Today through Saturday

The International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo kicks off today at the Sanddollar Marina in Grand Isle, LA.  The oldest fishing tournament in the United States, the Tarpon Rodeo draws fishermen from around the country to the small town of Grand Isle.  For more information visit www.tarponrodeo.org.

Saturday

The Gretna Farmer’s Market takes place under the Gretna Market on Huey P. Long Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets in the city of Gretna.  Fresh, local produce along with art, music, jewelry and more from 8:30am to 12:30pm.  Beat the heat and get there early!

Algiers Ferry Night starts with a pre-party at the Dry Dock Cafe at 2 pm in Algiers Point.  The party continues with a 5 pm ferry ride to Canal Street and a second line parade through Woldenberg Park.  The ferry returns to Algiers at 5:45 pm for the blessing of the ferry and free Pink Ferrytinis - now that sounds like fun!  The second line will make its way along the levee to the Old Point Bar at 6:30 pm, where the fairy costume contest will take place, followed by live music at 7 pm.  Ferry Night is just another of the wonderfully unique events that take place in Algiers Point.  For more information visit www.friendsoftheferry.org

The Krewe of Choctaw will choose the 2009 Chief and Princess and introduce the royal court at the Coronation Party taking place Saturday night at Timberlane Country Club in Gretna.  Featuring a buffet dinner and open bar, here’s a chance to get all dolled up and witness the passing of the tomahawk from the reigning royalty to the yet-to-be-announced monarchs.  For more information visit www.kreweofchoctaw.com.

Upcoming Events

Wednesdays on the Point concert series continues this week with Ernie Vincent & Marc Stone at Crown and Anchor Pub, 200 Pelican in Algiers Point.  The series ends on August 13th, so be sure to get out there and have some fun while it lasts.

The 25th Annual Night Out Against Crime will take place on August 5th, all over the West Bank.  What is your neighborhood doing to participate?  For more information about how to organize an event, visit National Night Out Against Crime.  This is a terrific way to spend a little time getting to know your neighbors if you are new to an area, or to get to know your long time neighbors just a little better.

This is just a sampling of the great events that happen right here on the West Bank.  Do you know about an upcoming event?  Leave a comment or send me an email with the details and I’ll be happy to include it in weekly report.  Make it a great West Bank weekend!

With architectural designs reminiscent of old New Orleans, homes in Aurora Riverside have a historic feel while offering all of the modern amenities you would expect from a 21st century community, including an active home owners association that is dedicated to preserving the surroundings and lifestyle the residents have come to expect.

Aurora Riverside Real Estate

New construction in Aurora Riverside is available from the upper $300s to the low $400s, with annual HOA dues of $500 per property.  Lots to build your own custom home on are priced from just over $50,000 to the low $100s, with lots facing or backing the river commanding a premium.  All construction plans must be approved by the Architectural Review Committee, with a minimum living space of 2,400 square feet in single story homes and 2.600 square feet in two story homes.

What’s Nearby?

With such a great central location, Aurora Riverside is the perfect choice for military personnel stationed at NAS JRB New Orleans (less than 10 miles away) and NSA New Orleans (less than 3 miles away).  Also nearby are:

• Aurora Tennis & Swim Club
• Brechtel Park
• Brechtel Park Golf Course
• Lakewood Golf Course (scheduled to open September 2008)
• Village Aurora Shopping Center (scheduled for renovations in 2009)
• Local dining and shopping

Area School Information

For a list of homes and lots for sale in Aurora Riverside, contact Lisa Heindel.  A resident and local expert, I’d be happy to welcome you to the West Bank!

• They know that sometimes appointments aren’t at the most convenient time and they may have to leave their house when they would normally be having dinner
• They know that it’s a pain to be sure the beds are made and no dishes are in the sink every time they walk out the front door
• They know that buyers are not as plentiful as they were a few years ago
• They know that they are facing tough competition from the other homes in their area and price range

Imagine their disappointment when we couldn’t see a home they were very interested in this week because the sellers would not allow any appointments to be made while they had out of town company.

Now, I understand that they are in the middle of entertaining guests, which is stressful enough.  Making sure everyone is fed, feels comfortable in your home, has a place to sleep and planning any tourist activities is hard work.  I understand that they would rather put aside the fact that their home is on the market this week. 

But, what if this is THE ONE?  What if this is the perfect family for their home?  What if, when they are ready to make appointments again, the buyers have already made an offer on another house?  Are they willing to take that chance when turning down a showing request?  Apparently so, because we tried again today to schedule a showing - sorry, no appointments until Thursday. 

Gee, that’s too bad, because on Thursday my buyers will be headed out of state with a contract on another house.

For professional West Bank Real Estate advice and services, contact Lisa Heindel.

• Competition for buyers in the $80,000-$160,000 price range remains fierce, with a large number of homes for sale in this range
• Sellers should continue to get monthly market updates to ensure that they are still priced to present the best value to buyers in their neighborhood

Westwego, Avondale and Bridge City Absorption Rates as of 7/21/2008

The odds listed are an estimate, not a guarantee that your home will sell in this time frame

Data supplied by Latter & Blum REALTORS and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

Are you considering selling your Westwego home?  For an experienced West Bank real estate agent, contact Lisa Heindel.  I’d be happy to help you price your home to sell.

