A Haitian Family

As I wrote in an earlier note entitled, “For Haitians, Search and Evacuate is the Only Realistic Option,” the US has an unfortunate, long-standing policy of denying Haitians political asylum in this country in spite of the severe economic and political hardships they face in their homeland. I’d hoped my Country would soften its stance in the wake of one of the greatest natural disasters in modern history, but indeed my concerns about our policies toward Haitians have only been confirmed: as noted in this linked, Yahoo article, the US has no intentions to stop deporting adult Haitians, regardless of the fact that returning them to Haiti for the foreseeable future is a ‘death sentence’. While I’m sure this is not the Obama Administration’s intention, I can’t help but see parallels in this action and those of the folks in the outer parishes of Louisiana who used shotguns to prevent poor NOLA residents from reaching safety after Hurricane Katrina.

In one of the cruelest twists, the US is considering slightly modifying its repatriation policy in order to allow orphaned Haitian children to obtain asylum in the US. On the surface, the intent is to enable children to be placed with relatives in the US; however, the more probable motive is to place these children for adoption in the States. Haiti has long been one of the top nations for harvesting children for adoption, and adoption organizations from several countries have already begun swooping in and grabbing up underage victims of last week’s quake. Indeed, more so than the welfare of the children, many news stories of late have focused on the disappointment of prospective adoptive parents who had adoptions in progress that are now in hiatus.

Rather than hastily grabbing up Haitian children like bargains at a fire sale, initial attempts should be made to locate and reunify these children with their natural parents and other families members. If there’s time to whisk them away to the US and other countries to be placed with strangers, effort should first be made to allow them to remain with their families — and save their families. At present, I see this as one of the main responsibilities of world charities and children’s organizations.

But then, that would mean serious consideration would have to be given to granting amnesty to their parents – adult Haitians – something neither the US nor many other nations want to do.

Jefferson Parish just tweeted out its 2010 parade schedule. It kicks off with Little Rascals on January 31st and ends on Fat Tuesday (2/16) with the Jefferson Trucks.

We’ve been hearing some interesting things offline. Is it possible the investigation into Hubbard is related to Whitmer’s problems and now Parish President Broussard’s sudden resignation.

Jefferon Parish political circles are buzzing with rumors indictments are forthcoming. Such reasoning is not a stretch IMO.

I don’t know how much we’ll cover on this but we’re certainly keeping an eye on this unfolding political corrpution saga.

sop

220 Central Ave. – $ 299,000 – Jefferson, LA

5 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms / 3,685 sqft. of Living Area

Functions like a Duplex with two full working kitchens one upstairs and one downstairs. Great for two families or to rezone as a double. Unique uptown living in Old Jefferson on beautiful lot 52 x 221 with many trees. One block from the river. Attic could be converted to a third floor. Fireplace in downstairs living area. With old charm upstairs complete with high ceilings and original wood floor. Call today. Minutes from the city of New Orleans.

Contact Chad Janusa @504-376-4233 or Jeanne Quinn @ 504-251-6500

For more details visit:  http://www.postlets.com/res/3116192

This New Orleans Real Estate blog post brought to you by Chad Janusa, Realtor at Avalar Realty Louisiana. Please visit my New Orleans Real Estate Website.

To search for properties in the New Orleans area, visit the New Orleans area Property Search.

For all of your Real Estate needs, Chad can be easily reached via text or phone at (504)-376-4233 or via e-mail at chad.janusa@gmail.com

Metairie, LA, USA – Agent licensed in Louisiana – Each office independently owned and operated

Para muchos de los seguidores de Steven Seagal, estos últimos años habían sido del más completo silencio: no se sabía de su paradero, o de algún posible plan. Sin embargo, recientemente nos enteramos de lo que ha pasado con el ex-artemarcialista, y las noticias son impresionantes. De acuerdo a declaraciones del mismo, todo este tiempo estuvo trabajando como alguacil adjunto en Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Y si bien no piensa dejar este trabajo, será el anfitrión de su propio reality show, que se titulará Steven Seagal: Lawman, en donde el equipo lo estará siguiendo durante su trabajo, presentando los casos reales que debe de manejar. Sin embargo, para los fans acostumbrados a verlo enfrentar mafias y grupos terroristas, el arrestar a un grupo de ebrios que arman escándalos quizá no resulte tan glamoroso.

