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The Benefits of Living in a Small Town

Are you feeling the urge to leave behind city life and settle in a small town? You’re not alone. In the last few years, many are looking for an escape from hectic metropolitan areas. Leaving it all behind for a slower-paced lifestyle that’s offered by small towns. When thinking of moving anywhere, you need to know the advantages. Here are the benefits of living in a small town.

A sense of community

There’s something so special about living in a place where everyone knows each other. That sense of community and closeness is hard to find amidst the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life. But it’s still very much alive in small towns with fewer people. 

When neighbors know one another by name, it creates an atmosphere that promotes cooperation between residents. There truly isn’t anything quite like it!

No traffic and better car insurance rates

For those looking to avoid traffic and save on car insurance premiums, small towns are the place to be. Unlike big cities where mental math is often required before leaving home, small town living offers much less hassle.

Not only that, but there are less instances of vandalism, theft and collisions. This ensures that drivers living in rural areas can also expect cheaper car insurance costs than their urban counterparts.

Less expensive housing

When it comes to affordability, small-town living is the clear winner. One of the primary reasons for this shift in cost can be attributed to housing. The average home price of a small town is considerably lower than its metropolitan counterpart. 

In many instances, houses in rural areas will be priced up to half what urban properties go for. And we may be talking about less than an hour outside of a major city or suburb. In addition, when property values are lower, that means property taxes are lower as well. You’ll typically save on homeowners insurance too.

A person purchasing an apple at a farmers market in a small town

Buying local

Small towns provide an opportunity to shop unique items from local establishments. This is something that may be difficult to find anywhere else. Not only does this mean finding quality products and services, but it also lets residents give back. 

When you’re buying from local establishments, you’re buying from a neighbor. It goes back to that sense of community. You’re also helping to stimulate the small town economy. 

And if you’re looking to start your own business, you’ll probably have more luck keeping it profitable. Not only will the community want to support you, but there’s less competition. You could very well be providing a needed service within the town that wouldn’t have otherwise been there.

Family oriented

If you’re looking for a great place to raise children, you’ll find it in a small town. Along with all the advantages we’ve already discussed, there’s a better chance for a quality education. It can also mean a better social experience during childhood and teenage years.

With smaller populations, class sizes tend to be significantly lower than those in cities. One distinct benefit to that is the added attention your child will be able to receive from their teachers. Many city and suburban schools are overcrowded, or at least on the brink of it. A more beneficial teacher to student ratio allows educators the time and focus needed to directly impact each child’s education. 

Another often overlooked advantage of smaller class sizes is that it’s easier for children to make friends. And to maintain them throughout life. In smaller rural communities, many times there may be one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. So a child in first grade will probably make friends that will last through senior year! 

Communing with nature

A small town will always have one major benefit that a city simply can’t provide. The ability to connect with nature and all the natural beauty that comes all with it. Taking the time to commune with nature can be a powerful and rewarding experience. It offers its own type of luxury.

When you live in a small town, chances are all you need to do is head outside. You can tune in to your environment, and get lost in the beauty or your surroundings.  From lush landscapes to wide open spaces, nature and all its wonders can be found right in your backyard. 

This can do wonders not only for physical health, but for your mental well-being too. It’s no secret that getting away from all the light and noise pollution of the big city creates a natural state of calm and peace. 

Life in a small town also provides the ability to enjoy a more active lifestyle for yourself and your family. A more active lifestyle means a healthier lifestyle, and can add years to your life. 

And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the sportsman activities like a day on the lake fishing, or in a deer blind.

Conclusion

Small towns offer many advantages to those looking for a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of city life. From a lower cost of living, to closer relationships between residents, there’s plenty to offer!

Whatever you decide, we certainly hope this list of benefits of living in a small town has helped. Come back and see us real soon! 

 

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Looking To Buy A Home In Lakeview New Orleans?

LAKEVIEW HOMES

Before Lakeview, New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina; it was an idyllic neighborhood that was filled with beautiful homes and a hard working and appropriately educated community.
After the destruction of  Hurricane Katrina, the arduous endeavored residents decided to rebuild this community and has since reformed to be one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the New Orleans area.  Lakeview was made famous by many videos and pictures on national television after the flood.  With the area of Lakeview not requiring flood insurance, this neighborhood became the centerpiece of the debate on if everyone should have flood insurance.

Things  Now

 As at the moment, the average price of a Lakeview home has gone up to a stunning 46 percent. This comes few years after the destruction that were experienced as a result of the hurricane Katrina. The heated real estate market in Lakeview New Orleans has continued to accelerate with the average price per square foot in the last few months increasing by almost 9 percent.
The average selling price per square foot of a house was ranging at over $120, which is a 6% increase since the hurricane hit the area and an 18.6 percent rise over the past ten years.  This has created a challenge for first time home buyers.

New Trend in Lakeview Homes

Just a decade ago, homes that were ranch-styled were undesirable, but it now appears that they are coming back in popularity. They are currently selling at top prices in Lakeview, New Orleans. Lakeview real estate has really grown in the wake of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina.  The rise in home values in Lakeview have outpaced that of other New Orleans homes.

