Here at Bedico Creek Preserve, we are about information for our builders, our buyers, our homeowners, our partners, and our vendors. If you are looking for a dependable source of information about real estate in Southeast Louisiana, specifically the Greater New Orleans area, please use our blog as much and as often as possible to read informative and timely real estate information. We promise you, you won’t be disappointed!

Buy a New Home on the Northshore at Bedico Creek Preserve

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Keep Covington Beautiful (KCB) is a non-profit organization led by the community and is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. It is an organization committed to preserving and improving the beauty of Covington, Louisiana in St. Tammany Parish.  Originally formed as the Covington Gardens Partnership, the organization works with others in the community to improve Covington’s quality of life through beautification, litter prevention and recyclingSouthern Hotel Covington, Louisiana activities.

The organization not only helps keep Covington beautiful but it also holds events, educates and partners with the people in the community to encourage neighbors to take responsibility for keeping Covington clean and beautiful. Recently the organization partnered with Louisiana Department of Agriculture to conduct a study to gather data on existing trees, signs, overhead and underground utilities, driveways and parking areas located along the streets in the community.  The data gathered, will be used to determine locations to plant new trees.  A meeting was held with the residents of the community revealing the results of the study and explaining the guidelines and recommendations not only on planting new trees but also removing existing trees on city right-of way’s in residential areas.  Through the hard work and passion of KCB, Covington was named one of the 10 most beautiful towns and small cities in Louisiana.  For more information about KCB’s events, how to become a KCB volunteer or member, visit www.keepcovingtonbeautiful.org or contact KCB at 867.3652 or kcb@covla.com.

When relocating to the Greater New Orleans area, you may want to buy a new home on the Northshore at Bedico Creek Preserve.  If you are considering relocating to the tight knit area of West St. Tammany Parish, you can enjoy the ambiance of downtown Covington, LA, which is located approximately 7 miles from Bedico Creek Preserve.  Living in Madisonville, Louisiana, at Bedico Creek gives you easy access to shopping, entertainment, and dining at the many locations of the two shopping areas Colonial Pinnacle at Nord Du Luc and Stirling Covington Shopping Center off of Highway 21.  In addition to the prolific shopping at mall stores such as JC Penny, Belk, and Lane Bryant, Colonial Pinnacle at Nord Du Luc and Stirling Covington Shopping Center also showcase box stores such as Academy Sports, Kohls, Best Buy, Marshalls, Target, Hobby Lobby, as well as the Hollywood Stadium 14 movie theater.  This Covington, Louisiana shopping area also features restaurants such as Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse, Cracker Barrel, and Panera Bread Company.  For faster food and service, you can visit Steak & Shake, Firehouse Subs, and Dickeys Barbeque Pit.

Bedico Creek Preserve offers lots and homes for sale in its masterplanned community in St. Tammany Parish.  Lots for sale start in the mid $40’s, and new homes for sale begin in the $230’s.  If you are interested in building your own new, custom home or if you are looking to relocate to one of our existing homes for sale, you can find any lot or home in a selection of different neighborhoods in this St. Tammany Parish subdivision.  Contact Bedico Creek today to schedule your tour.  Call 985-845-4200 or E-mail Info@LiveBedico.com.

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Guidelines to Use When Purchasing a Home in a Seller’s Market

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The housing market is hot right now as can be seen in all the statistics gathered from real estate professionals. Multiple offers and shortage of homes on the market along with low interest rates have driven the market to where it is today. This can make for a challenging situation for home buyers. Bidding wars could lead you, as a buyer, to purchase a home priced higher than the appraised value of the home, or you may even spend more than you can1-133-st-calais-place-exterior-front-1 afford. One of the downfalls of the Recession is that homeowners ended up owing more than their home was worth – home buyers don’t want to repeat this trend.

In the market for a new single-family home but are a little apprehensive because of the low inventory, increased prices and bidding wars? Don’t be…here are some guidelines to use when purchasing a home in a seller’s market.

Recognize the Supply and Demand. If there are not many real estate listings, it can be difficult to find what you are looking for when your pickings are slim. When you do find what you are looking for, you can bet other buyers want the same thing which will only drive the price up. You do not want to purchase a home at a higher price when the price rise is determined by low inventory versus a strong economy. A strong economy can support a strong market.

Scout Out the Neighborhood. Are there any signs of new construction or have the housing starts increased? If so, this is a good sign that the local housing market is thriving. Remember, if the local economy is strong it can sustain a rising housing market. Research the market by noting the number of developed lots in the community and the amount of building permits that have been issued. The St. Tammany Parish Residential Permits office provides information regarding the amount of building permits that have been issued in the Greater New Orleans area. Speak to a Realtor in the neighborhood market in which you are interested. They can tell you if new home construction is strong in the neighborhood and how many lots are for sale in the area.

