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Metairie, LA Real Estate News

By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
 This March has been such a busy one on the Metairie real estate calendar that I thought it would be a good idea to double-check everything just to be certain I wasn’t overlooking any important happenings. It wasn’t just that the first day of spring on the 20th is the traditional start of what’s regularly the busiest time of year for Metairie real estate activity. This is a reliable phenomenon, further reinforced by the 61 million results you get when you Google “Spring Real Estate Selling Season.” To be accurate, the National Association of Realtors® fudges a little by calling spring and summer the hottest seasons for real estate activity—but it turns out they are pointing to the fact that many sales initiated in spring close during the summer (which is when people prefer to move). Ma...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
Once you're mentally prepared for the relocating experience (to self: “it’s definitely the right move”), where is the first order of business. Perhaps you've outgrown your Metairie home anyway—the family simply needs more space. Perhaps relocating is necessary for work reasons; or now that the kids have moved out, you're ready to downsize. No matter what the reason for relocating from Metairie, thoroughly evaluating the possible destination communities before deciding to buy couldn’t be more important. While your real estate agent can be an invaluable resource in guiding you to the right home within your target area, the original question—designating the search perimeter—is pretty much in your wheelhouse. If you are not already committed to an area because friends or family make it an ...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
It can feel a little like a trip to the shore in springtime, before the summer sun has warmed the water. The water might be okay—but it also might be bone-chilling! Most Metairie residents will choose caution, and stick their toe in, first… What Butterflies Can Teach Us About Embracing Change Deciding whether to buy a house when you have been renting for a while means taking a much more significant plunge. And there’s no way to test the waters, either: you’re either going to buy a Metairie house or, you aren’t. It’s in or out. And it’s also a deeply personal decision. Momentum can be a deciding factor. Many people defer buying a home because it comprises such a major change. Especially if they are satisfied with their current rental—and even more if buying a house would make them homeo...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
In Metairie real estate as in many other businesses, successfully drawing the public’s attention, then communicating value, are what separate can-do practitioners from the pack. It’s pigeonholed under “marketing” instead of “selling” because the latter sounds more like a one-on-one activity, whereas “marketing” depicts the kind of effort that goes out to the world at large. Follow me Terez Harris on social media! Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Wordpress, Google+ The past couple of decades have produced sea changes in the way Metairie real estate brokers and agents need to approach their marketing approach. It’s not just the way all the advertising and communications media have been transformed; it’s also the expectations of the people they are intended to reach—the buyers. When a homeowne...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
Why Do People Live here? Metairie is a beautiful suburb of single family homes that is conveniently located just 20 minutes outside of Downtown New Orleans. It's not uncommon to see neighborhood kids playing the streets of this quaint little oasis during the summer and family fun during fair season at the local schools. It's far enough from the main hustle and bustle of the city that residents don't feel like the urban center of New Orleans is knocking on their door. Looking for a home in Metairie? Interested in finding Homes for sale in Metairie LA? Click that link to find all the currently available homes in this area.    CALL ME TODAY TO FIND THE PERFECT METAIRIE HOME FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TEREZ B. HARRIS 504-297-2619           Terez B. Harris Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group (504)...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
A Metairie House Sale Can Turn on Gastronomic Appeal...    “A kitchen can sell a house” is a proposition that often proves true—well-designed kitchens can drive value. Given the popularity of cooking shows, artisanal cuisine, and the growing number of new gizmos and gadgets concocted for the advancement of culinary hobbyists, selling a house in Metairie can turn on its gastronomical appeal—at least to a select segment of today’s home buyers. You may not want to fight it—especially if your house has a shopping cartload of gourmet potential. If you have a spacious kitchen, it could be a possibility! Consider some of the marketing maneuvers that have been shown to attract foodies looking for a place to lay their platters:     Finding Foodie Features A Metairie house doesn’t necessarily ne...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
