Mike’s Real Estate Show

Good morning!! How was the Real Estate Show this morning!!?? I’m writing this blog from the Best Buy booth at the National Association of Realtors trade show and exposition in New Orleans!! This trade show is one of the largest in the nation as our association is THE largest trade organization extant. Over 25,000 of us are here in New Orleans to network, learn new ideas to market your properties and help this beleagured city.

  My wife and I got in late Wednesday night and are staying at a lovely hotel deep within the French Quarter. This area went pretty much unscathed from the ravages of Katrina. If you look at an old map of New Orleans you can see the founding Fathers built on the only “high-ground” in this region. The Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, hence now flooding. However, on Thursday we had the honor to work on the City Park of New Orleans which is roughly one and a half times bigger than Central Park in New York! Their pre-Katrina staff was 220 to take care of this huge, lush park. Today? It is 22!! Yes, 22! They rely on volunteers to maintain the park and bring it back to life! Since their budget is from revenue generated by the 3 golf courses and events held in the park, it has almost disappeared as the 3 golf course remain fallow.

  So our Realtor community volunteered en masse for Habitat For Humanity projects in the newly developed, “Muscian’s Village” plus other area destroyed by the flooding post-Katrina. We toured these areas and the devastation is enough to silence a whole bus load of chatty Realtors. Block after block of abandoned, vandalized homes. They estimate in New Orleans and its parishes over 115,000 structures destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. Sobering numbers indeed.

  Yesterday we had appearnces by past President’s Bush and Clinton. They spoke at our Grand Opening Session and stressed the rebuilding still required for the town that knows no rest. They are a formidable team and sincerely look like they are having fun working together while raising the awareness of the work still needed to be done in the post-Katrina New Orleans.

  The Quarter though remains vital and full of life. We had a huge bash at the House of Blues on Saturday Night and I want to thank Mr. Pete Phillippee of obtaining one of these tickets for me. They were extremely hard to come by!! We also had our Certified International Property Specialist dinner on Saturday evening and I met with International Realtors throughout the world. Our Paris group, those Realtors who attended the CIPS courses in Paris, France, where in attendance. We had a mini-reunion. Great fun! If you ever wish to explore the World over for a second home, B&B, or Resort Property let me assist you. I have very good information on Nice, and all areas of France, England, South America. Panama and Costa Rica are very HOT right now. You can always call me at 800-959-7244, toll free in the nation, or email through this post.

  I’ve got to run and visit more of these booths at this enormous trade show. Then it’s classes until late afternoon and then at 9:00pm tonight–Dinner at Emerils!! Yeah, babe!