Property Taxes

A key factor in homes for sale in Louisiana is property tax. In Louisiana we are afford a Homestead Property Tax benefit. The first 75k of property value is excluded from property tax base throughout the state of Louisiana. In some parish in Louisiana the tax millage is higher than others. A Realtor can help you with figuring the amount of your property tax.

Many new investors in the New Orleans area are not aware of the tax exemption. You must live in the property in order to qualify for the exemption. Secondly, you have to notify the local tax assessor office of your eligibility.

If your property tax is not paid on time, the property will immediately go to tax sale. You have three years to pay the back tax, penalty and interest to bring the property current.

For more information on property tax’s please feel free to email, rubi@7824.com.

Here are a few links to help contact your local assessor office:

Jefferson Parish Assessor

St. Tammany

East Baton Rouge Assessor

Joe the Plumber or Frank Alongi the Plumber

My go to guy for the last several years when ever there is a plumbing issue is Frank Alongi. Long story but I have known Frankie for twenty years or so. All my plumbing issues are usually address in a timely fashion. Frankie and his crew are licensed and insured. He has travel to my properties in all areas, to include the Northshore. Whether you’re in Harahan, Metairie, Kenner, Destrehan or Slidell, Frank will assist you.

I for one do not want anyone to face an increase in taxes due to their own hard work. Frankie has a family. Frankie is reliable and honest. If Frankie tells you he is coming he will be there at the pre-arrange time. Frank and his crew are very neat and work in a clean environment.

Frank Alongi Plumbing is a Master Plumber in the State of Louisiana. Frank’s telephone number is 504.415.7418.

If you need a personal reference on Frank the plumber call or email Frank Rubi the Real Estate Broker 504.319.9696.

Question of the Day

Today was a typical day; probably no different from most Realtors. When in the introduction stage of any relationship typical comments are passed along. When just about everyone I meet on the street finds out you’re a Realtor the question pops up. How’s the market? This part is typical. Now the hard part, do you say it is a tough market or it just great?

Here is an answer I was using. I always would reply with it is time to buy. Back to that in a moment; the other day I attend a workshop where the speaker was a representative for Realtor.com. He brought an interesting way to saying the same thing.

The first thing he mentions is to smile. I like many of you have not had much to smile about lately. Between the increases in insurance, property taxes and tougher lending practices it has been tough. This basic marketing tip has always been almost common sense to me. People do see it and understand if things are not well. I like to think I always have and will practice smiling. Secondly, this is the response to try: Answer the question of how is the market, with thank you for asking me. You must think I am smart and successful for you to ask my opinion. That would be a correct assumption. Finally, the response should end with this market is providing a great opportunity for both seller and buyers alike.

Now compare to the way I was saying the same thing this just appears to make more sense. Hopefully this may help you the next time you are ask how’s the real estate market doing. How do you answer this interesting question?

WWW.donotcall.gov

Cell phones numbers going public. I am already getting calls from vendors who want my website on the first page of google. This is the site you can registar all your cell phones to block telemarketers. It takes about 1 minute to complete. For each cell phone you registar you will receive an email. You can also call 888.382.1222 from the cell phone you want blocked. If you call it blocks the phone for 5 years.

Homes for Sale St. Bernard, LA.
Free Money ~ Rural Development
Frank Rubi
7824 Real Estate of Louisiana

Today instead of a normal brokers tour our committee decide to meet. In the meeting, a total of six different Brokers were represented. In addition, also in attendance were a home inspector and a contractor.

Our final decision was to hold a Super Open House weekend. The date for the event is Nov 1^st and 2^nd. If your Realtor would like to include your property or if you’re in need of a Realtor service call or email.

The open house will include several homes and various pricing points. In addition to Realtor information will be available about the free money programs. The Rural Development program has been extended until 2010 for St. Bernard parish. Also, this money can be connected with other programs.

Thinking of selling or buying a home in Southeast LA? Interest rates are at their lowest points in several years. With the choice of selection in this market inventory, you can be in a new home in a short amount of time. Interest rates, insurance premium appear to be settling down and lots of inventory to choice from now is the time to act. Want to purchase or sell your property in the River Parishes, Kenner, Metairie, Slidell, Arabi, St. Bernard, Baton Rouge and Houma, Louisiana.
Contact me Frank Rubi or any member of Team7824, We will be happy to answer any questions and help you in this very important decision.  I will make your buying or selling experience stress free.

