Toni House - Realtor Baton Rouge Real Estate Expert

Come view my two beautiful new listings in Prairieville this Sunday, October 12 from 2 to 5 o'clock!

38035-14A Post Office Rd

Feel like you are on vacation while living at home in this peaceful lakefront floor unit in Airlington Plantation. This 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath condo features quality handcrafted finishes and is centrally located for perfect access to New Orleans or Baton Rouge. All electric for low utilities and new refrigerator is to remain! Near I-10 and Airline Hwy. Perfect for your home or investment property. $162,000

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37246 Prairie Drive

What a Jewel- a rare find! This 4BR/3BA home in Prairie Oaks was originally builders' personal home and all the extras are here! Three way split open floor plan! Slab Granite, Custom Cabinets, Fisher & Paykel 5 Burner Gas Range, Stainless Appliances, Deep Undermount Sink, Curio Cabinet built into Snack Bar, Large Window over Sink, Wide-Plank Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring, Open Floor Plan with 11 Foot Ceilings, Triple Crown in Living Areas with Crown in all rooms, Large Gas F/P with Glass Doors, Custom Wood Arched Front Door and Large Double Glassed in Back Doors overlooking Back Patio with Fountain and Rock Garden. Master Bath has oversized Jacuzzi Tub, Slab Granite, Linen Closet and 16″ Tiles. Children's Bathroom is a spacious Jack and Jill and bedrooms have large closets with shelving. Bedroom near Kitchen has a Built-in Desk and Shelving overhead between two Separate Closets. Other extras include: Utility Sinks in Laundry and in Exterior Workshop off Carport, Office Nook in Hallway with TV and Phone Connections could be a Children Playroom/Den, Linen and Broom Closets in Nook, Laundry Room has abundance of Cabinetry, Upgraded Faucets and Light fixtures, Pedestal Sink in Front Bathroom, Molding surrounds all Windows, Transoms in Den. The exterior of home is constructed with Old South Carolina Brick and the back yard has a large covered Patio with T.V. that remains. Large Driveway with Extra Parking Space. What else could you ask for!

As always, don't forget to "Make the House Call" for any of your Real Estate Needs!

MaketheHouseCall.Com

Baton Rouge Weekend Events for Friday, September 19- Sunday, September 21, 2008!

LSU Museum of Art

Visit the newest exhibition "LSU Art: Past and Present" at the LSU Museum of Art in the Shaw Center Downtown. This exhibit will be a rotating display of past and present talents of work by LSU art professors and their students including current professors Kelli Scott Kelley, Michael Crespo, and Duncan Ferguson. The exhibition will be "thematic and works will be chosen to reflect aesthetic concerns, often combining work of both past and present faculty members and students. The exhibit opened yesterday Thursday, September 18, 2008. While at the Shaw Center also visit the "Through the Lens" exhibition which features 20^th-Century Photography. Visit the LSU MOA for more information.

Live After Five

Live After Five is back! The popular (and free!) outdoor concert series starts tonight! Tonight Friday, September 19 is the debut of this Fall seasons Life After Five! The fall season will run for 8 weeks. So every Friday join the dancing, fun, and great food at Galvez Plaza (located on North Boulevard, directly east of the Old State Capitol) at 5 PM. Tonights performance will be by Hip Boot Joe a "Southern Fried Country Rock". Find out more and view pictures of past concerts at Live After Five!

Go Play Golf at a Highly Ranked Baton Rouge Golf Course!

BREC's Beaver Creek Golf Course has recently received 4/5 in Golf Digest's Best Places to Play! They also go on to say, "Fans agree that the greens were very good and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. Holes 11 through 16 are a real test." This is the second year in a row Beaver Creek has received a four star rating.

This weekend visit this Golf Course which is located 20 minutes from downtown Baton Rouge off of Highway 61 in Zachary. Beaver Creek offers a 18- hole course, lighted driving range, large putting green, and a short wedge chipping area. Book your tee time today at 225-658-6338. For more information on the Beaver Creek Golf Course, Book a Tee Time Online, or Directions visit BREC Golf.

