Archive for the 'French Quarter' Category
New Orleans French Quarter Condos, 1228 Royal Street-Weekend Retreat.
May 25th, 2008 categories: French Quarter
The sales and interest in the French Quarter have begun to pick up in the last 8-10 weeks. The better units are beginning to sell. There has been a lull in sales since Katrina as many of the condos are used for second homes and weekend retreats for the locals. Now people are looking again as the prices have moderated.
The Condo unit #7 we just listed is one that is priced right and ready to be sold. There are 6 units under 200k with a minimum of 500 sq. ft., getting below this number you are getting a motel room sized unit. None are on one of the Quarters most famous streets as is this one. Everyone knows you will not buy the first one you see but this one should be seen and shown. It may fit your needs!
The 1228 Royal Street Condo Unit #7 is a ground floor unit down a historic alley on the first floor of this French Quarter Condo. You expect to pay much more for balcony units. You are on the quiet end of the street but a very short walk to all that the Quarter has to offer in terms of history, eating and drinking. This is a condo association that has a nice courtyard with pool and laundry facilities. Having a pool is not the norm.
Having a pool to take a dip after a morning walk would be great. Enjoy your time in New Orleans by parking your car and walking for however long you may want to stay and sweat this time of year.
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
French Quarter Real Estate, The area is unique and has character very seldom matched! One Spring day.
May 11th, 2008 categories: French Quarter
The New Orleans French Quarter is never at a loss for unique photos and historic homes. This French Quarter double shotgun home was one we passed last week going to a listing appointment. The house itself was unique but the hanging baskets and flowers blooming in the late afternoon sun defined curb appeal. It takes a lot of time, effort, and love to maintain these homes and then decorate them with seasonal flowers for all of us to enjoy. You can enjoy them with me.
Need to thank Lana Sackett the co-lister on the property we were visiting for letting me take these photo detours for which I am famous. But I am also known for finding a good parking spot so things even out. New Orleans is a great walking city in the cool months of march, April and May before the Summer heat and humidity arrive on schedule in June.
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
New Orleans Condos, the Shotgun Double converted into a Condo, Its Unique!!!
April 30th, 2008 categories: French Quarter, Uptown NOLA
The New Orleans Condo that was once a shotgun double is one of the cities unique condo choices. The double home has been converted into a couple of condos. You will see this type of condo in the New Orleans French Quarter and in the Uptown New Orleans condo market. You are basically buying half a house and sharing the common areas with your neighbor.
There are not going to be a lot of these but it is going to be a choice in these areas. You share a lot with the person that lives next door. The expenses are split between the two people and you are the managers. There is not manager or many amenities in this type of arrangement. I have see where a developer has tied several into a small condo association to share the expenses and common areas.
What most do have in common is that most are historic homes with wood floors, high ceilings, fireplaces, porches, high ceiling and a lot of historic woodwork. The key with doubles is in finding them in nice areas. You will generally have a small yard in the rear. You will rarely get a front year but its a porch that may work better for you.
The condo fees are mainly going to be cover insurance, common area maintenance and exterior maintenance. You will get to know your neighbor before its over. You are going to inspect the entire structure as you are in for a 50% ownership.
| Discussion: No Comments »
New Orleans River Front Park, Warehouse District and French Quarter meet on the Mississippi River.
April 28th, 2008 categories: French Quarter, Warehouse District
When you are looking for a New Orleans Condo you are also looking for a certain lifestyle that the area has. The Mississippi River is why New Orleans is here. New Orleans in recent years has been making the River more accessible to the public. This is happening in the New Orleans Warehouse District and the French Quarter in particular.
The River Walk is between the Warehouse District and the New Orleans French Quarter. The River Walk and Waldenberg Park creates a park and shopping area along the largest river in North America thru one of its most historic cities. Waldenberg Park begins after the Aquarium of the Americas and provides green space and walking paths that leads to the French Quarter. Its a excellent place to watch the river traffic and large ships pass by.
The River Walk shopping center runs along the Mississippi River along with various places to eat and drink and to view the river. River Walk starts where the Convention Center leaves off and ends at the Spanish Plaza. Leaving the Spanish Plaza you can pass the New Orleans Ferry entrance. You can even take the free ferry to Algiers as long as you are walking.
