opinion

Jean-Paul Villere: The Incredible Hunker

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We might all agree the digital world is awesome till the power goes out. Suddenly you’re missing out on your next play on Words With Friends, status updates, tweets or what have you, but go ahead and scream because you’re miles from where anyone with a MacGyver-like sensibility (MacGyvine? maybe?) or open Radio Shack might hear you. No sir, the DTs of the smart phone come down ain’t nothin’ pretty, and at press time the Betty Ford clinic ain’t servin’ the likes o’ you. Okay, okay, you can always run out to your car and get some juice but duh, you only have so much gas and no gas station will be dispensing petrol any time soon during a weather event, if only because double duh they don’t have the juice to dispense.

business

Jean-Paul Villere: Fill in the Blanks: New Orleans is The _________est _________ City

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Monday morning I woke up with a crusty old ’90s grunge rock song rattling around in my head, which I suppose isn’t too big of a surprise.  It was “Overblown” by Mudhoney.  And unless you were or are a student of grunge, which I kind of was, or spun the soundtrack to the movie Singles more than a handful of times (guilty) you might never have heard this jangly noise bomb.  It drives a careening beat and rhythm accompanied by these opening lyrics:

Everybody loves us
Everybody loves our town
That’s why I’m thinking lately
The time for leaving is now

Hey, hey, hey, hey (x4)
It’s so overblown

That’s right!  In the history books of the future, New Orleans will be remembered as the 21st century American city that trounced the second decade, the comeback kid of the first quarter of that century.

city government

Jean-Paul Villere: New to New Orleans? Register to Vote (Please!)

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It’s no secret that politics in New Orleans can get dodgy fast.  As voters, we can blame ourselves only so much for a politician’s decisions or behavior.  “Don’t Blame Me I Voted For the Other Guy” a bumper sticker reads.  Or more locally famous “Vote For The Crook – It’s Important” when Edwards went up against Duke some years ago; Edwards won, and both have since spent time in prison. 

Between crime stats, budget concerns, and yes even and of course scandals, as citizens our vote does matter, but if you don’t register to vote, your voice silences completely; you effectively vote not to participate.  Unless you just never registered?  Which if you just moved here or are moving here, it’s a strong possibility, wouldn’t you agree? Yes, it’s a presidential election year too, but so what?  I’m talkin’ local, baby!  The things that affect you more immediately orbit here, not in DC.  Besides, I can tell you who’s going to win the presidential election anyway: the guy that raises the most money.  Pretty sure it always is.  Sad and pathetic this remains the reality too, regardless of however amazing or ridiculous either candidate may be.  Money.  Follow the money.  But I digress. Orleans Parish!  You either love it or hate it; there is no in between.  Your license plates might read Arkansas (and in some cases for two decades too many – there’s this car in this driveway Uptown, I’m not making this up), but you eat, sleep, and breathe here.  So mean it.  And, really, part of the reason you might have out of state plates older than the Internet might be precisely because you don’t participate politically enough.  The only pragmatic reason to maintain one’s non-Louisiana plates longer than acceptable happens not to be allegiance to another state, but allegiance to your wallet.  You don’t want to pay, so you don’t.  Pretty sure there’s a law against that too.  Something like six months, but when, how, and where it gets enforced, who can say? Back to my point: register to vote here.  While mounds of money on Capitol Hill will handily decide the victor this November, the same may not easily be said who will fill District B’s open slot.  Plus Mitch’ll be running for re-election soon enough, and you’ll certainly have an opinion therein.  At least, you should.  And don’t put it off!  Make a trek to City Hall and get involved.  Just keep your political preferences off your Facebook and Twitter too; no one wants to read how much you love or hate whomever.  Your “friends” may not tell you, but I will. Jean-Paul Villere is the owner of Villere Realty and the Du Mois gallery on Freret Street and father of four girls.

