Special offer

Slidell, LA Real Estate News

By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
I was pleased to read the new crime statistics for Slidell LA released yesterday.  All violent crimes decreased from the year before.  We had zero murders for the year, not bad considering how close we live to New Orleans.  The only increase was in thefts, attributed to stealing gas.  Go figure.  I live in Eagle Point subdivision and I feel safe at all times of the day.  Any one looking to buy in Slidell should feel comfortable about their safety.
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
Just wanted to let those who might be interested that the krewe of bilge has rescheduled their parade for next Saturday.  They were going to parade through Eden Isles yesterday but cancelled due to inclement weather.  They start at the marina and end at the dock.  Plenty of fun to be had.
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
Just wanted to let those who might be interested that the krewe of bilge has rescheduled their parade for next Saturday.  They were going to parade through Eden Isles yesterday but cancelled due to inclement weather.  They start at the marina and end at the dock.  Plenty of fun to be had.
Comments 0
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
For those of you in the Slidell area that can't get enough of parades, good news.  There are three of them this weekend.  The Krewe of Bilge is Saturday.  This is a boat parade through the canals of the Eden Isles subdivision.  This parades starts at noon.The next two are regular street parades.  The crew of Perseus begins Sunday at 1 p.m., and the other one is in Pearl River also starting at 1 p.m.  This parade is the Pearl River Lions Club parade.  All of these should be a good time.
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
Slidell LA, will be giving away trees this weekend.  They will be celebrating Arbor Day.  The trees will consist of 500 cypress and 500 cherrybark oak trees.  They will start giving them out Saturday at 9 a.m. at Heritage Park, behind the train station.Slidell is designated as a Tree City USA town.  Since hurricane Katrina we lost many of our trees.  Go and pick one or two up.  What are you waiting for?  They are free.
Comments 2
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
Move in today.  Nice home overlooking the lagoons and greens of Oak Harbor Golf course.  Watch wildlife from your backyard.  This home features three bedroom's and two and a half baths.  Large spacious master bedroom above garage, offers complete privacy.  This house is a buy come and see it today.  Call for a showing.  
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
There is going to be over 500 Million in Go Zone money for the St Tammany area awarded early next year.  The UNO research center and retail ventures to be built.  Seems it is only going to get more crowded over here.  I hope we build some more roads.  I look forward to the increase in home sales.  I am very excited.
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
I have been watching the housing news like an old dog next to a fire.  This reminds me of quite a few clients I have encountered over the past couple of months.  They all want a house but they have zero money to put down and can't pay more each month than they are already paying.  They also want to pick and choose which neighborhood they want to live in.  I have learned to get them pre-qualified or approved before showing any houses.  Whats the point of showing the house if they will never be able to buy.  I think this is what happened to a lot of home owners they got in at a low rate but never really could afford the true cost of borrowing.  I still will give everyone a chance before I say no.
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
Not only are most Americans home owners they also own stocks.  Most of them own them thru 401k's or mutual funds that they bought themselves.  I know these investors have noticed the sharp decline the last couple of months.  The credit crunch is what is being blamed for this decline.  This credit crunch in my opinion is because they loaned money to people using unique vehicles to qualify these people.  This excess housing that was built is now on the market for sale and some are in foreclosure.  This glut of housing has affected homes prices nationwide.  If we are in a true bear market for stocks we are in for a while rough ride for some time.  This will keep home prices down as well.  This dilemma will keep us in quite a bind for a while I believe. 
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
Does it get earlier and earlier each year or am I just crazy.  My wife informed me of the times the stores are opening this Friday in Slidell, LA.  Here is a short listBest Buy 5:00 A.M.Sears  5:00P.M.Koehl's 4:00P.M.Target 6:00 P.M.Maybe this is how we can burn up the calories we eat on Thanksgiving day.  Get up early and go shopping.  Shop till you drop.  Don't forget your cash and credit cards.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING Everyone.
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
Here is a nice house in the Eden Isles that is gorgeous.  This home has a great view of the 6th green of the Oak Harbor Golf Course.  This home was completely redone after Katrina.  Features an oversize master bedroom located upstairs for complete privacy.  Backyard is bulkheaded and overlooks the golf course lagoon.  Seller will entertain any reasonable offer.
