Lawn Care and You!

You bought a home, and now you are deciding how to handle the lawn care. Should you do it yourself? Here are some positives about doing it yourself:

If you love spending time outdoors, doing your own lawn care can be a great way to get some Vitamin D. Spending time outdoors in a garden is a great way for those who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty to care for their home. 

 It also can be a great workout! If you enjoy working up a sweat, doing your own lawn care is a great option in that it provides an extra dose of exercise. Weekly or biweekly mowing burns some calories, and will bring you some pride in owning a home with a well-manicured lawn. 

It can become a source for creative freedom! You can have the ultimate say in every decision that is made when it comes to their outdoor space. You can pick up a plant that you like and add it to your garden without having to consult anyone else. This freedom is great for anyone who may have trouble communicating ideas with a lawn service or for those who take pride in being able to do it themselves.

 Equipment Upkeep can be seen as a negative. It can take a lot of tools and machinery to keep a lawn in tip-top condition. Allowing a lawn service to do the work keeps homeowners from having to purchase lawn mowers, trimmers and leaf blowers. These items can be tricky to maintain, which saves the homeowner from purchasing gas, oil or replacement trimming line.

You might think paying for a lawn service can be quite expensive, but it's a catch 22 of time and money. Choosing a lawn service is the ultimate way to save time and it adds convenience to a busy lifestyle by not having to worry about getting the lawn care done on a weekly basis.

To search for homes visit http://homesalesneworleans.gardnerrealtors.com/

Bidding Wars In Real Estate Market

Housing inventory in the Greater New Orleans Area remains low, and demand for homes has been high. Brokers see their share of bidding wars quite often.

Professional buyers come in with all cash and buy up available properties. The regular buyers clamor for quality product if there aren’t that many available just as aggressively as the pros.

Sometimes regular buyers are pitted against deep-pocketed investors, making for an awfully daunting showdown—not that the seller should mind. Occupant-buyers need to show somehow that they’re more likely to close the transaction than an investor. Cash and speed are to the advantage of the investor, but they’re not as heavily invested in actually getting any single property they’re writing offers for. Regular buyers should show commitment, whether by financial, logistical, or personal means to sway the seller—within legal guidelines, of course. Personal letters, earnest money increases, and waivers of contingencies can all show serious intent to close.

To search for homes go to http://findneworleansproperties.com/

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.

For best information on how to sell your home visit http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/

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

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.

For more information visit http://findneworleansproperties.com/ 

The Big Question: To Renovate or Rebuild?

http://findneworleansproperties.com/real-estate-news/the-big-question-to-renovate-or-rebuild

1310 DAUPHINE ST, New Orleans, LA 70116

Classic beauty within a block of Cabrini Park. Masonry two story home with attached service wing constituting a most elegant home with wood floors and Italian stone floors. Currently used as a 2 bedroom 2 bath plus a rear outhouse which has been "chic-ed" up for downstairs half bath usage off of an elegant side garden/patio. Possible parking a plus. Early 1850s architecture.
Now offered for sale.
http://findneworleansproperties.com/

Economist Sees Interest Rates Leveling Off Next Year

Last week Ken Fears, a leading housing economist predicted that recent increases in mortgage interest rates will level off next year and housing sales across the nation will remain strong. He said “We see prices continuing to rise and we expect rates to be about 5.1 percent maybe up to 5.25 percent.”

Mortgage rates have increased more than 1 percentage point since May, although Thursday, they dropped to 4.5 percent from last week’s 4.75 percent.

Meanwhile, sharply rising prices have pulled more homeowners out from underwater on their mortgages — where homes are worth less than what’s owed on them. That has led to declines in foreclosures and delinquencies, reducing the inventory on banks’ balance sheets and lowering the potential for a future wave of foreclosures.

Banks also have been more comfortable making loans to people buying more expensive houses than cheaper ones, presumably because they have stronger credit. Jumbo loans usually carry higher interest rates than conforming loans, but that pattern was reversed recently, Fears noted.

Fears says the NAR expects prices to continue to rise.

For information on homes and condos for sale in the Greater New Orleans go to

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JULY HOME PRICES SOAR

The housing market continues its march forward, as home prices nationwide increased by 12.4 percent year-over-year in July when compared to a year prior. This boost is the 17th consecutive monthly year-over-year boost, with prices up 1.8 percent between June and July 2013. Excluding distressed sales, home prices increased on a year-over-year basis by 11.4 percent in July 2013 compared to July 2012. On a month-over-month basis, excluding distressed sales, home prices increased 1.7 percent in July 2013 compared to June 2013. Distressed sales include short sales and real estate owned (REO) transactions.

What could be bringing more buyers into the fold?

Boomerang buyers who are currently renting because they had a short sale or foreclosure in the past 2-3 years but are now eligible to purchase again.

The fact that interest rates are going up a little creates a sense of urgency among buyers. Even though prices have increased 25 percent in the past 12 months, it’s still an affordable market. We’re in a recovering market, but if you wait another year or two, you might be kicking yourself.

For information on buying a home or condo visit FindNewOrleansProperties.com

BUYERS WANT TO BUY BEFORE RATES GO UP!

AREN'T THEY PRETTY?

I love the cottages in New Orleans. Some features of this style of house are thought to be influences from places in France's former colonial empire. The front porches are believed to originate from the Caribbean islands. The high gabled roof is thought to be of French Canadian origin.

To know more about New Orleans Homes and Condos

BUYERS WANT TO BUY BEFORE RATES GO UP!

May Pending Home Sales Highest in Six Years - Buyers   Want to Buy before Rates Go Up!

Pending home sales rose in May to the highest level since late 2006, implying a possible spark as mortgage interest rates began to rise. Contract activity is at the strongest pace since December 2006 when it reached 112.8; pending sales have been above year-ago levels for the past 25 months.

Existing-home sales are projected to increase 8.5 to 9.0 percent, reaching about 5.07 million in 2013, the highest in seven years; it would be slightly above the 5.03 million totals recorded in 2007.
Learn more about buying real estate in New Orleans, New Orleans Homes and Condos

DID YOU KNOW?

The Degas Historic Home, Courtyard, & Inn offers daily tours to give visitors a first hand look into Edgar Degas’ life in New Orleans. The tour includes exploring both houses, the surrounding Creole Neighborhood of Treme, and viewing the award-winning film “Degas in New Orleans, a Creole Sojourn”.