Overprice Your Metairie Home: Why Not?    A major home-selling decision arrives right at the start: setting your home’s price. It’s a step that can be decisive for good or for ill.   But what is the “right” price? We know what it probably isn’t—it’s not the first number that pops into your head, nor is it likely to be The-Price-of-Your-Next-House-Plus-the Cost-of-a-Family-Vacation-in-Tahiti-Plus-the-New-Sportscar-You’ve-Always-Wanted-to-Own. It’s also not a price that will ‘test the market’ (to make sure there hasn’t been an upward spike in demand since the last comparable neighborhood home sold).   Setting a home’s price in the right ballpark can be easier than many people assume. You can get there by a number of different routes, most of them tied to recent neighborhood history: What...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
Nightline says reality TV house flipping isn’t realistic...   ABC’s Nightline recently aired an interesting segment about house flipping, which included a magic number that’s probably never been seen before. Metairie house flippers would have been glued to their TVs if they’d stayed up late enough to catch Nightline, because if authentically magical, it’s a good number to know. The segment was part of a series called “Realty Check.” This one was about new strategies in the “ever-competitive world of flipping.” The show started with some background about how expensive house flipping can be if it’s done in a hurry and on the cheap. Just slapping a coat of paint on the walls can result in an investment that languishes on the market, often until the asking price is reduced to an unprofitab...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
Terez B. Harris, of Louisiana, has been awarded the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®.   REALTORS® who receive the CRS Designation have completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in residential real estate. Only 37,000 REALTORS® nationwide have earned the credential.   Home buyers and sellers can be assured that CRS Designees subscribe to the strict REALTOR® code of ethics, have been trained to use the latest tactics and technologies, and are specialists in helping clients maximize profits and minimize costs when buying or selling a home.   Terez B. Harris is a Realtor with Keller Willia...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
Your Metairie home is your castle, sure—but it’s also a great deal more than that. In addition to being the place where you relax after work, spend time with family, and generally live your life, it’s also the most substantial investment most people ever make. Much of its prominence is due to the many advantages homeownership brings in the personal financial realm.  In addition to the ongoing tax savings its mortgage provides, it’s the home equity—the difference between market value and the amount owed—that’s such a valuable contribution. A Metairie property’s equity adds considerable financial flexibility in the form of easily obtainable home equity loans.  That’s how your Metairie home can be the enabler for financing key life events—important undertakings like college, home improvem...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
  “The best real estate value in Metairie!” is certainly a little bit over-the-top when it’s used in a listing, but in truth, that’s pretty much what most prospective homebuyers in every price range actually hope to find. For homeowners planning to list their own Metairie homes, it’s good to keep in mind. When home improvement projects are going to be part of the preparations, adding real estate value without inflating the asking price is a goal worth pursuing. Since there are so many improvements that could add to a Metairie property’s real estate value, comparing how they have fared recently when it comes to the bottom line is worth doing. The Home Office: Myth? Home office conversions haven't appeared near the top of major Return On Investment (ROI) analysis lists for very long, so ...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
  That housing needs change as people get older goes without saying. For Metairie Baby Boomers, the “getting older” concept has gradually morphed from the distant abstraction it seemed in the 60’s and 70’s to a more immediate concern. And of all the decisions that will have the most impact on those nearing their golden years, buying the right Metairie home—one that makes the most sense for the future—tops the list. Boomers have heard and read much advice about buying a home; advice having to do with downsizing, mobility issues and the like. Most of it is cautionary…and not very cheerful. But suddenly weighing into seniors’ “buying a home” deliberations is a contrary point of view: one that many of them have apparently begun to suspect on their own. It’s news that could be of considerabl...