Steven Seagal LAWMAN is COPS with the occasional Above the Law reference, martial arts lesson or potential perp saying, “I know you.” Even though he’s made plenty of highly-grossing action films [and was quite popular in the 1990s—many women had a bit of a crush on him], Steven Seagal made the wise choice to have a second job as a deputy in the Jefferson Parish, La. Sheriff’s Office. So in this show, we ride around on a night out with Seagal and his fellow officers as they fight crime around New Orleans. Right off I thought it was a lot like COPS though there is more background information provided as to why certain things are being done—a definite bonus. Seagal really just blends in and I think he just wanted to bring some attention to New Orleans [or needed a bit of money or just loves his job]. When I first heard about the show, I thought it would really focus completely on him but he’s just a part of the law enforcement team out on the streets of New Orleans. Seagal also has that whole Zen vibe. During the first episode he brings together some of his co-workers to teach them some martial arts tips so that they can reach for their tasers and weapons less often. He’s more about peace than shoot first, despite all those films. He flips a guy and the guy says, “I just had a flashback from Above the Law.” At another time, Seagal has a moment with a guy that they had pulled over. He was carrying a weapon but it was all legal. The guy said that he knew who he was and respected him and would listen to him. All in a day’s work for Steven Seagal LAWMAN.

Wednesday, December 2nd at 10PM ET/PT on A&E

173 Anne St. – $104,900 – Avondale, LA

3 Bedrooms / 1 Bathroom / 901 Sqft. Living Area

Adorable home in Avondale subdivision, needs just a little TLC and some updating. All new vinyl siding, and great curb appeal!! Small porch on front and back of home, and spacious gated backyard with shed.  Buy it as an investment property or make it your own!!

Call Chad Janusa @ 504-376-4233 for a showing!

This New Orleans Real Estate blog post brought to you by Chad Janusa, Realtor at Avalar Realty Louisiana. Please visit my New Orleans Real Estate Website.

To search for properties in the New Orleans area, visit the New Orleans area Property Search.

For all of your Real Estate needs, Chad can be easily reached via text or phone at (504)-376-4233 or via e-mail at chad.janusa@gmail.com

Metairie, LA, USA – Agent licensed in Louisiana – Each office independently owned and operated

The good news for Jefferson Parish public school officials is that recent reforms helped increase the system’s performance score by five points last year, the largest gain ever. In addition, five parish schools, all of them magnets created in recent years, ranked among metro New Orleans’ top 10 public schools.

But despite Jefferson’s notable progress, too many of its 44,000 students still are attending mediocre schools. That should prompt the School Board and administrators to speed up reforms and to allow more independent charter schools.

Jefferson fell in statewide rankings from 57th, which wasn’t great, to 64th. That’s almost the worst in the state. Jefferson officials said the state took over failing schools in other districts, allowing them to surge past Jefferson in the rankings. They noted that out of Jefferson’s 87 schools, only two earned the failing label. The state has not taken those over.

But Jefferson’s district-wide performance score of 78.4 is well below the state average of 91. So the district still is underperforming in one of the lowest-ranked states in the nation.
Under Superintendent Diane Roussel’s tenure and with the support of the School Board, the parish has launched numerous reforms, including creating its growing network of magnet schools. But only a fraction of the system’s students, about 2,000, attend those magnets. Meanwhile, almost half the district’s schools scored at least 10 points below the state average last year.

Upset with the Jefferson Parish public school system’s dismal state ranking, School Board member Cedric Floyd is demanding that Superintendent Diane Roussel develop a plan for moving the system to the top.

Under a Floyd proposal that the board will consider Wednesday, Roussel would have until April 30 to come up with a plan to elevate Jefferson, now ranked 64th of 68 Louisiana school systems, into the top 20 percent.

The School Board meets at 5 p.m. at Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School in Kenner.

Roussel said the process has already begun and that the system’s almost 5-point improvement from last year indicates that what she and her staff are doing is working.

