Audubon Will Combine the Insectarium and the Aquarium on Canal Street

 The Audubon Aquarium is currently closed for at least six months but the good news is that it is getting a facelift along with Woldenberg Park. The $41 million renovation will be a great perk once it is finished. The Audubon project will link the insectarium and the aquarium on Canal Street.

The Aquarium has been renovated before, but this is the biggest renovation since 1990. The new attraction called the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium links the aquarium to the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. The Entergy Giant Screen Theater will be removed and replaced with the insectarium exhibits. The plan is to have the new renovation opened by summer 2023.

The renovation will add over 17,000 feet of exhibit space. The new entrance and lobby will be an enclosed 60-foot tall glass lobby. The glass pyramid will shoot out from the building facing the Mississippi River.

The Insectarium space will have a special event space on the first floor and the second floor will include the insectarium galleries and butterfly pavilion. The new butterfly exhibit will have lower ceilings so visitors can get a better look at the butterflies.

The aquarium will get upgrades including the Mississippi River Gallery, the Amazon Rainforest Gallery and the Top of the Gulf Experience. Woldenberg Park will also get $7 million in upgrades on the entrances, landscaping and electrical system.

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Is Selling Your Home Still a Smart Idea in the Current Market?

 A seller’s market means it is a great time for sellers but then once you sell you turn into a buyer. Buyers are having a hard time buying in the current market. If you are a seller and worry about becoming a buyer you shouldn’t. According to NerdWallet’s 2022 Home Buyer Report, 89% of current homeowners say that finding a new house and paying too much in the current market is prohibiting them from listing on the spot.

Current homeowners do still have an edge if they do decide to sell right now. If they make the most on the selling side, then they will have more money for purchasing a home. Remember inventory is low and there will more than likely be multiple offers on one home. According to the report close to 26 million Americans are planning on buying a home this year. Typically only 5 to 6 million homes are sold a year!

Today homes are not only being listed at much higher prices but also selling at or above the higher asking price. The report reveals that buyers paid 100% of the list price in 2021. The typical listing price went from an average of $270,000 in 2019 to $344,000 in 2021 according to the National Association of Realtors.

As a seller, you are also giving up less than before. In 2021 a typical seller did not offer any incentives for a buyer. You should list if you are willing to move to an area that is more affordable, will go back to renting for a time being, or you have what it takes to be a competitive buyer.

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Smart and Stylish Appliances for Yor Kitchen

 Finding appliances for your kitchen is as much a personal choice as a practical one. Professionals in the industry say that your appliances can define your entire at-home experience. So how do you choose which one is right for you? Here are some great things to consider.

1. Elevate Your Aesthetic

Remember that your kitchen appliances should enhance your home's style but still be functional. A nice new look is a handless appliance. These are sleek and uniformly smooth and do not have ugly handles that stand out. If you want a modern yet timeless look, choose an appliance that has uses bold lines and contrasting materials that catch your eye.

2. Add Flexibility to Your Home’s Layout (and Your Life)

You always think of the microwave placed above the kitchen stove, but it doesn't always have to be this way. There are some appliances out there that are in the same size family but different appliances that can stack or go in a small space. Many companies have different appliances that can be formed in a t-shaped, stacked or cubed.

3. Reach New Culinary Heights

You want your appliances to look good, but also they need to help you cook, prepare and store food. There are so many options now, such as a combination steam ovens. This kind of oven convection cook, steam or use a combination of both to cook food. You can reheat food from the day before with steam and it will have the same quality as if it just was prepared.

4. Work Smarter Than Ever

Nowadays we can purchase an appliance that can be used with a smartphone. Appliances can now be equipped with Wi-Fi and motion sensors. This means that you can start and stop your appliance from your phone. A coffee maker can have motion sensors so that it will start your coffee when it senses you coming into the kitchen.

5. Be a Multitasking Marvel

This is especially true during the holidays. Less hands-on is the key. Convection oven with a FoodView features can send you updates on your smart device. This means you can be straightening the house while adjusting the temp and monitoring the oven remotely. Another great option is a speed oven which can reduce your total cook time using both conventional heat and microwave energy.

If you want to update your kitchen, make sure that you design it as a truly efficient kitchen. Study how you move through your kitchen and make sure you do not put too much space between appliances and storage. Follow these suggestions for a kitchen renovation that is right for you.

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Transforming A Small Space with Tile

 Professionals in the industry reveal a secret; when updating a small space use tile to create texture and dimension. Tile can add color either bold or a hint. Tile comes in tons of color options and patterns. Using tile can refresh a small area without having a full renovation.

1. Bring attention to a wall niche

Adding tile to a decorative wall is a perfect focal point. Tiling the area will highlight the architectural feature while adding definition and drama. A great idea is to add a ribbed glass tile that will reflect light back.

2. Add flair to a fireplace

The fireplace is already a focal point in a room, and adding tile to the surround really makes it pop. A tile can add interest and depth to the fireplace and can also mask an outdated surround.

