Today the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS) held its annual Mardi Gras parade (Mystic Krewe of Mutts) to raise funds for the animal shelter.  In downtown Baton Rouge, on North Boulevard, pet owners dressed up themselves and their dogs in the Mardi Gras spirit.  The weather was great ... what a change from the cold rainy days ... the sun came out just in time !! Everyone had that happy Mardi Gras feeling.  Even the dogs were very well behaved.  I was amazed at the number of people that brought their pets.  A large crowd gathered to watch the dog parade and, of course, to catch some beads.  The Cane's Chicken restaurant led the parade with their van, and they threw cute little labrador puppy stuffed animals that the kids loved.  Right behind the van, I was helping to carry the ... 01/27/2008

 The staging that we did today had nothing to do with real estate ... except that I did see a few neat houses for sale on the parade route!The Parade of the Krewe Mystique de la Capitale started in the staging area early this morning.  We arrived around 11:00 to load up our float "Lucky Number 13", the last float in the parade.  The staging area is a good place to "float around" and view the other floats and visit friends.  Lucky for us that the rain cleared out.  Even though it was cold and damp, a lot of folks came out to collect as many beads and stuffed animals as they could possibly carry or cart away.  These photos were taken in the staging area at the Baton Rouge Community College parking lot downtown.    This little guy was way beyond "ready" for the parade to start.      Stagin... 01/26/2008

So, are you thinking about selling your home “For Sale By Owner”? I wish you all the best in selling your home. I know your main priority is to by-pass the realtor to save money. While I admit sometimes FSBO’s work, other times- not so much. FSBO’s spend so much time and money on their own advertising/marketing, only to eventually go with a Baton Rouge real estate agent when it doesn’t work out- and that’s money gone down the drain. What can realtors do that you can’t? It’s the community of realtor’s that sell your home. Yes, it’s advertising/marketing that sell your home, but let me give you an example. Let’s say several realtors show your home, but no bite. Down the road a buyer calls one of those agents and says that they are looking for a home that describes yours. The realtor then ... 01/26/2008

I have a beautiful home in the Central area that would be great for raising horses or would make a great place for raising dogs or for boarding dogs.  House is almost 4,000 sq ft on 3+ acres.If interested call me at 225-603-8332   01/25/2008

“East Baton Rouge Parish Library” So, you’re looking for a library to visit, eh? Well, if you find me in the library it will def. be in the children’s section. There’s just something about those pop-up books that make my inner child smile. But, YES, there is more than just pop-up books. The East Baton Rouge Parish library has so much to offer. What I find interesting about this library, from research, is that they are really up to date on today’s technology. The East Baton Rouge Parish Library has numerous locations. I, for one, assumed that this library was only one of a kind. After I did more research I learned that they were connected to libraries all over the Baton Rouge area, besides the main library. Want to know a little history about the main library? Oh, I’m sure you do! The ma... 01/23/2008

“Baton Rouge Curb Appeal” Oh wow, look at that house…so much pizazz and so much curb appeal? What? Yes, curb appeal. What is curb appeal?  Curb appeal is the exterior attractiveness of a residential or commercial property. Have you ever passed by a home that had knee-high grass, old toys in the front yard, and a couple of cars up on center blocks, and trash piled at the front door? This is what you would call “not a single drop of curb appeal”. I’ve seen these types of homes before and most of them do a great job of allowing the neighborhood to go down in value. Isn’t it great to have a Homeowner’s Association? Curb appeal is great way to keep your neighborhood looking fancy and also a must when it comes to selling your home. There are several different things you can do to add pizazz t... 01/17/2008

“Let’s Welcome 2008!” Well, another Christmas has come and gone! Yippee! What a wonderful Christmas this was. Santa got me a new digital camera and I can’t wait to use it! It will come in handy with all of my listings! New Year’s Resolutions? SELL MORE HOUSES! I am so excited about the New Year, out with the old and in with the new! I am ready to jump in head first, if only the real estate market would just pick up a tad. I should have asked Santa for that. Getting back to business. You can never have enough tips on selling your home, right? I’ve mentioned several different tips to get the show on the road. I want to mention a few others. Remember we discussed clutter, earlier? Just like there is a fine line between love and hate, there is a fine line between clutter and emptiness. Whil... 01/17/2008

