Festival season is in full swing in Louisiana for the fall and this weekend is Festivals Acadiens et Creoles in Girard Park in Lafayette. This is definitely one of my favorite festivals. Two + days of great music, food, and a crafts fair. What more can you ask for, right? As always, this year's festivals have incredible line-ups. It all starts Friday night in Parc International downtown. Friday, October 9 at Downtown Alive: 5:30 p.m. Feufollet & Special Guests 7:00 p.m. A Cajun Country Homecoming featuring Doug Kershaw, Jo-El Sonnier, Jimmy C. Newman Scène Ma Louisiane Saturday, October 10 10:30 - 11:30 Hubert Matre & Triangle Playboys 11:30 - 1:30 Berard-Huval Family Affair  1:30 - 2:30 Ed Poullard & Amis Creoles 2:30 - 3:30 Jimmy Breaux et Amis 3:30 - 4:30 Nathan Williams & Zydeco Cha... 10/08/2009

If you've been thinking about earning your real estate license, there's a new class starting on October 8th in Lafayette. This 90-hour pre-licensing class is where you need to start. This upcoming session will last 4 weeks and classes are on Thursdays and Fridays at 5pm and Saturdays at 9am. The instructor is Mark Norsworthy. He is an excellent instructor with over 15 years of experience in sales and investments. If you are unsure but would like more information, Keller Williams Realty Acadiana is offering a free information session, "Career Night" this coming Wednesday, October 7th, at 5:30pm. Our office is located at 900 South College, suite 100. All are welcome! If you would like more information about the class or would just like to chat with me about a career in real estate, email ... 10/03/2009

My Colleagues J.R. and Shelia High will be hosting an open house this Sunday, September 27th from 2 to 4 @ 208 Clem Dr. Please go by to see this great family home located in the center of Lafayette off of South College. This home features 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, formal dinning and living rooms and a very large den with lots of windows.                   This home features 2865sqft of living area and is offered for $279,000, which is $97/sqft. There is also an inground pool, a double garage with work area and the owners have just installed a brand new CleanEffects Trane A/C system downstairs, which removes more than 99% of the influenza A (including swine flu or H1N1) from a home's filtered air (cost was 12K). Directions: from Johnston St., turn on South College towards Pinhook, turn righ... 09/24/2009

This is a wonderful Condo in Congress Gate off West Congress, very convient location! Completely Updated with Crown molding, Stainless Steel appliances, Designer colors, 2 large bedrooms with high ceilings, laminate wood and ceramic tile, security system, fenced patio, Community Pool fenced in. To directly access this property, use this shortcut: http://www.fizber.com/louisiana-buy-single-family-home-11648339.html 09/24/2009

One comment we often hear as real estate professionals is "I'm selling my home myself to save the commission." That is fine so long as you don't think that your potential buyers don't know that. In fact, did you know that there are only 4 kinds of buyers out there? That's right, 4. And they are either working with a Realtor or they, too, will want to save the commission. If you have a "For Sale By Owner" sign in your yard, everyone knows that you are not paying a commission to a professional. 1. First time home buyers: They are the most likely to seek the help of a professional because they do not know all the ins and outs of the home buying process. Even if they come across your home and like it, they will want their agent involved. Being open to working with a buyer's agent and paying... 09/22/2009

First time home Buyers who want to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit better get moving. Some may feel like they still have plenty of time before the December 1st deadline to close on their new home but they don't. The fact is, finding and buying a home takes time, especially if you haven't done anything yet. Below is a breakdown of some of the steps you will need to climb in order to get the key to your new home. Find a lender and get pre-approved: Definitely the fist step. If you haven't done so already, you need to talk to a lender and find out how much house you can buy. This could be the loan officer where you bank or a mortgage broker or both. It is not mandatory to shop around, but you certainly can. Find a REALTOR®: This should be someone you can trust to work for you in yo... 09/18/2009

In July, the inventory for single detached home in River Ranch was high with 50 homes available on the market. Currently, the inventory is down with 41 single family homes now available. Three homes sold in River Ranch between July and August with an average price of $794,467 ($222.90/sqft) and they spent an average of 154 days on the market. What mostly made the total inventory go down in River Ranch is the fact that 9 properties were taken off the market (withdrawn) and 3 listings expired. Only 3 homes are currently under contract (pending) with an average price of $444,833 ($204.64/sqft) after spending 142 days on the market. Of the 41 homes available in River Ranch, 21 are new or proposed constructions while 20 are pre-owned properties. Prices vary from $249,900 to $1,350,000 with t... 09/16/2009

