Lisa Heindel, New Orleans West Bank Real Estate

Next week the kids are out of school and the grocery stores will be packed with folks hunting and gathering all of the things they need to prepare too much food for too few people. For many, it's a stressful time, trying to do everything just so. I don't know about you, but I usually need a break from all of the preparations and look forward to some time out of the house just to have a little fun.

What could be more fun than Turkey Bingo?

The Sunshine Club of Algiers is sponsoring it's annual Turkey Bingo on Tuesday, 11/25/2008 in the Holy Name of Mary School cafeteria in Algiers Point.

Since the 1930's, the Sunshine Club has distributed holiday baskets to between 150-200 local families in need. The big, annual spaghetti dinner was canceled this year due to Gustav, so Turkey Bingo needs your support!

Winners of the bingo games get their very own turkey to take home and it's a wonderful way to spend a little quality time with friends, family and neighbors. Here's a thought - if you win, the Sunshine Club will gladly take that turkey as a donation towards the Christmas baskets that will be distributed on December 20th.

The first game starts at 7:30 pm and bingo cards are only $1.50 each. Watch out for those power players that can play a table full of cards at once! Kids, as always, are welcome and there will be food, drinks and sweets available along with a parade of prizes and a 50/50 raffle.

For more information, contact Gary Laigast at (504) 450-7460.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living. All rights reserved.

I know...I've gone on and on about the statistics.  Over 85% of today's buyers are looking on the internet for their new home.  Listings with multiple photos and virtual tours get more views and more attention from buyers than those without.  Kind of common sense, huh?

Well, if I know this, and you know this, then please tell me why there are agents who still don't get it.  I'd really like to understand. 

I was going through the MLS this morning, looking for the perfect new listings to send to my buyers.  Here's the info on the 40 that I viewed this morning:

• 4 had only 1 picture (the MLS allows us to upload 8 photos)
• 19 had NO pictures and
• Zero - that's right - not a single one of them had a virtual tour

Despite the glowing descriptions, carefully crafted by the listing agents, it all comes down to one question.  Is this how you attract a buyer to your property?

Interested in buying a West Bank home or selling your West Bank home?  Contact Lisa Heindel.  It would be my pleasure to assist you with all of your real estate needs.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

There is a perception of many REALTORS as middle aged women or men with too much/not enough hair, too much make up, too much perfume, too much gaudy jewelry, too big of a car....everything in excess and then on top of all of that - they are PUSHY, PUSHY, PUSHY!

Don't talk to the REALTOR...if you give them a phone number, they will call you every day and hound you about buying or selling a house.

Don't talk to the REALTOR...if you give them your email address, they will send you more spam than those male enhancement companies about buying or selling a house.

Don't talk to the REALTOR...they are desperate now that the market has changed and will tell you anything to get you to buy or sell a house.

You get the picture...

I, for one, am tired of the old REALTOR cliches, as true as they may be for some in the industry.

I'm looking forward to the day when I can hear:

Talk to my REALTOR...she communicates with me in the way that I want and keeps me up to date with useful information about the market in my area

Talk to my REALTOR...he sends me the newest listings and lets me decide what I like

Talk to my REALTOR...she knows what's going on in today's market and the neighborhoods

Talk to my REALTOR...he has contacts for everything - mortgages, inspectors, title companies

Talk to my REALTOR...she made buying/selling easy and fun

Am I dreaming too big?

Originally published at West Bank Living

What a gorgeous Saturday!  Sun shining, a sky so clear it almost hurts to look at it, and the fall breeze is finally blowing.  What a perfect day to be outside on the West Bank.  After showing a couple of houses this morning, I spent some time wandering around the farmer's markets, picking up a couple of things here and there and taking pictures.  How was your Saturday?

First stop, Gretna Farmer's Market

Besides all of the salsas and sauces and fresh produce, there were some wonderful homemade breads.  After much deliberation, I chose the tomato, olive and goat cheese pizza bread- YUMMY!! 

While strolling through the market, I saw that a gentlemen was selling muscadine wine, so I stopped and asked him about muscadine jelly.  It's one of my favorites...my grandmother used to make it for us all of the time, but I rarely find it anywhere.  He didn't have any, but he kindly suggested that I try some of the other local farmer's markets - it's out there, I just need to find the right person.  OK, I know just where to go.

Back in the car and off to the Westwego Farmers and Fisheries Market.

There were pony rides for the kids (and some adults too!), a band playing on the stage, local art on display, and lots of fresh produce.  After grabbing my bag of satsumas, I continued to explore.  Finally, JACKPOT! 

A table full of jams, sauces, pickled green beans and (YAY!) muscadine jelly.  Nichole Rodrigue, of Jovial Jellies Pickles & Preserves had a great selection of reasonably priced items and will even create made to order gift baskets all year round.  I can't wait for breakfast tomorrow - anyone want to join me for coffee and a hot, buttered biscuit with muscadine jelly?

Please support your West Bank businesses!

• The Gretna Farmer's Market is located on Huey P. Long Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets and is open every Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, rain or shine.
• The Westwego Farmers & Fisheries Market is located on Louisiana Avenue in Salaville and is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.
• Jovial Jellies Pickles & Preserves - visit them at the Westwego market.  You can order gift baskets by calling (504) 352-5115 or emailing Nichole Rodrigue at  nlrivere@cox.net.

If you are considering buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans, please contact Lisa Heindel.  It would be my pleasure to assist you with all of your real estate needs.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Originally published at West Bank Living

This week, the news came out that Starbucks projects a more than 90% drop in 4th quarter 2008 earnings. As changes in the economy are forcing some consumers to tighten their budgets, high priced coffee is no longer selling at the rapid pace that it once was. At the same time, McDonald's posted an increase in third quarter 2008 earnings, with much of the continued growth attributed to the value levels of its menu.

As the economy tightens, how long will consumers continue to justify paying $4 for a cup of coffee when they can get an entire breakfast, coffee included, right down the block?

I don't think that it's a stretch to apply this same question to the current West Bank real estate market as many sellers cling to their higher listing prices while loudly and proudly proclaiming "I'm not giving my house away".

Sellers need to review the current market and their pricing and ask themselves: How many buyers are dismissing you as the Starbucks of the neighborhood and driving down the street to order from the value menu at McDonald's?

Take a close look at the 2008 and 2007 year to date average sale prices on the West Bank. There is not a single community that hasn't been affected by falling real estate values. Obviously, some areas have been affected more than others, and individual neighborhoods may be performing better or worse, but the general trend is for lower sales prices.

Now look at the average listing prices in the same areas.

It seems to me that there is a large supply of $4 lattes on the market. That's too bad, because I'm taking my qualified buyers to McDonald's.

Buying or selling on the West Bank of New Orleans? Contact Lisa Heindel. It would be my pleasure to assist you with all of your real estate needs.

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living. All rights reserved.