Cedric_Floyd_.jpgCedric Floyd”We’ve gone up more than we’ve ever gone up,” Roussel said today. “But I can’t guarantee a particular ranking. When you talk about rankings, if other school systems are doing well, we don’t move at all.”

Statewide, public schools improved by 4.7 points, lifting Louisiana’s overall school performance score from 86.3 to 91. While Jefferson’s scores increased by 4.9 percent — from 73.5 to 78.4 — the system actually fell from 57th to 64th in the state ranking.

Performance scores are calculated for most schools using a combination of test scores and attendance. Dropout rates are factored in for students in seventh and eighth grades, while dropout and graduation rates are used to determine high school scores.

Floyd said that despite Jefferson’s improved scores, there is no excuse for being ranked among the worst school systems in Louisiana.

“It seems that many school systems have leaped in front of us,” he said. “We need to have higher expectations for kids, and I don’t think that has been stressed.”

In developing a plan, Floyd said, Roussel should consider everything from lower student-teacher ratios and higher teacher salaries to merit pay, year-round schooling, weekend academies and drop-out prevention programs.

roussel.jpgDiane RousselHe singled out a program called FastForWord, a reading comprehension program that is now in four West Bank schools but that Floyd said should be system-wide. The computer-based program is aimed at improving critical language and reading skills through cognitive skills such as memory, attention, processing and sequencing.

Floyd wants Roussel to include in her plan an approximate cost and timetable.

“The expense would be astronomical,” Roussel said. “You’re talking millions and millions of dollars. FastForWord alone costs about $150,000 per school, and to put in every school would exceed $12 million.”

Board member Glenn Hayes Jr. said that while there is room for improvement, reaching the top 20 percent of all Louisiana school systems could take years.

Watch Detail with photos

$199,000 – 62 Davis Blvd, Jefferson, LA

3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms / 1,650 Sqft. Living Area

Possible SHORT SALE! Custom built one year old cottage. Flood zone X! Open floor plan. Kitchen has stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.  Master bath has seperate tub with a stand up shower and private toilet area. Large bedrooms. With a porch in the front and rear of the property.  Must see picture perfect and ready to move in today!! Near Ochsner Hospital and just minutes from the city of New Orleans.

Call Chad Janusa @ 504-376-4233 or Jeanne Quinn @ 251-6500  for a showing! 

Like this blog post? Share it with others!

This New Orleans Real Estate blog post brought to you by Chad Janusa, Realtor at Avalar Realty Louisiana. Please visit my New Orleans Real Estate Website.

To search for properties in the New Orleans area, visit the New Orleans area Property Search.

For all of your Real Estate needs, Chad can be easily reached via text or phone at (504)-376-4233 or via e-mail at chad.janusa@gmail.com

Metairie, LA, USA – Agent licensed in Louisiana – Each office independently owned and operated.

Here are the housing market figures for Jefferson Parish as of September 30, 2009. To view the detailed report, see The Jefferson Parish Pulse of the Market Report.

*Information from GSREIN MLS deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Like this blog post? Share it with others!

This New Orleans Real Estate blog post brought to you by Chad Janusa, Realtor at Avalar Realty Louisiana. Please visit my New Orleans Real Estate Website.

To search for properties in the New Orleans area, visit the New Orleans area Property Search.

For all of your Real Estate needs, Chad can be easily reached via text or phone at (504)-376-4233 or via e-mail at chad.janusa@gmail.com

Metairie, LA, USA
Agent licensed in Louisiana
Each office independently owned and operated.

Ran across this article about the “20 Most Ridiculous Police Impersonators” on PoliceLink.  Some pretty good stories.  Also, just FYI (in case you didn’t know it) if you find yourself driving through Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and you get stopped by Steven Seagal (yep, the actor), he’s the real deal. 