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Metairie Listings Search Metairie New Listings (75) Metairie Foreclosure Listings (34) Metairie Short Sale Listings (8) Metairie Single Family Homes for Sale (341) Metairie Condos & Townhomes for Sale (118) Metairie Waterfront Homes For Sale Metairie is in the Jefferson Parish in the state of Louisiana. It’s an unincorporated area that is part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. The population of Metairie is 138,481. The median household income is $49,747.The median home value is $210,900. Metairie is 23.22 square miles of total land area. Metairie borders New Orleans, Kenner, Lake Pontchartrain, and Airline Highway. The border between New Orleans and Metairie is the 17th Street Canal. The hottest month of the year is July with an average high temperature of 93 degrees. The coldest m...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
  Despite what just feels like the right answer, buying a home in Metairie or New Orleans can be significantly cheaper than renting one. It’s one of those rare cases where, if you stop and make common sense judgments about the factors at play, the ‘just feels like’ conclusion is the opposite of the one common sense leads you to. Much of the reason has to do with short-term versus long-term considerations (buying a home starts with paying a sizeable down payment, after all); but over the long haul, the amount of cash at stake is so great it’s worth taking a hard look at this fundamental housing choice. Four leading factors that currently come into play: ·         Increased Demand Has Made Rentals More Expensive After the subprime mortgage mess-between 2007 and 2013—something like 6,200,...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
                          Whenever you read up on important aspects of selling a home, the word ‘clutter’ keeps popping up everywhere (if you doubt that, just Google “clutter”—this morning, I got 7 ½ million entries!). Most elements that go into selling a home are self-explanatory—since Metairie and New Orleans homeowners have by definition been through the process of buying at least one Metairie or New Orleans property, they have personal experience to go by. Chances are that they already know that one detail that can have a disproportionate impact on the final price a home fetches is the presence of clutter. Impact of Clutter on Appraisals Unless the clutter inside and around the home actually begins to impact the structural integrity of a home, it will not affect the appraised value...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
                        Buying a Metairie or New Orleans home—especially if it’s your first—takes attention to detail, even for home buyers with spotless credit. The challenge is a good deal greater if your credit score has dropped below the level most banks require to approve a home loan. The good news is that potential Metairie and New Orleans home buyers with less than outstanding credit can still buy their first home—if. That “if” is in italics because ignoring it can turn into a real stopper. The thing that can make buying a home possible even with spotty credit is if you do some careful financial planning. Careful = details are attended to—every one. Financial = it’s about the money: columns of figures, dollars and cents—not emotion. Planning = charting out the specific effects o...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
                    Having a Metairie or New Orleans home for sale as autumn swings into full bloom has more than one advantage. First off, this is definitely not looky-loo season—the majority of home shoppers this time of year tend to be serious-minded (perhaps because many are hoping to be comfortably moved in by the holidays). Whatever the reason, because many other owners will wait until spring to put up their own Metairie or New Orleans home for sale, if you are listing now, you can usually count on a narrower amount of competition. A subtler reason why fall is an exciting season to put up a home for sale has to do with what can be a presentation advantage—the same reason home décor professionals like this time of year. It’s the Autumn Advantage: a time of year loaded with eye-cat...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
                        Let's face it: When your house goes on the market, you're not only opening the door to prospective buyers, but also sometimes to unknown vendors and na?ve or unqualified buyers. As with any business transaction, there is an expected protocol to how sellers, buyers and their respective agents interact. Should you find yourself in a sticky situation, alert your agent so he or she can address and remedy the problem. The aggressive agentWhen your agent puts your house on the market, typically all promotional materials state clearly that your agent is the primary contact for buyers and buyers' agents. However, sometimes a buyer's agent will contact a seller directly to try to either win over their business or cut the seller's agent out of the deal. This is not reputa...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
1. Define your needs. Write down all the reasons for selling your home. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to sell and what do I expect to accomplish with the sale?" For example, a growing family may prompt your need for a larger home, or a job opportunity in another city may necessitate a move. For your goals, write down if you'd like to sell your house within a certain time frame or make a particular profit margin. Work with your real estate agent to map out the best path to achieve your objectives and set a realistic time frame for the sale.              2. Name your price. Your next objective should be to determine the best possible selling price for your house. Setting a fair asking price from the outset will generate the most activity from other real estate agents and buyers. You will ...
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By Terez B. Harris, Your Real Estate Advocate
(Keller Williams Realty New Orleans)
                        As the seller, you can control three factors that will affect the sale of your home: * The home's condition* Asking price* Marketing strategyHowever, it's important to note that there are numerous other factors that influence a buyer, and you need to understand these consumer trends when you enter the sellers' market. The more your home matches these qualifications, the more competitive it will be in the marketplace. Your real estate agent can advise you on how to best position and market your home to overcome any perceived downsides. LocationUnfortunately, the most influential factor in determining your home's appeal to buyers is something you can't control: its location. According to the National Association of REALTORS(r), neighborhood quality is the No. 1 re...
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