Below is the post I did last year on this day about the 9-11 memorial that we have here downtown Lafayette. If you haven't been or haven't noticed before, looks like today will be a beautiful day for a stroll downtown. ---------- I was not going to write anything about 9-11 today, mostly because every one is, and like me, many of you are probably feeling in 9-11 information overload. That said, I received an email from a friend this afternoon who reminded me about the memorial we have here in downtown Lafayette. It just so happen that I wasn't far from it so I decided to go and take a picture. These are beams that were salvaged from the World Trade Center standing tall and oriented  like the original towers were in New York. The base is pentagonal in shape and includes limestone masonry... 09/10/2012

So I came back from Canada just in time to prepare for Isaac with hardly any time to even unpack my suitcase. We were fortunate here on our farm; we didn't suffer any damage and Lafayette as a whole did well. I was, however, without internet for a while on my computer. Our chickens foraging in the wind during hurricane Isaac last week.   Hurricanes are not good for the real estate business. When people are "hunkering down," they are not looking at homes, making offers, and closing on their new house. Several closings likely were delayed last week as a result of Isaac and several offers were not made. The time my assistant and I spent removing signs from properties and securing vacant listings before the storm when the owners live out of town and then putting the signs back up/assessing ... 09/05/2012

It's been 30 years this fall since the first edition of Downtown Alive! in Lafayette (DTA!), now an Acadiana tradition. This new season begin September 7th with some New Orleans Jazz and Swing by Kirmit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers. The following week will feature great Zydeco music by Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express. Here the full schedule also found on the official Downtown Alive page (click on image, you can then zoom in). Downtown Alive! in Lafayette is a free, smoke-free, family-friendly, outdoor concert series. Doors open at 5:30 and the music starts at 6pm (unless otherwise noted). They ask that you leave your pets and your ice chests at home; there are food and beverages concession stands on site. For more information, visit the Downtown Alive! page here. See you there!... 08/24/2012

If you live around Lafayette, you've likely notice the Warehouse District Lofts on South College road. They are hard to miss with their tall, colorful metal structures and orange garage doors and they are in the heart of the city near Lafayette General Hospital, the Oil Center, Girard Park, ULL campus, and about 5 minutes from Lafayette's airport. The lofts sure stand out in the Lafayette landscape with their sleek modern lines. I can't think of any other homes for sale that look and feel this way around here. And this is certainly low maintenance at its best for the busy lives most of us lead. Inside, they offer all the amenities of modern living on three levels with the master bedroom being on the third floor and the main living area on the second floor. As I write this, there are no ... 07/29/2012

If you are thinking about selling your home, you should seriously consider hiring a stager. As a Realtor, I have a stager on my team of experts that I work with. Why? Stagers are trained to make your home look its best for potential buyers whether it's only by moving some furniture around and painting a couple of rooms, or remodeling at a low cost so that you maximize your profit. It will also likely reduce the amount of time your home will be on the market, thereby saving you even more money. This was the kitchen/breakfast area at 106 Grand Prairie in Lafayette the first time I saw it. Bright orange counter tops, dark cabinets, a combination of wall paper and brown paneling on the walls and hanging cabinets separating the kitchen from the living area. It screamed 1970s. There is not mu... 07/26/2012

If you've been dreaming about owning a home in River Ranch but have a budget under 300K, you will want to read this. And if you've read my latest article about home prices in Lafayette, you'll quickly realize that it may also be your last chance to get into River Ranch at such a low price. You see, I found a builder who will build a home in River Ranch for less than 300K for one of my clients, and he is willing to do it for you, too! If you have a budget under 300K and you want to live in River Ranch, your only option up to now was a condo. The cheapest home currently available in our MLS in River Ranch is 375K for 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 1615 square feet and I know of a For Sale by Owner asking 332K for close to 1500 square feet (also 2bd/2ba). Yes, homes are expensive in River Ranch ... 07/25/2012

