Looking for something holiday-related to do on the Northshore this weekend? Check out these fun activities!

Santa makes an appearance at all of these events!

Mandeville- Winter on the Water: This is the 22nd year of Mandeville’s Winter on the Water– presented by The City of Mandeville and the Old Mandeville Business Association. The fun begins at 11AM this Saturday, December 7, at the lakefront gazebo. Gather ’round to listen to the Mandeville Elementary bell ensemble play Christmas tunes. You can also take pictures with Santa, have your face painted, and listen to Benny Grunch and the Bunch! Santa’s Walking Parade will begin at noon. This is a free activity that’s fun for the whole family!

Mandeville- Holiday of Lights @ the Koop Drive Playground: Celebrating its 20th year, the Holiday of Lights is a free, fun-filled event for the whole family. Festivities begin at 5:45 the nights of 12/6-7 and 12/12-14. Come out to the Tammany Trace Kids Town Pavilion & Kids Konnection Playground to enjoy spectacular holiday decor, twinkling lights, and free performances and kiddie rides. Santa pictures will be available and printed onsite for $20. While admission and rides are free, refreshments will be available for a charge.

Slidell- Christmas Under the Stars: On December 6 & 7 and 13 & 14, head down to Griffith Park in Olde Towne Slidell from 6-9PM for the 31st annual Christmas Under the Stars Celebration. You’ll have a chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, tour life-size Christmas cottages, sing songs, and enjoy lights, decorations and the Parade of Trees. Admission is free!

Covington-Christmas at TerraBella: This friday, 12/6, from 6-8:30, head out to TerraBella Village for their annual Christmas at TerraBella celebration. Featuring free admission, live music, hot chocolate, Christmas crafts, letters to Santa, and rides on the TerraBella express, this is a holiday event that’s sure to please everyone! For $10, you can take a pic with Santa, too!

Madisonville-Merry Madisonville: This Saturday, 12/7, from 2-8PM, you can celebrate the 11th annual Merry Madisonville, a day of fun for the whole family. Head to the Madisonville Town Hall because Santa arrives by boat from the Lake Ponchartrain Maritime Museum. Admission is free and you will also be able to enjoy caroling, activities and photos with Santa.

Do you know of any activities we haven’t mentioned? Comment below!

Local Restaurant Spotlight:

Sal and Judy’s

Lacombe, LA

Growing up on the Northshore, I’ve seen my fair share of restaurants come and go. To put it in south Lousiana terms, they might have been good but they ain’t there no more. Some, however, have withshood the test of time- Nuvolari’s still offers its upscale Italian on Girod Street, Fazzio’s still churns out its tasty seafood/Italian fare in Mandeville, and Morton’s is still frying seafood on Water Street on the Madisonville lakefront as they have been for almost 35 years! But my absolute favorite Northshore restaurant, still thriving after its inception in 1974, is Sal and Judy’s.

A dining experience like no other, Sal and Judy’s offers Sicilian-Creole cuisine with an unparalled depth of flavor that can only be described as sublime. I’ve been eating at Sal and Judy’s for 30 years and I’ve never once been disappointed. You might think I’m exaggerating, but I’m really not. From the hand-crafted cocktails to the myriad southern-inspired appetizers and entrees, to the Kentucky Derby pie for dessert, everything is always amazing. And, while some restaurants seem to embrace the “less is more” policy when it comes to portion sizes, Sal and Judy’s definitely subscribes to the “give them enough for a second meal” policy, so you never leave wanting for anything else. Trust me, the food is so good that you’ll wake up the next day incredibly happy to have that to-go box in the fridge.

Fair warning, if you’ve never been and feel inspired to go, Sal and Judy’s is NEVER not busy. You’ll need a reservation; especially around the holiday season. Because of its popularity with locals, it also exudes energy and, depite its white table cloths and professional waitstaff, is not a super quiet and low-key experience. What you’ll find when you’re dining at Sal and Judy’s is tables of people laughing and reminiscing, enjoying amazing food and life in general. Is it a great date-night restaurant? Yes. Is it where you go if you want to sit in silence and stare into your significant other’s eyes? Probably not. But if you want incredible food and courteous, professional service (much of the wait staff has been there since I was a little girl!), Sal and Judy’s can’t be beat.

