I've been asked for this, and finally found a short but sweet article on it...the top home improvements that are the best bets for folks trying to sell their homes. It was gathered from a study by HomeGain.com and featured in a newsletter sent out by Lowe's Home Improvement. The article can be found here.

As expected, cleaning and de-cluttering came out on top. It's amazing what a little sweat equity can do for your home, especially during the fall when leaves muck up the look of yards and landscaping. Happy selling!

For anyone visiting or living in New Orleans, one of the treasures to discover is Algiers Point. Algiers Point is the one part of New Orleans that's over on the West Bank of the Mississippi River and it's a historical gem. So many are afraid that now that tourist attraction Mardi Gras World's move to the East Bank will have dire effects on this unique and beautiful spot. A recent City Business article talks about this and what some are doing to stem the loss.

If you've never been, it's quite easy to get to. A ferry taken from the end of Canal Street (next to the Aquarium of the Americas) transports pedestrians for free or vehicles for $1.00. It's a great ride across the Mississippi's swift currents, and once you get over there, the view of the New Orleans skyline is the best to be found. Throw in unique shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and very proud locals, and you've got a fun afternoon. The Algiers Point neighborhood web site is great place to start.

A colleague of mine told our office a horrifying story yesterday. She brought a buyer to a home for a second look, paperwork in tow, as they were going to submit an offer on the spot. One of the home buyers went into the attic while his agent, the listing agent, and the rest of the party were in the kitchen area. Then CRASH! The guy in the attic fell through the garage ceiling and injured himself badly.

As the weeks followed, my colleague visited and checked in on her client as he healed. I think he spent something like 13 weeks in the hospital. Anyway, following the recovery, the homeowner, the listing agent, the buyers' agent, and both brokers were sued over the incident.  When the dust settled, all but the homeowner were dismissed from the suit, but my colleague has a $6000 legal bill sitting on her desk that E&O doesn't cover. We've yet to find any insurance coverage for an event like this, even a personal umbrella policy. If anyone knows a company specifically that may cover something like this, we'd love to know!

I discovered this company through a client recently If you're looking for unique clothing and gear for the fishing lifestyle or someone on your gift list likes this kind of stuff, it's a great company with quality products. Even if you don't fish, it just looks great! Enjoy!

Click here for the Old Harbor Outfitters web site.

It's that time again. We are in the midst of the 20th Annual New Orleans Film Festival. With hot temps and rain in this weekend's forecast, and Saints on a bye week, this is just the ticket for a great time.

More info on can be found here.

Way to go Marigny! I'm so excited to read this and to know that positive word is getting out about (at least parts) of the city. The American Planning Association just released its annual "Great Places" lists, including this one of the top 10 neighborhoods in America.

For those who don't know, this is a charming, historic neighborhood adjacent to and just downriver from the French Quarter. Most of the structures are 100+ years old and it's where the artisits and bohemian scene went when the Quarter got to expensive. Of course, now, the Marigny has certainly climbed in value, so the young, vibrant group who made this area so special are pushing even further down river into the next neighborhood called the Bywayter.

The article can be found here.

A big welcome to anyone coming to New Orleans for Southern Decadence 2009. I'm knocking on wood, hoping the the only hurricanes we'll have to worry about come from Pat O'Brien's! For GLBT businesses this if bigger than Mardi Gras, and this year looks bigger than ever based on the word we're getting from folks in the hospitality industry.

I was in the French Quarter today, and saw lots of preparation going on at and around the "lavender line." It's grown over the years from a 3 day weekend to a full week of insanity! Some places like Rawhide 2010 are kicking things off on Wednesday, the 2nd.

As with all these huge events, we often get new folks who fall in love with the city, so of course I'll be on hand for those looking for 2nd homes or even for those who decide to move here. So welcome again, and thanks for continuing to support New Orleans.