Seagal is currently a deputy sheriff of his home community of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. In November 2008, A&E announced that they have begun filming Steven Seagal: Lawman, a reality show that follows his on- and off-duty work in the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.   [Source: wikipedia]

20.  Fake Cop Pulls Over La. Mayor (Shreveport)
19.  Feds Bust Fake Cop Ring (Shaking down drug dealers)
18.  Cop Impersonator Arrested After Trying To Impress Date
17.  Police Impersonators Rush Former Drug House
16.  Cop Impersonator Caught Searching Cars
15.  Another Impersonator Pulls Over Real Cop
14.  US Marshals Arrest Dallas Impersonator In California
13.  Ohio Impersonator Gets 1 Year In Jail
12.  Fake Cop Extorted Money From Victim For Year
11.  Police Impersonator With Toy Gun Arrested In Magna School
10.  Marine Accused Of Impersonating Police Officer In Va. Beach
9.  Security Guard Is Serial Cop Impersonator
8.  Florida Cops Bust Impersonator Who Wanted To Be An Officer
7.  Two Impersonators Arrested After Stopping Lieutenant
6.  Police Theft Raises Concerns Over Impersonation
5.  Fake Cop, Sirens Blaring, Pulled Over By The Real Thing
4.  Police: Real Gun Pulled In Fake Cop Act
3.  Chicago’s Teen Impersonator Leads Cops On Chase
2.  Teen Impersonator Completes Shift With Real Officer Before Being Discovered
1.  Video Released of CIA Impersonator Shooting

from Susan Edwards / Eyewitness News, sedwards@wwltv.com

METAIRIE, La. – Call it the thrill of the ride or a chance of a lifetime, but joining your favorite krewe and riding along during carnival season may no longer be as difficult or as exclusive as you may think.
Video: Watch the Story

Mardi Gras expert Errol Laborde said the times are changing.

“I think the image to a lot of people is it’s a big, exclusive deal, but that’s hardly the case,” Laborde said.

While some parading organizations are invitation only, there are several who are scrambling to attract anyone interested in membership and an unforgettable experience.

“With some of the krewes, you’re seeing more of an effort to find riders and it may or may not be totally related to the economy,” Laborde said.

Because of financial hardships, some krewes have feared 2010 could be a tough year to keep old members and attract new ones. Laborde said it’s simply too soon to tell if that’s the case; however, there are some unusual advertising techniques seeking the attention of interested riders.

Krewe of Argus in Jefferson Parish has been rolling on Fat Tuesday for more than three decades. Co-Captain Lawrence Chehardy said membership is at 400 right now, which is average for this time of year. They’re hoping that mass mailers will only boost interest and membership for the upcoming carnival season.

“Argus is a business, it’s a Mardi Gras krewe, but it’s a business. We have to watch how we spend money and certainly in these economic times it impacts everybody, but that said, we’re always looking for new members and new blood,” Chehardy said.

Chehardy said that over the years their website has contributed to successful parades, but the flyers were sent to residents along the Veterans Memorial Boulevard corridor as an added way to generate interest.

“We’ve gotten riders from outside Jefferson Parish, from out of country who have gone to the internet, did a search and found the Krewe of Argus and we’ve had them ride with us,” Chehardy said.

The Fifth Circuit posted two unpublished opinions today and both vacated the ruling of the District Court in Katrina Canal Breaches Litigation re: Jefferson Parish. Actually, the Fifth Circuit posted one of the two unpublished opinions under two different numbers! That I realized after spending more time than I’ll confess to spending pouring over each to find the difference – before I had the presence of mind to hit the zoom and saw each had the same number (#$%&!)

This is a consolidated appeal of the district court’s dismissal of claims against Jefferson Parish, Louisiana in two cases concerning property damage from flooding that occurred as a result of the levee breaches in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.The plaintiffs-appellants, property owners in Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish, allege that the property damage resulted from deficiencies in the New Orleans flood protection system. In their original complaints, filed on August 28, 2006, the plaintiffs-appellants named as defendants the Board of Commissioners of the Orleans Levee District, the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans, the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, the East Jefferson Levee District, Jefferson Parish, and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

In their second amended complaints filed on April 11, 2007, the plaintiffs-appellants added the United States as a defendant. On October 12, 2007, the district court dismissed the claims against Jefferson Parish in both actions. On March 27, 2008, the district court entered final judgments under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) with regard to those claims, and the plaintiffs-appellants appealed. This appeal solely concerns the plaintiffs-appellants’ claims against Jefferson Parish. The plaintiffs-appellants’ claims against other defendants, including the United States, are still pending in the district court.