Redfish with Nicholas Sauce and fresh green beans

So, on to the food. What exactly is so good about it? Well…everything! To me, though, the secret is in the sauce. Their sauces are beyond reproach. Their arguably most famous sauce, called Nicholas, is butter-based and loaded (and I mean LOADED) with lump crabmeat, shrimp and mushrooms. Speckled with green onions and parsley, it’s decadent without being overly rich and the ingredients scream fresh.

On our most recent visit, we tried a sauce we’d never had before- sauce Louis- and it didn’t disappoint! In fact, I think it’s my husband’s new favorite. Loaded with lump crabmeat, this creamy tomato-basil sauce was served over delicately fried eggplant, for the ultimate Cajun-Italian combination. Though I highly recommend trying a dish with a sauce, you really can’t go wrong with anything. From their fried seafood to their traditional lasagna, it’s all delicious.

One particular dish that deserves its own paragraph is the crab claw appetizer. Also offered in an entree size (for the die hard fans), this is my favorite dish of any restaurant…ever. It consists of dozens of meaty crab claws in a white cream sauce so delicious you won’t believe what hit you when you take your first bite. It’s served with a full loaf of warm, crusty French bread, perfect for slathering in the excess sauce. Need more bread? (Because carbs don’t count at Sal and Judy’s) They’ll bring you another perfectly warmed loaf without question…or judgement. So, I implore you, if you go to Sal and Judy’s, get the crab claws! You’ll thank me, I promise.

So, next time you are looking for incredible food in a warm and inviting atmosphere, I highly recommend you check out Sal and Judy’s. It’s been a Northshore staple for 35 years and I have a feeling it’ll still be here in 35 more.

Have you been to Sal & Judy’s? Do you agree with my review? Leave a comment below!

NEW LISTING!

$179,900 in Mandeville

3Bedrooms/2 baths
1560 sqft
ONE STORY! NO STAIRS!
Spacious den with fireplace
Split floorplan
Master bedroom with garden tub and separate shower
Covered patio and small fenced yard
Washer, dryer and fridge to remain
Condo fee includes exterior lawn maintenance and insurance, flood insurance, lawn care and termite contract
Located in premier Mandeville school district
Close proximity to Causeway, shopping, restaurants, churches and schools

Call Lynn @ 504-577-6802 or Lauren @985-602-9597 to arrange a private showing or message us on facebook at http://m.me/TheLarterTeam

Northshore Neighborhood Spotlight: Greenleaves

Mandeville, LA, 70448

The northshore is filled with so many beautiful neighborhoods! All are unique, which is great because what appeals to one person in a neighborhood might not appeal to another. You don’t have to look far to find a neighborhood offering what you’re seeking on the Northshore! The options are plentiful.

Today we are going to spotlight Greenleaves subdivision in Mandeville. We will admit- we are somewhat biased when it comes to Greenleaves because I (Lauren) grew up in Greenleaves and my mom (Lynn) still lives in our family home of 30 years. Whenever I reflect on my childhood, it is filled with the happiest memories of growing up in Greenleaves. I spent many a summer day fishing in the pond right around the corner from my house and riding my bike along the bike/walking paths. I made so many wonderful friends in my neighborhood– many of those friendships still strong today.

When you enter Greenleaves, you immediately notice the abundance of mature trees and the park-like setting. Not surprisingly, each side of Greenleaves Boulevard is flanked by gorgeous greenery. In addition, Greenleaves is home to 3 picturesque ponds, one at the front entry and two a small way from the front entrance. These ponds are home to families of ducks and, quite often, geese. Greenleaves also offers 2.6 miles of walking paths! At any point in the day, you can find families taking walks together along the paths, as well as runners and joggers out for exercise.

So, what else makes Greenleaves unique? Greenleaves is home to 1041 residences and, unlike most subdivisions on the Northshore, Greenleaves encompasses a group of 16 separate and smaller subdivisions referred to as parcels. A Greenleaves parcel is like a neighborhood within a neighborhood. Each parcel has its own representative board, but is ultimately under the governance of the Greenleaves Master Association. The GMA sets the deed restrictions and covenants by which all residents of Greenleaves must abide.

