What's The Right Price For Your Home?

If you are tempted to try listing your home for sale at a high price just to see if you can get it, don't do it.

It’s not unusual for homeowners to think that the list price should be based on what they paid for their home, the balance of their mortgage, or on the profit they want to make so they can move into another home. In reality, your home is worth only what the market is willing to pay for it. If you price your home too high, some potential buyers won’t want to look at it at all, while others will simply walk away without making an offer. Future price reductions will negatively affect the net you will collect.

Choose the right professional to help you with your home sale. A knowledgeable Realtor can factor in all of the issues in the context of your local market conditions, including whether home prices are rising or falling and whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market. Listen to your Realtor’s advice and your transaction is more likely to go through quickly and smoothly from the beginning.

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Dracula's Castle For Sale!

Perched in the Transylvanian mountains like a harbinger of death or a vulture or something equally as creepy, the castle that inspired Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” tale is now for sale. Although only allegedly believed to be the inspiration for the Irish author’s description of Dracula’s castle in the book, tourists still habitually flock to the castle year after year for a taste of horror-themed nostalgia.

The castle was built in 1212 by Teutonic Knights who created the wooden castle as a fortified location at the entrance of a mountain valley used by traders for more than a millennium. It was also used as a defense against the Ottoman Empire in the 1400s, and over the next few centuries, it served as a customs point. The castle has exchanged hands plenty of times since then, and even played a strategic military role in the mid-18th century.

Bran Castle was reportedly offered to the Romanian government for a hefty price tag equivalent to $80 million USD. The public listing price has not yet been announced, but the owners are looking for a buyer who will continue their vision of maintaining and growing “the largest and most significant attraction in Romania.”

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Best New Orleans Date Spots

Thinking “a date”? Here are some great places that you should check out. Some are pricey, some are cheap, some are romantic, some are chill, either way, you’re going to impress with these selections.

1.  THE DELACHAISE Located on St. Charles,  The Delachaise is a great spot for a mellow date night but it’s intimate enough that you can have a real conversation. They have outdoor seating on St. Charles and a casual vibe indoors. Great wine, small but tasty menu items, all in all, a great first date choice.

2. SANTE FE

Santa Fe is one of the best choices for brunch but it’s also an awesome place for a relaxing dinner. They have outdoor seating underneath beautiful string lights looking right out at Esplanade Avenue. With really delicious Latin and Spanish dishes, you can discuss books, movies and art while you fill up on yummy goodness. Usually a busy place, you might have to wait a short while for a reservation but it’s definitely worth it.

3. THE PRYTANIA THEATER

Instead of going to the Westbank or Metairie for a night at the movies, you should head to Prytania Theater. Opened in 1914, it’s a one-screen movie theater and the oldest one in the whole state. Really makes you feel like you’re going on that classic movie & dinner date that never gets old. Currently they’re showing Jersey Boys but they show other movies on the weekends too, so feel free to go any night.

4. GONDOLA RIDE THROUGH CITY PARK  Who can resist this ultra-romantic idea? The Big Lake right at the front of the City Park is where you can rent a gondola and circle the lake. Bring some glasses of wine and a blanket and you’ll find yourself having a memorable date.

5. SALU

Salu on Magazine Street is a really cool place. Right next to Rum House, if you want something less crowded and more serious than happy hour, head over here. On Thursdays, they have live Latin music, so if you feel like stirring up some passion, think about coming here. Also on Thursday, get an order of their Seafood Paella and get a complimentary bottle of wine! Talk about a deal! Really delicious entrees and great sharing plates, great for that 2nd or 3rd date.

 6. DOMENICA

They have one of the best happy hours in the city and because the food is just top notch. The interior is classy without being intimidating and they have an awesome wine and cocktail list, not to mention the amazing dessert menu. You can enjoy a delicious, full course meal and even coffee afterwards without breaking the bank. Ask if you can sit next to the window and look out on Barrone Street..

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THE 25 NEW ORLEANS COMMANDMENTS

Click on this link:

http://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/new-orleans/the-25-new-orleans-commandments

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Curb Appeal Counts!