The district court recognized two distinct categories of claims asserted by the plaintiffs-appellants against Jefferson Parish: (1) claims based on actions taken by the Parish during Hurricane Katrina; and (2) claims based on the Parish’s alleged general failure to maintain certain levees and drainage features. The district court dismissed the first category of claims because it found that La. Rev. Stat. § 29:735 granted immunity to the Parish for all actions taken at the time of Hurricane Katrina.

The district court dismissed the second category of claims for two reasons. First, the district court held that La. Rev. Stat. § 9:2800 retroactively immunized public bodies from all damages arising from Hurricane Katrina. Second, the district court held that the Parish was not under a duty to maintain the levees under Louisiana state law.

Both parties agree in their briefing that the district court erred in holding that La. Rev. Stat. § 9:2800 insulated Jefferson Parish from liability, as the Louisiana Supreme Court has held this statute unconstitutional as applied to claims accruing prior to the law’s passage. See Burmaster v. Plaquemines Parish Gov’t, 982 So. 2d 795 (La. 2008).

Additionally, at oral argument, the plaintiffs-appellants conceded that La. Rev. Stat. § 29:735 immunized Jefferson Parish against any claims relating to its actions taken during Hurricane Katrina. Thus, the parties’ only remaining substantive dispute is over whether Jefferson Parish was under a general duty to maintain the levees under Louisiana law.

However, we decline to reach the merits of this dispute because the district court exercised subject matter jurisdiction over this case on improper grounds. Although Jefferson Parish did not appeal the district court’s ruling on jurisdiction, this panel must nonetheless consider whether federal subject matter jurisdiction exists. See E.E.O.C. v. Agro Distrib., LLC, 555 F.3d 462, 467 (5th Cir. 2009) (“Although neither party raises the issue of subject matter jurisdiction, this court must consider jurisdiction sua sponte.”). The district court exercised jurisdiction over the plaintiffs-appellants’ claims against Jefferson Parish on the basis of supplemental jurisdiction.

Specifically, the district court held that it had original jurisdiction over the plaintiffs-appellants’ federal tort claims act claims against the United States that were added in the second amended complaint, and that those claims and the claims against Jefferson Parish arose out of a common nucleus of operative fact, thus warranting the exercise of supplemental jurisdiction over the claims against the Parish.

However, the new claims against the United States added in the second amended complaint cannot be relied upon to establish subject matter jurisdiction because while a plaintiff may amend a complaint to cure inadequate jurisdictional allegations, amendment may not create subject matter jurisdiction when none exists. See 3 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal Practice § 15.14[3], at 15–34 (3d ed. 1999) (“Essentially, a plaintiff may correct the complaint to show that jurisdiction does in fact exist; however, if there is no federal jurisdiction, it may not be created by amendment.”). That is, an amendment may remedy jurisdictional problems of the “technical” or “formal” variety,2 but it may not “create an entirely new jurisdictional basis to provide competence in a court which lacked authority over the case ab initio.” Falise v. Am. Tobacco Co., 241 B.R. 63, 67 (E.D.N.Y. 1999) (Weinstein, J.). This court has specifically held that an amendment may not remedy a jurisdictional defect by asserting a cause of action to serve as a statutory basis for federal question jurisdiction…

Thus, supplemental jurisdiction based on the plaintiffs-appellants’ federal tort claims act claims against the United States does not provide a valid basis for subject matter jurisdiction over the plaintiffsappellants’ claims against the Parish. Although Jefferson Parish did not object to the plaintiffs-appellants amending the complaint to add the federal tort claims act claims, “[s]ubject matter jurisdiction can neither be conferred nor destroyed by the parties’ agreement or waiver.” Buchner v. FDIC, 981 F.2d 816, 821 (5th Cir. 1993).

The plaintiffs-appellants asserted another basis for supplemental jurisdiction over their claims against the Parish in the district court: a common nucleus of operative fact with third-party beneficiary claims in the original complaint based on Acts of Assurance that several defendants signed in favor of  the United States.