There are always homes for sale in what we call the Saint Streets area in Lafayette, LA. The area is in high demand and homes that are priced right, do not stay on the market very long. I recently listed a home on Duclos Street and we had multiple offers after 5 days on the market. Buyers need to understand that if they see a good home in the saint streets, several other buyers have probably seen it, too. Waiting for a price reduction here is often not an option. While the "Saint Streets" is not the official name of a particular neighborhood, it came about because several streets have saints' names: St. Patrick, St. Thomas, St. Mary, St. Catherine, St. John, St. Louis, St. Joseph, and more. To search by subdivision names, one would have to look for Souvenir Heights, Oaklawn & Oaklawn He... 07/28/2009

There are currently 5 homes for sale in Frenchmans Creek subdivision in Lafayette, LA. Prices vary from $273,520 for a home with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths (2104 square feet of living area) to $494,900 for a 4 bedrooms, 3 baths home with 2882 square feet of living area. In the past 12 months, 6 homes have sold in Frenchmans Creek between $229,000 and $305,900. The avearage price per square foot was $103.80.                   The home pictured below is currently for sale for $339,900. it is approximately 5 years old and it features 2550 square feet of living area with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. For more information about this home, click on this link. If you prefer a more contemporary home and you like to look of a stucco home, consider the home pictured below currently offered at $406,900 and ... 07/27/2009

There are currently 7 homes for sale in Delmar Estates in Lafayette, LA. Prices range from $329,500 for a 4 bedrooms/3 baths home with 2300 square feet of living area to $499,700 for a 4 bedrooms/3.5 baths home with 3680 square feet of living area. Delmar Estates is a great place to live and it is located 5 minutes from the Acadiana Mall in the southern part of Lafayette. In the past few years, Delmar Estates expanded with Delmar Estates South and Delmar Estates West where there are still great lots available for sale.   Restrictions in Delmar Estates means that property values are protected. In Delmar Estates South, for example, the minimum square footage is 2200 and prices for available lots vary from $39,900 to $59,400. In the past 12 months, a total of 7 homes have sold in the subdi... 07/26/2009

There are several homes currently for sale in the Village of River Ranch in Lafayette, LA, and if you've been contemplating buying in River Ranch, now may be the time to make a move as competition among sellers means that prices are great! Located in the heart of Lafayette, LA, The Village of River Ranch has a population of 2,500+ and some would say that it is a village in itself. In fact, The Village of River Ranch was Lafayette's first planned community. If you love Louisiana's architecture, River Ranch is sure to charm you. Driving through River Ranch is like taking a trip back in Louisiana's architectural history where you'll find Caribbean, French, American Colonial, Creole, Acadian, Spanish and Neoclassical Revival homes. The village's moto is "Preserving our Past. Enriching our F... 07/23/2009

I’m all about cross-promotion! As a result, I have a new cross-promotion project called "Stager of the Week." Each week, I'll showcase a Professional Stager so that you can "meet" them. Stagers are an excellent way to not only help a property look its absolute best, but to get that property sold as quickly and for the highest price possible. This week's featured Professional Stager is Michelle Molinari of Feature This…Interior Decor and Virtual Staging in Abbeville, Louisiana. Here’s my interview with Michelle: How did you initially get into staging?I grew up in the Design field. My mother graduated from The Interior Design Guild in California when I was very young. My earliest memories are literally of being in an upholstery shop, stroking fabric samples. I was painting custom artwork... 03/30/2009

What an incredible day yesterday was! I just have to share it. This story may be long but it is worth the read. We took on a new project last week, a large-scale redesign in the interest of future equity for the client, a young man in his early twenties. I met this man two years ago, at a local nightspot. He asked me to dance, and after about a minute of chitchat, we realized we were related distantly on my grandmother's side. A few short weeks after that, he was in a car accident. It was very, very bad, and no one expected his recovery. Some doubted his very survival.  He was sent to a hospital in New Orleans, due to the massive head and body trauma he experienced. Lots of prayers were said by our small, rural community, and we would hear updates every few months.  Still in a coma. In ... 02/14/2009