First impressions count — not just for your friends, relatives, and the UPS guy, but for yourself. Whether it’s on an urban stoop or a Victorian front porch, your front door and the area leading up to it should extend a warm welcome to all comers — and needn’t cost a bundle.

Here’s what you can do to make welcoming happen on the cheap.

1.    Clear the way for curb appeal. The path to your front door should be at least 3 feet wide so people can walk shoulder-to-shoulder, with an unobstructed view and no stumbling hazards. So get out those loppers and cut back any overhanging branches or encroaching shrubs. 

2. Light the route. Landscape lighting makes it easy to get around at night. Solar-powered LED lights you can just stick in the ground, requiring no wiring, are suprisingly inexpensive. 

3. Go glossy. Borrow inspiration from London’s lovely row houses, whose owners assert their individuality by painting their doors in high-gloss colors. The reflective sheen of a royal blue, deep green, crimson, or whatever color you like will ensure your house stands out from the pack.

4. Pretty up the view. A door with lots of glass is a plus for letting light into the front hall -- but if you also want privacy and a bit of decor, check out decorative window film. It’s removable and re-positionable, and comes in innumerable styles and motifs.

A way to get the look of stained glass without doing custom work or buying a whole new door: Mount a decorative panel on the inside of the door behind an existing glass insert, $92 for an Arts and Crafts-style panel 20-inches-high by 11-inches-wide.

5. Replace door hardware. While you’re at it, polish up the handle on the big front door. Or better yet, replace it with a shiny new brass lockset with a secure deadbolt.

6. Please knock. Doorbells may be the norm, but a hefty knocker is a classic that will never run out of battery life, and another opportunity to express yourself (whatever your favorite animal or insect is, there’s a door-knocker in its image). 

7. Ever-greenery. Boxwoods are always tidy-looking, the definition of easy upkeep. A pair on either side of the door is traditional, but a singleton is good, too. About $25 at garden centers.

8. Numbers game. Is your house number clearly visible? That’s of prime importance if you want your guests to arrive and your pizza to be hot. 

9. Foot traffic. A hardworking mat for wiping muddy feet is a must.

10. Go for the glow. Fumbling for keys in the dark isn’t fun. Consider doubling up on porch lights with a pair of lanterns, one on each side of the door, for symmetry and twice the illumination. Many mounted lights are available well under $100.

11. Snail mail. Mailboxes run the gamut from kitschy roadside novelties masquerading as dogs, fish, or what-have-you to sober black lockboxes mounted alongside the front door.

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OPEN HOUSE ON SUNDAY, 4/27/14, 1-2:30 PM!

Who Pays America's Highest (and Lowest) Property Taxes?

The second biggest cost of home ownership—following the mortgage—is usually property taxes. In 2012, U.S. homeowners paid an average of about $2,800 in property taxes, according to a recent Zillow study. And if you live in New York, New Jersey, or Colorado your taxes were in some cases five times more than the national average. The numbers are based on an average of real estate taxes paid on single family housing in 2012.

The residents of Westchester County in New York pay more in property taxes than the typical resident of any other major American county. The average property tax bill for a single family home in Westchester County comes to $14,829 a year.

Adjusting for the average cost of single-family homes in each county, homeowners in Allegany County, NY win the award for the highest property tax burden. The average tax obligation of $2,549 in Allegany County amounts to 3.8 percent of the average single family home value; in Westchester County, the average tax obligation is slightly lower, at 2.5 percent of the county’s average home value. Nationally, the typical homeowner is spending approximately 1.4 percent of their home’s value on annual property taxes. See the full rankings below.

Highest Property Taxes as a Percent of Home Value

Allegany County, N.Y. (3.76 percent)

Milwaukee County, Wis. (3.68 percent)

Kendall County, Ill. (3.57 percent)

Sullivan County, N.Y. (3.56 percent)

Orleans County, N.Y. (3.49 percent)

Lowest Property Taxes as a Percent of Home Value

Caroline County, Va.( 0.17 percent)

Catahoula County, La. and Randolph Ariz, (0.2 percent)

Iberville County, La. and Cumberland County, Tenn. (0.21 percent)

Butler County, Penn. and Maui County, Hawaii (0.22 percent)

Elmore County, Ala. and De Soto County, La. (0.23 percent)

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Housing Gains Predicted

More modest gains are likely this year, according to the most recent Kiplinger Letter forecast. The national average of appreciation in home values will be up 4 percent-4.5 percent, compared with a gain over 11 percent in 2013.

