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St. Tammany/Washington Parishes Home Builders Association Membership Luncheon

When: Tuesday
December 3, 2013
11:45am – 1:00pm

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

What: Click Here for More Information.

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Louisiana Home Builders Association (LHBA)
PAC Fishing Tournament

Where: CoCo Marina
106 Pier 56
Chauvin, LA 70344

When: Wednesday, October 23, 2013
All Day

Click Here for More Information or Call 985-882-5002.

chamber

St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce
State of the Cities Breakfast

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

When: Thursday, October 31
7:30 – 9:00 am

Fees/Admission
$15 members only (register before October 10)
$18 members only  (after October 10)
$200 reserved table for 8

Click Here for More Information or Call 985-273-3008.

While the housing market is “bouncing off of the bottom” and now heading rapidly back up, home pricing continues to soar since it really had no other place to go but up after the market crashed in 2008.  According to the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index, home prices recorded their biggest gain since February of 2006.  Home pricing was also 12.4% higher in July than in July, 2012.

Article after article has been written regarding how current home pricing, home sales, new home sales, building permits, and new home construction are seeing numbers they have not seen since before the Recession.  And the record dates to which they are referring are now going back to 2006 and 2007 when the real estate market was thriving and stable.  To finally see these numbers which are on the rise compared to normal real estate market trends has home buyers and builders both breathing huge sighs of relief.  Even cities with the biggest losses during the Recession are seeing a bounce back in home pricing this past year: Las Vegas prices: 27.5% growth; Los Angeles prices: 20% growth; San Francisco prices: 20% growth; San Diego prices: 20% growth; and Phoenix prices: 18.9% growth.

The NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) reported a steep increase in builder confidence in June, 2013, rising 8 points to top out at 52.  Any number higher than 50 means that builders think the market is doing well; any number below that indicates a poor market (according to builders). As with other statistics which have been reported lately, this is the highest level of builder confidence since April, 2006.

Another number which is really good for the housing market is that 2.5 million Americans’ homes are now, no longer “underwater.”  This significant number is good for the US economy because it means that with the sale or stabilization of equity of and in these homes, consumers will now have their money “freed up” to put back into the economy in the form of spending.

As of the latest quarterly economic report, US job growth has included a huge growth of jobs in the construction sector.  Putting builders, contractors, and sub-contractors back to work will also stimulate spending in the economy, not only in the form of spending with builder vendors but also in retail spending.  These numbers and figures as well as economic growth are just in time for holiday spending in the 4th quarter.

Despite the slow pace of economic growth, consumer confidence is on the rise, and our society in general seems to be grateful for the slightest signs of improvement after having our sometimes lavish and luxurious lifestyles put on a tight leash because of the Recession. Any signs of life will help stimulate the US economy.

Click Here for the Source of the Information.

chamber

St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce
New Member Orientation

Where: Chamber office
610 Hollycrest Boulevard
Covington, Louisiana 70433

When: Friday, October 18, 2013
8:00 – 9:00 am

Fees/Admission
Registration Required
No Charge

Click Here for More Information or Call 985-273-3008.

 

chamber

Roundtable: Small Business Economy in St. Tammany Parish

Where: Chamber Office
610 Hollycrest Boulevard
Covington, LA 70433

When: Wednesday, October 9, 2013
8:00 – 9:00 am

Fees/Admission
Free for Members
$10 for Non-Members

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

chamber

St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce
Business After Hours

Where: Franco’s Athletic Club
100 Bon Temps Roule
Mandeville, Louisiana 70471

When: Thursday, October 3, 2013
5:00-7:00 PM

Fees/Admission
$10 members
$20 non-members

Click Here for More Information or Call 985-273-3008.

madisonville-museumMadisonville Historic Museum

When: Every Sunday, 12:00pm – 4:00pm

Sunday Dates in October, 2013

October 6, 2013
October 13, 2013
October 20, 2013
October 27, 2013

Where: 201 Cedar Street
Madisonville, Louisiana

What: Museum Hours Every Saturday and Sunday in Madisonville, Louisiana

Call 985-845-2100 for More Information.

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

When: Every Saturday, 9:00am – 1:00pm

Saturday Dates in October, 2013

October 5, 2013
October 12, 2013
October 19, 2013
October 26, 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 October, 2013

October 5, 2013
October 12, 2013
October 19, 2013
October 26, 2013

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

What: Click Here for More Information.