Each of these parcels is different from the other, and home sizes and prices within each parcel are similar to each other. So, for instance, the parcel of Cornerstone offers some of the largest homes within Greenleaves, while the parcel of Manor offers lovely condominiums that are smaller than detatched, single-family dwellings. Greenleaves parcels include single family detached homes, townhomes, condominiums and apartments. This means that Greenleaves can be an option for many people with a wide array of housing needs! Look through the pictures below to see how beautiful Greenleaves really is.

gazebo on walking path
walking path/gazebo
pond with fountain
walking path/pond
goose by pond
walking path
pond with fountain

Do you live in a parcel within Greenleaves and love it? Tell us which one and why!

🏡New Listing🏡 114 Windsong Place, Pearl River, LA 70452

This adorable, newly updated home has it all! It is completely move-in ready and is located on a quiet, dead-end street. It has never flooded! Features include:

4 bedrooms/2 baths
1590 square feet living
new flooring
freshly painted interior
3 cm granite
instant hot water
black granite under mount sinks
low decibel dishwasher and disposal
gas hookups behind stove
laundry room with built-in ironing board
office/computer area
large fenced yard with rear shed
carport for RV, boat or car storage

Scroll through the slideshow 👇👇👇

exterior
exterior
foyer/entry
spacious living room
living room
living room
living room
fireplace
kitchen
kitchen/living
kitchen/island
kitchen
kitchen
guest bath
guest bath
guest bath ceiling detail
master bedroom
master bathroom
bedroom 2
bedroom 3
bedroom 4
office area in garage
laundry room
laundry room
back yard
back yard
garage
carport

Contact us for your private tour of this beautiful listing! At this price and with these updates, it won’t last long!

Lynn Larter: 504-577-6802/LynnLarter@aol.com
Lauren Larter Heiman: 985-602-9597/Lauren@rerg.com
office: 985-898-5888
Facebook messenger: m.me/TheLarterTeam
Or fill out the info below and we’ll get right back to you!

Northshore Neighborhood Spotlight: Riverwood

(Covington, LA, 70433)

The Northshore is filled with so many beautiful neighborhoods! We want to spotlight different neighborhoods each week to show what the Northshore has to offer. What’s so great about our area is the ability to choose between newer neighborhoods and older, more established neighborhoods. There are benefits to both and it ultimately comes down to your personal preference. Love mature trees and a mixture of architectural styles? An older neighborhood might be for you. Prefer the low maintenace of fewer trees and more modern homes? You might want to concentrate your home search on a more recently built subdivision.

The Neighborhood of Riverwood

Today we are going to spotlight Riverwood subdivision. Riverwood is one of the most established subdivisions in Covington, having been founded 1964, but it is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods, as well. It borders both the Pontchitolawa Creek and the Tchefuncte River and its 344 homes are all situated on at least 1/2 acre lots. Located in Covington, but close to Mandeville and the Causeway, Riverwood offers great convenience to New Orleans commuters, as well. Driving through Riverwood, its easy to see why its one of the most beloved Northshore neighborhoods. The beautiful, mature trees make for a serene and park-like setting while the large lots lend a feeling of openness and space.

Amenities

Riverwood offers many amenities to its residents, including a pool, clubhouse, playgrounds, boat dock and boat launches. Riverwood does have a governing body called the Riverwood Improvement Association. Membership is mandatory for residents and the annual dues are $160. The pool, however, requires an additional annual fee of $230 for a family membership and $130 for a senior/single membership- not a bad price for the convenience of swimming right down the street from your home!

Home Ownership in Riverwood

As the square footages of homes in Riverwood vary greatly, so do the home prices. Currently, there are homes listed in Riverwood between $240,000 (with 2085 sq ft) and $620,000 (with 5307 sq ft)! So Riverwood presents home ownership opportunities for a wide range of potential homeowners. But one thing is common among every Riverwood resident- pride of ownership!

Check out some pictures of Riverwood and its great amenities!

gated entry to clubhouse/pool/boat docks/playground

Do you live in Riverwood? What else is special about it? What other neighborhoods would you like to see spotlighted? Leave us a comment below!

78371 Old Military Road (Hwy 1082), Covington LA, 70433

Welcome to Trinity

$2,195,000

Our newest listing, the 20-acre estate known as Trinity, is not just a house.