With all the never-ending news about the housing bubble, the record number of foreclosures, and the fall of home prices on a national scale, I can't count the number of times that I've had to explain to my clients that none of this applies here in Lafayette, Louisiana. Real estate is a very local thing and Lafayette has been a different kind of place in the past few years when it comes to housing and housing prices. If we look at home prices on a national scale since the 1970s, the bubble is obvious. Home prices almost doubled in a 7-year span between 2000 and 2007. Why some thought this would last is beyond me and beside the point. And while homeowners who bought at the wrong time in the wrong area may never recover the loss in the value of their home or investment, it's easy to see th... 07/24/2012

Are you thinking about moving to Lafayette, Louisiana? If you are not and you are currently unemployed, you should be. On both the "2012 Best Cities for Job Growth" ranking by New Geography and in a new report from IHS Global Insight, Lafayette tops the list for job and economic growth. On CNN Money's Economy blog, Tami Luhby wrote: "Lafayette is expected to have the nation's largest gain in jobs among metropolitan areas, thanks to its booming energy sector, according to a new report from IHS Global Insight. Employment is expected to soar 8.8% this year, while the area's economy should jump 7.5%." Unemployment has remained low in Lafayette during the past few years compared to the national average. For the real estate market, it means fewer foreclosures and steadier prices. When people ... 07/21/2012

Welcome to Boulder Creek Subdivision in Lafayette, LA! Boulder Creek is located on the south side of Lafayette and features homes starting in the $300,000 and up to the $700,000. The most expensive home in Boulder Creek sold for $1,030,000 in 2009. Boulder Creek is a fairly young subdivision in the Lafayette landscape. The earliest recorded sales in our Multiple Listing Service (MLS) occurred in 2005. Located at 202 Boulder Creek Pkwy, the home pictured below is the most expensive one currently on the market listed at $769,000. It was built by LJ Trahan and it features 5,039 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. Boulder Creek features French and traditional style homes. To get to Boulder Creek, take Verot School Road past Ambassador Caffery, turn right on Vincent and left on Boulde... 07/19/2012

It has been a while since I reported about home sales in River Ranch. So far this year, 23 homes have sold in River Ranch compared to 16 for the same period last year. The graph below illustrates sales for the first six months of 2011 and 2012. The average price of home sales in River Ranch is slightly down this year at $535,000 compared to $573,000 last year. However, the average price per square foot is up at $203 this year compared to $197 last year. If you are considering buying a home in River Ranch, visit this link for a list of all available homes and condos in the neighborhood. Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News 07/17/2012

Are you looking for things to do in the next couple of days to celebrate the 4th of July in Lafayette and surrounding Acadiana? JULY 3rd in Sugar Mill Pond, Youngsville, LA You can get a head start on your 4th of July party Tuesday, July 3rd, in Sugar Mill Pond with their Annual Independence Day Celebration. There will be face painting, pony rides, live music, hot air balloon rides and fireworks at 9 p.m. Fun for the whole family! Red, White, and Boom: Park International and downtown Lafayette, July 4th, park opens at 5pm The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra will be there again and this year and the concert will feature Grammy nominee Marcia Ball, the "Bayou Queen of the Piano." There will also be activities in Parc Sans Souci where the Acadiana Symphony is hosting the Conservatory KidZone f... 07/01/2012

The real estate market of the Saint Streets area in Lafayette is hot and moving again, especially in the lower price ranges. There are currently 11 homes under contract,  8 of which were priced under 175K. Since the beginning of the year, 24 homes have sold in the Saint Streets with an average price of $171,000 ($100/sqft). There is also lots of competition among buyers right now. The last small cottage that was listed this week went under contract the same day, with 4 or 5 buyers waiting in line if the first contract falls through. I represent one of these buyers. So, this is a plea to all of you Saint Streets home owners who are thinking about moving. My buyer client is ready, willing, and able, cash in hand, and looking for a 2 bedrooms/1 bath cottage, with central air and heat, and ... 06/22/2012

In the past few years, I've sold several homes to parents and students who opted to purchase instead of renting for 3-4 years while attending UL here in Lafayette.   The article below, originally published on KellerINK's Blog, is well worth the read and it shows why buying a homes, even if just for a few years, might make financial sense.   There are several homes, townhomes, and condos available near UL Lafayette. Email me and I will send you a list of properties tailored to what you are looking for. And you can start browsing here with this list of available homes in Lafayette featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and priced between 140K and 170K.   Enjoy!       This Clusterstock graph compares the cost of college tuition, home prices and the Consumer Price Index over the past 30 years.   As... 06/11/2012

