Special offer

Lake Charles, LA Real Estate News

By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
  In a recent real estate article from Houzz 7 tips to sell your home faster to a younger buyer, the author highlighted how to make your home appeal to what new home buyers are looking for. I hear it frequently when working with first time home buyers and buyers under the age of 40, they want new construction details.  These buyers are looking for the crown molding, granite, hardwood floors, sleek bathrooms and kitchens.  However upon viewing new construction homes in Lake Charles LA the buyer quickly discovers that the bedrooms and lot size may be small for that new construction budget. Don't rule out an older Lake Charles home!   Homes that are 30+ years may have been remodeled to include new features and upon viewing it is discovered older Lake Charles homes offer the buyer more sq f...
Comments 4
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
July is typically one of the busiest real estate months of the year and Lake Charles LA real estate is no exception.  We continue to see a steady healthy market in the Lake Charles areas. The Southern portion of Lake Charles is divided into Areas 30, 40 and 60. SOUTH LAKE CHARLES is generally considered to be South of I-210 and West of Common Street. As of 7/20/12 there are a total of 156 listings in the combined areas of  30, 40, 60 in South Lake Charles.  These 156 listings range in price between $43,200 - $749,900 and include mobile home residences and townhomes. From July 2011 to date 338 Homes have sold in the South Areas of 30, 40 60 in Lake Charles. CENTRAL LAKE CHARLES - Central Lake Charles includes Area 20, 23 and 50 There are currently 131 Active listings total in the Areas o...
Comments 4
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
Canal Place in Lake Charles LA is a favorite among Lake Charles residents and homeowners. Tucked away behind Lake Street and conveniently located between W. McNeese and Sale Street, in Lake Charles, LA you will find Canal Place.  This restricted subdivision is one of Lake Charles finest.  Along Canal Place Drive, Chartres, Carondelet, Poydras, Lasalle and Toulese Streets residents will find lushly landscaped French inspired executive homes. Each Canal Place home is unique and built with fine custom features.  You will discover warm inviting fireplaces,slate, tile and wood flooring, beautiful granite counters, natural brick accents with elaborate woodwork, cabinetry and built-ins. There are currently five homes listed for Sale in Canal Place in Lake Charles, LA 4317 Canal Place Drive 93...
Comments 1
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
If you don't like the weather in Southwest Louisiana give it 24 hours and it is sure to change.  The climate in Southwest This year residents of Southwest Louisiana have been experiencing some history breaking weather!  Moon cycles are not the only odd occurrences that have been taking place. Louisiana is like the tropics at time with hot and humid temperatures.  During the summer months  it is not uncommon to experience an afternoon shower that pops up. Here in Lake Charles, LA we have gone from record high summer temperatures of 105 where we were melting to a week of rain where the area  accumulated about 17" of rain during a 5-6 day period.  A week ago It rained every single day and the City experienced flash flooding in some places.  Just when we thought we were drying out from a we...
Comments 10
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
  Louisiana Realtors do more than just listing and selling local real estate.  Besides staying current with continuing education and changes in brokering real estate, Realtors work behind the scenes as an advocate for homeowners! The National Association of Realtors also plays an important role in political advocacy. Did you know that Louisiana Realtors play an important part with strong representation on issues that affect real estate in Louisiana? Realtors have worked to influence policy and pass legislation to strengthen the Louisiana real estate market. Listed below are just a few examples of how Realtors have benefited the homeowner in Louisiana. Abolished future real estate transfer taxes in Louisiana with the historical passage of a constitutional amendment Lowered property insur...
Comments 4
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
  Buyers Relocating to Southwest Louisiana, often have many questions about Calcasieu Parish and Lake Charles LA Living. I enjoy sharing insight from my 30 years of living in the Lake Charles Community and thought I would highlight some of the attributes  of Southwest Louisiana and Calcasieu Parish. Lake Charles LA is located within Calcasieu Parish (pronounced KAL-cah-soo) and is just east of the Texas border along Interstate 10. The French Connection The area's modern-day history began in the mid-1700s, when it became a refuge for French Catholics  from Nova Scotia who sought religious freedom and a safe place to maintain their culture, lifestyle and sense of community. Ultimately, they fled to Louisiana, which was Catholic. It was also under French and Spanish rule at the time. These...
