Harvey, LA

Another year over and time to once again take a look at the real estate market in on the West Bank.

Current real estate statistics for Harvey LA:

• 150 active listings, priced from $44,900 to $597,400
• 6 pending (but still showing) listings, priced from $115,000 to $227,000
• 31 homes are under contract, priced from $69,660 to $589,900
• The average listing price is $193,882
• The median listing price is $159,900
• Based on December 2008 sales (19), there is a 7.9 month supply of homes for sale in Harvey LA

Harvey LA - Number of Homes Sold 2008

Home sales in Harvey remained fairly steady from month to month in 2008, averaging 21 sales per month and ending the year with a total of 257 homes sold. This is down 19% from the number sold in 2007. That seems like a lot, until you realize that across the West Bank home sales were down by 23%, so Harvey is performing a little better than the average.

Note the chart below, and you will see that with the exception of 2006 (post Katrina market), sales have been dropping year to year since 2004. Now, this may not be the case in every individual neighborhood, so if your Harvey home is for sale or will be for sale soon, your agent needs to provide the sales data for your specific community.

With fewer homes selling each year, it remains critical that home owners price and prepare their homes before they go on the market in order to be competitive. Home Selling Tips

Harvey LA - Average Home Sale Prices 2008

Harvey ended 2008 with an average sale price of $154,273, down 9.3% from 2007. (The West Bank average decrease in price was 10%) Again, this is an average and your neighborhood may be performing better or worse than this.

For all of the Chicken Little's out there, I would point out that if you bought your home before 2005, then your home is more than likely worth more than you paid for it, provided you have kept up with maintenance issues. If you want up to date information on current listings and sales in your neighborhood, you are welcome to stop by and sign up for a free Market Snapshot.

All data is provided by GSREIN and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

If you are considering buying or selling a home in Harvey, please contact Lisa Heindel. It would be my pleasure to guide you through today's real estate market.

Copyright 2009. Lisa Heindel. Originally published at West Bank Living. All rights reserved.

Originally published at West Bank Living

Current real estate statistics for Harvey LA as of 11/5/2008:

• 195 active listings, priced from $51,500 to $598,000
• Average list price of $190,561
• Median list price of $159,900
• 6 pending but continue to show listings, priced from $129,900 to $227,000
• 42 under contract listings, priced from $20,000 to $499,000
• Based on October 2008 sales, there is a 9.75 month supply of homes for sale in Harvey

Harvey LA - Number of Homes Sold October 2008

The number of homes sold in Harvey LA continues to remain stable from month to month, although the inventory (number of homes for sale) still indicates a buyer's market in the community. There are a fairly substantial number of pending sales that are falling apart each month. Many times it is due to the fact that home sellers have not grasped that there is stiff competition for qualified buyers and they must be willing to be flexible - whether on price or on making necessary repairs.

Sellers who are "holding out" for their dream price may be left holding their house for a long time.

Harvey LA - Average Home Sale Price October 2008

What puzzles me is why the average listing price went UP from September to October. Home sellers who are keeping an eye on the market should know that real estate prices in Harvey LA have been on the decline for the last 2 years.

Rather than following the pack and pricing at or above what you neighbor is asking for their home, you should be realistically pricing your home based on real, comparable sales. This remains the best way to get it sold quickly - or if not quickly, at least faster than other competing listings.

All data provided by GSREIN and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

These reports are intended to provide an overview of the real estate market in Harvey. Your particular neighborhood or subdivision may be experiencing something different. Don't guess at what your Harvey home is worth - use a West Bank real estate professional to determine the right price and the right plan to get you moving.

Related Reading:

• Previous Harvey LA Real Estate Market Reports
• Getting Your Home Sold in This Market - 10 Steps to Success According to Professional Home Stagers
• From For Sale to Sold in Under 60 Days

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living. All rights reserved.

I've been meaning to get to the new Alligator Pear restaurant in Harvey LA for the longest time, and last week I finally made it.

If I was putting it off for any reason, I don't know why - I loved it! Just a little more upscale than neighboring Parrot Pete's (they have the same owner), Alligator Pear offers a fresh take on some local favorites with their daily lunch specials along with a delicious selection of salads, pizza, sandwiches, burgers and more.

The menu offers a few nods to well known local politicos too, with the "Harry Lee Chicken Salad" and "Sheriff Newell's Juicy Ribeye".

The set up is different than most of our New Orleans eateries - a mix of self serve and table service. When you enter, grab a menu and then place your order at the counter where you are given a numbered card that gets swiped at the table of your choice. Drinks are self serve, with free refills. When your food is ready, one of the very friendly wait staff bring it to your table. Be sure to note that a 10% tip is already included in your bill.

My selection was the Royal Palm Salad. While I was a little leery about paying $13.95 for a salad, it was worth every penny. A spring mix with red peppers, red onions and a Champagne vinaigrette was topped with a little tower of Alligator Pear dip (homemade guacamole), crab meat, tomatoes, shrimp remoulade and chopped egg and served alongside crostinis. Delicious!

With the weather starting to cool off, I'll be returning soon to dine al fresco at one of the many outdoor tables that overlook the fountains and let you do a little people watching as well. While that salad may be hard to beat, the soup of the day would be a perfect compliment for a beautiful fall day.

The Alligator Pear restaurant is located at 1901 Manhattan Blvd. in Harvey and opens at 11 am daily. For more information, you can call them at (504) 281-4472.

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living. All rights reserved.

I found myself between appointments today - not enough time to head back to the office but enough that heading to the next property meant sitting in the car waiting...and waiting. Instead, I stopped in at Parrot Pete's for an afternoon snack. After all, they do have a very nice selection of sandwiches and salads and it was past the lunch hour rush so I knew I could get in and out pretty quickly. My intention was to get a salad.

What's that old saying? Oh, yeah. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

I decided today that my favorite part of being a grown up is being able to sit outside, watch the fountains and have triple berry cake with strawberry-kiwi iced tea for lunch.

Parrot Pete's Gourmet Bakery is located at 1901 Manhattan Blvd in the Fountain Park Centre and is open from 7 am - 7 pm.

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living. All rights reserved.

Developed in late 1990s by Willow Homes, Village Green is yet another exclusive gated community on the West Bank of New Orleans.

Located in Harvey, LA, Village Green is a small community of well kept homes within an easy commute to the Central Business District or NAS JRB New Orleans.   Low Village Green home owners association dues of $360 per year help maintain the attractive entrance to the subdivision, the front and rear access gates and the streets and lighting through the community.

What's nearby?

With it's terrific location facing Manhattan Blvd., Village Green is just minutes from shopping, dining, public libraries, golf courses and more.  The explosion of retail development along the northern part of Manhattan Blvd. gives you easy access to stores like Lowe's, Sam's Club, WalMart SuperCenter, Target, the Palace Movie Theatre and a large selection of local and national coffee shops, cafes, fast food and dining establishments.

The Village Green Housing Market

Three and four bedroom homes are available in Village Green, ranging in size from 1,550 square feet of living up to over 2,300 square feet.  Smaller homes are priced in the upper $100s, while larger homes are available in the low to mid $200s.

Recent sales prices have ranged from a low of $185,000 to a high of $230,000, with an average days on market of 115 days.  Typically, sellers in Village Green provide a one year home warranty to purchasers.

Related Reading:

Village Green Home Owner's Association Covenants and Restrictions

If you are interested in buying a home in Village Green or would like detailed information on a marketing plan for selling your Village Green home, please contact Lisa Heindel, REALTOR®.   Your West Bank Real Estate specialist, I'd be happy to help you meet your real estate goals!

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

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Here's the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.