The Waldenberg Park stretches to the French Market from this point. the Mississippi Rive is at one of its widest and deepest points at this point in the river. Its the free views that will catch your eye. Its very hot in the summer but then you can walk at night.
| Discussion: No Comments »
French Quarter Condos, Showings of French Quarter Condos is an experience!
March 31st, 2008 categories: French Quarter
The New Orleans French Quarter is unique in many ways and one is an afternoon showing of a number of French Quarter condos on a recent Sunday afternoon. Showing French Quarter Condos can be a lively experience especially on the weekend. Parking is not easy so all the units are shown by walking and you want to have the list planned out. In most cases agents and owners will meet you to show their units, this is the way its done and will not be changed anytime soon. A few empty places will have keys. Today Lana Sackett of Prudential and I were showing one of our clients 6-7 units in a couple of hours so we had to hurry. I had to leave early, so team work does pay.
Lana has her walking shoes and her map. We are ready to go. Lana wished she had a yellow dress but a picture in front of a yellow house will have to do.
French Quarter Hotel, too good a shot to pass up. Lana said she would buy lunch and we were short on time. Just too many people out enjoying the day. We stopped at Rouses Supermarket on Royal, this was an historic A&P until they were bought our last year. Now its a historic Rouse’s with much more to choose from. largest grocery in the Quarter by far. Time to pick our meal out!
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
French Quarter Condos Market Update, March 2008
March 19th, 2008 categories: French Quarter, Market Trends
The New Orleans French Quarter Condo market is much slower than in years past. There are several reasons for this. Many of the units are second homes and the Quarter is getting competition from other areas such as the Warehouse District, Uptown New Orleans and the Marigny. Katrina had a large effect, not from damage or flooding but because today we see fewer numbers of tourists and visitors. Good news, the trend is improving!
Many of the units have retained their pre-K pricing — others have not been updated. However, with that said once you cull through the odd ball units, questionable locations, and pre-K priced condos, the number of choices becomes more manageable. I think the market may be better than in 2007 as we move further away from Katrina. The historic area will hold up if for no other reason than the location cannot be duplicated.
In today’s New Orleans MLS there were 144 condo units for sale in the New Orleans French Quarter. There are 16 units under contract waiting to go to sale. There are 55 units in the under 250k category, 66 units in the 250-500k range and that leaves 33 units over 500k for sale. The majority of these are second homes and quite a few new conversions. A lot of people are starting to look again and there is not a lot of new inventory coming on the market.
In 2007 there were 118 condos sold with 40 units being under 500 sq. ft. Can you believe that some were in the 200sq. ft. range? If you look at the units that I show between 200k and 500K the average selling price per sq. ft. was in the range of $380 per sq. ft. for 2007. These are just averages but it gives you an idea of what to expect. The secret is to find someone who is motivated to sell and who has their unit priced correctly.
| Discussion: No Comments »
French Quarter Condos, Zeus,Debra and Anne explore the French Quarter, Dog day Out!
March 16th, 2008 categories: French Quarter, New Orleans Origionals
People are not the only lovers of the French Quarter and Warehouse District of New Orleans. After a long week of indoor confinement, our dog, Zeus, decides it is time for a “dog day” outside… and that means Deb and me finding some entertainment for the old boy - or else. Woof.
We aren’t sure of the dog-friendliness of our neighborhood, or the French Quarter. One thing we do know for sure is that dogs are welcome and loved at the Cotton Mills condominiums.
Our building is full of dogs - from small yappy ones to full-blown great danes. A favorite is the shiny black lab, Boo-Ray, who lives across the courtyard and spins in circles with glee when he’s released outside. His owner is friendly, giving us a wave and a smile when we take Zeus out to play, and dozens of other pups populate the halls, stairwells and sidewalks of our cozy co-op.
But out on the town? We decide to give Zeus a special day, and our mission on a beautiful Saturday morning in March is to show the man of the hour a good time. We’ll have to be creative…
We start six blocks away from home with breakfast at Lucy’s, our favorite neighborhood pub. We’ve become “regulars” who can now order “the usual” at Lucy’s, so we think it will be a safe test… will our dog be welcome?
| Discussion: 3 Comments »
Lucky Dogs carts have called the French Quarter Home for over 50 Years.