Sometimes Losing Can Be in Your Best Interest. Buyers who push to any limit to win the bidding war can overpay and loose in the long run. Go into the bid with your game shoes on…set a budget and think about getting a preapproval from a mortgage lender. When setting a budget, remember to compensate for living expenses and emergency funds. If the bidding war sets the price too high, walk away!

Do Not Let Your Guard Down. Use smart self-defense when purchasing a home. Many buyers who want to win the bid give up rights that are standard in sales contracts. Contingencies are there to protect the buyer. It is pretty risky to give these up to appease a seller into accepting your offer. Buyers can lose their deposit if they do not have a preapproved mortgage and have been denied a mortgage after they have a house under contract or the inspection comes back with costly repairs. Another way a buyer can lose cash is if an appraisal comes in low and the mortgage lender reduces the loan amount making the buyer put up the cash to compensate for the gap between the loan and purchase price. If you feel you have found the house for you, then determine if the risk of waiving any contingency clauses outweigh any hidden financial surprises you might find.

Now is still a good time to buy as mortgage rates are low. In St. Tammany Parish at Bedico Creek Preserve, we have many new homes for sale from which to choose, including new homes priced from the $230’s – $300’s in two exclusive Neighborhoods called Cypress Crossing and Deer Park. To find out more about our homes for sale, Contact our sales office at 985-845-4200 or E-mail Info@LiveBedico.com.

 

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Builders Are Enthusiastic With the Upturn in the Housing Market

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Builders are enthusiastic with the upturn in the housing market and are seeing more new home buyers as the economy rises. The stronger job market caused by the addition of 3 million jobs in the U.S. has encouraged more people to become new homeowners. In fact, nationwide single-family homes sold for close to full asking price!

After a low sales report in March due to the harsh winter weather, it is encouraging to see an increase in standing30390543 inventory of new homes and new homes under construction. According to the current data release from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau newly built home sales rose 6.8% in April. Regionally, new homes sales increased by 5.8% in the southern region. The new homes sales pace is expected to raise the amount of new homes for sale on the market creating a 4.8 month supply of new home inventory which is crucial to the housing market recovery.

“Sales are moving forward and our builder members are telling us they are starting to see more activity as more buyers get off the fence and enter the marketplace,” said NAHB Chairman Tom Woods.

At Bedico Creek Preserve, our master planned development in St. Tammany Parish had much to celebrate during the 1st four months of 2015 achieving 22 new home sales for a total gross sales volume amount of $7,671,150. Bedico Creek, a collection of neighborhoods inside of a Conservation Community, offers a variety of new homes in a selection of price ranges both for lots for sale as well as new homes for sale. In one of our exclusive neighborhoods, 12-1049-cypress-crossing-drive-master-bathone of our top St. Tammany Parish builders sold a Spec Home for a record sales price of $1,025,000 which comes out to $241 / per square foot.

In addition to the high volume of new home sales in 2015, Bedico Creek Preserve also had a phenomenal sales volume of $250,000 in lot sales in the first 4 months of the year. To keep pace with the increasing demand for local home buyers in the Greater New Orleans area, Bedico Creek Preserve opened two exclusive new home neighborhoods – Cypress Crossing and Deer Park – and the subdivision now offers lots for sale in Lakeveiw Neighborhood and Heron Point Neighborhood as well. Site plan (plat) approvals for new future Neighborhoods are also currently underway.

If you are in the market for a new home or considering purchasing a new home, Visit Bedico Creek Preserve today to discover our new homes for sale or learn more about building a new, custom home on one of our quickly selling lots! Contact Us Directly at 985-845-4200 or E-mail Info@LiveBedico.com.

 

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Outstanding Patient Experience Award Goes to St. Tammany Parish Hospital

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Covington and Mandeville should not only be proud of their big city culture and small-town charm, but now they can also boast about their cutting edge medical care and medical facilities.  St. Tammany Parish Hospital ranked in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for patient experience and quality.  Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals, gave St. Tammany Parish Hospital the 2015 Outstanding Patient Experience Award for giving patients a positive experience during their stay as well as exceeding their expectations with their patient service.

St. Tammany Parish Hospital Receives Award

Healthgrades does extensive research for this honorable distinction, and the standards that are to be achieved in order to receive such high recognition are thorough and very high. A 27-question survey is given to a group of patients that focuses on their overall hospital experience.  Question examples range from how they were treated by the doctors, cleanliness and noise levels of their rooms, pain management, would they recommend the hospital to friends or family and the overall responsiveness from doctors and nurses to the patients’ needs.

