En Español>>Festival Del Tomate Criollo

Por AnaMaría Bech

If you can identify a Louisiana staple, whether a music genre, dish, fruit, vegetable, or anything else, you can bet a festival is dedicated to it!

In 1986 a festival was created for the succulent Louisiana Creole tomatoes. Known for their bright red color, juicy flesh, and sweet and spicy flavor, creole tomatoes became highly coveted by chefs, creole families, and home cooks alike.

It makes sense to celebrate the bounty of the state of Louisiana in its high season with the Creole Tomato Festival. Its 37th edition will take place on June 10 and 11 at the historic French Market. During this summer festival, you can buy the most delicious creole tomatoes and please your palate with various dishes based on this staple. The food list is long. Among many other offerings, you can get Fried Baby Back Ribs from Cafe Dauphine, Stuffed Tomatoes from Nuevo Horizonte, Creole Tomato Stuffed with Cool and Creamy Shrimp Pasta from LaDelyo’s Creole Catering, Oxtails from Numada, Creole Tomato Jambalaya from Lillie’s Cajun Kitchen, Shrimp and Sausage Stew from Cuties And Cuisine.

The Bloody Mary, a tomato-based cocktail, will be available in many variations. Cornet Restaurant will have a Zesty-infused vodka Bloody Mary and Oh! Sweet Lemon will have Mangonada (Spicy Mango Mexican slushy) Bloody Mary, Ms. Linda, the Yakamein Lady, will bring her Yakamary. You can judge them all.

The historic French Market is the perfect setting for this family-friendly event. The festival is free, with music stages at the market, Dutch Alley and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park on 916 N. Peters Street will feature local bands starting at 10 a.m. with a variety of genres from Tonya Boyd Cannon, Davis Rogan Band, Josh Starkman, Alicia “Blue” Smith, Ravee Quintet, and the Latin Rhythms of Yusa, Alexey Marti, Julio and Cesar, Muévelo, and Asheson, plus the funk of Bo Dollis Jr & the Wild Magnolias, Kamau Spirit of the Drums, and Mestre Curtis Pierre and Afro-Brazilian drumming, among others. You can even begin Sunday with a yoga session with Move Ya Brass and enjoy kids’ activities in Dutch Alley and cooking demos from noon to 4 P.M. at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum Stage in the French Market.  

The Creole Tomato Festival in New Orleans is an opportunity to celebrate the richness and diversity of Louisiana’s cuisine and honor the exceptional flavor of Creole tomatoes. Enjoy the music, the food, and the drinks. Shop from the local artisans and vendors of the market and take home some juicy, fresh Creole Tomatoes and the memories of another great time in the historic French Market.

For a full line-up of the French Market Creole Tomato Festival, visit frenchmarket.org

 En español >> Cómo vender tu casa en 7 pasos

By Carolina Loreto

If you are considering selling your home, here are the seven steps you should follow for a successful sale. However, contact me to assist you if you still want some guidance.

 1 - Decide on a sales strategy

Selling a home is a complex process. You can do it yourself or hire a good REALTOR® who will know the best time, price, and method to list your home.

 2 - Decide on a competitive price

Your REALTOR® will help you determine the ideal pricing strategy for your home and local market. They will perform a comparative market analysis of recent home sales in your area. If the price is too high, this may discourage buyers. Setting the price too low can diminish your results.

 3 - Prepare your house for sale

This is one of the most crucial steps. Not all renovation projects are worth the cost, time, or money to complete. Some easy things to do are deep-clean the interior, repaint the walls and trim, and make necessary repairs. Hire a professional photographer for your listing. Quality photos can ensure that your home makes a good impression in online searches.

4- Put your house up for sale

Your REALTOR®  will list your home on your area’s local multiple listing service, or MLS. This ensures that you are seen by other agents with clients who want to buy and are listed on Zillow or Realtor.com.

 5 - Review and negotiate offers

Once you start receiving offers, let your agent advise you. The highest offer you receive may not be the best one. Some offers may include contingency clauses that could delay closing or cause a sale to fail. Your agent knows how to navigate this potentially tricky territory.

 6 - Understand your closing costs

Review your estimated closing costs before the closing day to prepare for the fees you will receive. Closing costs for sellers can be as high as 8-10% of the home’s sales price, and that amount is made up of your agent and buyer’s agent’s commissions, taxes, and fees.

7 - Close the sale

At the closing, you will sign all the legal documents related to the sale of your property. With the completion of the closing, you have achieved the sale of your house!

 Click aqui para español- >9 pasos para comprar su primera propiedad

By Carolina Loreto, Realtor®

Buying a home is an exciting process, but it can also be overwhelming. If you want to buy your first property, here are some steps to consider. In future issues, we will talk more in depth about each step.

1. Decide what neighborhood you want to live in. Familiarize yourself with housing costs in the areas that interest you.

2. Get your finances in order. Consider your income, debt, and savings. Check your credit score. A high credit score can help you get a low-interest rate.

3. Decide what type of loan is right for you. Different types of loans have advantages and disadvantages. They include conventional loans, FHA, VA, Jumbo, and others, which we will explain in upcoming issues. Talk to your mortgage lender for guidance in deciding which is best for you.

4. Get pre-qualified and pre-approved for your mortgage. The ideal time to obtain these documents is when you're ready to begin your search. Your lender will consider your income, expenses, assets, debts, and price range. A pre-approval letter shows sellers and real estate agents that you are a serious buyer who can obtain financing

5. Get a Realtor® or Real Estate Agent to work with you. It is essential to find a trustworthy agent who will provide information on the neighborhoods that interest you and is knowledgeable about the buying process and negotiations.

   

6. Make an offer. If you have found a house that meets your criteria, it’s time to make an offer. During these negotiations, your real estate agent is your best ally.

7. Inspection. The inspector will check the home for any defects that need repair. The inspection is essential because it allows you to renegotiate the terms or withdraw your offer if the report reveals significant problems.

8. Valuation of the house. The lender arranges for the home’s appraisal, which may affect the granting of the loan. An assessment estimates a home's worth based on a property's condition, comparable sales in the area, and public records.

9. Closing the sale. Your lender must provide the closing disclosure at least three days before closing. 

After all the necessary documents are signed, you are ready to move into your new home! 

I’m ready to take you through these steps and help you buy your next home. Call or text me at (504)232-0555.