Grand Pointe Subdivision in Lafayette, LA is seeing lots of new home construction this spring. There are 19 single family homes for sale in Grand Pointe currently starting around $175,000 for 1266 sqft and up to $368,000 for 2233 sqft. Of the 19 homes on the market, 17 are listed as being "under construction" or "new." Six townhomes priced between 268K and 313K are also for sale. The cottage above is for sale as of this writing for $235,000. It features 3 beds/2baths and 1624Sqft. Truly a precious home, inside and out. Grand Pointe features cottage style homes and more traditional French homes. The average price per sqft in Grand Pointe is around $150. Since the beginning of the year, 16 homes have sold and 6 are currently pending. Located off of Kaliste Saloom, near the intersection of... 05/30/2012

I see many homes every week. It is the nature of my job. Sometimes I see pretty unique stuff, too, and in the least expected places. We discovered this teeny tiny spiral staircase in a closet while doing inspections at a small cottage in Lafayette last week. Fun stuff! The space is tight for sure and the steps are barely wide enough for two feet side by side. The staircase leads to the attic with two panels opening at the top. In the attic, it looks like there once was a child's room or playroom that hasn't been used in years. Do you have a unique space in your home? I would love to hear about it... Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News 05/27/2012

Mickey Shunick went missing last Saturday in Lafayette, LA. The whole city is looking for her.  UPDATE 5/27: Authorities have found Mickey's bicycle beneath the Whiskey Bay I-10 bridge, at exit 127 in Iberville Parish. Search continues for Mickey and clues that would lead to her. In the past couple of days, new information about this case came to light and officials are now looking for the owners of 3 vehicles that were in the area where she was last seen. For up to date information, and for a description of the vehicles the police is looking for, you can visit KATC's "Searching for Michey Shunick" page. You can also visit the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/findmickeynow Also, we have been told as Realtors to go visit our vacant listings and vacant lands. Every owner of a vacant... 05/27/2012

We had a beautiful RED Day 2012 in Lafayette, LA as Keller Williams associates from our office gave their time to Habitat for Humanity and went to work grouting tiles and painting trims. RED Day (Renew, Energize, Donate) is a day every year when Keller Williams associates across North America give back to the communities where they live. You can read more about RED Day here. Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News 05/13/2012

It's here! The 2012 edition of the Festival International de Louisiane is this week (April 25-29) in downtown Lafayette, LA. And it looks like the weather will be awesome with highs in the low 80s! I've been involved with Festival International for many years. I began by working security so I could get back stage with the bands I wanted to see. Then I became a presenter and introduced the bands. For the past 3 years, I have been a member of the Board of Directors and during Festival week, I am in charge of the golf carts used by our organization to put the Festival together. Volunteering for Festival is a lot of fun. If you would like to get involved, it is not too late. Visit the Festival International web site to sign up as a volunteer or to view this year's schedule of events. Volunt... 04/22/2012

Southern Living is taking your votes right now and until January 31st for the South's Tastiest Town Award. As I write this, Lafayette is leading by roughly 5,000 votes. There is no doubt in my mind that we live in food heaven here in Lafayette and Acadiana. As a friend of mine commented, "You can get better food (plate lunches, boudin, meat pies...) at gas stations in the Lafayette area than most restaurants in most US cities....really. Enough said." Vote early and vote often! Every one can vote daily on this one. Visit Southern Living tastiest town award page to cast your vote. Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News 01/05/2012

My daughter and I went to the Acadian Village Wednesday night to see the lights. We arrived early and the walk through the village was a breeze. By the time we left, shortly after 7pm, the sidewalk was packed with people and traffic in the streets leading to the village was pretty bad, too. Tonight is the last night and the last chance this year to see Noël Acadien au Village and its half million lights! Doors open at 5:30 and the event ends at 9pm. There are also rides for the kids, food, and Santa (of course). The little girl in the pink shirt here is mine. She had a blast! Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News 12/23/2011