In addition to the recognition by Healthgrades, the hospital also received 4 stars in a Medicare patient experience survey which also happened to be one of the state’s highest scores.  St. Tammany Parish Hospital was ranked among the nation’s top community hospitals – the top 5% in hospitals nationwide – by U.S. News & World Report and WomenCertified.  This national recognition solidifies the reputation of healthcare facilities in St. Tammany Parish which has some of the most sophisticated and advanced medical tools and practices.

St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s President and CEO Patti Ellish said, “We are honored to be singled out in these ways.”

St. Tammany has a large selection of medical facilities and hospitals parish-wide both in East St. Tammany and West St. Tammany Parish. There two major hospitals, just 5 miles from each other, Lakeview Regional in Mandeville, and St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington as well as two additional major hospitals in the East, Slidell Memorial and Ochsner. In the business district of Covington, Louisiana, there are numerous, specialty medical clinics that offer medical services for specific ailments such as sleep disorders, dermatological, and orthopedics.

This is great news for St. Tammany and makes moving into this Northshore community that much more appealing.  More than ever, consumers’ opinions about anything and everything are leading factors in one of the most important decisions home buyers will make – where you and your family can move and live comfortably with all of the lifestyle conveniences you need to raise a family.   Moving to Bedico Creek Preserve will make it so that you have access to award winning medical care and that you do not have to drive too far to have access to great hospitals and specialty medical facilities.

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Consumers are Optimistic About the 2015 Housing Market

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There are many factors that predict a great housing market is to come, and consumers are optimistic about the 2015 housing market.  Job growth, coupled with low mortgage interest rates, and easier credit access can only mean one thing – a busy housing market this year.  Many houses are still quite affordable and prices are rebounding which makes for an industrious real estate market.  Why are consumers so upbeat with the housing industry?

Foreclosure inventories are on the decline and home sales are closing the gap for a normal market. Inventory is at approximately 4.5 months which is “normal” for any real estate market.  It is a tremendous opportunity for buildersBedico Creek Swimming Pool to “dive into” the housing market and start building because inventory will get tight. Now is the time for home buyers to get out there and purchase a home.  Lower inventory means lower prices.

Lower prices will not last. After 13 straight months of price increases, the real estate market has now stabilized nationwide in pricing, and prices are growing at a normal rate.  However, home prices will continue to rise making it a seller’s market vs. a buyer’s market.  Now would be a good time as a buyer to buy a new home while prices are average, and interest rates are low.

First-time buyers are finally able to see the light!  These potential home buyers have been kept out of entering the market because of limited employment for college students, combined households, and credit difficulties. In today’s market, lending standards and down payment requirements are easing making it a perfect lending opportunity for first-time home buyers.  Young adults are getting back to work, and that will drive household demand.

Speaking of lending, both home buyers and builders are able to get loans a little bit easier than before because of New Home at Bedico Creek 2015lending standard changes. The increase in interest rates, though hindering some, will not be so drastic as to “lock out” parts of the real estate market to certain buyers. Borrowing costs which are traditionally the highest in residential lending are lowering as firms compete for potential finance customers.

According to Thomson Reuters Data, “In the first quarter, 70 percent of mortgage lenders are reportedly expecting stronger loan demand over the next three months.”  If you want to lock in a low mortgage rate, you still can — but don’t wait, because rates will ultimately rise this year.

Wage increases have also finally come to fruition and this leads to solid job growth which will strengthen the housing demand, making it a big catalyst for homebuilders. With the increase in the minimum wage and the first increase in regular wages seen since 2007, wages are going up which means buyers will be able to afford more home for their money. Buyers who feel more financially secure will form new households and transition from rental to ownership.

All of this indicates it is the right time and opportunity to purchase a new home.  At Bedico Creek Preserve, a master planned subdivision in St. Tammany Parish, we have seen a phenomenal demand for lots, homes, and building custom homes.  Our clients are eager to invest in our community with one of our neighborhoods selling out in just over 1 year.  Bedico Creek has since developed lots ready to build in, one of which is a builder-exclusive neighborhood of homes for sale called Cypress Crossing.

Bedico Creek Preserve, a master planned subdivision in St. Tammany Parish, is conveniently located just minutes from shopping, dining, and entertainment in the mall district of Highway 21 and easy access to downtown Covington, Louisiana.  You will get the best of both worlds with this conservation community.  Nestled along and throughout the green spaces, our homes and amenities are built among the waterways and natural habitat giving you the feeling of living in a wildlife preserve.  Enjoy an active lifestyle on the hiking and biking trails throughout the community all within easy access to work and downtown New Orleans.  Come visit Bedico Creek Preserve or Contact us at 985-845-4200 or E-mail Info@LiveBedico.com.

