Rhythms on the River Fall 2011 Schedule

Located in the village of River Ranch, behind City Club

September 29th - The Molly Ringwalds
October 6th - Nik-L-Beer
October 13th - Louisiana Red
October 20th - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
October 27th - Krossfyre
November 3rd - Roddie Romero & the Hub City Allstars
November 10th - GTO & the "D" Street Brass Band

FOOTBALL SEASON SCHEDULES!!!

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Sept 18 CHICAGO 12pm FOX
Sept 25 HOUSTON 12pm CBS
Oct 2 @Jacksonville 12pm FOX
Oct 9 @Carolina 12pm FOX
Oct 16 @Tampa Bay 3:15pm FOX
Oct 23 INDIANAPOLIS 7:20pm NBC
Oct 30 @St. Louis 12pm FOX
Nov 6 TAMPA BAY 12pm FOX
Nov 13 @Atlanta 12pm FOX
Nov 28 NY GIANTS 7:30PM ESPN
Dec 4 DETROIT 12pm FOX
Dec 11 @Tennessee 12pm FOX
Dec 18 @Minnesota 12pm FOX
Dec 26 ATLANTA 7:30pm ESPN
Jan 1 CAROLINA 12pm FOX

ULL
Sept 24 @FIU
Oct 1 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Oct 8 TROY
Oct 15 NORTH TEXAS
Oct 22 @Western Kentucky
Oct 29 @Middle Tennessee St.
Nov 5 LOUISIANA-MONROE
Nov 12 @Arkansas State
Nov 26 @Arizona

LSU
Sept 24 @West Virginia
Oct 1 KENTUCKY
Oct 8 FLORIDA
Oct 15 @Tennessee
Oct 22 AUBURN
Nov 5 @Alabama
Nov 12 WESTERN KENTUCKY
Nov 19 @Ole Miss
Nov 25 ARKANSAS

Downtown Alive 2011!

Fall 2011 Season Schedule 5:30-8:30pm

September 2 - Parc International
Nik-L Beer (Classic Covers & Variety)

September 9 - Parc International
The Charmaine Neville Band (New Orleans Jazz & Funk)

September 16 - Parc International
T.K. Hulin, Steve Adams & Smoke with Special Guest Charlene Howard (Swamp Pop)

September 23 - Parc International
Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys (Cajun/Zydeco)

September 30 - Parc Sans Souci
Robbie Taylor Three (Rockabilly)

October 7 - Parc International
6 -7 p.m. Mercy Brothers (Hillbilly/Gospel)
7-8:30 p.m. The Original Bluerunners (Cajun/Zydeco)

October 14 - Parc International
Festivals Acadiens et Créoles Celebration & UL Homecoming Pep Rally
5:30-7 p.m. Horace Trahan and The Ossun Express
7-9:30 p.m. Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
(Cajun/Zydeco)

October 21 - Parc Sans Souci
Red Stick Ramblers (Cajun/Swing/Blues)

October 28 - Parc Sans Souci
True Man Posse (Creole Reggae)

November 4 - Parc Sans Souci
Brass Bed (Psychedelic Power Pop)

November 11 - Parc Sans Souci
5th Avenue Band (80's Covers & Variety)

November 18 - Parc International
Tab Benoit (Blues/Traditional Country/Vintage R&B)

November 23 - Parc Sans Souci
Special Thanksgiving Eve Performance with the Lighting of the Official City Christmas Tree - Toys for Tots
Pine Leaf Boys (Cajun)

Tropical Storm Lee is approaching

For the benefit of all my friends and clients; especially Cajun implants...see below for general info I snagged from the internet for preparing for a storm. Feel free to ask me anything you have a question about...I've lived here all my life.

