Mary Mang

LICENSE: 0995700393


(504) 650-7156
(504) 908-7653 (Office)

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NEW IN NOLA ! 4238 BIENVILLE STREET

Posted On: April 30th, 2018 5:34PM

This is a WONDERFUL NOLA home with the charm of old but the modern ammenities you want. 3 bedroooms and 3 full baths, a gourmet kitchen and offstreet parking.  Walk  to popular Carrollton area restuarants and businesses.   Priced at $475,000

 

 

https://my.homesmart.com/gallery/hs0072/lagsrein-h/2151848#1

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HOT NEW LISTING ! 1116 PHOSPHOR AVE METAIRIE, LA. 70005

Posted On: April 5th, 2018 2:56AM

 

 

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HOT ON THE MARKET ! If you want a New Orleans Style home that is also historical in Metairie with TONS of space this is it. COMPLETELY renovated to the studs and so much closet space and living space. Charm galore, beautiful Brazilian Cherry floors throughout. Great entertaining spaces, large kitchen and even a sunroom in the master suite. Large lot with a garage w/Ac and it's own TV ! Beautiful courtyard with hot tub and NOLA style fountain. 1116 Phosphor in Metairie . Offered at $630,000
 
4 bedrooms , 3 full baths.  4113 Sq. ft. of living space.  
 
 
 

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5 REASONS TO VISIT NEW ORLEANS IN THE SPRING

Posted On: March 12th, 2018 6:04PM

               

5 REASONS TO VISIT NEW ORLEANS IN THE SPRING

 

ANYTIME is a GREAT time to visit NOLA !   But the Springtime is the most beautiful !

 

HERE ARE 5 REASONS TO VISIT NOLA IN THE SPRING

 

 

1.   NEW ORLEANS IN BLOOM —The azaleas are in abundance, magnolias are in bloom,  and the Japanese magnolias are in rare form.   Nothing makes the St. Louis Cathedral  look more beautiful than the adornment of pink blooms.  The homes uptown in the garden district look extra special at this time of year, and a trip on the streetcar invites a beautiful view.

 

 

 

2.  FESTIVALS— The French Quarter Festival has grown to a world renowned affair.  There are 3 full days of eating and drinking at some of the finest restaurants and bars in New Orleans.  All within a stroll of the historic French Quarter.  And it is FREE if you just want to walk around and enjoy the vast assortment of bands sprinkled from one end of the quarter to the other. It is now all day on Friday ,  so lots of opportunity to get out there and enjoy.

 

Just a few weeks later is the very popular JAZZ FEST .  This well known event features some of the finest music anywhere, some from artists who are legends !  And you can find any kind of food from A to Z !   Favorites include :  Crawfish Monica,  Mango freeze,  Cochon de Lait po-boys, and Crawfish bread.   And for dessert the white chocolate bread pudding  is delicious !   Walk around,  bowse the crafts, listen to the best music anywhere, and eat to your hearts desire !!

 

3.   SEAFOOD —-  Our abundant seafood is delectable at this time of year.  Oysters are still plentiful, and it is the start of CRAWFISH SEASON !   Fresh gulf shrimp and fish are wonderful , and no one does seafood better than New Orleans chefs !  Fried seafood, grilled seafood,  stews, po-boys, salads —-in New Orleans, you can find any kind of seafood you could want.

 

 

 

4.   SPRING WEATHER —- Of course it could be springtime weather here even in December, but March and April are so pleasant here in NOLA.   Usually in the 60′s and 70′s,  a delightful time to stroll around and take in the sights !   My favorite spring activity as a local , is riding the streetcar down the most beautiful street I know–St. Charles Ave.  You can ride all the way to downtown and then easily walk into the quarter .

 

 

 

5. NOT TOO CROWDED — Mardi Gras and sports activities bring thousands of visitors to NOLA.   By the time spring arrives, those are over , and you can enjoy strolling around the French Quarter with ease.  Visit the square,  shop for antiques, get a table at a restaurant — great time of year to take advantage of what we have to offer .

 

 

 

So,  if you are planning to visit the New Orleans area in the future,  pick the Spring for a wonderful experience.

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5 THINGS THAT TURN HOMEBUYERS OFF

Posted On: February 19th, 2018 9:10PM

5 THINGS THAT TURN A HOMEBUYER OFF

5 THINGS THAT TURN A HOME BUYER OFF

 

Your house is on the market, and you think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread !!! You must now look at your house ” through a buyer’s eyes . Here are 5 of the MAJOR turnoffs a buyer encounters when looking at a home.

 

1.SELLERS THAT STALK

The best way to show your house is by putting it on lockbox. This will allow the buyer’s agent to show the house to the buyer, without you the seller in the house. You may think you are being helpful by pointing out your trophy collection, your stuffed moosehead or the mural of a seascape you painted in the den. The buyers are trying to visualize themselves in the house and how to undo some of the very features you find endearing.

Buyers like to have conversations, both with their mates and the agent while viewing your home. If you are tagging along, they do not feel free to discuss what they like and don’t like, and what changes they would make. Let them nit-pick on their own, serious buyers need to do this before making an offer.

 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AS A SELLER ?

Leave the house ! Even if you take a walk or drive around the block 100 times, it is best not to be there. If a buyer has questions on your house. he will find the answers through his agent.

