Archive for month: August, 2023
An Update on Elysian Fields Ave. Parking Lots
he city is talking about halting redeveloping the parking lots on Elysian Fields Ave. close to Frenchmen Street. The plan that will be put on hold includes a multi-level parking garage along with retail and other amenities. 
The Audubon Nature Institute has plans to build a riverfront development at the Esplanade Avenue and Gov. Nicholls Street wharves. The city wants to put the parking garage on hold until they know what will be at the proposed riverfront park. The French Market Corp., a city agency that manages historic properties, wants to determine what types of amenities and facilities will be included at the riverfront park that will need additional parking spaces.
“We have to figure out what kind of capacity they are going to need and where they are planning to park cars because that will impact what we do,” said French Market Corp. Executive Director Leslie Thorn Alley. “I don’t think they’re quite there yet. They’re still working through a lot of the infrastructure issues.”
The plan for the two lots is to add two hundred fifty parking spaces for the French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny. Consultants report that the lots would generate money and be a benefit for New Orleans’ community.
“We have heard that our lots need to be safer, need to be available for multimodal and they need to be part of safe routes for musicians or gig workers who are carrying equipment and moving around at late hours,” Alley said.
to be like a multifamily apartment building: People like having a fitness center, pool and amenities, but with space for their kids and pets.”
Homeownership is still the biggest wealth generator in the US. There are people who still want to build equity in a home. There are also those who do not have the means to purchase a home but want to live in a house in a community.
“People keep moving to the Sun Belt. Where are they going to live? They are going to live in houses, I think,” said Miller. “It is a competition between houses and apartments, not between owning and build for rent.”
“We thought people would want smaller homes,” said Miller. “But they want the bigger home. They don’t want the starter home.”
“A four-bedroom home with the master downstairs on a quarter-acre lot that is walkable to schools? That’s the American Dream! And if you can’t own it, renting it is the next best thing,” said Bruce McNeilage, CEO of Kinloch Partners.
Top Reasons Why Its Time To Buy
Professionals in the industry say that the current housing marketing is the best time to buy a home. If you rent and are thinking about buying, now is the time. Owning a home vs renting is extremely beneficial. Rocket Homes℠ CEO Doug Seabolt gives five ways owning a home is beneficial.
1. As home prices climb, buying a home builds wealth.
Owning a home is not just a place for you to live but is also an investment. As your home value appreciates, so does your equity. If purchased a home for $200,000 and it has appreciated to $300,000, the money you will earn when you sell your home is the equity which is $100,000.
“One of the single biggest benefits of homeownership is it builds wealth,” Seabolt said. “A recent study released by the National Association of REALTORS® showed that homeowners over the last 10 years have built a net worth of about 40 times that of non-homeowners through the appreciation of home values.”
2. Homeownership protects against rising rent.
Renting can wreak havoc on a budget in today’s market. Why? The rent prices are on the rise so it is difficult to know what your rent will be when your lease runs out. If you own a home, your monthly payment remains steady.
“It’s easy for home buyers to fixate on the interest rate while deciding if this is a good time to buy a home, but the best number to keep in mind while budgeting is the overall monthly mortgage payment,” Seabolt explained.
3. Promotional offers help put a down payment within reach.
A down payment can be a factor for some renters making the leap to homeownership. For example, Rocket Mortgage and Rocket Homes offer a program called BUY+, which helps people buy homes because you could get up to $10,000 toward closing costs from Rocket Mortgage. So, don’t assume that buying a home is out of reach – you may just need to spend more time exploring your options!
4. Homeowners may be able to benefit from tax deductions.
You can reduce your tax liability with tax benefits given to homeowners. Home mortgage interest or property taxes can be deducted. Remember it’s important to consult an accountant to better understand the specific limits or exceptions that may apply, these benefits can add up significantly over time, providing valuable savings that can help offset some of the costs of being a homeowner.
5. No landlord means more opportunities to showcase your style.
You can’t just go in as a tenant and repaint a landlord’s property. Some landlords will give you permission to do this such as paint, but you will more than likely have to paint it back to the original color. When you own a property, it is yours and you can decorate and showcase your style the way you want to.
“It’s yours!” Seabolt said. “If you want to put green shag carpet on the walls, do it – they’re your walls! While it might not be advisable, you and you alone make the decision of what to do with your home.”
Although those in the industry say it is a good time to purchase a home, this does not mean it is the best time for you. It will depend on your current circumstances and the phase you are in in life.
“The bottom line is, the best time to buy a home is when someone is financially and emotionally ready for the experience,” Seabolt said.