It’s an experience.

With a 3+ acre stocked pond, beautifully landscaped gardens, and gorgeous outdoor kitchen and entertaining area, Trinity offers what few others can: a relaxed, country atmosphere that is only 10 minutes from the heart of Covington, LA.

This home boasts over 5,700 square feet of living area and has been recently renovated so it feels like new construction. The downstairs features 3 bedrooms plus a very large office/playroom and upstairs you’ll find a huge bedroom with its own bath and closet. This could easily be a 5 bedroom house.

Every detail of this home was carefully considered, from the kitchen with the Wolf gas cooktop and Subzero refrigerator to the French oak flooring in the bedrooms. For additional space (not included in total square footage), this home features a separate storage barn with guest house. The guest house has one bedroom with living room, full kitchen and full bath.

Trinity really does have it all. Imagine driving through your gated entrance with beautiful, flowering crepemyrtle trees flanking either side of your private drive, catching a glimpse of your lush garden and serene pond in the background, and calling Trinity your home.

Separate guest house and storage barn:

Are you interested in viewing Trinity? Call Lynn @ 504-577-6802 or Lauren @ 985-602-9597 for your private tour.

5 Low or No Money Down Home Loans in 2019

Buying a house is a major decision. It might be the biggest financial decision you’ll ever make. However, I’m often suprised when people tell me they’ve just assumed they cannot afford to buy a house due to not having a ton of cash saved up. If you’ve been on the fence about buying a home because you fear you’ll need a hefty down payment, read on. You might discover buying is more within your reach than you’d originally thought.

But aren’t big down payments required?

Nope, not necessarily. One of the major factors keeping many from buying is the (often incorrect) mindset that it’s simply not financially attainable. The average down payment for first time home buyers, according to the National Association of Realtor’s Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, is only 6%. Yet, when polled, 87% of people think at least a 10% down payment is needed. But did you know there are loans that require a down payment even less than that? Some even require ZERO down payment. Let’s talk about 5 of the major options in 2019.

FHA Loans

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which was created to make home ownership more attainable to the average American after the Great Depression, only requires a 3.5% down payment. FHA loans are guaranteed (insured) by the federal government and are a very popular option because federal backing allows lenders more flexibility in the challenging and often frustrating underwriting process. These loans require not only lower down payments but also a less stringent (580) credit requirement. Many people who assume they can’t afford the down payment on a house might actually be within easy reach of home ownership because of the FHA option.

USDA Home Loans

Maybe you feel like you’re ready to be a homeowner but would prefer not to put anything down at all. If that’s the case, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has the USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Housing Loan Progam that requires zero down payment. These loans are available to eligible to persons buying houses in rural or suburban communities. Besides requiring no down payment, the interest rates are low, as well. Like FHA loans, participating local lenders issue these loans and the USDA guarantees the mortgages. Also like FHA loans, Rural Development (RD) loans will require buyers to pay a mortgage insurance premium. The USDA also issues loans directly (not through a lending institution) for low and very low income applicants. The interest rates on these loans can be as low as 1% after subsidies are factored in. To qualify for one of these loans, income limits apply and are different according to where you live and the size of your household. To find out more about RD loans, and to determine eligibility, follow this link:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/la

VA Loans

Guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, VA loans are available to active duty and honorably discharged service personnel, spouses of service members killed in the line of duty, and men and women who spent 6 or more years in the Reserves or National Guard. VA loans require zero down payment and no mortgage insurance. They also allow for loan sizes of up to $726,525 in high-cost areas.

HomeReady Loan

This loan is different from the previous 3 in that it is a conventional loan; meaning it is not government insured. The goal of the Fannie Mae HomeReady loan program is “to put low- to moderate- income borrowers with good credit in homes for as little as 3% down.” According to Fannie Mae, the ideal HomeReady borrower-

has low-to-moderate income
is either a first time or repeat home-buyer
has limited cash for a down payment
has credit score greater than or equal to 680
has supplemental boarder or rental income
is looking for low-cost refinancing option

Unlike FHA and USDA loans, the HomeReady loan has mortgage insurace that is cancellable once the borrower’s equity in the home reaches 20%.

