Of late, low interest rates and a year of cabin fever have inspired people across New Orleans and the Gulf South to upgrade their homes. Whether that means moving into a larger space, simplifying for retirement, buying a vacation home, exploring countryside properties, or renovating your current home, agents and banks are well positioned to help fulfill your upgrade dreams. Perhaps a rental is a better fit for you or your business—properties across the city are offering top-notch amenities to make life more convenient while you shed the responsibilities of being a property owner. Put real estate on your radar this month, and explore the variety of resources available to you for relocating or for improving your space. Quality agents, builders, home experts, communities, and lenders may be able to help see your vision through and enter a new chapter of life with a property or upgrade better suited to your current needs.
Agents, Realtors & Brokerages
Cecelia S. Buras, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Preferred Realtors
Picture the following beautiful home for both relaxing and entertaining. First, walk into a large foyer with custom-made, impressive steel doors with insulated window panels that can swing open on those beautiful, breezy spring days. Enter into the large gourmet kitchen with its six-burner gas stove and extra-large pantry with butcher’s shelf and cabinets.
Downstairs, explore the master bedroom and separate bedroom. Upstairs, in addition to two bedrooms with balconies, is a stocked game room complete with pool table, foosball table, and card table. Additionally, an exercise room and large open space is available for your own customization. As if this weren’t enough, the outdoors offers a large oasis with a pool, water fall, natural-gas fire pit, and seating area, along with an outdoor kitchen, patios, and surround sound.
For more information or a showing of this $1.56M property, call an agent who loves what she does, Cecelia S. Buras. Cecelia loves working with all types of buyers—first time, move up, relocation, and senior downsizing—and lists all types of residential properties. For more information, feel free to call or text at 504-583-2902 or call 504-799-1702.
Freret Realty
When buying or selling a home, you want to feel comfortable at every turn. What can be an intimidating process need not be—a friendly, knowledgeable agent can make the experience smooth, efficient, and fun. Since 2019, Freret Realty has been a growing go-to source for finding a local agent that can help with your real estate needs, whether luxury property, flips, first time buyers, or property management. The brokerage’s experienced agents live all across Greater New Orleans, ensuring an expert can help no matter where you’re looking for property, from the entire city of New Orleans to its surrounding parishes, including the North Shore.
“Some brokerages are stuffy and unapproachable,” says Kiley Martin, Partner/Broker. “That’s not us—our clients love our attitude and know-how and feel comfortable all through the buying/selling process,” he says.
Find a Realtor® you can trust and browse listings online at freretrealty.com or call 504-252-1366 for more information.
Glennda Bach, Latter & Blum REALTOR®
With a real passion for connecting individuals and families with their future homes, Glennda Bach often hears phrases like, “We can see your love for this property,” when showing her curated list of well-researched, potential properties to clients.
“I am driven by my passion and for what I can do for my clients,” says Glennda, who takes a thorough approach to her work on behalf of clients. In the top one percent of realtors in New Orleans, Glennda sold a record $18.4M in February of 2020, eventually totaling over $44M for the year. As a Diamond Award Winner and Top Producer, she enjoys working with people from all walks of life, from NBA and NFL players to professionals and community members of all kinds.
“Once I meet someone for the first time, I’m usually pretty good at knowing exactly what they are looking for, and I truly believe in fate,” she says.
For more information and to begin your next New Orleans home search, call Glennda at 504-583-2792. To view Latter & Blum listings, visit latter-blum.com.
Penny Stettinius, Latter & Blum
The lure of Mississippi’s quiet countryside and quaint beach towns calls to many New Orleanians looking for weekend getaways or a change of pace. Meanwhile, the lure of New Orleans’ vibrant neighborhoods and unique cultural experiences inspires moves to new homes and different areas of the city. No matter your lifestyle, no matter your needs, Penny Stettinius is a Realtor you can trust. Licensed in both Louisiana and Mississippi, Penny has years of experience helping families and individuals find what works for them, whether their first or second home in the city or a large country property or waterfront home for retirement.
Penny is also an experienced seller, and working with the South’s largest real estate firm allows her the benefits of the latest technologies—her listings are immediately shared with hundreds of websites and thousands of Realtors across the globe.
To begin your new home search or discuss selling your current property, call Penny at 601-273-6565 or visit pennystettinius.latter-blum.com.
Communities & Developments
Big Bay Lake
Big Bay Lake is a one-of-a-kind planned community on one of Mississippi’s largest private recreational lakes. Located just outside of Hattiesburg, and only 90 minutes from New Orleans, Big Bay Lake blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings. Waterfront homesites are available for building custom homes and retreats starting at $70,000 and several resale homes are usually available for immediate purchase. Both the homes and homesites within this community provide unique opportunities to create the perfect home or weekend getaway.
It’s time to relax, unplug, make memories and create new traditions at Big Bay Lake. Whether you are a boating or fishing enthusiast or just a family who loves to make a big splash, Big Bay Lake is simply about the lure of the water. Come enjoy sun-kissed, fun-filled days at Big Bay Lake, where the little things make life…“Big!” Call for a boat tour today at 877-4BIG-BAY or visit bigbaylake.com.
1st Lake Commercial Properties, Inc.
1st Lake Commercial Properties, Inc. is your source for commercial property for lease in Greater New Orleans, offering a variety of commercial real estate rental options, including office space, retail rental space, warehouse space for lease, and self-storage units in Metairie and Kenner, Louisiana. The company’s extensive portfolio of commercial property in Kenner and Metairie includes office rental spaces designed to fit every need. 1st Lake also offers custom office space design consulting services. Its Metairie and Kenner office buildings offer an array of office sizes, from one-room office suites to 6,500 square feet.
