Heather Goodwin ~ Shreveport Louisiana Real Estate

For years, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has educated consumers about not giving out personal information over the telephone or to anyone who shows up at their front door. With the US Census process beginning, the BBB advises people to be cooperative but cautious so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft.

The first phase of the 2010 US Census is under way, as workers have begun verifying addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 US Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address, including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data. "Most people are rightfully cautious and won't give out personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors; however, the census is an exception to the rule," said Andy Fisher, BBB Shreveport. "Unfortunately, scammers know that the public is more willing to share personal data when taking part in the census, and they have an opportunity to ply their trade by posing as a government employee and soliciting sensitive financial information."

The census data will be used to allocate more than $300 billion in federal funds every year as well as determine a state's number of congressional representatives. Households are actually required by law to respond to the Census Bureau's request for information. During the US. Census, households will be contacted by mail, telephone or visited by a US Census worker who will inquire " about the number of people living in the house. Unfortunately, people may also be contacted by scammers, who impersonate census workers to get access to banking and financial information.

Law enforcement in several states have issued warnings that scammers are already posing as Census Bureau employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers. The big question is, how do you tell the difference between a US Census worker and a con artist? The BBB offers the following advice: If a US Census worker knocks on your door, he will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see his identification and badge before answering his questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the US Census. Census workers will not ask for banking and financial information, nor will they solicit donations.

Eventually, census workers may contact you by phone, mail or in-person at home. However, they will not contact you by email, so be on the lookout for email scams impersonating the census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an email that is supposedly from the US Census Bureau. For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit the Better Business Bureau.

Permission to reprint by: "The Forum Newsweekly" Article taken from June 3, 2009 issue, page 10

Okay. I guess this post doesn't really qualify as real estate news, but y'all know that I like to keep you informed, real estate-related or not. Besides, this one could be said to be indirectly related to real estate since those of us who own homes pay property taxes which go to support our school systems. But hey. Do I need an excuse to spread the news about something that might have a positive impact on your wallet...? I thought not.

Although many of you have probably already heard about this, it's news to me. I've just discovered that during the second special session of Louisiana's legislature last year, a bill was passed to allow parents to deduct certain school expenses from their taxes beginning in 2009.

Parents of public school students can deduct the cost of school uniforms and supplies. Home school parents can deduct the cost of educational materials, and parents who send their children to private or parochial schools can deduct tuition, supplies, and certain other expenses. The deduction can be taken on the 2009 tax return which is filed in 2010, so be sure you're keeping track of these expenses with receipts. For more details, go here.

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 21st is the beginning of a weekend of good food, good music, and great fun as Shreveport’s favorite spring festival, Mudbug Madness, gets under way.

Mudbug Madness is back for its 26th year! Begun in 1984 as a two-day street festival in downtown Shreveport, it's now one of Louisiana’s largest and most popular Cajun festivals, featuring reknown Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and Jazz artists, mouth-watering Cajun cuisine, raucous contests, and fun for all ages. Now a four-day festival held each Memorial Day weekend, Mudbug Madness has created renewed interest in Louisiana’s cultural heritage and has brought a little bit of south Louisiana fun north to Shreveport.

Performers at this year's festival include:

On the Madness Stage

• Fricasse Cajun Band
• Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames
• Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun
• Chris Miller & Bayou Roots
• Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
• Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band
• Bayou Crossing
• T-Richard & the Zydeco Stingrays
• Cajun Nation
• Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters
• Don Fontenot & Friends
• Red River Playboys
• Trent LeJeune & Doubletime
• Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience

On the Swamp Stage

• The Gnarley Brothers
• LA Outlaws
• Earshot Graffiti
• Dirtfoot
• Sterling Bryant & Rockhouse
• The Blues Brokers
• Boomerang
• Crossroads
• Louisiana's LeRoux
• Black Water
• Border Line
• Chant
• Monte Montgomery
• Professor Porkchop & the Dirty Dishes

And there will be contests! Crawfish eating contests for all ages and a crawfish calling contest.

But I guess most of the people come for the food. Besides all the crawfish you would ever care to eat, there’s will be all kinds of mouth-watering delights of the Cajun variety and otherwise.

Check out the website for ticket details and a schedule of performers.

See ya there, cher!

Comparing the absorption rates for Shreveport and Bossier City single family homes, statistics show favorable numbers for sellers. There were 43 fewer homes sold this April compared to 2008. However, there were 239 fewer homes listed for sale this April compared to last April. What does this mean? Simply that there is a 6 month supply of homes on the market, and that figure has not changed to any significant degree since last year.

As you can see, the average list and sales prices are lower this April, but look at the average list to sales price ratio. Homes are selling at 98% of the listed price. This means sellers aren't coming down much on their asking price.

What does this mean to you? It means we are in a seller's market. Especially in the $250,000 and lower price range. Homes that are move-in ready and priced right aren't staying on the market long. You must be ready to make an offer when you see one that fits your criteria. There's not a lot of time to ponder your decision as a few of my clients found out last week.

This from a fellow bird lover in Ellerbe Road Estates neighborhood in Shreveport. He sent an email out to his neighbors generously alerting us to the migratory birds now passing through.

"I wanted to alert you that the beautiful Rubby-Throated Hummingbirds are now arriving in our neighborhood. I have a pair that started feeding 2 days ago.

I have had many Goldfinchs all year, but they are just now turning that beautiful golden yellow of their summer feathers.

The Housefinchs stay here year around. The males have red on their upper parts.

If you have a hummingbird feeder, it's time to put it out. You only need to put about 1/2 cup of sugar water in it now. Later as more Rubby-Throated arrive you will need more.

In about a month I will have 10-12 feeders out, each containing 2 cups of sugar water that will have to be refilled every day. I usually have about 200 hummers feeding on these feeders. As you walk down the south end of Sawgrass please feel free to stop and watch them feed and fight. The best time for watching is in the mornings and afternoons. They will be swarming like bees.

Other birds I see at my feeders and around the house are:
Mourning Doves
Red-bellied Woodpecker (they come for peanuts)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (in the trees)
Downy Woodpecker (in the trees)
Blue Jay (they come for peanuts)
Chickadee*
Tufted Titmouse*
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Blue Bird*
Robin** (on the ground)
Mockingbird** (on the roof)
Cedar Waxwing (saw one today with the Mockingbird chasing it)
Red Bird**
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (only saw him twice last year)
Indigo Bunting (only saw him once last year)
Dark-eyed Junco (sometimes called "snowbird")
Red-winged Blackbird (have not seen them for a few weeks)
Purple Martin (they visit my Purple Martin house but never have moved in)
English Sparrow (keeps trying to nest in my Purple Martin house)
Starling (keeps trying to nest in my Purple Martin house)

*=Nest in birdhouses in my back yard.
**=Nest in the trees around my house

He requested anonymity, which I'll respect, but I just want to thank him for taking the time to let us know what to look for. I'm off to find my field guide to North American birds!