business

Jean-Paul Villere: Real Estate Myths 101

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As we warm into spring and the real estate market heats up, I’ve been reflecting on some recent conversations with buyers, sellers, and lessees.  Among the topics covered include agency, deposits, pricing, and on.  Not surprisingly there are more than a few misconceptions in navigating the world of real estate, so please embrace the following 10 myths as a sort of primary guide. (1) We have a verbal agreement, so it’s fine.  No, it’s not.  In Louisiana verbal means absolutely nothing.  Get it on paper.  Protect yourself and your goal, otherwise be prepared for the great possibility of being disappointed. (2) They won’t cash my deposit, will they?  Yes, they will.  Now, they aren’t going to spend it; after all, it is a deposit.  They’ll return it to you given the circumstance.  But the seller and their agent need to know you have the funds you say you have to proceed. (3) I know my house is worth more than that.  Is it?  Maybe.  A house is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it, appraisals aside.  Follow the market; don’t challenge it.  Just because your neighbor got what they got when they got it means very little.  Why?  Because the market changes every day.  And because like snowflakes no two pieces of real estate are alike.  So while you can compare and contrast them they are more dissimilar than the same.  Why?  From lot size to the nuts and bolts of roofing, electrical wiring, plumbing, etc., real estate possesses the distinction of distinction.  Apples and oranges all the way, though the biggest factor in value will always be the where and the unmistakable: location, location, location. (4) I don’t want to spend a lot on inspections.  And you don’t have to.  But you get what you pay for, so pay for a professional’s opinion.  It can save you a lot of pain and trouble further down the road, or it can provide you ease of mind as you navigate one of the biggest purchases you’re likely to make.  Get a home inspection.  Get a termite inspection.  Get a video of the drain line.  You’ll know just about anything you could ever want to know if you get these reports done and done by experienced and licensed parties.

arts, books and music

Jean-Paul Villere: How To Experience SXSW Without Going to Austin

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Whether you realize it or not, there’s an annual gathering in Austin, Texas, this week called South by Southwest, abbreviated SXSW for all those in the know.  Like all successful annual gatherings I’m sure it started out small, maybe in someone’s garage, maybe in a cow pasture; afterall, it is Austin.  Its primary purpose remains to promote new musical talent and revisit some icons of various genres as well.  Over the years SXSW has morphed from just music to music and movies to for the last little while, well, music, movies, and media, the latter a no brainer given the IT juggernaught the city is.  All in all, a perfect amalgamation for the Texas capital known as “The Live Music Capital of the World” that has spawned cinematic wonderment from big screen director darlings Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez, and even Mike Judge.  So what if anything does SXSW have to do with New Orleans?  In my estimation, two, and now even three, things really:

(1) Park The Van Records.  The label, the logo, the iPhone app.  While today New Orleans may not be synonymous with outstanding new rock, likely future musician historians will beg to differ.  Park the Van (or PTV) has tirelessly produced some of the more notable new music in an ever changing industry and done it largely in our own backyard putting own showcases year after year, playing venues of all dimension and even getting placement in JazzFest last year.  But also – – –

(2) Tour schedules.  All those acts clamoring to play for the hungry ears of SXSW travel there, and many by way of the Crescent City.  Some hit us on the way there, and some hit us after SXSW has ended.  Regardless of when, we invariably get some amazing acts on our local stages, acts that when they play Austin you’d maybe never have a chance of seeing due to said crowd clamor, and acts that because of SXSW New Orleans might not have been able to host. (3) Foburg.  New Orleans’ incarnation of what SXSW must’ve been like in its infancy.  Just a few years old now, it brought a great line-up this year, surely many of which their next stop like so many others will be Austin, clearly capturing at least some of half of point (2). Recently I asked PTV Label Manager Chris Watson his take on SXSW, and this is what he had to offer:
“SXSW is both rock n’ roll spring break for musicians and those who work for them, and an amazing opportunity to reach the music industry. It requires lot of work to make the experience something more than a party. Unfortunately, I think a lot of people think of SXSW as more of a lifestyle than a career opportunity, but that doesn’t mean that real business isn’t happening, it’s just obscured by a sea of Lone Star.  There are lots of great New Orleans artists headed this year.

opinion

Jean-Paul Villere: Moving to New Orleans

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Being in real estate, I respond to inquiries about moving to New Orleans almost every day.  Some are here presently and somewhat homeless while some won’t be here till Fall.  The average inquiry looks like someone new to the area, and excitedly shopping for May or June, because of a new job in queue.  The hardest to manage are the parental inquiries seeking accommodations for their barely out of the house undergrad child and their three “closest” friends.  Sigh.  Really?  Sounds like a thankless journey, that one.  Do you know how hard it is to get a 19-year-old and – or even 24-year-old – and their friends du jour to show up to an appointment at the same time?  Much less get them to agree on anything.  Who gets the biggest room?  Who gets which bathroom and who will they share it with?  It’s messy and overly time-consuming at best. Between GE’s recent announcement of job creation and the unprecedented boom in the film industry, new occupancy in New Orleans may be at an all time high.  Don’t forget that same 19-to-24 old set that have consistently set the bar higher for incoming freshman attendance.  Yes, universities have built more and more housing but perhaps not enough, given the ever-increasing academic need.  Various neighborhoods seem to be more and more priced out.  Not so long ago, Marigny equalled affordable.  Irish Channel too.  And this goes for rents and sales as well.  Once an area gets a pulse, the build-it-and-they-will-come mentality follows.  And you don’t even need a real grocery either.  Helllloooooo Bywater!  And just look at the Freret corridor.  No one would have ever thought this little street would be doing what it’s doing today, at least in the amount of time it has.