Those third-party beneficiary claims as pleaded arise under Louisiana state law, but the plaintiffs-appellants argued that they trigger original subject matter jurisdiction because federal law controls the interpretation of the underlying Acts of Assurance, specifically the hold harmless provisions contained therein that were executed for the benefit of the United States and which the plaintiffs-appellants argued should be interpreted to create a duty to third parties. Federal law arguably does control the interpretation of the Acts of Assurance because the federal government entered into them pursuant to authority conferred by federal statute. See United States v. Seckinger, 397 U.S. 203, 210 (1970) (“[F]ederal law controls the interpretation of the contract. This conclusion results from the fact that the contract was entered into pursuant to authority conferred by federal statute and, ultimately, by the Constitution.” (citations omitted)).

However, the mere presence of a federal issue in a state cause of action is not sufficient to permit federal jurisdiction; this court has held that the presence of such a federal issue is sufficient to create federal jurisdiction only where: (1) resolving the federal issue is necessary to resolution of the state-law claim; (2) the federal issue is actually disputed; (3) the federal issue is substantial; and (4) federal jurisdiction will not disturb the balance of federal and state judicial responsibilities. See Singh v. Duane Morris LLP, 538 F.3d 334, 337–38 (5th Cir. 2008).

Although the parties did not raise the issue of whether the third-party beneficiary claims give rise to federal jurisdiction on appeal, it was briefed in the district court, and we fail to see any substantial federal question implicated in the third-party beneficiary claims based on the hold harmless provisions in the Acts of Assurance. Further, the plaintiffs-appellants failed to meet their burden of demonstrating a common nucleus of operative fact between the third-party beneficiary claims and the claims against Jefferson Parish, making only conclusory and unsupported assertions to that effect. See New Orleans & Gulf Coast Ry. Co. v. Barrois, 533
F.3d 321, 327 (5th Cir. 2008) (“The party seeking to assert federal jurisdiction. . . has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that subject matter jurisdiction exists.”).

Accordingly, we VACATE the judgment of the district court and DISMISS this suit for lack of jurisdiction.4

Tomorrow, I suppose, will bring a correction and the second opinion – or this same opinion with another number.

A documentary is set to premiere this week, detailing one of Jefferson Parish’s most notable officials.

Harry Lee served as Jefferson Parish’s larger-than-life sheriff for 28 years before his death in 2007.

He left behind quite a legacy and plenty of memories after battling leukemia.

The documentary called “Wild About Harry — The Harry Lee Story” includes interviews with Lee shot just two weeks before his death, and memories from 62 people who knew him well.

Lee’s story has been told through various mediums over the years, but never like this. Longtime Lee supporter and local businessman John Georges came up with the idea for the documentary.

“I thought we needed to do this to document a very important person and share Harry Lee with future generations,” Georges said.

The beginning of the film chronicles what is arguably Lee’s finest hour: His actions after Hurricane Katrina.

When then-superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, Eddie Compass, asked for help, Lee sent 200 semiautomatic pistols and 10,000 rounds of ammunition.”They were devastated. They had no equipment they had no weapons,” Lee said.

The sheriff then got on the radio and asked people around Louisiana to bring in boats to help rescue people.

“He immediately said, ‘If you see (Federal Emergency Management Agency) people attempting to block them, arrest them on the spot and haul them away,” Jefferson Parish sheriff’s Col. Robert Woods said.

Lee was passionate and tough, but he knew how to have a good time. His Fais Do Do fundraiser was on one of the nation’s largest annual fundraising events.

“The beer flowed and the best-looking women in the world attended that party,” Lee said.

The SWAT team attack on Jefferson Parish’s Nutria population made headlines.

“We’ve killed something like 14,000 nutria,” Lee said.Lee’s famous straight-shooting speaking style often got him in trouble.

“For a long time, I didn’t know what politically incorrect meant,” Lee

Ultimately, people were wild about Lee.

“People would always come up to him and say, ‘I didn’t vote for you, sheriff, but I like you.’

There’s not a lot of people you can say that about,” said Cynthia Lee-Sheng, Lee’s daughter.