Related Reading:

What Is A Real Estate Absorption Rate?

Choosing a Tech Savvy REALTOR® to Sell Your West Bank Home

Home seller tips

• Active listings have increased from 263 to 273, while listings sold per month have dropped from 35 to 32.7
• Homes in the first time buyer price range still face a lot of competition, so sellers should stay up to date with what’s going on in their neighborhoods to remain at the top of the “must see” list

Marrero LA 70072 Real Estate Absorption Rates as of 7/21/2008

The odds listed here are an estimate, not a guarantee that your home will sell in this time frame

Data supplied by Latter & Blum REALTORS and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

Are you considering selling your Marrero home?  For professional, local advice from a West Bank real estate specialist, contact Lisa Heindel.  I’d be happy to help you understand the current market and how to price your home to sell.

Related Reading:

What Is A Real Estate Absorption Rate?

Choosing a Tech Savvy REALTOR® to Sell Your West Bank Home

Home seller tips

• Active listings in Harvey have increased from 201 (May 2008) to today’s 219, while listings sold per month has dropped slightly from 21.7 to 19.3
• Even in the first time home buyer price ranges, there is an oversupply of homes for sale, so sellers need to keep up with their neighborhood competition in order to remain the best value in their area

Harvey LA Real Estate Absorption Rates as of 7/21/2008

The odds listed here are an estimate, not a guarantee that your home will sell in this time frame

Data supplied by Latter & Blum REALTORS and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

If you are considering selling your Harvey LA home, please contact Lisa Heindel for a local, experienced West Bank real estate agent.  I’d be happy to help you price and prepare your home for sale.

Related Reading:

What Is A Real Estate Absorption Rate?

Choosing a Tech Savvy REALTOR® to Sell Your West Bank Home

Home seller tips

• Active listings have increased from 195 to 207.  While this is a slight increase, it is coupled with a slowdown in the number of homes being sold each month.
• Home sellers in Terrytown and Gretna should continue to keep an eye on their competition, especially in their own subdivisions, to ensure that they are still the best value to home buyers in the area

Terrytown and Gretna LA 70056 Real Estate Absorption Rates as of 7/21/2008

The odds here are an estimate, not a guarantee that your home will sell in this time frame

Data supplied by Latter & Blum REALTORS and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

Are you considering selling your Terrytown or Gretna home?  Contact Lisa Heindel for a local, experienced West Bank real estate agent.  I’d be happy to help you price and prepare your home for today’s market.

Related Reading:

What Is A Real Estate Absorption Rate?

Choosing a Tech Savvy REALTOR® to Sell Your West Bank Home

Home seller tips

• While a 6 month inventory indicates a balanced real estate market, there are pockets of oversupply in certain price ranges, so sellers in Gretna need to stay up to date with their competition for buyers in those price ranges

City of Gretna Real Estate Absorption Rates as of 7/21/2008

The odds listed are an estimate, not a guarantee that your home will sell in this time frame

Data supplied by Latter & Blum REALTORS and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

If you are considering selling your Gretna home, contact Lisa Heindel for professional, West Bank real estate advice.  I’d be happy to help you prepare and price your home for sale.

Related Reading:

Choosing a Tech Savvy REALTOR® to Sell Your West Bank Home

What Is A Real Estate Absorption Rate?

Home seller tips

• While the number of available listings has dropped, the number of homes sold each month has increased from 5 (June 2008) to 6.7 as of today
• There continues to be a strong demand for homes priced under $200,000 in Belle Chasse
• Continuing military relocation to NAS JRB New Orleans should sustain demand for homes in the area

Belle Chasse LA Real Estate Absorption Rates as of 7/21/2008

The odds listed here are an estimate, not a guarantee that your home will sell in this time frame

Data supplied by Latter & Blum REALTORS and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

If you are considering selling your Belle Chasse home, contact Lisa Heindel for experienced West Bank real estate advice.  I’d be happy to help you prepare and price your home for sale.

Related Reading:

What Is A Real Estate Absorption Rate?

Choosing a Tech Savvy REALTOR® to Sell Your West Bank Home

Home Selling Tips

• Homes sold per month has risen from 2 to 2.7, indicating an increase in buyer interest in the area
• More English Turn home sellers are pricing under $500,000 which is a smart move given that the demand for homes in that price range is higher than demand for the upper end

English Turn Real Estate Absorption Rates as of 7/21/2008

The odds listed here are an estimate, not a guarantee that your home will sell in this time frame

Data is supplied by Latter & Blum Inc and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Are you considering selling your English Turn home?  Contact Lisa Heindel for an experienced, local West Bank real estate agent who can assist you in preparing and pricing your home for todays market.

Related Reading:

What Is A Real Estate Absorption Rate?

Choosing a Tech Savvy REALTOR® to Sell Your West Bank Home

Make Your Home the Star of the Neighborhood - Stage It!