Comments 7
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
  All Buyers either want NEW or UPDATES in a home when searching for Lake Charles Real Estate.  Sometimes remodels of older homes have some really great sleek updates but home inspectors can still find a down side during inspection. This 40 year old Lake Charles home has been beautifully remodeled.  The kitchen has granite tile counters and modern stainless appliances.  The homeowners have taken excellent care of the house and it passed through what was a very "clean" home inspection with one exception...... Notice there is no vent hood over the stove...  The remodel of the house involved taking an existing wall out between the kitchena and the living area, who knows if there was a vent hood once upon a time.  When the opening was cut out, the new light fixture was put up.  The stove i...
Comments 4
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
I love Active Rain but that does not mean that I love the "Rain"...especially when it causes delays to projects including my own! Once upon a time the beginning of Summer in Southwest Louisiana was bright and sunny and the grass was green!  New Construction homes were going up quickly, landscapers and yard crews were busy and home improvement projects were started by many homeowners including me! Earlier this summer were finally decided to put a pool in our backyard.  As a full time Lake Charles Realtor married to a loan officer, we don't get to take a vacation very often.  The summer is usually the busiest time of the year so we decided to turn our backyard into a stay at home vacation we can enjoy throughout the year! The pool contractor said we were in prime pool digging time in June...
Comments 38
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
  It is great when we have happy buyer's and we all hope they can stay in the house for a few years before it is time to move again. Buyers don't understand the selling side and when a Buyer turns Seller sometimes their eyes are opened.   We may get that call that our Happy Buyer we sold a year ago ( is now being transferred and moving )and needs to sell.  When that happens we are expected to work magic!  It is hard to explain to a seller If they did not add square footage to the house chances are the house is worth the same amount it was a year ago in the Buyer's appraisal.  Sometimes Realtors discover that the house is For Sale by Owner and the Seller contacts us to ask questions or request help.  Then we have the responsibility of informing the Seller: Price Commission Cost Inspecti...
Comments 6
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
Remember the great Mowtown hits of the past-- RESPECT, My Girl, Stop in the Name of Love, and other famous Mowtown tunes? I heard it through the grapevine that if you love classic Mowtown hits, you are going to enjoy the 2012 Lake Charles Symphony Summer Pops! On July 14, 2012 the Symphony will open its 55th season with Summer Pops 2012 featuring “I Hear a Symphony” at the Lake Charles Civic Center. I Hear a Symphony will appeal to a larger genre than ever before with everyone grooving in the aisles. The Lake Charles Symphony is putting a modern twist on Symphonic music as a whole with a young conductor and new talent! The Summer Pops is a family friendly event where, parents and children will be able to enjoy the show together. Call for Tickets 433-1611 Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 7:30 P...
Comments 3
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
  Spring Crossing is a popular subdivision in Lake Charles LA  along the Southern portion of Lake Street in Lake Charles, LA.   Lake Charles home buyers are attracted to the larger lot sizes  and larger homes that Spring Crossing offers home buyers. 936 N Kade Just Sold courtesy of Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Mike D Bono & Co.'s.  936 N Kade is a 4 bedroom 2 bath home on a corner lot with over 2637 sq ft of living. 936 N Kade went UNDER CONTRACT in 31 days!! SOLD FOR $285,000   Search other Lake Charles Homes for Sale by viewing Lake Charles Real Estate!      
Comments 5
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
628 Becky SOLD !! Lake Charles home buyers are always looking for "affordable" new construction homes in South part of Lake Charles, LA.  Just off Lake Street the new Lake Pointe Subdivision is being developed.   Lake Charles new construction homes being built in Lake Pointe are located on just one street that composes this subdivision in Lake Charles located on Becky Lane.   The lots of new construction homes in this Lake Charles subdivision are narrow however Lake Charles home buyers will find the 2000 sq ft average floorplan of the Lake Pointe homes surprisingly open with fine finishes of: crown molding wood flooring granite counters 10' ceilings scroll woodwork design and accents   628 Becky Lane sold courtesy of Marilyn Boudreaux Century 21 Mike D Bono & Co.'s in Lake Charles LA. ...
