Making the decision to
move to New Orleans is probably one of the best you will ever make. There is something magical about the City that Care Forgot, something that draws people to it like a moth towards a flame. Generations of New Orleanians continue to make the city nestled between the muddy Mississippi River and the shores of Lake Pontchartrain their home, often living right in the same neighborhoods where their grandparents grew up. Conversely, transplants thrive in the adopted city they are proud to call their own.
Below are some tips and other important information for those contemplating, or just about to make, a move to New Orleans.
Best Time to Move to New Orleans
Source: crescentcityliving
According to seasoned realtors all over the nation, the housing market is most robust during the spring. There is something about the season of renewal and the heady smells of blossoming flowers that make sellers and buyers alike ready for change. But the crowded market can cause backlogs in the work queues of title companies and lending institutions, which ultimately can result in a pushback for your closing if it gets too hectic.
So consider going against traditional wisdom and start your search in earnest in December. Sellers willing to open their homes for sales tours over the holidays are serious about closing a deal; use this to your advantage.
A further advantage of moving to New Orleans in the late fall or early winter is the climate. The humid subtropical climate of south Louisiana creates mild winters, making it an excellent time for the physical labor of moving. Even when you leave the job up to the professionals, moving is a lot of work, and adding to the stress by doing it on a 95º day when the humidity is 100 percent is unnecessary under most circumstances. With the proper planning, new residents can use both market and weather trends to their full advantage.
Taxes in New Orleans
Source: nbcprobasketballtalk
Louisiana is one of the states that provides its resident homeowners with the benefits of a Homestead Exemption. Under the tenets of the Louisiana Constitution, homeowners are exempt from paying taxes on the first $75,000 of their primary home's value. As of 2015, that amount doubled to $150,000 for those deemed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be 100 percent disabled. Any municipal taxes are not affected by the Homestead Exemption.
Data from 2010 indicates that the tax burden for Louisiana was the fourth lowest in the nation at 7.75 percent, well below the United State's average of 9.9 percent. Per capita, resident taxpayers pay $2,851 in municipal and state taxes.
Tips for Your New Orleans Move
Source: latter-blum
Depending on why you are moving to the Crescent City, your degree of control over your moving circumstances will vary. A corporate ascension might be done quickly by the pros, with details handled entirely by your company; others may be self-directed and complete with kids and pets all in a caravan of vehicles laden with cargo. Regardless, here are a few tips to make the transition as smooth as possible.
- Contract for services ahead of time with Entergy for power and New Orleans Public Works and Utilities for water, sewage, trash and other services.
- Even when professional movers are involved, there are simply some things that should only be packed and transported by you. They include anything irreplaceable, (e.g., family photos and memorabilia), passports, birth certificates and other ID documents, financial documents, collections, expensive jewlery, heirlooms and priceless antiques. Leave nothing to the Fates.
- Prior to the move, make sure that you do your homework. Certainly, parents of schoolage children will have made arrangements for academic records to be transferred to another school, but don't forget to investigate suitable daycares, houses of worship and the location of the nearest major medical center or hospital. New Orleans is home to many fine medical institutions, and in the event of a moving day mishap like a twisted ankle or a back that goes out, you'll know where to seek treatment. Scoping out the neighborhood for a pizza joint to hit the first night is another good idea. They get extra points if they deliver.
- Pack one box with the essentials for your first night, and make sure that it is the last thing placed into the moving van. Its contents should include: pillows, sheets and blankets for beds (sleeping bags work, too, especially for kids), towels, washcloths, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, pet beds, dishes and kibble, box of lightbulbs, flashlight, paper plates and paper towels. A bottle of wine and two wineglasses are optional, but don't forget the corkscrew.
- Each man, woman and child in the move should have a backpack or diaper bag with their own personal must-haves: make-up, cologne, sleepwear, change of clothes, deodorant, electronic media device of choice, toothbrush and any special toy, "luvvy" or blanket needed to get to sleep.
- Depending on the timing of your move and where your neighborhood is located, your move could be greatly affected by seasonal events like Carnival or Jazz Fest. One has only to imagine the chaos of trying to move into the Garden District or French Quarter on the weekend preceding Fat Tuesday to trust the wisdom of those words. If you are unsure whether your timing is poor, ask your realtor. He or she will be happy to give you a heads' up on your ETA.
