’25 Creole Tomato Fest, June 8, 2025

There will be live music at the festival in New Orleans.


French Market Creole Tomato Festival

June 8, 2025

 

Free

Music Line Up:

French Market Stage
11am Burris
12:30pm Bogue Chitto
2pm Captain Squeeze & The Zydeco Moshers
3:30pm The Charmaine Neiville Band

Dutch Alley Stage
11am CryBabies
12:30pm Rhythm Method
2pm Johanna Rose
3:30pm Alicia Renee aka Blue Eyes

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Stage
1pm Zydeco Dance Lesson with Brandon Broussard
3pm Line Dancing Lessons with KWL Steppers

 

Click Here For More Information.

 

 

’25 Creole Tomato Fest, June 7, 2025

There will be live music at the festival in New Orleans.


French Market Creole Tomato Festival

June 7, 2025

 

Free

Music Line Up:

French Market Stage
11am Smoky Greenwell Band
12:30pm Becky Lynn Blanca & The Sweetie Pies
2pm Jenavieve & The Dreamboats
3:30pm Partners N Crime

Dutch Alley Stage
11am NPS Arrowhead Jazz Band
12:30pm Amber Rachelle
2pm Quel Che Sara Sara
3:30pm Fully Dressed Poboys

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Stage
1pm Zydeco Dance Lesson with Brandon Broussard
3pm Line Dancing Lessons with KWL Steppers

 

Click Here For More Information.

 

 

Spring Brings Hope for Buyers Amid a Shifting Housing Market

The spring homebuying season is shaping up to be more promising than what buyers have experienced over the last few years. With a growing number of homes on the market, slowing price increases, and mortgage rates that are trending downward — or at least stabilizing — the conditions are becoming more favorable for those ready and able to purchase.

Home prices have been rising at a slower pace compared to previous years, and in some areas, they’ve even started to come down. According to Realtor.com, the national median listing price in March held steady at $424,900, unchanged from the same time last year. In fact, in 32 of the country’s 50 largest metro areas, median listing prices were lower than they were a year ago. While the changes aren’t dramatic enough to fully ease affordability concerns, they do offer some breathing room to buyers who have been sidelined by the intense price increases of the past five years.

Mortgage rates, which have been a major barrier to affordability, remain elevated but are more manageable than they were just a few months ago. The average 30-year fixed rate dropped to 6.6 percent in April, down from over 7 percent earlier in the year. This slight but steady decline gives buyers a bit more room in their monthly budgets and the potential to qualify for better loan terms. If the broader economic outlook continues to weaken — partly due to new tariffs and global market instability — there’s a chance rates could fall even further, giving buyers a much-needed boost in purchasing power.

Perhaps the most noticeable change this spring is the increase in available homes. Active listings jumped 28.5 percent nationwide compared to last year, a sign that more sellers are entering the market and homes are staying available longer. As competition eases, buyers are finding more opportunities to negotiate. Sellers who might have expected bidding wars just a year or two ago are now more likely to offer concessions such as covering closing costs, accepting inspection contingencies, or even helping buyers temporarily lower their interest rates.

These changes don’t necessarily mean it’s a full-blown buyer’s market, but the balance between buyers and sellers is more even than it’s been in a long time. Buyers who are financially prepared are in a stronger position to shop without the same level of pressure that has defined recent years. Many are also taking advantage of temporary rate buydowns or planning to refinance down the road if rates drop more significantly.

However, affordability remains a serious challenge for many. Home prices have climbed nearly 50 percent in the past five years, and even with recent stabilization, they remain high relative to income. A household earning the median U.S. income would still need to spend nearly half of their annual earnings to cover the cost of a median-priced home — a share that is far above what the government considers affordable.

Still, the tide appears to be turning. For buyers with solid finances, this spring could be the best opportunity in recent memory to secure a home at a more reasonable price, with more options, and with less competition. Whether this moment leads to lasting change in the housing market depends on where mortgage rates go from here, but for now, home shoppers can feel a little more hopeful heading into the season.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Should You Pay Cash for a Home or Take Out a Mortgage?

More people than ever are showing up to the closing table with cold, hard cash. As of February 2025, nearly one-third of home purchases in the United States were all-cash deals, according to the National Association of Realtors. That statistic might make you wonder if skipping the mortgage and writing a check for the full price of a house is the smarter move. While paying in cash might sound like the fast track to homeownership, the decision is more complex than it seems. Whether you should pay cash or finance your purchase with a mortgage depends on your financial situation, your long-term goals, and the housing market where you plan to buy.

A cash offer means you’re using money you already have, with no need for approval from a lender. This can give you an edge in a competitive market, speed up the homebuying process, and save you thousands in closing costs and interest. On the other hand, taking out a mortgage allows you to keep more cash on hand for other priorities and potentially benefit from tax deductions and a stronger credit profile.

If you’re thinking about buying a home with cash, you need to be ready with substantial liquid assets. In addition to the purchase price, you’ll need to cover closing costs like legal fees and title insurance. The upside is you avoid lender-related fees and monthly mortgage payments. But just because you can pay in full doesn’t mean you should. The money used for a home purchase could instead be invested elsewhere or reserved for future financial needs like college tuition, retirement, or emergencies.

Cash buyers also enjoy peace of mind in terms of speed. Without loan underwriting or bank red tape, the transaction can close more quickly. Sellers often favor cash offers because they remove uncertainty and reduce the chances of the deal falling through. When every listing in your target area is receiving multiple offers, a cash bid might be what sets yours apart.

The savings over time can also be significant. When you pay in cash, you’re not just cutting out monthly principal and interest payments—you’re also avoiding the interest altogether. For example, buying a $425,000 home with cash instead of financing $340,000 with a 30-year mortgage at 6.5 percent could save you more than $430,000 in interest alone over the life of the loan.

However, mortgages come with their own advantages. Taking out a home loan allows you to keep much of your capital free for other uses. You might prefer to invest those funds in assets with higher returns, or simply want to maintain a cushion of liquidity in case of job loss or major repairs. Plus, mortgage interest is often tax-deductible, which can help reduce your tax burden if you itemize. On-time mortgage payments can also boost your credit score, which is helpful for future borrowing.

The decision becomes more nuanced when you consider the full cost of financing. On a $400,000 home with a 20 percent down payment and a 7 percent interest rate, you could end up paying over $446,000 in interest over 30 years, bringing your total cost to more than $766,000. That doesn’t include closing costs, which can tack on another 2 to 5 percent of the purchase price.

At the same time, a cash purchase that drains your savings might leave you financially exposed. You still have to pay property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance, and utilities—and you’ll need an emergency fund for unexpected expenses. It’s important to evaluate how much money you’ll have left over after the purchase and whether it will be enough to meet your ongoing needs and goals.

Choosing between cash and a mortgage isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s also about strategy and peace of mind. If you want to keep your money invested or available for other purposes, a mortgage might be the better choice A. If you’re debt-averse or want to win a bidding war, paying in full could be the right move.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best option comes down to what works for you—your finances, your market, and your priorities. Some buyers will find comfort in owning their home outright, while others would rather leverage their capital for long-term growth. In today’s market, where mortgage rates remain elevated, the decision becomes even more personal. As housing analyst Jeff Ostrowski put it, what looks smart on paper may not always feel right in real life. And when it comes to where you live, both logic and emotion deserve a seat at the table.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.