Photos from Derenda Grubb
I purchased rights to post this photo of the 9-11 memorial along the Lake Charles boardwalk from Liz Mueller, a teacher, part time photographer at St. Louis High School. Located in: Lake Charles, LA
This chart indicates the averages sales price for the most active MLS areas within the Southwest Louisiana Associations MLS. See my previous post for an explanation and links to learn more about each area.
As the year progresses, I may need to make some changes, but for now, I've limited the data to the top 4 MLS areas to make for a more user-friendly chart.
Geographical descriptions along with a list of subdivisions within each MLS area can be found on each city page at Derenda.com. These city pages also offer quality of life information and a host of local links.
For now, the MLS areas indicated happen to be in Lake Charles so this hyperlink to LakeCharles.Derenda.com leads directly to the page containing the MLS data.
MLS geo descriptions and a list of subdivisions area are also available for other areas, including:
Sulphur.Derenda.com MossBluff.Derenda.com Westlake.Derenda.com
By Sunday evening, I hope to post the same chart indicating volume and average sales price. The source of this data is the Southwest Louisiana Association of REALTORS MLS hosted by MarketLinx.
If you have questions, feel free to call me.
I'm jumping the gun a bit. What was going to be my first blog is still in the formative stages.
That blog will hopefully be the result of an interview that is in the works with Dr. Doug McNiel of the H.C. Drew Center for Economic Development Information Services.
Since one of the major purposes of my blog is to discuss local market conditions, an article in today's local paper, the American Press, is to good to pass up.
The headline? "Study: LC hot spot for tech growth"
It seems that Lake Charles, La, has been ranked 9th by Forbes.com in its Top 10 Up-and-coming Tech Cities in the United States.
A few of the reasons cited in the article included the strength of:
Like many REALTORS, I've been preaching that real estate and the economy is a local issue and that consumers need to defer to local leadership and local conditions rather than the doomsday predictions of the national media.
The Lake Charles area is blessed with abundant natural resources, the busy I-10 corridor, Sowela (an impressive technical college), McNeese State University, growth in the tourism and gaming sector, strong local leadership, and a diversified economy, all of which I will point to in future blogs.
There is so much more, like the co-gen facility that will be located near the port.
Plenty to blog about from Southwest Louisiana!
Selling homes and real estate in Lake Charles, LA is my specialty. As a former teacher and relocating spouse, assisting relocating families move to and from Southwest Louisiana is my primary focus.
Louisiana REALTORS State Director, Louisiana Association of REALTORS from SWLA Association of REALTORS 2005 - present
Elected Secretary-Treasurer to serve in 2009
Region II Vice President for Louisiana Association of REALTORS - 2008
Marketing and Member Services (Previously Information & Technology) 2000-2007
Executive Committee, 2007-2008
Relocation Workgroup, 2005
Governance Workgroup, 2006 - 2007
Vice Chairman of Marketing & Member Services Team, 2006.
Chairman of Marketing & Member Services Team, 2007 (Member since 2003)
Member of Professional Standards Team 2004-2007
Member of Strategic Planning Team 2005-2008
Vice Chairman of Strategic Planning Team 2007
Chairman of Strategic Planning Team 2008
Grievance Team 2007-2009
Mediation Team 2008
Risk Management Team, 2000-2007
State Legislative Team, 2007
Served on Ethics Hearings for the Louisiana REALTORS Association in 2006
Attended National Association of REALTORS Leadership Conference, Chicago, Aug. 15-17, 2007.
Attended National Association of REALTORS Convention Las Vegas, Nov. 12-16, 2007
Contributor to LARPAC, Personal Contributions and Friends of LA REALTORS yearly
Southwest Louisiana Association of REALTORS
President, Board of Directors - 2008
REALTOR of the YEAR - 2007
Education and Risk Management and Orientation in varying capacities 2000- 2007
Education/Risk Reduction Co-Chair 2005-2007
Strategic Planning Committee for SWLA Board of REALTORS - 2007
DESIGNATIONS AND EDUCATION
CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) - 2004
GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) - 1999
ABR (Accredited Buyers Agent) - 1998
Graduate LR Leadership Program - 2004
Certified USAA MoversAdvantage Agent
CRMS (Certified Residential Marketing Specialist)
CCPS (Certified Corporate Property Specialist)
Bachelors Degree in Education from Louisiana Tech University
30 Hours of Graduate Level Classes from Boston University, University of California at Berkeley, and McNeese State University
16 Years in the field of Education
AWARDS
Awarded Southwest Louisiana Rookie of the Year Award 1998
CENTURY 21-Bessette Realty, Inc. Rookie of the Year Award 1998
CENTURY 21 Masters Club &/or Ruby/Diamond Level 1999-2004
CENTURY 21 Quality Service Producer Award Eight of Ten Years
CENTURION PRODUCER 2005-2006
PROVEN PRODUCTION
Multi-million dollar producer EVERY YEAR in real estate!
CENTURY 21 National Recognition for volume of sales:
- 1999 Masters Club
- 2001/2002 Ruby Masters
- 2002-2004 Diamond Masters
- 1999,2001, 2003, 2004 Quality Service Producer Award - Highest percentage of clients served evaluated service as "deserving an award" without negative reports.
- Top 20 agents of 1,544 in CENTURY 21 South Louisiana/South Texas Region
- 2006 CENTURY 21 Awards awarded in March of 2007
Top Producer for CENTURY 21 Bessette Realty, Inc.
# 2 Producer, South Louisiana, South Texas Region
"Derenda made herself completely available to us anytime we needed her. Her level of expertise was a comfort going into closing. I have highly recommended her to several friends."
Ronald and Joni Harrington
I am back from my whirlwind trip to Lake Charles to sign the papers the closing of the sale of Mom and Dad's old house. This has been a long ordeal and it is now over.... thanks to Heavenly Father and prayers in our behalf.
Every one was worried about Mom and her ability to get to the office on the 16th floor of the Capital One Bank building..but she did just fine.
Once we got to the reception desk on the 1st floor and Phil found out it was on the 16th floor... he turned white as a sheet. He is afraid of heights and has never been able to go above the 5th floor. So, I told him it would be OK... I would help him. I asked him if he would like to just go to the 5th floor, rest, and then go up 5 floors at a time. He said no.. just zoom me up there. lol
So, he went to the back of the elevator and was holding on for dear life to the hand rail. I held him as well, to let him know I would protect him. He was fine in the office waiting room... then we went to the conference room which has a wall of windows looking out over the lake and Lake Charles. It as a spectacular view. He could not look. He started sweating and turning white again.
So, I turned him away from the window and sat him down with his back to it. In a bit, someone came and they closed the blinds. So, he felt safer.
Of course, we had the elevator to go down. What a time. But, Phil did very good. His wife, Wanda, says she will not get in elevators at all. She was not with us. She could have never traversed 16 stories, up then down.
So, it is a done deal. Mom now has enough money for the rest of her burial fees. All is right in her little world.
God is so good.
I do want to thank Derenda Grubb, the realtor that I feel God led me to... she persevered through all the blockades that we had to wade through in order to get rid of the house. I would recommend Derenda and her agency, Century 21 Bessette to anyone buying or selling in or around Lake Charles.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Hugs.. Alice/Mom
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