Conventional Loan 97

While at least 5% down was once a standard requirement by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, borrowers can now acquire a conventional loan with as little as 3% down. While FHA loans can be a great option, it’s nice to have an alternative with lower upfront fees and non-permanent mortgage insurance. Here are the guidelines to qualify for this loan:

debt-to-income of 41% or lower
$424,100 maximum loan limit
minimum credit score of 620
one of the borrowers can not have owned a home within the past 36 months
owner-occupied buyers only (you can’t buy it to flip or rent out)
can be single family, PUD, condo, town homes and CO-OP
maximum loan-to-value ratio of 97%

For the Conventional 97, a friend or family can gift the cost of the down payment, which is not allowable under certain other loans.

So, there you have it. These loan programs are current and some are relatively new and gaining popularity. It’s easy to see why. Gone are the days of parting with every penny you have saved for your down payment. I hope you’ve found this article enlightening. Questions about any of these programs? We’d be happy to assist. We want to make home ownership a reality for as many people as possible!

*all information contained in this article is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Northshore Easter Bunny Photo Opportunities

Hi all! With Easter quickly approaching, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the upcoming local opportunities to take pictures with the Easter bunny. We are lucky to live in an area that affords us ample opportunities to carry out this much-loved tradition. Please note that the popular Southern Hotel in Covington’s bunny photo sessions have completely SOLD OUT. Here are some other local opportunities that are still available:

Friday April 5 from 5-10PM-OLDE TOWNE CRAWL– located in Olde Towne Slidell across from the soda shop. Pictures are free!

Saturday April 6 from 1-4pm- THE CANDY BANK– 201 Carroll Street in Old Mandeville. Photographer Steve Randon will be offering 4×6 photos.

Saturday April 6 from 9-11AM- CROSSGATES SPRING FLING– Gause Blvd location in Slidell. The bunny will be available for photos and an $8 admission includes lots of other fun activities!

Saturday, April 13 10-12:30AM- EASTER AT THE MARKET– located at the Mandeville Trailhead. Photos and many other activties for the family to enjoy.

Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14 from 12-4PM- PETSMART– The Mandeville PetSmart will offer free bunny photos with your pet and the rest of your family!

Saturday April 13 from 10-12- NORTHSHORE PARENT EASTER EGG HUNT- your $5 admission (for everyone over age 6 months) will include activites and a picture taking station with the Easter bunny.

LEARNING EXPRESS MANDEVILLE– will host a second round of bunny pics at a date and time to be announced, so stay tuned for that information.

Did I miss one? Fill us in below! Take care and Happy Easter!

St. Tammany Parish Public Elementary Schools: Quick Reference Table

St. Tammany Parish has one of the top rated public school systems in the state. According to the STPPS official website, 100% of teachers are certified and 53% have a masters degree or higher. Every classroom is internet accessible and all campuses are wireless. What’s more, all schools have perimeter fencing and a visitor photo ID system, and there are 1,250 security cameras in schools throughout the parish. Additionally, every bus is equipped with security cameras with 2 way radios. Last year, the 2, 419 St. Tammany Parish graduates were offered more than $100 million in scholarships and TOPS funding, and the average composite ACT score was 21.7, which exceeds the national average.

We are often asked for information on the various public schools within the parish. For many, public schools are an important factor in deciding where to purchase a home. In fact, people often make the move to St. Tammany specifically to access high quality public education. However, with 55 public schools, it can be an overwhelming task to compare each school. We have compiled data from various sources into a concise table, so that each public school within each city can be easily referenced. Included is the school name, location, rating (as assessed by greatschools.org; 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest), grades served, total number of students, and the number of students to each teacher. The table presented below contains the public elementary schools in St. Tammany Parish. Middle School, Junior High and High School tables will be presented in subsequent articles, so stay tuned!

Do you have information on any of the schools that are currently unrated, or would you like to add something about any of the schools? Drop a comment below!

**The ratings for each school are from greatschools.org, a nonprofit organization whose mission is, “to help all parents get a great educaton for their children and for communities to ensure that all students receive a quality education.” While these ratings are backed by the research of this nonprofit, they do not necessarily reflect our opinions; we are providing them as an objective way to assess each school. All information contained in these tables is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Sources for this content include www.greatschools.org, www.schooldigger.com, and www.stpsb.org