Checklist:

Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel
— paper plates / plastic utensils
Blankets / Pillows, etc.
Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
Special Items - for babies and the elderly
Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
Flashlight / Batteries
Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set
Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
Keys
Toys, Books and Games
Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag
— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.
Tools - keep a set with you during the storm
Vehicle fuel tanks filled
Pet care items
— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water
— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash

I would like to also add the following:
1. Hurricane lantern or glass candles (church-like ones)
2. Bleach
3. Fill the tub with water before the storm starts
4. Know which place in the house is best for a surprise tornado


What is a tropical storm and what do the categories mean for hurricanes?
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale / Hurricane Catagories
1) 65 to 83 knots; 74 to 95 mph; 119 to 153 kph; > 980 mb
2) 84 to 95 knots; 96 to 110 mph; 154 to 177 kph; 980 - 965 mb
3) 96 to 113 knots; 111 to 130 mph; 178 to 209 kph; 964 - 945 mb
4) 114 to 134 knots; 131 to 155 mph; 210 to 249 kph; 944- 920 mb
5) 135+ knots; 155+ mph; 249+ kph; < 920 mb



Once a tropical depression has intensified to the point where its maximum sustained winds are between 35-64 knots (39-73 mph), it becomes a tropical storm. It is at this time that it is assigned a name. During this time, the storm itself becomes more organized and begins to become more circular in shape -- resembling a hurricane. Most of what to expect from a tropical storm is heavy rainfall, but that can cause serious problems such as flooding.

July 2011 Market Stats

Many people talk about the decline of the real estate market here in Acadiana. Fact of the matter is, we are actually stable. The problem lies from Hurricane Katrina, which caused an unnatural spike is real estate prices in 2005 that held until 2007. So when looking at the graph (for a visual, please email me @ Kisha@KishaKana.com) , it looks as though we are on a decline but we are still above 2004’s sales. If we wouldn’t had Katrina, the graph would look stable, growing steadily.

Here are the facts, from 2004-2007, the number of sold homes reported to MLS increased by 29.4%, with 22.6% of that happening in 2005, the year of Hurricane Katrina. From 2007-2010, sales have decreased by 15.3%. This still puts us at 14.1% increase compared to 2004. Hope that puts things in perspective for you. It’s not a decline of the market, it’s a correction of the unnatural bubble.

In Acadiana, the number of homes sold in July 2011 compared to June 2010, have increased by 9.05%, with a 19 day increase of days on the market. July 2011 has slowed down with sales compared to June 2011’s with a 21.36% decrease. The heat coupled with the impending school year approaching must’ve slowed down sales.

The average sales price for the 2011 year thus far is $168,018, a 2.26% increase from 2010 at this time of the year. Homes are currently selling for 95.71% of the list price, on average.

Information provided by Van Eaton & Romero, CEO Bill Bacque. Reviewed and summarized in this blog by Kisha Kana, REALTOR

Lafayette LA got it's name from......

My son came home from city hall with the following "The Legacy of Lafayette" and I thought it would be nice to share.

Note: During the revolutionary war there was a French man named Marquis De LaFayette who helped America win the war.

THE LEGACY OF LAFAYETTE

When he came to America in 1777, LaFayette was more interested in fighting the English to avenge the death of his father than he was in the ideals of democracy. That soon change when he worked and fought alongside the founding father of our country, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Lafayette also learned much from two close friends that he made: Alexander Hamilton and John Laurans. They debated topics such as the nature of justice, the role of the government and the responsibilities of the individual. LaFayette came to understand that he was fighting for more than just America's seperation from England; he was fighting for the creation of a new era in world history where people could be governed by a rule of law rather than a tyrant's whim, a world where all people would be considered as equals before the law.

LaFayette came to understand that prejudice based on religion was wrong. When he left France in 1777. France recognized only one religion and persecuted all others. When LaFayette returned to France, he was able to secure state recognition of the Protestant religion. LaFayette also had a complete change of heart about racial prejudice. When he first came to America, he had a plan to buy and sell slaves; when he left America in 1885 he set up and funded an organization in French Guyana to free enslaved Africans.

LaFayette learned another very important lesson: education is not confined only to school-we continue to learn from each other and from our experiences throughout our lives. He discovered that simply winning the Revoluntionary War did not create democracy. Democracy requires the work and committment of all of its citizens, and it needs to constantly evolve to keep up with changes in society technology and circumstances. LaFayette left us a legacy of freedom-it is our job to keep it.

America love LaFayette. More than 600 villages, towns, cities, countries, mountains, lakes, rivers, educational institutions, and other landmarks were named for him, or for his chateau at La Grange. LaFayette loved America. He carried a box of dirt from Bunker Hill, site of the first major battle of the American Revolution, home with him to France. LaFayette left instructions that, when he died, this dirt must be placed in his grave so that he could be buried in American as well as French soil, and an American flag has flown over his grave for over 170 years.

