Are you ready to play with a purpose?

Don’t miss the 15th annual Games of Acadiana!  Bring your kids to the Cajundome next Saturday to enjoy over sixty different games for all age groups.  Not only are the Games of Acadiana fun, they’re also helping raise money to help those who are fighting a battle against cancer.

Games of Acadiana was founded by Miles Perret Cancer Services (MPCS), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and support to thousands of families affected by cancer each year.

The first Games of Acadiana was hosted in 2001 by the family of the late Miles Perret, a young boy who succumbed to a brain tumor in 1996.  The Games were created to provide a fun, family-oriented atmosphere for kids of all ages to enjoy, while simultaneously raising awareness of cancer and fundraising to support those who fight cancer.

The first Games were such a major success that the Perret family launched Miles Perret Cancer Services a year later and continued to host the annual Games of Acadiana.  Now, fifteen years after the first Games, Games of Acadiana is the largest annual fundraiser for MPCS; since its conception, over 11,000 cancer-fighting families have been served.

Because Games of Acadiana is a free event, it takes the time and resources of thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors to make Games of Acadiana possible each year.   100% of donations go directly to Acadiana families in need.  MPCS is always accepting donations of all amounts–click here to see what your donation can do for a cancer patient.

The 15th annual Games of Acadiana will be hosted next Saturday, August 22nd, from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Cajundome.  If you are a cancer survivor, arrive an hour early to register for the Victory Walk!

---

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

 

Do you love art, wine, and music?  Then you’ll love ArtStomp!  Tonight, 2nd Saturday ArtWalk becomes ArtStomp, an arts festival celebrating local artists and the love of wine.  Enjoy a night full of grape stomping, wine tasting, gallery exhibitions, street animations, and live performances by Louisiana’s LeRoux and Parc Sans Souci!

Admission is FREE and open to all ages.  Head on over to Downtown Lafayette from 6PM to 9PM tonight and experience ArtStomp!

---

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

These US cities rank among the most affordable places to live in 2015.

1. Indianapolis, IN

Known as the “crossroads of America,” with six interstate and six U.S. highways, Indianapolis is accustomed to people just passing through. But those who decide to stay will be amazed by this place’s livability. With the amenities, culture, and luxury of a big city, Indy also maintains a friendly small-town vibe—and its residents usually get to work in about 30 minutes, no matter where they live.

Buying a mid-price home in Indy is not a very daunting a task, as homeownership generally takes 17% of the median household income, far below the recommended threshold of 28%.

On top of that, Realtor.com’s EasyToBuy Index indicates that 71% of all the listings in Indianapolis are affordable. To put that into perspective, Silicon Valley’s San Jose, CA, has only 8% affordable listings.

“Indianapolis is almost a secret to people sometimes, but we will see a lot more growth in the future,” said John Snavley, senior vice president of a local real estate company.

2. Memphis, TN

It may be world-famous for its dry-rub pork barbecue and Elvis Presley (the two are forever entwined in our imaginations), but an adequate housing supply and low mortgage rates also make Memphis a bargain hunter’s delight. With a median price of $168,000, you, too, can be a proud homeowner.

Memphis has also experienced material growth this year, with a year-over-year price appreciation of 9%, mostly due to a rush to buy up cheap foreclosure properties starting a few years ago, according to local broker Jules Wade.

“We’ve seen investment companies buying dozens of properties and renting them out,” Wade said. “It’s not clear whether they are going to maintain the properties; but so far it seems they are.” Note: That trend is slowing down, because there are far fewer foreclosures now compared with a couple of years back.

3. Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach, the mighty resort city on the East Coast, may seem an odd fit for the list—its $262,000 median list price actually puts it above the national level. But the place features a high percentage of available inventory, and being in the state of Virginia gives home buyers a great deal on mortgage rates.

Virginia Beach is certainly very affordable compared with its coastal counterparts. Note: Although it didn’t make the final cut, it was one of the leading candidates in our quest for the most affordable beach town.

4. Birmingham, AL

Up for putting roots down in the heart of the Deep South? The largest city in Alabama, Birmingham manages to maintain a good amount of housing at prices that are just right.

Buying a home in the Birmingham area takes about one-fifth of household income—a pretty good deal, especially for millennial buyers to move into homeownership. A 2% price appreciation in the past year also indicates a healthy, steady market.

5. Cincinnati, OH

The Buckeye State lands the biggest cluster—three affordable markets, including Nos. 8 and 10—on the list.

Home to big retailers Kroger and Macy’s, Cincinnati has a healthy economy that continues to click along nicely— unemployment remained at 4.6% in June, 0.9 percentage points lower than the national rate. And while the median income is on par with the national median, housing is much cheaper than the national average, with a median price of $166,000.

Buying a median-price home in Cincy takes up only 15% of the median household income, leaving plenty of financial room for family vacations after the down payment and mortgage payments.

6. Pittsburgh, PA

After a decades-long transition from a downtrodden industrial and manufacturing hub to a new economy fueled by small technology and medical companies, Pittsburgh now approaches the vitality of its Steel City days.