Thank you for your interest in the communities of Arnaudville, Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Cankton, Carencro, Church Point, Grand Coteau, Lafayette, Maurice, Milton, Opelousas, Scott, Sunset and Youngsville. Please visit www.SandyThibodeaux.com for more information regarding the communities,  and all available homes. Please feel free to call or email me Sandy@SandyThibodeaux.com for all your real estate needs.   01/31/2009

There is something about Cottage styled homes that I just love. I think they are just so cozy, adorable and practical to the size of the average family of three. In fact, there is a new development and neighborhood where there is a sub-neighborhood of cottage type homes. The average price per square foot for a cottage type home in the Village of River Ranch in Lafayette, La is approximately $204/sf and the average square footage of the cottages is approximately 2,000 sf. They all have courtyards or patios and upgrades galore that are pretty much standard in these homes such as granite countertops, pine floors, stone floors such as marble, porcelain tile, marble, etc., custom recessed lighting and ceilings, chefs kitchens, beautiful baths, ventless fireplaces, and so on. The HOA dues are... 08/02/2008

Been to a listing with an  aroma so unpleasant, it can prevent a sale? How about a listing with a suspicious perfumed scent you just know is there to disguise something sinister? Homeowners and Realtors are taking drastic, expensive, and unnecessary measures to eradicate the smells generated by pets, smokers, and the ever-present stinky and unhealthy mildew associated with the high-humidity that permeates Louisiana and all the Gulf Coast states. There is a fast, easy, and affordable, solution that works on every possible stink one can ever encounter. Not to get too gruesome, but even crime scene cleanup pros know exacty how to attack a malodorous dwelling, and have the odor and it's  originating bacteria destroyed permanently and  without chemicals.... SWIFTLY! NO REAL ESTATE OFFICE SHO... 06/17/2008

If you know what color "Haint Blue" is, then you may be shocked to find that not everyone everywhere knows what shade this color is, or what it can to do for homeowners today. Haint Blue is most commonly used on houses in the southern region of the United States; however, many cultures around the world describe similar protective properties of this color.  The word "haint" is European in origin, and generally refers to bodiless spirits with a less-than-nice agenda. The color Haint Blue supposedly has the unique property of repelling spooks, confusing them by blocking their ability to gain entry into a home. There are references to "haints" being unable to cross over water, so perhaps the blue color just ticks them off by reminding them of their shortcomings as paranormal entities.  Firs... 05/10/2008

  Find this blog helpful? Join our group Curb Appeal 101  Before you buy that paint, consider these guidelines: Keep in mind that choosing  an impactful color scheme doesn't mean "your favorite". It means finding the right shades of a color to enhance the architectural interest of the home in question. After you find the most complimentary tones, then you can tweak them towards you or your client's taste. Read on...   Too pale, needs to take more risk!                                  Much more substance...Gracefully Gutsy!   1.) What color is the roof?           The roof is a "fixed element", meaning, it is not changeable, for the most part. A roof can comprise as much as 65% of the entire color scheme on some architectural styles. Regardless, it is the first question to be answered. W... 05/01/2008

Hello! This is my first post!Within our staging business, we do quite a fair bit of curb-appeal work. One thing I think that is helpful when assessing a property is, of course, to  determine a focal point. In the house pictured here, the strangest focal points jumped out. Look at my rain drains! See my pretty garage door!?   When considering changes to be made in preparation for a sale, or for any type of exterior paint decision, the garage door never looks good in white. It detracts from the architecture and color scheme. It sucks the life out of the house! The same goes for snakey drains. Here's a great tip: Your best bet is to paint those drains a color that blends in with the surrounding stucco, brick, or siding. Drains and spouts are NOT decorative, and they do not have to be poppe... 04/17/2008

Despite dozens of books and articles hailing the distinctive architectural history and extremely functional layout of the typical ranch-style house, many owners of these horizontal slices of Americana seem ashamed & disdainful of the lineage of their very own homes. Sometimes referred to as "California Ramblers", and "Ranch-Burgers", the post-WWII Ranch-Style House, by some estimates, comprises 70% of houses built between 1945 and 1970.  By my own estimate, I'd venture to guess that 99% of the owners of these houses wish their homes were a different architectural style. Addressing curb-appeal issues and advising exterior paint colors for our clientele is what we love to sink our teeth into, and nothing gets us salivating more than a good old fashioned Ranch-Burger.  Here in Louisiana, t... 04/12/2008