A Market in Harmony by Bill Bacque' CEO Van Eaton & Romero

June 2011 real estate market statistics find us in a state of synchronization rather than anomaly. In juxtaposition to 2010, when as a result of the Federal tax credit, home sales shot up from March through June and then cratered for most of the
remainder of the year, our local market has sustained a remarkable level of
normalcy during 2011. This is exemplified by the 219 closed residential sales totaling $41,057,718 in closed dollar volume reported for June 2011. While
underperforming June 2010’s numbers by 22%, June was the culminating month of last year’s tax credit surge. The number of pending residential sales best
reflects the “normalcy” of this year’s market. With 203 homes in contractual stages, June, as well as April, exemplify the steady momentum of pending sales that we we’ve enjoyed all year versus the “rollercoaster” effect that last year’s limited stimulus
created. June’s 21% increase in number of pending sales was complimented by a 28% increase in the corresponding dollar volume of those pending sales. This is reflective of the uptick in upper end buyers ($300,000 and up) that we have experienced during 2011.

In that same spirit of normalcy, the local market is experiencing near harmony in the listing/selling cycle. The ideal ratio of new listings to sold homes
is 1:1 — that means for every home listed, another one is sold. While many of the nation’s markets are seeing ratios that reach 6:1 and beyond, Lafayette
Parish has maintained a ratio below 2:1 with June 2011 at 1.65:1 ratio. Even though we are not experiencing a perfect equilibrium of listings to sales, we’re close enough to admit comfort. As we cross the halfway mark of 2011, the Lafayette
Parish housing market appears primed to retain the level of harmony we have come to expect.

To receive a copy of our latest Acadiana Residential Real
Estate Report, call Kisha Kana @ 337.255.5884 or email Kisha@KishaKana.com

Market Analysis April 2011

In coming the reported home sales to MLS is all of Acadiana for April 2011 to April 2010, seems like it's taking 23 days longer to sell a home and they are selling at 95.29% of the list price. That's a drop down from 2010's 97.13%. Good news is that the average sales price increased by 1.54% bringing it up to $166,234.

For a full report from Van Eaton & Romero, please email Kisha@KishaKana.com

March 2011 Residential Market Stats

• Acadiana home sales fell 10.5% in March, with the REALTOR Association of Acadiana Multiple Listing Service reporting 289 sales in the nine-parish area compared with 323 reported in March of 2010. While the annual monthly count declined, the month-to-month sales increased from February to March 2011 by just under 28%, indicating that demand is picking up as we head into our traditional spring and summer peak selling season. For the first quarter of 2011 total home sales are nearly equal to the number reported in 2010 (Page 1).

• In Lafayette Parish the home sale numbers are a bit bleaker. March 2011 home sales reported (171) were 18.6% below March 2010 (210), although the month-to-month (February to March 2011) sales showed a robust increase of 19.6%. Cumulative 2011 Lafayette Parish home sales (427) are 8.8% below 2010 first quarter sales (468). The bulk of that decline is in new construction sales with a drop of 17.76% while re-sales dropped by 4.43% (Page 2). This first quarter underperformance has to be viewed in light of what was driving home sales in the first half of 2010 – the federal tax credits. In 2010 home sale demand was pushed into the first half of the year in order to take advantage of the tax credit. Once they expired in June 2010, home sales plummeted for the remainder of the year. Amid that backdrop, an underperformance in the first half of 2010 was virtually guaranteed. In observing the graph found on page 2 of this report, one can visually see the impact of the tax credits and the corresponding drop once they expired. The fact that new construction has seen the largest percentage drop in 2011 is also not surprising considering that it was the beneficiary of much of the demand spurred by the tax credits with 2010 new construction sales increasing nearly 10.5% over 2009.

• Despite the drop in demand, Lafayette Parish home values continue to perform surprisingly well. Page 4 of the report shows that the average sale price of a Lafayette Parish home for the first quarter of 2011 was $189,163 as compared to $189,771 for the same period in 2010. That is a decline of only three-tenths of one percent. The median sale price as of March 2011 was $164,000 compared to $166,400 as of March 2010; a decline of 1.44%.

• While March 2011 pending sales (those homes that went under contract), were below March 2010, they are substantially above the 2010 levels shown in the months after the contract deadline date for the 2010 tax credit which was April 2010 (Page 6).