Saturday Science Academy

This Saturday, September 20, 2008 bring your kids ages 8 to 12 to the Highland Road Park Observatory for the Saturday Science Academy. The topic this Saturday will be "The Wonderful World of Astronomy". Kids must be accompanied by parent or guardian. What a great way to have fun with your children as you both learn more about the world around you! Cost is $5 per child in EBR Parish and $6 for those out of parish. The Academy begins at 10 AM and should end around 12 PM. For more information contact the Highland Road Park Observatory at 768-9948.

LSU VS AUBURN

LSU plays away this weekend against Auburn. This year marks the 20^th anniversary since the "earthquake game" in which LSU came from behind to beat Auburn with 1 minute, 47 seconds left in the game. The crowd's reaction registered as an earthquake on the seismograph in the LSU Geoscience Building. Still 20 years later the rivalry is just as strong... Read more about the "Earthquake Game" at LSU Sports Net. Don't miss the game on ESPN at 6:45 PM this Saturday, September 20!

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, Have Fun and Be Safe!

Interest rates are the lowest we've seen in 5 months, starting at around 5.5% today!

What caused this? The takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by the Feds; the two mortgage firms will now be overseen by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The government will only temporarily control these firms until they "are on a stronger footing". President Bush says of the takeover, "Americans should be confident that the actions taken today will strengthen our ability to weather the housing correction and are critical to returning the economy to stronger sustained growth in the future." Read the article "U.S. Seizes Fannie and Freddie" by David Ellis at CNN Money for more.

What does this mean for Buyers? "Sunday's Federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will likely translate into lower mortgage rates and greater availability of credit, experts said. Rates should drop by 1 percentage point from the stubbornly-high 6.39% for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage", says Tami Luhby, author of "What Rescue Means for Mortgage Rates".

"This could be good for would-be homeowners," said Tom LaMalfa, managing director, Wholesale Access, a research and consulting firm. "It would reduce the cost of financing at the new and improved Fannie and Freddie." Tight Standards and for borrowers with weaker credit histories will remain.

Baton Rouge Real Estate is not slowing down! In fact, Baton Rouge was recently named one of the 10 fastest growing real estate markets in the nation by Money Magazine. With these low mortgage rates, now is the time to buy!

Toni House
(225) 964-6535
Toni@ToniHouse.com
MaketheHouseCall.Com

First and foremost I would like to apologize for my absence due to Hurricane Gustav.

My power was returned yesterday after almost a week after Gustav hit Baton Rouge. I am very blessed however as Baton Rouge and surrounding areas have been told it will be 2 weeks+ from now until all electricity is restored.

I do not believe much has been said about Hurricane Gustav in the media but it had a very damaging impact on Baton Rouge and surrounding areas. I could use my blog as a soap box to complain about the 9 hours+ people waited in their cars at FEMA Points of Distribution for ice, water, and MREs, or the 3 hour+ long lines to get gas, or how every traffic light was down in town and everyone missed Drivers Ed 101 when they taught how to make a 4 way stop. But complaining does not solve anything... instead you must focus on the positive aspects.

I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the 1.4 Million People who were without power, those who had trees crash into their homes and cars, those who saw water rising into their home and instead of complaining took action and stayed positive in a difficult situation. Our community has gathered together to help each other nailing tarps to our homes as the rain continued to come down, opening restaurants and cooking over gas grills with no electricty or A/C, cleaning debris in each others yards, while families sitting on their front porches with a radio in the center are grateful to have each other.

Cell phone towers wore down, Electricity was no where to be found, and Gas was scarce yet the genorosity and kindness of the southern people were still seen everywhere. One thing is true, Hurricane Gustav has taught us how to live with less.

