Instructions and a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Can I Donate to MFAF?

Donations to the fund can be made by businesses and citizens via their state income tax return forms or by mailing them directly to the fund at:

LA Military Family Assistance Fund, c/o Department of Social Services

P.O. Box 2784

Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2784

Make your state income tax deductible donation payable to: LA Military Family Assistance Fund.

It’s nice to see our state recognizing the sacrifices being made by our military reserve forces. Great job, Louisiana!

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans, you deserve professional, local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers and sellers in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

West Bank Homes for Sale – Find a home for sale on the West Bank or other New Orleans metropolitan area.

Contact Lisa Heindel for help buying or selling your New Orleans area home

Free online home evaluation of your New Orleans West Bank home

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lisa on Jan 3rd 2008 For military families

NAS JRB, New Orleans - So the Military is Relocating You to New Orleans…

Welcome to New Orleans!

Moving into a new area is always a bit of a challenge, especially when you don’t have the luxury of a lot of time to decide on a new home. As a military transferee with orders in hand, you are faced with deciding where to live rather quickly. Most people who have never been to the New Orleans area don’t know much about us except for what they’ve seen on TV. Speaking as a native, I can tell you that there is a whole lot more to the city than Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street.

A little about New Orleans

The entire region is steeped in history, great architecture, world class food and an active community of artists and musicians. There are daily opportunities for fun and you will never have to say "There’s nothing to do". Bored? No way. Festivals, fairs and family events can fill each of your days, if you are so inclined. And if you are relocating with children, you may be surprised at how many fun family activities there are to take advantage of in the city.

In an effort to assist military families relocating to the area, here is some valuable, local information:

Free City Profile Reports
Free City Comparison Reports
Free School Reports
Free Community Reports
Mortgage Qualification Calculator
Online mortgage applications - my preferred in house lender has a great track record of working with military families and their special needs. He is a VA approved broker and lender.

NAS JRB New Orleans

The Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base - New Orleans is home to approximately 1,400 active duty personnel, the base also has over 3,500 reservists, 895 civilians and 865 family members. An elementary school for military families serving pre-K through 8th grade is located on base, along with 2 child care centers. (For information on other public and private schools in the area, read this.)

Location, Location, Location

The Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base - New Orleans is located about 20 minutes south of downtown New Orleans in Belle Chasse, LA on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Because of its location, many transferees prefer to live on the West Bank instead of crossing the river during their commute each day. You may want to begin your home search in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey or Marrero…these areas are the closest to the base and will make for the shortest drive time each day.

For an overview of available housing and average prices in each area, recent market reports are a good place to start. Once you have narrowed down your area and price range, you can search online for housing that meets your needs. Be sure you have talked to your lender and determined your 2008 BAH before making that first trip south…even in a buyer’s market, being pre-qualified for a mortgage is an absolute necessity. Don’t forget to ask me about local title companies that offer a military discount on all closings.

New Orleans and it’s surrounding area has some of the most affordable housing in the country, and your military relocation can be made much smoother when you are armed with a little knowledge and some local, expert assistance. As a resident of the West Bank, I take pride in knowing the area. When making your move to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, please feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to show you around.