February 28th, 2008 categories: French Quarter
The Lucky Dogs Wagons have made the French Quarter their home for over 50 years. Lucky Dogs are the only vendor allowed to sell food from carts and has an exclusive vending permit for the steam hot dogs. The hero of Confederacy of Dunces was once a Lucky Dog vendor. Your selection is limited to the famous steamed hot dog and a variety of toppings. Twenty one million have been sold to date along with a lot of stories. The carts are out daily and nightly until 4 am when they head back home. There are hundreds of stories from many nightly revelers on Bourbon Street. People have been known to ride the carts amid a nite in the French Quarter. Check out the various stories about the famous cart on the Company’s website. The prices have changed over the years but the taste is the same.
In New Orleans once these institutions get established they tend to be supported and stay around much longer than in other cities. Its like Star Bucks is here, but they are not the most popular coffee house. We will figure this out with your help.
| Discussion: No Comments »
The best real estate purchase ever!
February 20th, 2008 categories: French Quarter, New Orleans Origionals
That buy was the Louisiana Purchase. According to the “Geopolitical Intelligence Report,” and who can argue with a title like that, there must be a New Orleans. The rationale is that it was the Mississippi River which set America apart from other nations. We were the first country to produce more than we consumed with an economical way to transport that surplus to the world market. That mode of transport was barge traffic on the Mississippi. The authors of the report mention the impact of the oil business and tourism, but it is the port which makes New Orleans necessary.
The Louisiana Purchase was signed at what we now call the Cabildo which now serves as the Louisiana State Museum on Jackson Square since 1911. The Cabildo was constructed between 1795 and 1799 and was the seat of the Spanish government in the new world. The “Sala Capitular” was on the second floor where the Louisiana Purchase was signed on 1803. It later became a courtroom for the Louisiana Supreme Court.
The other historical note is that is that the famous case of Plessy vs. Ferguson case was decided here and later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1892. The “separate but equal” clause became the law of the land. The law required separate railroad cars for whites and blacks. This was later overturned in 1954 in Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954. As you can see there was a lot of history in the French Quarter and this is only a slice of it.
| Discussion: No Comments »
New Orleans French Quarter’s Most Expensive Homes
February 17th, 2008 categories: French Quarter, Market Trends
Quoting from a most recent article from Frobes.Com by Matt Woolsey, The New Orleans French Quarter is still alive and well. I know my business being mainly second homes in the Quarter has picked up in the last 8 weeks. I have 2 new clients and both are still looking for the right thing. There are a lot of listings but nothing nice in their price range. Neither is in the most expensive range so thought I would pass this along.
“Most memorable Mardi Gras stories involve, in some way, a balcony.
“ Above the street, behind the wrought-iron railings, and before color-soaked storm windows is where the luckiest experience the festivities, lording above the spectator-lined parade route, then retiring to courtyard parties thrown by the city’s krewes and grand dames.”
“You could hustle your way in, if you’re well connected.”
Photo Gallery: French Quarter’s Most Expensive Homes
“Or you could buy into the French Quarter, New Orleans’ oldest neighborhood. But it’ll cost you. The landmarked area with about 3,000 residents boasts several luxury properties featuring shaded courtyards, wrap-around balconies and details like pressed tin ceilings and French marble mantles. Like much of the nation, sales are sluggish, but price-per-square-foot figures are about where they were pre-Katrina.”
“I think that it’s a hard message to send that the French Quarter and areas that visitors would see when they come into town look fine,” says Michael Wilkerson, owner of French Quarter Realty. “But it’s a small part of it. The market outside of the French Quarter isn’t doing as well.”
“Traditionally, the French Quarter acts as a second-home location to residents from all over the country who rent out their mansions when they aren’t in town. That still goes on, but brokers say that an increasing number of buyers are from New Orleans, reaffirmed in their commitment to the city’s rebuilding and looking to land an iconic home in the city’s most famous neighborhood. “
| Discussion: No Comments »
