Lafayette, Louisiana
Downtown Lafayette
Lafayette is a city on the Vermilion River in Lafayette Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Lafayette is the parish seat. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 110,257; a 2006 census estimate put the metro area`s population at 254,432, while in the same year, a census estimate put the city`s population at 114,214. It is the fourth largest incorporated city in the state. It is the principal city of the Lafayette-Acadiana, LA Combined Statistical Area, which, in 2006, had an estimated total population of 537,947.
The city was founded as Vermilionville in 1821 by a French-speaking Acadian named Jean Mouton. In 1884, it was renamed for the Marquis de Lafayette, who assisted the United States during its Revolutionary War. The city`s economy was primarily based on agriculture until the 1940s, when the petroleum and natural gas industry became dominant.
Lafayette has a strong tourism industry, attracted by the Cajun and Creole cultures of the surrounding region. It has one of the highest restaurant counts per capita of cities in the area.
The Vermilion River runs through the center of Lafayette. Other significant waterways in the city are Isaac Verot Coulee, Coulee Mine, Coulee des Poches and Coulee Ile Des Cannes, which are natural drainage canals that lead to the Vermilion River.
Sports
Lafayette is home to the Louisiana Ragin` Cajuns, the athletic teams of The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. It is also home to the Lafayette Bayou Bulls semi-pro football program which started in 2003. Between the years of 1995 and 2005, Lafayette was home to the Louisiana IceGators ECHL hockey team.
Sports venues:
1. Cajundome
2. Cajun Field
3. Blackham Coliseum
Military
Lafayette is the home of the National Guard headquarters of the 256th Infantry Brigade, a military unit of over 3,000 soldiers that served in Iraq in the years of 2004-5.
Government and politics
Since the consolidation of city and parish governments, Lafayette has had a city-parish president as its chief executive, rather than a mayor as it had previously. The current Republican city-parish president is Joey Durel. As the largest city in the seventh congressional district of Louisiana, it overwhelmingly supported U.S. representative Charles Boustany in his races in 2004 and 2006; he is a citizen of Lafayette. In 2004, residents of Lafayette cast 57,000 ballots for George W. Bush and 31,000 for John F. Kerry. According to the Bay City Center for Voting Research, Lafayette is the ninth most conservative city in the nation.
Buying or Selling a Home - Finding a Real Estate Agent by Hilary Basile
Buying or selling a home is probably one of the largest financial transactions you will ever have. It can be a complicated and time-consuming endeavor. Enlisting help from a real estate agent can ensure the process will be less stressful and more enjoyable. Following are the benefits of using a real estate agent and tips for finding a seasoned, knowledgeable real estate professional.
Real Estate Agent Benefits
Following are the benefits of using a real estate agent:
- 1. Preparing your home for sale. A full-service real estate agent can assist you with getting your home ready for sale by providing invaluable suggestions as well as pricing information for comparable properties to establish your asking price.
- 2. Advertising your home. When the time comes to list your house, a real estate agent can advertise, market and show your home to prospective buyers.
- 3. Negotiating the cost. Once you have an interested buyer, a real estate agent can help you negotiate with interested buyers as well as make arrangements for the closing.
What to Look for in a Real Estate Agent
Following are tips for finding a seasoned, knowledgeable real estate professional who understands local market conditions and has the specific experience to best meet your needs:
- 1. Interview several agents to determine which one best meets your needs. Don`t go with the first real estate agent you meet
- 2. Beware of hiring a family member or friend as a real estate agent. Although it would be nice to pass the real estate commission on to a loved one, it is ultimately best to go with a real estate agent with a proven track record in your marketplace.
- 3. Hire a full-time agent as opposed to someone who practices real estate in their spare time. Real estate transactions are complex endeavors requiring agents who are committed to your transaction and understand the ins and outs of the process.
- 4. Ask your selected real estate agent for a market analysis that compares your house to others on the market to ensure the agent you have chosen has done the proper homework and understands the nuances of your housing market.
- 5. Inquire about past houses your real estate agent has sold, including the list price, the actual selling price, and the average length of time it took to sell the houses.
- 6. Get references from their last three clients. Be wary if the real estate agent hesitates to give you this information.
- 7. Ask your real estate agent how they plan to drive traffic to your home in order to generate multiple offers.
- 8. Select a real estate agent you enjoy working with.
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life`s major events. Whether you`re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you`ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com
Find tips and resources for buying or selling a home at http://www.myguidesusa.com/buyingandsellingahome.
Source:
Basile, Hilary. "Buying or Selling a Home - Finding a Real Estate Agent." EzineArticles 17 September 2007. 05 November 2007 <http://ezinearticles.com/?Buying-or-Selling-a-Home---Finding-a-Real-Estate-Agent&id=735889>.