Comments 1
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
2720 Timber SOLD in Lake Charles LA This Lake Charles home was a Fannie Mae foreclosure in surprisingly good condition with recent updates! 2720 Timber is a 41 year old 1900 sq ft home in South Lake Charles LA near Prien Lake Park. The convenience of the location and price of $144,000 made this home attractive to many home buyers. This house was only on the market for 5 days before going under contract!!!   Buyer's often find themselves jumping through hoops in order to get final loan approval. This home purchase had a technical block with the buyer's IRS tax return from 2010. The buyer had been working with the IRS for 2 years to clear up the problem which was really just a flag on his name due to a similar name on a return from someone else who had turned in a fraudulent tax return. ...
Comments 6
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
It always upsets the home buying process whenever the appraisal comes back short of the contract price. Understanding the inside of how appraisals are figured will help the home buyer, home seller and Realtor.  Appraisers are not the ones to blame, many cuts in appraisals are attributed to inaccurate measurements and data input in the MLS by the listing agent. A home seller will always think their home is worth more than what a market analysis shows.   If you want your home to sell, listing it within the range of appropriate market value with comps that support that value is the key.  If listed properly, there will probably not be an appraisal issue but you have to understand what you can and cannot count as sq ft of living space to get to that value. I recently attended a SW Louisiana...
Comments 9
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
Ever since it was announced that Lake Charles LA would get another casino, residents have anxiously awaited the ground breaking on the land located adjacent to L'Auberge du Lac Casino. Just over a year ago, Dan Lee obtained the last Louisiana Gaming License for his Mojito Pointe backed by Creative Casinos.  Last Spring was announced that Dan Lee and Creative Casinos would not be moving forward with the project, so the land and the gaming license has remained up for grabs and Las Vegas Ameristar paid Dan Lee $32.5 million for his Mojito Pointe project. Today breaking news from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board was shared,  allowing all business interests to be transferred from Creative Casinos to Ameristar Casinos, including the state’s last riverboat gambling license.  This will allow...
Comments 3
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
via zingding.com I'll show you where all the cool homes in Lake Charles LA are this summer for you and pet, Contact Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Mike D Bono & Co's 337 499 9592!
Comments 2
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
JUST SOLD IN LAKE CHARLES LA!   Lake Charles Investors  and Lake Charles Home Buyers look at  property very differently.   Investors in Lake Charles LA are always looking for homes that can be rehabbed and either rented or SOLD for a quick profit.  The home buyers who will be owner occupants always prefer a newer home as opposed to an older home that may require work. When searching for investment property, the investor client can overlook cosmetic issues with a home.   Stripping wallpaper or painting kitchen cabinets are an easy fix.  The investor is going to do some remodeling and updating and will already have a budget in mind when viewing Lake Charles Homes for Sale. So the investor is looking for a home with what I like to call "good bones " meaning, existing living space and struc...
Comments 4
By Tony Cornner, Lake Charles, LA
(CENTURY 21 Mike D. Bono and Company)
This Moss Bluff home for sale offers over 1400 square feet of neat and clean living area! There are 3 bedrooms and 2 baths in this updated home located on a a tree-shaded lot in popular Moss Bluff. In a few months, you'll be glad to offer friends and family the warmth and comfort afforded by the wood burning fireplace in the spacious family room.     The kitchen will be yet another gathering area, especially since it has been nicely updated with stained cabinetry, stone countertops,  and stellar appliances. A custom tiled backsplash rounds out the the kitchen detail.    The master bedroom also has a vaulted ceiling plus an updated bath with dual vanities.   This  150 x 300' lot offers just the spot for a vegetable garden or the sports-friendly family.  Finding a home in Moss Bluff under...
Comments 0
By Marilyn Boudreaux, Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor
(Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty)
You won't need to pack your snow shovel or snow blower when you move to Southwest LA!! When working with Relocation buyers moving to Lake Charles LA from Northern climates, many are amazed at the lush landscaping and tropical palms that we enjoy in the Lake Charles landscape.  This was the case with Relocation Buyers from Kentucky I just assisted in a Relocation Home Sale to Lake Charles. It was easy for the home buyers to fall in love with this beautiful two story home.  Moving from the cold climate of Kentucky winters they were excited to purchase a Lake Charles home with palm trees and a swimming pool!   JUST SOLD 2717 RUE CALAIS IN LAKE CHARLES, LA Courtesy of Marilyn Boudreaux Century 21 Mike D Bono & Co.'s     Pools are popular in Southwest Louisiana and provide anywhere from 7-9 ...
Comments 3