The top stated reason for this increase is rising mortgage rates, will increase to 5 percent or so for 30-year fixed rate loans by the end of the year. Another possible is that fewer investors are offering all-cash deals, with bargain prices and.

The Kiplinger letter forecasts that new-home building will accelerate again, helping to offset the construction drought of 2008-2012. Keep an eye out for housing starts this year to climb by 15 percent and top 1 million for the first time since 2007. Sales of new homes are predicted to be a bright spot.

Another prediction: More existing homes will go up for sale, as price hikes pull homeowners out from mortgages that are underwater, making them more willing to sell. Sales will climb by 4 percent, but inventory won’t be as tight.

Affordability, though declining, is still better than the historical norm: A median-price home costing 20 percent of household income. In 2013, it took just 15 percent of income to buy an equivalent home. When mortgage rates rise to 5 percent, it will cost 17 percent of income.

More moderate growth this year is not necessarily bad news, it signals a more sustainable, long-term growth trajectory that will help quell fears that another bubble is arising.

For information you need to sell or buy a home visit http://findneworleansproperties.com/

Home Prices of Normal Sales Up 0.3% in December

The latest FNC Residential Price Index™ (RPI) shows U.S. home prices continue to rise. As of December, the RPI indicates the fastest year-over-year growth since the recovery began in early 2012. The index, constructed to gauge price movement among normal home sales exclusive of distressed properties, was up 0.3% in December—outperforming the overall price movement in the single-family housing market. Unlike overall price measures that include distressed sales (which recently have shown signs of weakening), home prices of normal sales have been rising at steady and sustainable levels—about 0.3-0.5% per month.

Based on recorded sales of normal, non-distressed properties (existing and new homes) in the 100 largest metropolitan areas, the FNC national composite index shows that, in December, home prices rose at a seasonally unadjusted rate of 0.3%, essentially maintaining the same pace achieved since September.

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The future of lighting

Wi-Fi-connected, long-lasting LED bulbs are breaking ground in the lighting industry. Instead of flipping a switch, one day you may just need to flip an app on your smartphone or tablet.

These bulbs not only aim to smarten up lighting in homes with “mood” lighting, but also provide another option to those who may not be fans of the “uninviting” light that standard energy-saving LED, compact fluorescent, and halogen bulbs put out.

Smart bulbs are not only energy efficient but they can be controlled by a person’s smartphone and offer different lighting settings that can be set to your mood.

One debut from Philips — the Hue smart bulb – lets you control your wireless lighting from an app on a smartphone or tablet. You can dim the lights and even use different color lighting schemes to serve as mood lighting. The bulbs also come with preset lighting settings that aim to help you better concentrate, read, or relax too.

Belkin’s WeMo Smart LED Bulb — a 60-watt equivalent LED bulb — also got a lot of attention at this year’s CES. It works with an app for IOS and Android smartphones, and the bulbs can last up to 23 years. The bulbs are fully dimmable and can be scheduled to dim at certain times. For example, you can set the lights to gradually dim as you fall asleep. The lights emit a warm white light that is more similar to incandescent bulbs.

Lumen Smart Bulb can turn on when it just senses your mere presence 50 feet away. It can also be set to flash the lights to alert you about an incoming phone call.

But one big barrier smart bulbs may still need to overcome before heading mainstream: The cost. Smart bulbs aren’t cheap, especially compared to other lighting options. For example, Lumen’s smart bulbs are about $70 each, and Belkin’s WeMo Smart LED Bulbs sell for about $39.99 each.

But could this be the future of lighting? Several manufacturers believe smart bulbs could also pave the way for a fully connected home from your smartphone — one that encompasses all your appliances and home’s systems, not just your lights.

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