 

2. DIRTY, CLUTTERED, & THE WORST —–SMELLY !!

Your job is to get your home noticed –favorably —above the sea of inventory out there. Some homes can make you cringe and want to run , not walk– right back out the front door. If a house smells like pets, smoke or old food, it is an IMMEDIATE turn off for the buyer. They do not want to see your underwear on the floor, sloppy housekeeping and loads of clutter and junk everywhere.

 

WHAT CAN I DO AS A SELLER ?

You as a seller have control over 2 things : The price you will ask ( hopefully a reasonable one ) and the condition of the house. Differentiate your home from the others by putting it in TIP TOP shape. Pre-pack up extra furniture, clothes & nick nacks. Open up curtains to shiny clean windows. Keep your kitchen spotless —-no dirty dishes. Remove small appliances and make your countertops spacious. Clean the bathrooms , floors, baseboards—you get the picture ! And by all means get rid of the pet smells !

 

3. UNREASONABLE SELLER EXPECTATIONS

Buying a house can be stressful in today’s market. A buyer must educate themselves about the lending process, short sales, foreclosures and neighborhoods. The last thing a buyer wants to do is argue a seller out of an unreasonable price. Most buyers won’t even look at a house that is overpriced. With the internet today, buyers are well aware of the value of a house . They don’t have time for a clueless seller who clearly thinks his house is valued more than it is. PRICE IS YOUR BEST MARKETING TOOL

 

WHAT’S A SELLER TO DO ?

Do your homework ! Get out and look at what’s for sale in your area & price range. Get a professional agent to come out and give you an opinion of what your house is worth. Don’t take it personally if the price is lower than expected.The agent is relying on documented comps and statistics.

Compare the amenities in your home with the competition. If your home is not in the same caliber as the others, don’t even think of asking a higher price. The buyer will just say ” next “ and move on to another.

 

4. UGLY OR IMPRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS

Many buyers walk into a house with a recent remodel, only to find the seller’s taste vary tremendously from their own. It is hard for a buyer to envision tearing out new improvements . Keep in mind your tastes will more than likely be differrent from the buyers. Don’t expect the buyer to love the new countertops in that shade of pink you just love !. You may have just installed brand new carpet, but blue may be the buyers least favorite color. New home improvements that run counter to a buyer’s tastes are a big turn-off. Todays buyers are very frugal, and most cannot see ripping out brand new items on the basis of style—especially if they feel they have paid for them with the purchase price.

 

WHAT’S A SELLER TO DO ?

Check with a decorator or better yet a local broker or agent before making an investment. They can give you a glimpse of return on investment, as well as what buyer’s are looking for in home decor these days.

Best to spruce up your curb appeal , paint the cabinets and update just the appliances . Always keep the palette neutral when selling your house.

 

5. NOT ENOUGH PHOTOS, OR BAD PHOTOS


Your home will have a showing before a buyer even walks through the door—on the internet ! Good quality photos ( and lots of them ) will make your listing stand out. Little or no pictures will not get your home noticed. BAD photos are even worse ! Fuzzy photos, laundry piled up , unmade beds, clothes on the floor & dishes in the sink will NOT entice a buyer to look at your home. A picture Fido sitting on the sofa will not make a buyer run to make an appointment to see your house.

 

WHAT’S A SELLER TO DO ?


Your job is to get your home noticed –favorably —above the sea of inventory out there. Some homes can make you cringe and want to run , not walk– right back out the front door. If a house smells like pets, smoke or old food, it is an IMMEDIATE turn off for the buyer. They do not want to see your underwear on the floor, sloppy housekeeping and loads of clutter and junk everywhere.

So take off your seller hat and try to think like a buyer ! It will go a long way in selling your house !

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BUYING A HOME---STEP ONE IS FINANCES

Posted On: February 19th, 2018 8:42PM

                                                       

BUYING A HOME IN NEW ORLEANS | STEP 1: FINANCES

Despite all the technology available for finding your dream home, preparing in full still takes time and research. Regardless of whether or not you’re a first-time buyer or a veteran who’s purchased multiple residences over the years, it’s important to navigate your home search with the following steps in mind:

 

  1. Build Up Your Savings
    Lenders nationwide continue to have stringent lending standards, requiring significant amounts of capital for prospective borrowers in order to secure a home loan.

    Make sure you focus on building wealth before even considering your home purchase. This will ensure you have more than enough funds to convince lenders that you’re ready to become a homeowner and handle the subsequent mortgage payments.
  2. Improve Your Credit Score
    As many prospective New Orleans buyers know, how much money you have in the bank isn’t the only factor considered by lenders– your credit score strength can also play a huge role. Luckily, the math is pretty simple: the higher your score, the better you look!

    For some, raising your credit score is easier said than done. Even if you have a strong credit score, make sure you’re doing things like paying all of your bills on time and in full. If you need to, set goals for eliminating outstanding debts and do your best to avoid opening new lines of credit.

    Remember that aiming for a higher credit score not only improves the odds of securing a home loan, but it also increases the likelihood of favorable loan terms!
  3. Get Mortgage Pre-Approval
    Once you have all your finances in order, it’s time to head to your a lender for a home loan pre-approval. You may have heard or read the term “pre-qualification” in your research thus far, but it’s important to understand the difference between the two before you get in touch with a lender:
    1. Pre-Qualification – A lender’s estimate of how much house you can afford (often available online)
    2. Pre-Approval – A lender has deemed you worthy of receiving a mortgage

 

Once you’ve handled your finances, you can confidently continue on the search for your new New Orleans home! Make sure you’re taking a look at what’s available in the area and reach out to a trusted buyer’s agent for more details on what comes next.

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