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
I have this listing in Eden Islesin Slidell Louisiana.  I have this house priced very well for the area.  I have had several potential buyers go through the house.  Problem is I keep hearing the same thing.  The clients all prefer the higher ceilings instead of the lower ceilings in this house.  Not much I can do about that is there?  I just hope someone loves the view of the Oak Harbor Golf Course and buys it.
Comments 2
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
This listing in Eden Isles features a nice home for the money.  There is a view of the 7th green of the www.oakharborgolf.comfrom the back patio or the upstairs porch.  Competitively priced below any comparable home in the subdivision.  Features include a split level home with three bedrooms and 2 and a half baths.  Large den and master.  Security system with two car attached garage.  Agents bring your buyers to this home someone will buy it and I think soon.
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
Yesterday I bloged about the Eden Isles subdivision that offers waterfront living.  Today I am talking about The Moorings.  This is a newer subdivision of larger more expensive homes.  All of these homes are on water also.  The man made canals lead to Lake Pontchartrain.  T00 and up.  A very nice area to reside in.his is a gated neighborhood (see picture), which gives the sense of more security.  The homes in this area start at about 400,000 and up.
Comments 1
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
Just listed.  Value for your money. Oriced to sell, best price in Eden Isles.  Split level floor plan.  Spacious master above garage with a balcony and view of the 7th green of Oak Harbor Golf Course.  This home is located in a cul-de-sac with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.  Large den and kitchen also.  Attached two car garage along with security system.  All together over 1900 sq. ft. of living for 235,000.  A must see.  
Comments 3
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
I live in the Eagle Point subdivision in Slidell Louisiana.  There are currently 10 houses for sale.  These houses range from 220 thousand to 257 thousand.  I see one is under escrow, another one under contract recently expired.  These houses have been on the market for some time.  I truly believe the prices are still to high.  The sellers are trying to get over 140 a square foot.  In this market I feel that is more than a bit ambitious.  I truly believe 125 a square foot would move this inventory.  I will continue to watch this and see how it plays out.
Comments 2
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
I am asking you more seasoned agents for advice.  On Thursday of last week, I received a call from a home owner.  The owner lived in Eden Isles subdivision inSlidell louisiana.  He was interested in possibly selling his home.  I spoke to him for about 15 minutes and finally e-mailed him information about homes for sale in the area etc.  I told him I would be glad to come and see his home.  He turned me down saying he still wasn't sure about moving.  Well here comes Monday and I am getting ready to call him when under new listings I see he has already listed with another company.  Here is my question should I have been more aggressive or did this guy have his mind made up already.  Is seem's to be a fine line of whether you are being aggressive or aggravating.
Comments 4
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
I remember several years ago at my accountants office.  He was going over clients tax returns who used turbo tax.  He was trying to straighten out the returns some of which were being audited.  His comment was everyone thinks they are an accountant because of this software.That brings me to my point.  Ever since all these cable show, flip this house, design on a dime and so on and so on.  Everybody now thinks they are a real estate agent.  I guarantee I don't know everything.  I have an abundance of agents and brokers to ask what they think.  These people feel they know it all just from television.I recently listed a house in Slidell Louisiana and the client didn't have any landscaping.  When I queried him about it I was floored by his response.  He had seen or read somewhere that the r...
Comments 5
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
As I ride around my home town of Slidell I am still amazed at the number of for sale signs I see.  When I go to the listing agents website half the time there are zero pictures or references about the house I am looking for.  You work hard enough to get a listing and you just ignore one of the easiest marketing tools available.  Which brings me to my, it the houses just selling themselves or the agents.  I think most agents need to take a step back and re-evaluate how they are trying to sell properties.
Comments 2
By John Walters, Licensed in Louisiana
(Frank Rubi Real Estate)
I read a blog on fax machines a while back.  I submitted an contract to the listing agent who actually lives about 5 miles away from my house.  The house is in Covington Louisiana and his office is in Mandeville Louisiana.  Both of us live in Slidell Louisiana.  Because he doesn't have a fax machine at his house he had to drive to the Mandeville office about 35 miles away.  He told me I would get the contract by nine o'clock today.  I called him and of course got the voice mail.  So I called his office and he called right back, go figure.  IO finally received the contract about two hours late and my clients could not wait any longer.  I will have to try and get them to sign the contract tomorrow.  Legally this contract is expired all because this agent won't spend 60 dollars or so for a...
Comments 7