With the median list price in Pittsburgh at $158,000 in June, homeownership is well within reach of the median-earning household, with buying costs taking 19% of income.

7. Atlanta, GA

Smacked hard when the housing bubble burst a few years ago, Atlanta is now recovering at full speed. Despite being the ninth-largest metropolitan area in terms of household count, strong new construction activity helps replenish housing inventory quickly, keeping supply and demand in balance.

The area currently has nearly 50,000 homes for sale, the second largest in the country after the New York metro area. It also topped our list of markets where buying is better than renting.

While this is clearly one of the more affordable real estate markets, “Hotlanta” is also a market generally on the rise. In the past 12 months, list prices have increased by around 10%.

8. Cleveland, OH

In Cleveland (as well as Columbus, at No. 10), it’s largely the same story as in Cincinnati. Steady economies and low housing prices have contributed to healthy markets with about 70% affordable listings.

9. Detroit, MI

Detroit is a no-brainer for the list, given its well-publicized financial troubles. In June, the city’s median list price was $182,000.

But several signs offer hope that the Motor City may be gearing up for a comeback. Powered by low mortgage rates and relatively sufficient supply, home prices in the Detroit metro area are regaining some lost ground with a year-over-year appreciation rate of 8%.

10. Columbus, OH

---

Originally posted at: Realtor.com

Follow our blog: Lafayette Real Estate News

Our community is still in the healing process after the shooting that occurred just two weeks ago.  As traumatizing as it was, this experience has shown to the world Lafayette’s strength and resilience.  It has caused an entire city to come together to overcome.  It has affected us, but it has not changed us.

 

The Tragedy

On the evening of July 23, a gunman opened fire in a movie theater at The Grand 16 in Lafayette, injuring nine people and killing two before turning his weapon on himself.

Police responded within a minute, and medics arrived shortly after, loading up the injured and immediately transporting them to area hospitals.  Their conditions ranged from mild to critical.

News of the shooting quickly spread and shocked the US.  Lafayette, a city most had probably never even heard of, had just gained popularity in the most unspeakable way.

 

The Aftermath

In the minutes following the shooting, the news spread like wildfire.  Within hours, the story was being broadcasted on every local news channel and even in other states across the country.

We sat in our living rooms, glued to our televisions, clutching to our loved ones, anxiously awaiting any bit of news the Lafayette Police Department would release.  Time passed painfully slowly as we all waited, not knowing whether our children, grandchildren, parents, or friends had been hurt—or worse.

We were petrified.

This is Lafayette, Louisiana, the happiest city in the country.  Until that night we had only ever heard of such tragedies on the news or in movies.  Not once did we ever think it would happen so close to home, to the people we personally know and love.

Mayci Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33, were the two young women who did not survive the shooting.

Healing

The Grand was barricaded off.  Flags flew at half-mast.  In the days following the shooting, the ambiance of the city completely changed.  Lafayette, although still busy as ever, seemed to be at a standstill.

But we held strong.  Lafayette was not about to let some random act of violence define us.  There is strength in numbers, and when I say that the entire Lafayette community came together to heal, I say it without the slightest ounce of exaggeration.

Vigils were held nightly on campus and around the city in remembrance of the two young women who were killed.  A Facebook event was formed in response to rumors of a notorious organization threatening to picket the young women’s funerals.  Over 16,000 people joined the event, vowing to protect the privacy of the families of the young women by forming human barriers around the funeral homes.

Lafayette doesn’t mess around.

Fortunately, the human barrier was not needed, and the families were able to mourn in peace.

 

Return to Normalcy

Jillian Johnson and Mayci Breaux have been laid to rest.  The others who were injured are in stable condition and on the path to recovery.  The Grand 16 remains closed, although it is predicted to reopen its doors soon.

No one has come out of this unaffected.  Our hearts are still heavy for the families of the two young women whose lives were so abruptly taken.

But we continue to heal.  With each day that passes, we get one step closer to normalcy.  We will always be reminded of that one terrible night, but hopefully we will one day remember it as the time Lafayette came together in a time of darkness to remind the world that we aren’t just strong—we’re #LafayetteStrong.

---

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Just what does it take to be successful?  Of course, the idea of success is relative and varies from person to person.  It’s also multi-faceted and, unfortunately, doesn’t just happen with one magical or unique method.

It’s impossible to pinpoint exactly what it takes to have a successful life.  However, I think it would be safe to suggest that all successful people share two common traits:

 1. Persistence

Persistence is the firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.  Simply put, to be persistent means to never give up on what you wish to achieve.  This is important to success for obvious reasons; you’ll never get anything done if you don’t have the willpower to do so.

2. Happiness

This one doesn’t need a definition.  We all know what it means to be happy, yet sometimes on the road to success, we forget its importance.  You could be the most productive, rich, well-liked person on the planet, but if you’re not satisfied with what you’re doing, you are not successful.

So, at its most basic level, success is doing the things you want and that make you happy.  Keep this in mind for each decision you make.  Ask yourself:  Am I dedicated to doing this?  Does it make me happy?  If both answers are yes, then you’re on the right track!  As long as you’re happy with what you accomplish, you’re successful, in my book.

---

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News