The film’s release coincides with the second commemoration of Lee’s death.”Wild About Harry — The Harry Lee Story” premieres Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Loyola University. Tickets to the viewing cost $25, the proceeds from which the will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

LINK

Welcome to my Metairie Real Estate blog!! This blog is intended to keep Metairie residents up-to-date about the real estate market in the Metairie area as well as other Real Estate Market trends nationwide and just useful real estate and home related information in general.

Thinking about selling your home and not sure how to stage your home to sell? Want to go green but not sure where to start? Looking to buy that first home but not sure what tax credits are avaible to first-time homebuyers? Answers to these types of questions and more are what this blog aims to provide. Sure everyone wants to know how the housing market is doing, but there are always many general questions that go unanswered. My goal is to find and provide current and useful Real Estate information that will be appealing to everyone from the active investor to the first-time home buyer. Being informed always helps to make the right decision!

I’ve also provided a list of useful links on the right column of this blog. These links include common city/parish utility companyies, as well as various Jefferson Parish service departments.

Please check back soon  to read the latest real estate news!!

Hope you enjoy!

-Chad Janusa

 This Metairie Real Estate blog post brought to you by Chad Janusa, Realtor at Avalar Realty Louisiana. Please visit my Metairie Real Estate Website.

To search for properties in the New Orleans area, visit the Metairie area Property Search.

For all of your Real Estate needs, Chad can be easily reached via text or phone at (504)-376-4233 or via e-mail at chad.janusa@gmail.com

Each office independently owned and operated.

There was an article that appeared in the Times Picayune this past weekend regarding Road Home properties that will be auctioned off by Jefferson Parish, and just in time for the 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The auction is set to occur on August 15th at the Yenni Bldg in Elmwood, where nearly 86 properties will be up for auction.Bidders are required to register that morning between 8 and 10AM or can register online before hand.

According to the article, Jefferson Parish is the first parish in the state to auction off Road Home properties to the public. I think it’s great to see that Jefferson Parish is moving forward with this and continuing our progress in the recovery efforts. It’s hard to believe that this year marks 4 years since the tragic Hurricane Katrina and we are still, by some means, “in recovery mode.”

Click here to read the full article from the Times Picayune, and to get details on how to register for the auction.

 This New Orleans Real Estate blog post brought to you by Chad Janusa, Realtor at Avalar Realty Louisiana. Please visit my New Orleans Real Estate Website.

To search for properties in the New Orleans area, visit the New Orleans area Property Search.

For all of your Real Estate needs, Chad can be easily reached via text or phone at (504)-376-4233 or via e-mail at chad.janusa@gmail.com

Each office independently owned and operated.

Home Sales and Real Estate Market Report
Bissonet, Metairie, LA

 January 1, 2009 – July 22, 2009

There are 19 homes for sale in the Bissonet Area:

• Highest list price: $269,900
• Lowest list price: $99,900
• Average list price: $187,010

As of July 22, 2009 there were 2 pending sales:

Low Price: $84,750

High Price:$259,900.

The average home listed in the Bissonet area has been on the market for 124 days.

There is currently a 6-month supply of homes for sale in the area, based on the 3 homes sold in June.

The following homes were sold  Year to Date:

Home sales in the Bissonet area have been slightly up and down this year, but have been higher and more constant in June and July.  A few reasons for this could be that Summer months tend to be favored for moves by families with school children, and also some positive signs of housing market recovery as noted by the media. However, home sales in the area remain slightly down from 2008 as shown below.

The number of home sales in the area has been progressively decreasing  since 2006. However, one has to take into account that an unusually high number of homes were sold in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina, to displaced residents from other surrounding areas.  While home sales are down slightly from 2008 figures,  there has been positive news on the housing market recently, as well as the available first-time homebuyer tax credit that could bring the Bissonet area’s sales close if not breakeven to 2008 figures.

 This New Orleans Real Estate blog post brought to you by Chad Janusa, Realtor at Avalar Realty Louisiana. Please visit my New Orleans Real Estate Website.

To search for properties in the New Orleans area, visit the New Orleans area Property Search.

For all of your Real Estate needs, Chad can be easily reached via text or phone at (504)-376-4233 or via e-mail at chad.janusa@gmail.com

Each office independently owned and operated.

Data received from GSREIN MLS. All figures are deemed reliable but are not guaranteed.