Pick up the phone and call me at 504.319.9696 or email us at rubi@7824.com. www.activerain.com/frankrubi

In addition visit my websites: http://www.7824.com/

Frank Rubi, e-PRO, MBA, REALTOR®

Last Day to Sign UP

October 6, 2008

Today is the end of the voter registration in Louisiana. This is one of the most important elections. It is our right to vote. It has been paid for and currently being paid for. We are free people and a free nation. On November 4, 2008 the election is part of the process. You cannot complain if you do not vote.

When purchasing investment property one of my businesses philosophy as well as personal rules are to buy locally. When investing in real estate with my own money I have and will always purchase property that I can reach within 15 minutes. I have owned property that was only a 45 minute drive which turned out very bad. One way a 45 minute drives to check a plumbing issue or pick up a rent, not fun and who has the time.

With this said the reason I am posting today is investors purchase several properties in the greater New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina. Some three years later these investors are still holding a great majority of these properties with nothing to show for them. I have investors from Californian, Rhoda Island, Ohio, Nevada and Florida. All thought that they had hit the Powerball. The problem now is the economy and the rebuilding of New Orleans has not gone as smooth as anyone would like. All are facing foreclosure and/or just sitting on these properties until things change.

One thing all these investor have in common is that they did not deal with a local realtor who knew the area where they were purchasing. The other is the distance from their office to their investment. A lot of money was to be made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina but many are still feeling the effects of the storm.

Big Easy Real Estate Notes
Frank Rubi

Thinking of selling or buying a home in Kenner LA? Interest rates are at their lowest points in several years. With the choice of selection in this market inventory, you can be in a new home in a short amount of time. Interest rates, insurance premium appear to be settling down and lots of inventory to choice from now is the time to act. Want to purchase or sell your property in the River Parishes, Kenner, Metairie, Slidell, Arabi, Baton Rouge and Houma, Louisiana.
Contact me Frank Rubi, I would be happy to answer any questions and help you in this very important decision. I will make your buying or selling experience stress free.
City of Kenner LA
Welcome to the City of Kenner LA.
www.7824.com

Pick up the phone and call me at 504.319.9696 or email us at Rubi@7824.com http://activerain.com/blogs/frankrubiIn addition visit my websites: www.7824.com
Frank Rubi, e-PRO, MBA, REALTOR®

It’s getting to be that Time of Year

I am starting to see to see the signs of Fall and the upcoming holiday season. If you go to Home Depot, Sams or Wal-Mart just take a look around. Closer to Destrehan there is a pumpkin patch farm. For years my kid’s schools have made the annual field trip to Montz Pumpkin Farm and Hayride. Located at 17834 River Road, phone 985.652.3672.

Some tips for your Pumpkin lasting thru out the season.

1. Try to pick off the vine
   
2. Find a Pumpkin with as few as possible soft spots which will help with rot and mold
   
3. Carving pick a large Pumpkin
   
4. Don’t carry your Pumpkin by the stem
   
5. For Pumpkin Pie chose a small one
   
6. Keep the Pumpkin in an undisturbed, cool and dark place once home for cure. This will toughen the rind and prevent rot.
   

Of course keep safety in mind when at the Pumpkin Patch.

Client Ask the Question

I was visiting with a client this after noon on a listing appointment and the question came up. No not the commission or pricing question but will a buyer be able to close the loan? My repeat client wants to sell his home in Ormond Estate in Destrehan LA. They are fortune enough to have purchased the home in the recent past few years and may even make a little money when all the dust settles. Since May, I have had five deals died painful deaths due to banks not lending money. All five clients had good credit (above 650) and able to pay down payments. Still we were not able to close these deals. I have been saying along it is the banks who do not want to loan out the money. Well here we are with this mess on our hands. To top it off the people in DC don’t want to do anything. I do not agree with the bailout but sometimes we have to look out for other people and try to help.

My answer to my client was I honestly don’t know. What has been your recent experience with deals not able to close? To give you some insight on the five deals’s all were investment type properties.