3. Define a space within a space

Designers say tile can accent a space just like a rug can. M.S. Vicas Interiors used a geometric patterned tile on the floor of a nice wine vault. The tiled floor of this glass-framed wine “cellar” provides a structural footprint for the walls. A striking geometric pattern from the Gem collection by Kelly Wearstler is an arresting counterpoint to the warm wood floors of the rest of the room, letting the wine walk-in shine.

4. Think outside the shower

When you think of tile in the bathroom, you think of the floor or the shower surround. Tile helps keep water from damaging the space. Many designers are currently doing floor-to-ceiling tile accent walls in bathrooms. It gives the space impact and personality. This can also be done in the kitchen. If you have a wall in the kitchen that does not have any cabinets, tile the wall from floor to ceiling giving it a roomier look to the kitchen.

There are many colors, shapes, and patterns of tile. Remember to think outside the box, and think of using tiles in places that you might not think about when it comes to tile.

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The Age Most Are Purchasing Homes In The Current Market

 The average age for a first-time homebuyer is getting older.  On average in the U.S. a first-time home buyer is 33 years old and the overall average age of homebuyers is 47.  This data was first gathered in 1981 and current average ages are drastically higher. 

Each succeeding generation is seeing a drop in homeownership.  A current report found that between 1985-2020 homeownership rates  broken down by generation are 77.8% for Baby Boomers, 69.1% for Generation X and 47.9% for Millennials.  In terms of the real estate markets, the Millennials represent the major portion of homebuyers.

The change in the average age is due to several different factors.  Home prices continue to rise due to lack of inventory and student debt is now also adding to the expenses.   Mortgage rates are also shifting and are also adding to the problem especially along the coasts. Younger generations have gone to college and have college debt that is also making it difficult to save money for a down payment.

Since this is such a big generation, over the past five years we have seen a massive increase in the purchasing of homes.  New first-time homebuyers in their 30s outweigh those in their 60s.  In 1981 the typical homebuyer was at the average age of 31 according to the National Association of Realtors.

In terms of overall homebuyers 34% are first-time homebuyers.  Younger Millennials made up 81%  in the generational bracket, while 48% were older Millennials.  Even though older Millennials made up less of the Millennial homebuyers, they were the biggest generation of first-time homebuyers.

The bad news is that Millennials are perceived to have less money than the preceding generations. Generation X came in on top with $125,000 as the median annual household income, where Millennials were only $110,300 per year. Millennials are perceived as the most educated group with 84% having earned a bachelor’s degree from a four year college even though they are not the highest paid generation.

Sixty percent of homebuyers were married couples, 19% were single females, 9% were males and 9% were unmarried couples.  Baby Boomers were the highest group with 27% single female buyers.  For unmarried couples, the Millennials had the highest at 21%.  Thirty one percent of homebuyers had a child under 18 living at home.

If you are in the market to purchase a home, hire a real estate agent in your area.  Many homebuyers today are purchasing for investment to earn a passive income.  A Realtor can help you find the perfect home for investment due to the rise in rental income.

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Cash Sales Are Beating Out FHA-Backed Sales In Today’s Market

ccording to the National Association of HomeBuilders’ study of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Sales by Price and Financing more homes were purchased by cash in the third quarter of 2022.  This is the first time a cash sale has beat out an FHA loan since 2007.  The share of cash purchases climbed 9.5% to a 20-year high which amounted to 14,000 sales. 

New home sales through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) came in only at 11,000 sales which was 7.5% of the total sales in the third quarter of 2022.  The share has dropped close to two-thirds since spring of 2020.  Conventional loans made up 77.6% of new home sales in the third quarter of 2020 while VA loans declined to 5.4%.

The national median sales price of a new home was $454,900 in the second quarter of 2022.  This was a 5% increase but there is still a big difference in the type of financing percentages.  New home sales with all-cash increased 27.3% since the beginning of while FHA-backed sales have decreased 7.6%.  The median prices varied for new homes by the type of financing, conventional $503,200, FHA, $340,300, VA $432,200 and cash $494,200.

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Celebration in the Oaks, A City Park Tradition

The pandemic put a damper on almost all of the events that were traditions around the country. This year, Celebration in the Oaks will return to City Park in New Orleans. The 2.25-mile driving tour has over a million lights along with a walking tour, amusement rides and the Botanical Garden.

The tour began this Thanksgiving and will run through New Year’s Day this year nightly from 6pm to 10pm every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5pm to 11pm every Friday and Saturday. This is New Orleans City Park’s largest annual fundraiser. The proceeds help with the park’s maintenance, care and beautification year round.

Celebration in the Oaks brings in over 135,000 visitors from all over the world. The park’s annual holiday event began in the late 1980’s. The park is over 170 years old and is managed by the City Park Conservancy. The park also includes the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Couturie Forest and Arboretum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and trees over 800 years old.

There are a limited number of tickets sold per day so hurry to purchase your tickets and choose your time slot. Cars and SUVS begin at $25, walking tours begin at $25 and Limousines and vans start at $150. Bike tours begin at $5 and will only be held on November 29th, December 6th and December 13th.

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