Determining The Future

To determine whether this growth in Lakeview real estate industry will be able to be sustained relies mainly on two major factors. The first one is how the gas and oil layoffs will influence the local neighborhood. The second factor is the time that the Federal Reserve will again raise the interest rates, since higher interest rates impact home sales substantially.

The Challenges

homes in lakeview new orleansA monthly mortgage has become cheaper that actually renting within the city. One thing that may dampen the market is the gradual increase in the rates of interests. Lakeview homeowners who might have taken advantage of low rates in the past years might have to hold their dreams of moving to a new home because of a higher rate.
But the rise in price for Lakeview homes for sale has also benefited the whole region of New Orleans. Compared to other southern cities like Houston, Atlanta, and Jacksonville, New Orleans currently has a sustained employment growth. All this is courtesy of the growth in the Lakeview real estate.
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Why Home Buyers Should Work With an Agent

Many times in my career, I’ve worked with home buyers to help them find and buy a home.  Occasionally, a buyer that I’ve spent many hours working with finds themselves browsing an open-house and somehow ends up signing a purchase contract with the open-house listing agent.  While this is a great thing for that listing agent, it does not fully serve to benefit the buyer.  Under all circumstances, I recommend that home-buyers work exclusively with a buyer’s agent, and stick with them.  Its important to find a good agent to represent YOU.  There are a number of important reasons why you should follow this practice, which I’ll go into detail here (with few to none of them intended to protect the potential earnings of that buyer’s agent).  

How Real Estate Commission Works

Many home buyers do not fully understand an important piece of the puzzle in the “for sale” listing contract for the home.  In order to understand why it’s important to stick with your buyers’ agent, let me lay a little groundwork.    

When a home is listed for sale, the seller of the home signs a listing contract with the “listing agent”.  The listing agent or broker becomes the representative (agent) for the seller.  In the listing contract, a very important provision to understand is that there is a commission amount, pre-designated for the listing agent AND for the yet-unknown buyer’s agent.  So, for example… many homes are listed for sale with a 6% commission, where some homes are listed for less.  This means that six percent of the sales price is set aside as commission for the REALTOR(s).  Normally, the six percent commission is pre-arranged to be divided in half, with three percent being reserved for the seller’s agent and three percent being reserved for the buyer’s agent.  

Since nearly all homes listed for sale have a pre-arranged commission agreement set up for a buyer’s agent, this means to you, working with a buyer’s agent is essentially free.  Buyers do not pay the buyer’s agent, the home seller does.  So it doesn’t cost you anything to have your own personal buyer’s agent.  

Having an Agent to Represent ONLY YOU

real estate buyers agentsThe internet has changed the roll of the REALTOR.  In the past, people found their agent first, THEN looked for a home.  Today, the top real estate agents may be acquired when the buyer finds the home online, and speak with the listing agent. The importance of having your own buyer’s agent is very simple.  The buyer’s agent represents you.  They are charged with protecting your interests first.  This is referred to in real estate and law as a “Fiduciary Responsibility”.  Your REALTOR has to make sure that everything that happens in the sales transaction is to your advantage, as much as possible.  The listing agent is also charged with protecting the seller’s interests, so when you come along and buy the home through the listing agent, by default, that listing agent MUST assume the duty of representing you, the buyer, too.  How does this complicate things?

Real Estate Can Be Litigious

real estate The example I’ve given to my clients over the years is to assume you’re being sued in court.  When you get to court and find yourself sitting there at the defendant’s table without your own lawyer, you are self-represented.  You are allowed to represent yourself in court, but not in real estate.  In real estate, if one party has representation, both parties must have representation.  So, back to my courtroom example, instead of getting your own personal attorney, what if the attorney for the plaintiff offers to represent you too?  Does that seem like a good idea?  Why would anyone being sued in court allow the plaintiff’s attorney also represent them as a defendant?  They probably would not.  So why would you let the buyer’s agent represent you when it comes time to buy a home?

The Duties of a REALTOR

realtorsMost home buyers don’t really understand all the duties and responsibilities that REALTORS have in a sales transaction.  The seller’s agent is trying to get the best deal possible for the seller.  If that REALTOR is working hard to get the best deal for the seller, how practical do you think it is that he or she will also work just as hard to make sure you get the best deal too?  Seems contradictory, right?  Well, it is.  

Buyers and sellers of real estate have different interests.  They have different objectives and goals.  They have issues that have to be negotiated to achieve common ground between both sides.  Each side needs to have their own independent representation.  The buyer’s REALTOR and the seller’s REALTOR are both trying to close the deal, but they have different clients’ needs to satisfy.  To make a political reference, this is why you don’t have Democrats who are also Republicans (or vice versa) at the same time.  It just doesn’t make sense.  To be effective for their client, REALTORs need to be on one side of the fence or the other, not both at the same time.   

Get Yourself An Agent…Its FREE 

So, in conclusion, please be sure to remember these important points.  The buyer’s agent is paid by the home seller, so there is no cost to you.  If you buy a home directly through the listing agent, you’re not going to get a discount due to having only one REALTOR because the listing agent will be obligated to represent you too… and he/she will earn both sides of the pre-arranged commission (called “double-ending” in the trade).  So, if there’s already a commission set aside for you to have your own equal, but separate, representation, my advice is to take it.  For more information about buyer’s agency, consult your local trusted REALTOR .