What Type of Property is Right for You?

Finding the right property to meet your goals and lifestyle is my priority. Contact me now for a confidential appointment. 504.250.1610 l Dkorn504@gmail.com.

Why do the US and Canada celebrate Independence Day in early July?

The fact that they have similar Independence Days is just coincidence.

The US celebrates independence from British rule and the founding of the USA on July 4, 1776. Canadians celebrate the uniting of three colonies into Canada on July 1, 1867.

Dear Neighbor,
I understand the true value of your home is measured in memories you’ve made there, BUT when it’s time to sell, understanding the market value of your house is essential. As a Century 21 Realtor, I can provide you with a comparable evaluation and explain how factors like location and future developments affect the price you can command. Once your house is on the market, you can rely on me to help you find a home to build lasting memories. I would be honored to assess your options, just give me a call to schedule an appointment b/c I CARE! ~ Danielle

86 Victoria Ln.

TUCKED AWAY ON 3/4’S OF AN ACRE YOU WILL FIND THIS BEAUTIFUL FRENCH EUROPEAN HOME, ON A CUL-DE-SAC AND PICTURESQUE LOT LOCATED IN THE DESIRABLE VICTORIAN OAKS SUBDIVISION. THIS BEAUTY SHOWCASES 4 BDRMS AND A LG BONUS RM WH/ CAN BE A 5TH BDRM, OFFICE, MEDIA RM OR PLAYROOM. SS APPLIANCES, GRANITE COUNTER TOPS. TRIPLE CROWN MOULDING, WHOLE HOUSE GENERATOR, DOUBLE CAR GARAGE, SECURITY SYSTEM, RENOVATED SHOWER, EXTENSIVE LANDSCAPING W/LIGHTING AND SPRINKLER SYSTEM, PLANTATION & HURRICANE SHUTTERS, POND & MORE. $570,000.

Win a $10 Chateau Cafe Gift Card — Quiz Contest
Scroll down in the newsletter to find this month’s quiz question. Then send your answer…it’s that easy! Each month, one correct answer will be drawn to win.

Last Month’s Question: China, India, and the US are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd most populous countries. What’s the 4th?
Last Month’s Answer: Indonesia
Congratulations to last month’s winner ~ Mr. Edgar Arguello!

Here’s what I’ve learned about those “kit” homes sold on Amazon

You can buy just about anything on Amazon, including a house “kit.” This is not a new concept. Between 1908 and 1940, you could buy 370 different house kits from a Sears and Roebuck catalog. The homes look just like any other, from cozy bungalows to two-story colonials. The Sears kits included most of the materials needed. Once delivered, the houses were assembled by the new homeowner, relatives, friends and neighbors or contractors and carpenters.

Today’s kit homes sold through Amazon are all from third party sellers, so it pays to dig deep into the reviews before purchasing. Read the rest of the story here. That said, you might be surprised at what you get, and don’t get in one of these Amazon-era kit homes.

What you WON’T get… A foundation. Hook ups to your water, sewer, or electricity. Permits. Land to put it on. Sometimes no windows or doors. Sometimes no plumbing or wiring…just the frame of the house. Read the fine print. Due to the lack of hook-ups, many tiny homes are “off-grid,” meaning they use solar panels for electricity, a well or tank for water, and composting toilets for sewage.

What you WILL get… An inexpensive option for an extra “mother-in-law” apartment, guest house, or first home. Kits start at $4,990 for essentially a cabin-feeling garden shed. At the other end, kits go for $64,000 for a 1,300 sf two-story home. Then there are some that are not really kits, but pre-fabricated homes, like the $149,591 Log House. The dividing line between “kit” and “prefabricated” home is fuzzy, but generally a kit can be put up by a determined home owner, whereas the prefab home r Kitchens through the Ages equires a construction company.

Does it make sense to go Airbnb with your spare bedroom? What to consider…

If you have a spare bedroom, you may have wondered if it’s worth reordering your life to have unknown guests in your space to make a little extra money. My advice is to think through a dry run. Imagine you are going to list your room a week from now. What do you have to get ready? How would that impact your life? Could you do it? Sometimes the preparation is as much mental as it is physical.

Also be competitive in your pricing, but don’t be cheap, or you’ll get cheap lodgers. After coming up with a price, decide how much extra income you want, and calculate how many nights you’d need to rent the room to make your goal. If your goal is $500 per month, and you’re confident your room will go for $40/night, you’d need to rent it for about 13 nights/month to make your goal. Could you do it? If you decide to go down that path, there’s plenty of online advice for new hosts to guide you.

Kitchens through the Ages

See if you can match the pictured kitchens to the following decades:

  • 1950s/60s _____
  • 1970s _____
  • 1980s _____
  • 1990s _____
  • 2000s _____
  • 2019s _____

Answers are below.

When you need to sell before buying…

The timing of a home sale and subsequent purchase will be different depending on your circumstances. I’ve written a report that lays out 6 different options to help you make the right decision. Once you’ve seen these, please call me to discuss how to proceed. ~ 504.250.1610

Kitchens through the Ages ANSWERS

1960s-6 | 1970s-1 | 1980s-3 | 1990s-4 | 2000s-5 | 2019-2

My Real Estate Advice

Should you buy a college rental for your kids?

With college starting soon, many parents have made all of their financial plans, including a combination of loans, scholarships, savings, and student work. But there’s another investment parents might consider: Buying a rental property instead of paying their student’s rent for the next four to six years. This is an option best considered after that first freshman year, during which your kids might want—or be required to—live on campus.

Parents who invest in a house or condo that their student can share with other students find that upon graduation, they often have a tangible asset they can use to help their graduate get a leg up on the next stage of life. It’s not for everyone, but it might work for you if you consider all the factors involved. Beyond just seeing what’s for sale online, you’ll also need a history of the market trends for the area, the rental trends, the growth plans (which can affect your rental income), and more.

If you’d like to chat about the pros and cons of buying a college rental for your kids, give me a call. ~ 504.250.1610

Just for Fun: Who’s Smart Now?

A boy named Johnny hung out in front of the local grocery store in a small town. The manager noticed that the other boys who hung out in front of the store always teased him, calling him stupid and playing tricks on him. Johnny didn’t seem to mind, and always looked a little surprised.

One of their tricks was to offer Johnny his choice between a shiny nickel, worth 5 cents, and a dusty old dime, worth 10 cents. Johnny always took the nickel because he said it was bigger and shinier.

One day the store manager took Johnny off to the side. “Look, son, those boys are making fun of you. They think you don’t know the dime is worth more than the nickel. Don’t you know that?”

“Yeah, I know that,” said Johnny. “But if I took the dime, they’d quit doing it.”