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9 Tips for Enhancing the Sale of Your Home

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Spring is a great time to sell, and with home sales on the rise, this is a perfect time to sell your current home and purchase a new home.  If you’re considering selling your current home to be able to either build a new custom home or buy an existing new home, here are some ways you can touch up your home for sale for the bargain price of $400!  Staging your home is a great way to build up home equity in order to possibly move up and buy your new dream home.  Below are 9 tips for enhancing the sale of your home.

Tip1: Let’s start in the bathroom. Adding a shower screen is an easy fix to update your shower tub combo with clean lines and ease of use. Instead of using a bulky shower curtain, a shower screen gives a subtle look making your bathroom feel bigger with a custom finish. Shower screens are easy to install yourself, but make sure to affix the 7-133-st-calais-place-master-bath-1shower curtain to something solid and sturdy.

Tip 2: Want to add a splash of color to a room? Use a rug. Instead of spending a ton of money on new carpet for your room, add a throw rug giving your room a new elegant, modern, or luxurious statement.

Tip 3:  Adding window treatments can complete a room and add a bit of warmth to an area.  Buyers do not want to come into a home and see poorly hung blinds or be able wave at their potential neighbor through their bathroom window.  When choosing blinds or curtains, measure your window carefully before placing your order and choose where you will position your hardware for hanging. This can make or break how your window treatment will enhance your room.

Tip 4: No one wants to come into their potential home, walk down the hallway and think to themselves, “Oh this looks so dark and closed in.”  The majority of home buyers want natural light.  An easy fix to your dark hallways and corridors is to replace solid doors with glass-paneled doors. The glass-paneled doors will bring light into those dark areas creating an airy feel to the space.

Tip 5: When selling your home, you want to give the illusion that there is a lot of space for all of your needs.  If you have a crammed laundry space, a great way to create the illusion of space in your laundry area is to use the space above your where the appliances sit. There are many systems on pulleys, such as Pulleymaid which can lift and hang your laundry above creating an out of the way place to hang your laundry.

Tips 6 & 7: The most important room to impress a home buyer is your kitchen. That is why we include two tips to stage your home’s kitchen for a quick sale.  First, find a clever, out of the way place to stash your trash bin.  Many 6-246-w-longview-court-kitchen-1kitchen retailers sell just that – a system that will fit your kitchen bin into your existing kitchen drawer or cabinet.  This makes your kitchen a clean “fresh smelling” area for potential home buyers.

The second tip for your kitchen is to give your kitchen a makeover.  You do not need a whole new kitchen to show off what you have.  You can do this simply by replacing cabinet handles, painting doors, re-grouting tile, and replacing your sink fixtures.  These suggestions will give your kitchen a more up to date feel.

Tip 8: They always say the lighting can make or break a photo. Well, this can also apply to your home.  You want to wow your potential home buyer with the best light to enhance your home’s features.  The quickest way to do this is to use LED lighting. There is no rewiring, all you have to do is replace your existing bulbs with LED bulbs and it will change the quality of light and you will save on energy bills!  To add a clever touch of light you can always add strip lighting but that will call for a little wiring.

Tip 9: Last but not least. If you have carpet over any hardwood floors, tear…it…up! Hardwood floors are in and give any home a clean up to date look.  If you do have hardwoods under carpet, be prepared to rent a floor sander.  This will help you transform your floors to a great finished look.

Selling your home should not be a roadblock for you.  The selling of your current home can be easy if staged the right way.  It can lead to a quick sale and more money in your pocket for your new home.  If you are considering a move-up or just a move, come and see what homes for sale Bedico Creek has to offer. Located on Highway 1085 in Madisonville, in the booming I-12 Corridor, Bedico Creek is just minutes from shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and healthcare facilities, with more being added each year.

Homeowners with children have access to some of the best public and private schools that St. Tammany Parish has to offer. Every one of the recommended builders at Bedico Creek Preserve has gone through a careful screening process to ensure that buyers are going to get some of the best, most qualified builders in the area. These preferred builders are ready to design and build homes on a lot purchased by the home buyer, or home buyers can use their own plans and builder in most neighborhoods, with approval by the Architectural Control Committee.

More information is available about this fast-growing, premier St. Tammany Parish master planned community by e-mailing Info@LiveBedico.com or calling 985-845-4200.

 

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