“Clutter Free is the Way to be!” If you typically like to hoard things, you might not like this post. It’s okay, back in my younger years I kept everything that had value and back then, ‘everything’ had value. Clutter can be a ‘make or break’ situation, and by packing a few things up and putting them out of sight…it does wonders. While de-cluttering is a must when trying to spruce up your Baton Rouge home, there are few other things to keep in mind when selling it. 1. Curb Appeal: The first thing that prospects are going to see is the front of your home. You are going to want to make the curb appeal pop! The grass should always be cut, bushes clipped, the flower bed needs to be in order and you might even want to consider pressure washing the house. 2. Consider Painting: Imagine what a... 01/17/2008

Tips for Selling Your Home in Baton Rouge When it comes to selling your home in Baton Rouge, the best impression is a good first impression. Many of us are not gifted with the talent of staging a home but you do not have to be a professional to make your home look marvelous. Here are some fun tips regarding getting your own ready to sale. Get Another Opinion: Sometimes we are so inside our own bubble; it’s hard to see things from another perspective. It’s a good idea to get a second opinion as to how your home looks and if it’s ‘market ready’. You might love the orange, shag rug in the living room but when it comes to finding a prospective buyer…you might need to stuff it in the closet. Find someone to ask, someone’s opinion that you respect and someone that will give you the cold, hone... 01/17/2008

While I’d love to boast about the millions of people that stopped by our first open house, I cannot tell a lie. I can tell you that the number was greater than zero and less than one. Considering it was our first open house, I was quite elated to have at least one knock at the door. Personally, I think the upside down Christmas tree should have been enough incentive to come get a sneak peek at this fabulous home. Ack, I should have included the unusual tree into our marketing plan. “Come see the famous, Grinch, upside down Christmas tree!” It’s all about marketing, right? For newbies, I think we did a swell job marketing our open house. I made sure to stop by Party Time on the way over to pick up some black and yellow balloons. I know what you’re thinking, Who Dat? Well, a little but th... 01/17/2008

 SWAMP FEATHERSA recent article published in "The Barred Owl", newsletter of the Baton Rouge Audubon Society, will be of interest to residents of The Lake at White Oak.  Classes are being presented at the Bluebonnet Swamp for children ages 8 to 15 (with a parent) on Sunday afternoons from 1:30-4:30.  People 16 and up may attend alone. These classes will introduce the experience of bird watching to children and their families.  Fees:  standard park admission rates apply ($1-$2).The Lake at White Oak is a wonderful place to continue the bird-watching interests developed in these classes.  Being bordered on one side of the subdivision with the Amite river and the Amite Woods, we have a wonderful natural habitat for birds.  The lakes and surrounding wooded common properties also attract a w... 01/16/2008

  Very nice w/lots of updates. Split plan. Wood floors in foyer, DR, LR & Bedroom hall. Brick pavers in Kit/Breakfst,Utility & BR 3. Nice crown moulding & 10' ceiling in Foyer, DR & LR. Awesome view of treed yard and fountain from wall of windows in LR and from Screened Porch. Gas logs in wood burning F/P, bookcase/cabinets, & spotlights in LR. Kitchen has slab granite countertops, gas cooktop, & garden view from sink. Huge pantry w/hanging pot rack. Breakfast room overlooks the beautiful backyard view. Wet bar/butler pantry is in a perfect spot for entertaining inside or on screened porch. Lots of closets, Hollywood bath between bedroom 2 & 3. The master bedroom has a recessed ceiling and 2 windows overlook the patio/screened porch. The highlight is the "redone" dramatic master bath w/... 01/14/2008

I know the news media has a lot to say about the real estate market.  Now, let's get some truth to the subject.  The market in the Baton Rouge area is starting to get rev'd up for '08!  One of my litmus tests as to the amount of activity in the market is the number of hits our real estate websites receive.  Generally these sites have less visitors in November and December and most of the visitors are in April.  Well, I am certainly seeing quite a few buyers visiting the site since the 1st of the year.The problem with the market in 2007 is that we all got used to a super fast, super rev'd up real estate market.  Few agents adjusted their business pratices to account for a slightly slower market.  Let's compare '05 and '06 to the speed at which the cars on the Indy 500 travel.  '07 was mo... 01/12/2008

