mandeville-trailheadMandeville Trailhead Community Market

When: Every Saturday, 9:00am – 1:00pm

Saturday Dates in December, 2013

December 7, 2013
December 14, 2013
December 21, 2013
December 28, 2013

Where: 675 Lafitte Street
Mandeville, LA 70448

What: A Farmer’s Market and Craft Market held at the Mandeville Trailhead.

For More Information, call 985-845-4515 or E-mail mandevillemarket@gmail.com.

covington-trace-community-market-tammanyCovington Trace Community Market

When: Every Saturday, 9:00am – 1:00pm

Saturday Dates in December, 2013

December 7, 2013
December 14, 2013
December 21, 2013
December 28, 2013

Where: The Pocket Park
400 Block of East Gibson
Covington, Louisiana

What: A Farmer’s Market and Craft Market held at the Covington Trace Trailhead.

For More Information, call Sheryl Landry, 985-898-0686.

covington-farmers-marketThe Covington Farmer’s Market

When: Every Saturday, 8:00am – 12:00pm (noon)
Saturday Dates in December, 2013

December 7, 2013
December 14, 2013
December 21, 2013
December 28, 2013

Where: Downtown Covington
600 Block of N. Columbia St.
Covington, Louisiana 70433

What: Click Here for More Information.

covington-farmers-marketThe Covington Farmer’s Market

When: Every Wednesday, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Wednesday Dates in December, 2013

December 4, 2013
December 11, 2013
December 18, 2013

Where: The Covington Trailhead
419 N. New Hampshire
Covington, Louisiana 70433

What: Click Here for More Information.

SMC LogoSt. Tammany Parish Home Builders Association’s
Sales & Marketing Council’s (SMC)
Holiday Party

When: Thursday, December 12, 2013
4:00pm – 5:00pm

Where: TerraBella Info Center
100 TerraBella Blvd.
Covington, LA 70433

What: Sales & Marketing Council’s Holiday Party

Click Here for More Information

48sttammany2b1d1

St. Tammany Parish Home Builders Association Membership Luncheon

When: Tuesday
January 7, 2014
11:45am – 1:00pm

Where: Benedict’s Plantation
1144 N Causeway Blvd.
Mandeville, LA 70471

What: Click Here for More Information.

chamber

Northshore Rising Professionals (NRP) Breakfast Meeting

Where: St. Tammany Parish Hospital
Conference Center
1202 South Tyler
Covington, Louisiana 70433

When: Tuesday, November 12, 2013
8:00 – 9:00 am

Fees/Admission
$14 members
$16 non-members
Register online or by calling 985-892-3216 ext 4

Refund/Cancellation Policy: Registrations are non-refundable unless canceled at least 24 hours in advance. Please leave a message if calling after hours or send an email to info@sttammanychamber.org. A “no show” is obligated to pay the full event fee.

Click Here for More Information or Call 985-273-3002.

chamber

B2B

Where: Chamber Office
610 Hollycrest Boulevard
Covington, LA 70433

When: Friday, November 8,  2013
8:00 – 9:00 am

Fees/Admission
Free for Members Only
Business-to-Business is open to 25 – 30 attendees.

Click Here for More Information or Call 985-273-3002.

chamber

Joint Business After Hours with East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce

Where: Louisiana Heart Hospital
64030 Highway 434
Lacombe, Louisiana 70445

When: Thursday, November 21, 2013
5:00 – 7:00 pm

Fees/Admission
No charge for this Joint Chamber event.

Click Here for More Information or Call 985-273-3002.

According to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB’s) Fall Construction Forecast Webinar (CFW) which featured three renowned industry experts: NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe, Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody’s Analytics, and NAHB Senior Economist Robert Denk; the net Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is predicted to increase from 1.5% in 2013 to as much as 4% at the end of 2015.  The Webinar, a new addition to the dissemination of information to the real estate industry nationwide, was held to present views on the outlook for the US economy and the housing market more specifically.

All three participants had some of the same basic views on the economy and housing market in general.  In addition the GDP being on the rise, private corporations are showing phenomenal job growth and hiring and are starting, once again to operate in the black.  This factor along with the housing supply being more than the demand, “upside-down houses” regaining their value, and banks paying back the money from the bailout are all good news for the real estate industry.

On a psychological level, consumer confidence and builder confidence has increased to records highs not seen since 2007 in the 1st 2 quarters of the year.  Also, the tight-fisted approach of American households throughout the Recession has eased as there is, for the first time in 6 years, an increase in the purchase of durable goods – cars, furniture, “big purchases.”  These expenditures go hand-in-hand with consumer confidence.  Even though the growth is extremely slow, across the board, there has been an increase in employment as well.

Trying to get back to “business as usual,” builders are getting aggressive about starting new inventory and custom homes.  They are running into obstacles not seen in the last 20 or so years during the housing bust – a shortage of labor, increase materials cost, unavailable materials (no one is keeping any inventory in stock), and, of all things, a shortage of lots.  Still, overall, the good news is that the reason for these challenges is because builders are in need of a supply that will have to increase to meet the demand, which will mean an increase of business and profit for vendors and sub-contractors alike.

Robert Denk pointed out the discrepancies of statistics from state to state.  Not all housing markets in all states were affected “equally,” so in some regions, stronger and significantly weaker housing market growths skewed the statistics unevenly.  Here in Louisiana, the real estate industry slowed noticeably for 2 – 3 years while in other markets, real estate has still not made a full recovery.  2013 has been a particularly strong year in real estate in St. Tammany Parish with sales and homes on the market increasing even from the 1st quarter to the 2nd quarter.

The only constant deterrant to a full recovery of the real estate industry is the problem of loan qualification for any buyer.  The loan process can be arduous and painful for home buyers as well as those looking to refinance.  Since federal regulations were put in place, the process for lenders, trying to adhere to the new rules, has been bogged down and full of obstacles.  Until credit restrictions and loan qualifying rules are “figured out” or eased, home buyers will still struggle somewhat on getting financing for their new home purchase.

Click Here for the Source of the Information.