Moving to New Orleans Relocation Questions for New Orleans Real Estate
Relocating to the New Orleans Metro area you will have a lot of questions about quality of life issues, schools, housing prices, security, and the type of housing you will find in the area. I answer these questions daily basis for my clients. I am a long time resident of the area and have worked in all areas of the metro area. I was in Supermarket sales so know the areas well. My 8 years of real estate experience has told me this is what people want to know. I have tried to layout the area and am still working on it to give people an idea what the area has to offer.
Schools- Education Public and Private St. Tammany, East Jefferson and St. Charles are tops for overall public schools. But others areas that have good individual schools.
You may have heard the New Orleans area public schools are bad. They are very bad in some areas like Orleans Parish but also very good in other areas of the metro area. There are however some very good individual schools in Orleans but not that manyThe state test scores are a great indication of each school and the overall commitment of that Parish. There are a lot of very good private schools of all types to choose from. Just ask and I will point you in the right direction to what you are looking for. Schools play a large role in determining the future appreciation of homes so this should be a factor for all.
Commute times in the New Orleans metro area
The area is not as spread out as some but due to lakes, rivers, and swamps we have run out of room to build new houses closer in. You can live on the Northshore across Lake Ponchartrain in 3 different areas. Slidell which is East on I-10 , Mandeville area which is a 26 mile ride across the causeway, and the Hammond area which is to the west. You can live up river from New Orleans in Metairie, Old Metaire, Kenner, Harahan, River Ridge, and Old Jefferson which are on the East bank of Jefferson Parish. Going further west past the airport you can be in Destrehan on the East bank of St. Charles parish. La Place is the next town on 1-10 and is in St. John Parish. Then we have the communities on the west bank of Jefferson and St. Charles Parishes. All the areas we are going to talk about are going to be an hours commute or less from New Orleans.
Houses Prices and where to find what you need
Housing prices are moderate and tend to fall as you move away from town. The homes get better and the prices go down. The schools get better with the homes. The nice thing is you can get a nice home within an hour commute of the CBD. The crime drops drastically as you move out also. The taxes are lower, but you loose the charm of New Orleans. . Its all in what you are looking for. The areas have all apreciated over the last 5 years wherever you would have bought.
Safety Issues
Reading the newspapers and watching TV crime is an issue, but you more than likely would not find a home you would buy a home in these areas. The metro area is compact so crime is an issue that shows up in increased insurance rates for homes and cars. Al the areas yo will be looking in have been steadly improving. In most areas where you will be living and working it will not be an issue. There is a strong correlation between good schools and low crime so use the test scores to guide you along with the various crime statics.
New Homes, Old houses and Older Houses
New Orleans and its suburbs have a lot of old houses because the area has been developed for quite some time dating back to the early 1700's. The immediate suburbs are going to have a lot of houses stocks from 40-50 years old. Remember when Elvis was hot and that when Lakeview, Old Jefferson and Old Metairie were attracting young families. If you are looking for newer houses then you will have to go to St. Rose, Mandeville, Slidell and in Kenner in the 400k range.
Property Taxes and Insurances
Property taxes are going to be a pleasant suprise to most of you. The taxes on a 200k home range from 1100-1200 in Jefferson to 1700-1800 in New Orleans. Each owner gets a 75k homestead exemption which is figured into these numbers. The other parishes will usually be between these numbers. Homeowners Insurance may be higher in some areas and you will likely need flood insurance in a lot of these areas. The yearly range should be between $300 and $700 per year depending upon your flood elevation survey.
Home, Townhome,or Condo
Land closer in to town is expensive making the thought and lifestyle decision of a townhome or a logical choice. Townhouses have become popular in Lakeview and Old Metairie as land has become more expensive. The downtown and uptown conversions of old warehouse and factories has put downtown living on a hot streak. It has pushed the warehouse district out towards town. New conversion projects along St. Charles have been developing and selling quickly as demand is still there. Price in the suburbs has pushed prices of condos and townhomes up along with the rise in home prices. Why pay rent ?
Appreciation of homes
The hot areas for 2004 were the same as 2003 with the uptown, gardner district, Lakeview all being especially hot. The Suburbs all did well as newer houses became more exppensive to build and land became even more valuable. Some areas just did not have a lot of good houses to purchase. Metairie remained hot.
Moving here to be a resident or medical student of LSU, Tulane ,Charity , or Ochsner and want to buy a home or condo near your work or school
Moving here and wanting to be close to Medical school or residency don't hesitate to give me a call. Every year I sell several in great areas knowing you want safety as you are working long hours and want to be close to the hospital. Staying four years you will be better off buying a condo or small house them you will be in renting. To date none of my clients has lost money by purchasing a home. Getting 5-10k appreciation has been common in the last couple of years. So call me to get started and stop paying rent and get a chance to make money while you study.
Let me Know what you need and lets get educated !!
I need to know something about what you are looking for so I can help you quicker and I can become smarter as far as your needs are concerned. Just let me know in your words what you are looking for. Answers for the above questions will get me started. Thanks Eric
One of the best ways I can help you in your search is to let me know in your own words what you are looking for and I can match the best properties and neighborhoods for you. Feel free to call me or send me an e-mail to Eric
Eric Bouler Prudential Gardner Louisiana License 4509 Veterans Blvd. Metairie, La 70006
Eric is working as a Buyers Agent for almost all the properties that I profile, meaning I do not personally have these condos listed. I will work for you! I can give you the pros and cons on the various units and projects currently on the market and let you choose the units that best fit your needs. Let my experience work for you. I work for you !
Users are Responsible for Checking the Accuracy, Completeness, Currency, and Status of All Information. When buying think " Buyers Beware"
Housing prices are moderate and tend to fall as you move away from town. The homes get better and the prices go down. The schools get better with the homes. The nice thing is you can get a nice home within an hour commute of the CBD. The crime drops drastically as you move out also. The taxes are lower, but you loose the charm of New Orleans. . Its all in what you are looking for. The areas have all apreciated over the last 5 years wherever you would have bought.
New Orleans and its suburbs have a lot of old houses because the area has been developed for quite some time dating back to the early 1700's. The immediate suburbs are going to have a lot of houses stocks from 40-50 years old. Remember when Elvis was hot and that when Lakeview, Old Jefferson and Old Metairie were attracting young families. If you are looking for newer houses then you will have to go to St. Rose, Mandeville, Slidell and in Kenner in the 400k range. 
