The Krewe of Eve parade that was originally planned for last Friday has been rescheduled for tonight. (Mon. Jan. 28, 2008) The krewe is known for having beautiful floats, great throws, and throwing lots of goodies. Be sure to bring a big bag! Be safe and have fun.

http://www.kreweofeve.com

To reach Amy Jones call 985-807-3146 or visit her website at http://JonesSellsHomes.net .

Pelican Park opened the much anticipated Skate Park Dec 16, 2007. The complex features 10,000n sq ft of riding area, a pavilion, parking and jumps. The district spent over $400,000 on this complex.

Skate Park hours for 2008, according to the Pelican Park Newsletter, are as follows:

Closed Mondays

Tuesday- Friday: 5:00 pm- 9:00 pm

Saturday: 9:00 am- 9:00 pm

Sunday: 1:00 pm- 9:00 pm

Please call the Pelican Park Sports Hotline at 985- 626-1444 to determine if the park is open during inclement weather.

For more information about Pelican Park visit the website at http://www.pelicanpark.com/ .

Amy Jones can be reached @ 985-807-3146 or through her website http://jonessellshomes.net/ .

Yesterday, after my weekly accountability coffee meeting, we ran into an old friend. Naturally, the conversation quickly turned to the market. It started with talk of the rates dropping. In the past, it would have seemed strange to have followed talking about interest rates under 6% with him bringing up how bad the real estate market is. We turned the topic around quickly. The market is how you look at it. It is Such an Incredible time of opportunity. Interest rates are low. The supply of homes is high. The prices are reasonable. It is an awesome time for first time buyers with good credit. There are still plenty of mortgage options available. It is a great time for investors. Go-zone and other government incentives are plentiful- in addition to some great deals on homes. Anyone who has considered up-sizing needs to seriously look a the numbers. Even if they make a little less on the house they are selling, they will be getting an even better deal on the larger home. If the home they are selling is priced correctly, and in good condition, it will sell. (Hint, List with a good Realtor!) We discussed vacation property as well. He told us of a condo in Destin he had heard about for a great price. I subscribe to a newsletter from a Realtor on the Coast. Vacation rentals appear to be doing well. After looking at things from this angle, the market doesn't sound so bad!

I am not the Mary Poppins of real estate. I am realistic. We are facing challenges. Insurance can be a road bump. Unfortunately. the people who needed to purchase homes at inflated prices after the storm, are likely to be upside down. Those people would have been spending inflated rental prices in the same time span. My heart goes out to them. If one researches the numbers. buying a home continues to be a good long term investment. In my opinion, the days of buying a house- slapping on new paint, fixtures, and granite counters, then making a huge profit on the flip- are ending. I foresee investors buying properties, renting them out until the market shifts again, then selling when/if the time is right. I believe in real estate.

Amy Jones can be reached through her website http://JonesSellsHomes.net