A Driving Tour of Algiers Point | New Orleans West Bank Neighborhood

One of my favorite neighborhoods on the West Bank of New Orleans is Algiers Point.  From the historic architecture to the walkable streets to the diverse population, it’s definitely a part of the city of New Orleans.

Take a driving tour with me of the Point and I bet you’ll fall in love as well….

If you don’t see the video displayed above, please click here

More information about Algiers Point

 

   

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For information about home buying or selling on the West Bank of New Orleans, or relocating to or from NAS JRB New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to have the opportunity to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while doing it!

From The West Coast to the Gulf Coast | Your PCS to NAS JRB New Orleans

A little bird recently put a bug in my ear (yeah, I’m know I’m mixing metaphors or whatever you call them) and told me that there are going to be a good number of military relocations from San Diego to NAS JRB New Orleans in the next couple of months.  If you are amongst those that leaving behind sun, sand and an ocean view, let me welcome you to New Orleans and to the West Bank.

I was recently in San Diego and Newport Beach and I have to say that I was hard pressed to leave.  It’s a stunningly beautiful place and the weather is exceptional – it’s no wonder that real estate is so expensive there.

Moving anywhere new always brings at least a little bit of culture shock…from the different weather to the strange local customs and food.  Although, I have to say that I think you’ll enjoy our seafood a lot more than we enjoyed what they served in California.  No offense, but adding a little seasoning wouldn’t kill anyone there, would it?

Anyway, as you prepare for your move, it’s always a good idea to do a little research about your new city.  Since you’ve probably already heard the stories about Mardi Gras and the French Quarter, it’s up to me to let you know a few things you might not have been told.

• Despite our reputation for debauchery, New Orleans is a kid friendly community with plenty of fun to be had by families.  From the world class zoo and aquarium to the festivals that are held all around the city and in the adjoining parishes, there is always something to do to combat the dreaded “I’m bored….”
• Culture abounds in New Orleans, with an active arts community including the oldest opera association in the United States.
• Outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and canoeing are all available in the area when you know where to find them
• The weather in New Orleans is a far cry from what you are used to in San Diego.  While April and October offer some of the most beautiful days in the city, the rest of the months can be a little challenging.
• When compared to southern California, we have very affordable homes.  Before deciding on a housing budget, be sure to check your 2010 BAH Rates.

And, if all else fails, the beach is only a couple of hours away….

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For more information about home buying or selling on the West Bank of New Orleans, or relocating to or from NAS JRB New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team.

It would be our pleasure to have the opportunity to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while doing it!

Opportunity Lives Here | Jefferson Parish Video

One of the largest parishes in Louisiana, Jefferson Parish is working hard to let people know what a great place it is to live.  Spanning both sides of the Mississippi River, the West Bank of Jefferson Parish includes the communities of Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Avondale, Westwego, and Bridge City. 

 

 

If you can’t see the video above, click here.

No matter what you think of any of the politicians (always a hot topic in any community) it’s nice to see the parish taking the time and spending the money to get the word out about the opportunities that exist here.

• Gretna LA homes for sale
  Terrytown homes for sale
  Harvey homes for sale
  Marrero homes for sale
  Westwego homes for sale

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For more information about living in or relocating to New Orleans, the West Bank, or NAS JRB 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.

 

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No Matter Who You Are, There’s a Place for you in New Orleans

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 thinking about how accepting New Orleanians are of those who others might consider “different” and how welcoming we are to everyone who moves here.

In many ways, we are a typical American city. We have artists and musicians.  Bankers and soccer moms.  Entrepreneurs and successful business owners.  Parks and playgrounds.  Potholes and problems.

In so many ways, we are much, much more.

We celebrate like no other city….living life to its fullest, even turning what is just another Tuesday in any other part of America into the greatest free show on earth.  Whether you are a native who is part of the old line Carnival organizations or you are experiencing Mardi Gras for the first time, there is fun to be had by all.

Meals are more than nourishment…they are an event, a gathering and sometimes even a contest for who is the best.  While some of my friends that have moved away are paying outrageous prices for frozen seafood, I’m taking a quick run over to Westwego to buy it fresh, directly from the guy who was out on his boat this morning.

Art is celebrated…with multiple, diverse mediums used to communicate vision.  Glass, paintings, sculptures, even graffiti can send a message here.  There is a vibrant artistic community that has an open door for anyone who wants to join in.

Music drifts through the city…from the sounds of practicing marching bands, the opera, the local dive bar band and the symphony to the DJ playing at a backyard crawfish boil.  No event in New Orleans is complete without music, from a family birthday party to the second lines that end a jazz funeral.

We are connected…once you’ve lived here for any length of time, I dare you to go shopping or to the movies or even just make a quick stop for milk without either running into someone you know or having someone new strike up a conversation with you.  It can’t be done.

My resolution for the new year is to spend more time exploring my hometown, my city, my New Orleans.  To become more involved on a local level.  To spend more of my dollars in locally owned businesses.  To embrace the diversity of this most unique of American cities.  To venture beyond my little neighborhood and take myself, and hopefully you, on a tour of the real New Orleans.

For years, one of my favorite ways to describe this place has been that it’s where strangers become acquaintances, acquaintances become friends and friends become family. Despite the fact that I lay my head to rest at night on the West Bank, I’m still a part of this city.

No matter who you are, or where you are from, there’s a place for you in New Orleans.

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For more information about living in New Orleans or on the West Bank, or relocating to NAS JRB 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.

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Historic Homes on the West Bank of New Orleans

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 are looking for a home that goes beyond the traditional subdivision and isn’t part of the McMansion set that seems to be the rage in new construction, consider expanding your search to a home in one of the historic neighborhoods on the West Bank of New Orleans.

There are certainly pockets of older homes sprinkled across the area, but the biggest concentration of historic housing on the West Bank is in Algiers Point and the City of Gretna.  Homes with beautiful wood floors and original pocket doors.  Homes with fancy trim and brackets and columns framing front porches that are made for sitting and people watching.  Homes that were built with pride by craftsmen, not by a construction crew waiting for the whistle to blow and end the day.

Owning an older home certainly comes with its own challenges.  If you can’t stand the thought of a drafty window or can’t live without a double car detached garage, then you might not be happy with a house that is living, breathing, and needs to be loved and maintained.  If, on the other hand, you swoon over transoms and fireplace mantles and gingerbread trim…a historic property might be just the right place for you to call home.

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Are you relocating to or from the New Orleans area or NAS JRB New Orleans?  The West Bank Living Team would love to assist you with any of your real estate needs.  Different by design, we offer the services of both buyer and seller specialists who are dedicated to representing you and only you during your purchase or sale.  Contact us for more information about homes for sale on the West Bank or for a free, confidential market analysis of your home.

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