This is one of the beautiful oak trees on the LSU Campus which I featured a couple of weeks ago-- Unfortunately many of the beautiful Live Oaks throughout Baton Rouge have been uprooted-- another example of things we take for granted.

President Bush was correct when he said, "This nation has come to know the strong and resilient spirit of the people of the Gulf Coast," Bush said. "They've made it through great challenges in the past and they're going to make it through this one, as well."

From this Louisiana and its residents will rise even stronger than they already were.

*All these pictures and more of Hurricane Gustav Damage may be found at WJBO.com.

"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results." -Anonymous

What is GO Zone?

The Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 (H.R. 4440 passed by Congress on Dec. 16, 2005, and signed by President Bush on Dec. 21, 2005) establishes tax incentives and bond provisions to rebuild the local and regional economies devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The act is commonly referred to as the "GO Zone Act.

"While the entire state of Louisiana is part of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Area, the provisions of the GO Zone Act apply only to a limited number of Louisiana parishes, defined as the "Core Disaster Area" and referred to as the "GO Zone." However, it is also important to note that the GO Zone reaches far beyond Plaquemines, Calcasieu, Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and the other parishes most devastated by Katrina and Rita.

This means that businesses on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, in Baton Rouge, as far north as Pointe Coupee and the Feliciana parishes, and as far west as Calcasieu Parish are eligible to take advantage of many of the provisions of the GO Zone Act, including tax-exempt bond financing for new investment and favorable tax accounting for both new property and Katrina-related expenses..

The map below shows Louisiana Parishes covered by the GO Zone Act:

GO Zone Bonus Depreciation:

Under the GO Zone Act, taxpayers are now allowed an additional depreciation deduction equal to 50% of the depreciable basis of qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property for the first year the property is placed in service. This additional first-year depreciation deduction is calculated after any Section 179 deduction, but before the regular depreciation deduction. The following conditions must exist in order to qualify for this additional depreciation:

• The property acquired must be qualified GO Zone property (see list below).
• Substantially all of the use of the property must be in the GO Zone and be in the active conduct of the taxpayer's trade or business.
• The original use of the property in the GO Zone must commence with the taxpayer on or after Aug. 28, 2005 (but the property may have been used property outside of the GO Zone prior to the taxpayer's acquisition).
• Must be placed in service before Dec. 31, 2008, for residential and non-residential real property and Dec. 31, 2007, for all other property.
• Must elect out if not deducting in the current year.
• No Alternative Minimum Tax depreciation adjustment.

The primary goal of the GO Zone Act is to support the rebuilding and revitalization of the local and regional economies impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Why not invest in Louisiana, helping to rebuild this wonderful state, while also receiving tax exemptions?

*Information gathered from GoZoneGuide.com, visit their website to learn more!

GO Zone Property

There are still many properties that qualify for the GO Zone Tax Depreciation which ends in our Area December 2008 (Other Areas such as New Orleans and Alabama Coast will expire in December 2012).

An example of such a property would be Keller Williams' Agent Sarah Gummow's property in New Roads, LA:

"Absolutely NOTHING like this in New Roads! Just off Main St., this completely remodeled condominium conversion cannot be missed! All brick exterior with lush landscaping. The privacy fence on your patio makes Beau Riviere an inviting place to call home. Enjoy the crown molding in all living areas, the stainless steel appliances, microwave, and granite countertops in the kitchen, exquisite fixtures and ceiling fans. Great up-to-date paint colors that won't go out of style. Don't forget the washer and dryer hookups. There is no comparison."

These condos are listed at an unbeatable price starting at $81,650 for a 1BR/1BA and $119,750 for a 2BR/2BA. Great GO Zone Property!!! Visit beaurivierecondos.com to view more pictures! Listing Agents can be reached at: Sarah Gummow- (225) 939-3598 or Jan Keller- (225) 603-6216.

Call Me Today at (225) 964-6535 to learn more about how you can invest in GO Zone Property or to preview Condos above!