All 1st Lake Commercial Properties offer on-site maintenance, ensuring your needs can be taken care of with immediate, professional support. All properties offer free and abundant parking for your employees and clients. Utilities and janitorial services are included with every commercial property for lease in Metairie and Kenner. These convenient locations will cut down travel time to Downtown New Orleans, Baton Rouge, or wherever your business takes you.
For more information, visit 1stlake.com/commercial-properties or call 504-455-8644.
Lumina Apartments
Set in vibrant and stylish Mid-City and just steps away from the Lafitte Greenway, Lumina Apartments offers luxurious and spacious living spaces with sleek, modern amenities. Both one- and two-bedroom floor plans feature high ceilings and contemporary finishes, with designer touches including vinyl plank floors, spacious walk-in closets, pendant lighting and granite countertops.
Got a roommate? The Lumina offers the space you need—huge bedrooms with walk-in closets and double-hung shelves and chef-inspired kitchen with a custom designed table make Lumina your best choice for sharing costs without sacrificing space or style. Spread out even more by grabbing your laptop and heading to the posh clubroom, or work in the lounge with free Starbucks coffee. A resort-inspired pool and onsite 24-hour gym add to the luxury apartment allure.
With popular restaurants and shops just a short walk away, Lumina is nestled in the heart of a thriving and active community. For more information and to set up an in-person or virtual tour, visit LuminaMidCity.com or call 504-608-5778. The Lumina is currently offering one month free with a 13-month lease.
The Delaneaux Apartments
All the luxury and amenities of Mid-City’s Lumina are now available in the Lower Garden District with The Delaneaux Apartments. This modern living community is designed to cater to your busy schedule and to ensure comfort, convenience and relaxation when you return home.
Chef-inspired kitchens feature sleek, stainless steel appliances and custom island dining tables, and each floor plan is accented with contemporary finishes that set these spaces above all the rest. Amenities unique to The Delaneaux include a movie theater, a grand two-story clubroom and a resort-inspired pool, allowing residents to savor the rich history of their neighborhood whether inside their apartments or spending time with neighbors in communal spaces.
The elegance of these spaces combines the beauty, distinction, and originality that make New Orleans an exceptional place to live with modern comforts and exquisite touches that create an unrivaled residential experience. For more information or to sign up for the VIP waiting list, call 504-841-9900 or email delaneauxmgr@greystar.com today. The Delaneaux is currently offering one month free with a 13-month lease.
Home Resources
Southern Refinishing
Are you considering replacing your worn or stained old bathtub? Restoring/refinishing is likely a better option. With traditional replacement, the biggest issues often arise in removing the old tub. Parts of the bathroom tile, walls and floor must be torn away, and the location of the old plumbing is often incompatible with the new. The cost of the new tub, new floor and wall materials, tiles, lumber, and labor can run into thousands of dollars and mean dirt, noise, and the hassle of days or weeks of work.
With the refinishing/restoration process from Southern Refinishing, your worn out fixtures and tile can be restored to their original luster—or even a new color—in less than a day, sparing you from the downtime and hassle of replacement. The process can save you up to 80 percent of the cost of replacement and give you the bathroom of your dreams.
A local, trusted company, Southern Refinishing has the equipment and expertise to work with any fixture. Get a customized quote today by calling 504-348-1770. Visit SouthernRefinishing.com for a gallery of projects and additional information.
Nordic Kitchens & Baths
For nearly a quarter of a century, Nordic Kitchens & Baths has been a trusted, go-to source for New Orleans area homeowners and builders for highest quality products in kitchen and bath design. Originally founded in 1986 by a Norwegian master cabinetmaker and his stepson, the current owner, Nordic was one of the first manufacturers of European cabinetry in the city of New Orleans. Now in its 26th year, the company has evolved to focus on the overall design and furnishing of products for upscale kitchens and baths.
Nordic expanded its luxury products beyond cabinetry to also include appliances, plumbing fixtures, and more. The company thrives thanks to satisfied, repeat customers who seek the company’s expertise and quality-driven approach time and again. From cutting-edge cabinet finishes and countertop surfaces, to top of the line indoor and outdoor kitchen appliances and grills, Nordic Kitchens and Baths reliably supplies the latest offerings by industry leading brands.
Visit Nordic Kitchens and Baths at 1818 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Metairie or online at NordicKitchens.com.
Titan Construction
Titan Construction has been specializing in custom residential construction and renovations in Greater New Orleans for over 25 years. In addition to its core staff of professionals, Titan Construction employs highly skilled and experienced subcontractors who provide superior quality work and enable Titan to offer reasonable, affordable pricing.
“We take building very seriously at Titan Construction. One of the most important things is understanding the clients’ expectations and then meeting those expectations throughout construction,” says Owner Stephen Fleishmann. The Titan team understands that a home is likely the largest investment someone will make in their lifetime.
“‘Custom build’ isn’t just a catch phrase for us. It’s a promise that your home will be built with your needs and vision in mind—it will be the home you have always imagined and more,” says Fleishmann.
For more information, please call 504-454-5411or 504-913-3030, or visit titanconstruction.com. Follow current projects and view photos by following @titanconstructionnola on Instagram.
Mortgages & Home Loans
Home Bank
For over 112 years, families have trusted Home Bank with one of life’s biggest purchases. With a full line of mortgage and home loan options, Home Bank can help with your home needs, whether you’re a first-time buyer, future home builder, or fixer-upper looking to renovate. Plus, with options like Home Bank’s one-time close construction loan, homeowners can stay focused on getting into “home sweet home” and not on stacks of paperwork.
Stop by any Home Bank location and meet their experienced bankers or start a loan application or pre-approval online. Loan approval is subject to Home Bank credit and other criteria. Home Bank is Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #483958.
Call Home Bank at 504-378-3190 or visit them online at Home24Bank.com.