Here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana there are certain things real estate investors need to be aware of.  One such item is the UDC.  The UDC or Unified Development Code contains code information that applies to the various classes of property around town.  One such hot topic in Baton Rouge is the number of people you may have living in a tenant occupied property.If you purchase a home, a single family dwelling, in East Baton Rouge Parish, plan to have no more than two unrelated occupants.  Any more than 2 unrelated occupants and you could be getting letters and/or fines from the Parish Attorney.  This is common issue in neighborhoods near the LSU campus.Here's a common example: A Parent purchases a home for their son and two roomates to live it.  If the parent(s) are the owner(s) of the home ... 12/29/2007

 Here are two photos of the FIRST PLACE winner in the Christmas lights contest:  19350 Indian Ridge Avenue.Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.(correction submitted 12/31/2007 10:57 a.m.)  12/26/2007

At a Christmas Eve party last evening, one of my neighbors said that she had driven around town to look at Christmas lights, and she thought that ours in the Lake at White Oak were the best she had seen.  On Indian Ridge Avenue two neighbors had their own contest to see who could put up the most lights.  And what beautiful lights! Thanks to all of the LAWO residents who helped decorate the neighborhood and make it so special!SECOND PLACE:  19341 Indian Ridge Avenue  (correction submitted 12/31/2007 10:57 a.m.)      12/25/2007

 The Lake at White Oak is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Baton Rouge.  In Southeast Baton Rouge it is somewhat isolated and yet only 10 minutes from groceries, restaurants, drugstores, and other services.  This neighborhood is bordered by the Amite River and Tiger Bend Road on one side and the Shenandoah subdivision on the other side.  There are three lakes for use by all residents.  Jogging trails, fishing, picnicing, and a playground provide a wonderful set of recreational opportunities.  This is a very quiet neighborhood.  You can walk outside and actually hear the birds.  There are over 500 homes.  The homeowners' association is very active, and homeowners take active part in maintaining the great appearance of this neighborhood.  The subdivision's website is currently u... 12/23/2007

On Wednesday, December 5th, 2007, I had lunch with a friend at Times Grill at their Essen Lane location in Baton Rouge. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere, and with at least ten TVs situated around the walls, the sports fan will certainly be able to find a game to watch. After being seated, I looked over the menu, which has plenty to choose from, featuring everything from hamburgers and poboys, to wraps, to pasta dishes. For those with a hearty appetite, the restaurant features a one-and-a-half-pound Wall of Fame Burger. If a customer can finish this enormous burger, they are featured on the Times Grill Wall of Fame.For our appetizer, we decided to order the fried mushrooms, which were delicious! They were served with a house Creole ranch sauce that was quite good. For my entrée I c... 12/08/2007

Baton Rouge Magnet High School, a public high school located in East Baton Rouge Parish provides award winning college preparatory and visual and performing arts curriculum.  Today a public forum will be held to give the community a chance to make comments on construction needs and proposed new building http://www.ebrschools.org/explore.cfm/brmhs/. Information on the Magnet High School programs can be obtained at http://brmhs.ebrschools.org/. Today other news was released by Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. Baton Rouge Magnet High School use of buses by vairous school clubs:  "BATON ROUGE, La. Baton Rouge Magnet High School reversed an earlier decision and have now agreed to permit a Christian student to use school buses for a field trip for her One Way Club, just like her cl... 12/04/2007

This Friday(November 30th 2007) from 3:00-9:00 p.m. marks the  start of the holiday season in Baton Rouge.  The Festival of Lights in downtown Baton Rouge is the oldest holiday tradition in the Capitol City.  It is also one of the Sims' family traditions!  Every year we walk(not run!)  in the Reindeer Run and enjoy the living Nativity Scene.  There is so much to do that I can not list it all here.  For a complete list of events and time visit Downtown Festival of Lights.  Some of my favorite events include:Ice Skating in River Center Mayor Kip Holden lighting the City of Baton Rouge's 35 foot Christmas Tree!Taking pictures with Santa Claus in the Old State CapitolWalking (again NOT running) in the Reindeer Run Shopping at the downtown stores that are open late for the eventThe miniparad... 11/27/2007