• When studying the balance between current demand and supply in Lafayette Parish, the reports on pages 15-17 reveal much as to what is currently being sold versus what is listed for sale. Page 15 deals with all home sales reported in Lafayette Parish. Page 16 looks at just new construction while Page 17 highlights re-sales. In looking at page 15, the first point to note is that the number of home sales in the $150,000 - $299,999 range is where all of the drop in demand is centered (-20.68% from 2010). Again, that’s somewhat understandable inasmuch as this was the price range that saw the greatest increase last year due to the tax credits. Overall the number of month’s supply of housing in Lafayette has increased from 7.7 months in March of 2010 to 8.8 months in 2011.

• Page 16 reveals that re-sale buyer demand has declined not only in the mid-range $150,000 - $299,999, but also in the upper-range ($300,000 and up) and that the total number of month’s supply has grown from 8.2 months in 2010 to 9.2 months in 2011.

• Page 17 depicts the new construction market. Here we see that the mid-range home demand has declined substantially (-30.97%) but in the upper-end, particularly the $300,000 - $400,000 range, buyer demand has risen strongly over 2010 levels.

The bottom line is that just as in all aspects of life, the Acadiana housing market numbers contain both good and bad. Whichever area you wish to gravitate to, you’ll find what you’re looking for. I see our market as resilient and in pretty good shape considering the 2010 benchmarks we are forced to compete with. I believe it could be the end of the third quarter of this year before we will really be able to forecast our 2011 housing market performance in comparison to 2010. With the current level of pending sale activity, I remain optimistic.

William J. "Bill" Bacque
Chief Executive Officer

***for a copy of the full report, please email Kisha@KishaKana.com

The Truth about Foreclosure Sales

Many people believe that they can get a great deal on a foreclosure sale. They can! But not near what most people imagine. You won't get a home for half or less than what it's worth. The majority of the time, repairs will need to be done as most bank repos are sold 'as is' with no repairs. If you are a buyer with financing, it's even tougher to buy a foreclosed home (especially with Rural Development, FHA or VA financing). There are some gems that qualify, but cash buyers take on most of the foreclosed market.

Below is an article I came across that gives the reality of foreclosed sales in the U.S. They also provided stats on each state. Although I won't list all the states here, you can email Kisha@KishaKana.com if you'd like to see them.

LOUISIANA: Foreclosures made up 9.70% of sales (2,524) in 2010 That is a -4.36 decrease from 2009. The average sales price for a forclosed property was $131,574. The average discounted price is 25.15%.

RealtyTrac: 1 in 4 sales is a foreclosure
By Inman_News
Created 2011-02-23 21:00

Foreclosure sales accounted for 26 percent of U.S. home sales in 2010, with those properties selling for more than 28 percent less, on average, than homes not in the foreclosure process, data aggregator RealtyTrac said in its latest report .

A total of 831,574 U.S. residential properties either owned by banks or in some stage of foreclosure sold to third parties in 2010, a decrease of 31 percent from 2009 and a decrease of nearly 14 percent from 2008, RealtyTrac said.

Homes in foreclosure accounted for a larger percentage of sales in 2009 -- 29 percent -- but their share of total sales was up from 23 percent in 2008.

While controversy over loan servicers' handling of foreclosure paperwork put a dent in fourth quarter foreclosure sales, the impact of the so-called robo-signing controversy seemed to be waining in the final month of the year.

RealtyTrac recorded a total of 149,303 foreclosure sales in the fourth quarter, down 22 percent from the previous quarter and down 45 percent from the same period a year ago. That decline was in spite of a 21 percent monthly uptick in foreclosure sales volume in December.

"The catch-22 for 2011 is that while accelerating foreclosure sales will help clear the oversupply of distressed properties and return balance to the market in the long run, in the short term a high percentage of foreclosure sales will continue to weigh down home prices," said RealtyTrac CEO James Saccacio in a statement.

A total of 512,886 bank-owned (REO) properties sold to third parties in 2010 at an average discount of 36 percent, up from an average discount of 33 percent in 2009.

Another 318,688 pre-foreclosure properties -- homes in default or scheduled for auction -- sold to third parties in 2010 at an average discount of 15 percent, down from an average discount of nearly 17 percent in 2009.