Considering Relocation to LA (2013, rent, mobile home)

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by ScottB416

Thank you for the replies. All of these things sound great, even the semi-negative review!

Why?

"Land is dirt cheap and the locals(outside of the cities) are great folks. Food is good and gas station lunch is a real thing. Fishing is OK, but you're limited to fresh water and the gulf. Hunting is pretty good-deer aren't huge, but they're tasty. Bunches of turkey around too."

The sales tax is lower than where I've been living for the past decade and the homestead exemption is huge!

I will definitely look at Lake Charles as well, it sounds fantastic.

Funny how we all so different. Would never consider living in or near Lake Charles. Land is flat, Lake Charles is ugly and smelly.

[sluggermatt15]

Originally Posted by rgathrights

Send These People Your Resume Please!

Waste Management Job Opportunities: Sulphur, LA, Texas City, Port Neches, TX


Recreation:

1) Lake Charles is a great location for salt water fishing because North of the city is our saltwater barrier, which leaves the whole southern section of Calcasieu River open for brakish fishing.


2) Calcasieu Parish also has plenty of public game hunting areas too. Also have an outbreak of feral hogs if you like exploring rural areas with a few of us land owners.


3) Golden Nugget & L'auberge casinos bring in great entertainment opportunities, fine dining and concerts. Oh, and we park our fishing boats at the Nugget for a nice afternoon lunch after fishing.


SUMMARY:
If you like to work and play outdoors then Lake Charles could always use a few more good folks!

I agree with this post, South Louisiana is bountiful fishing, hunting, camping, birdwatching, boating, etc. for just about anything an outdoor enthusiast loves. Toledo Bend Reservior, about an hour north, has some of the best fishing around. Golf enthusiasts are pleased with the area as well, as LC has 5 courses.

The casinos are the major places of entertainment. They consistently have live music, concerts, etc. and are a popular weekend destination.

Originally Posted by abnfdc

I've lived here twice.

Why?

This place is hotter than hell and more humid than I don't know what. It takes 10 years after a hurricane to replace the blue tarps on the roofs regardless of when the insurance payout was, has an absurdly high sales tax, and the public paved roads are among the worst I have encountered in 45 years living in multiple states and countries. It is also the dirtiest state I have lived in, absolutely filthy as if nobody is civilized enough to not throw trash out of their cars or leave the old washing machine in the ditch next to the highway. Dirtiest city goes to El Paso, so ya'll are safe there.

Due to the sales tax issues here, I try to spend most of my money out of the state.

That said, I like it. Land is dirt cheap and the locals(outside of the cities) are great folks. Food is good and gas station lunch is a real thing. Fishing is OK, but you're limited to fresh water and the gulf. Hunting is pretty good-deer aren't huge, but they're tasty. Bunches of turkey around too.

The taxes, minus property tax, are relatively high. Sales tax (10.75%) is among the highest in the nation. Income tax is 6% on income over $50,000. What do you really get for all that? Nothing that I can definitively tell - the schools are terrible, road conditions are poor, the local government is corrupt like anywhere else, drainage needs improvement - to name a few issues.

The housing market has gone up drastically in the area over the last 3 years. You won't find a nice house for less than $250,000 in the area. You may even pay up to $300,000. Traffic and growth have been an issue with all the industry construction projects in the area. It used to take me 20 minutes to get to work. Now I have to leave much earlier and it takes longer.

[cj0065]

Would consider Lafayette over Lake Charles. It’s a bigger city and may have more to do. But you still can be in nice areas just outside the city such as Youngsville, Broussard, Carencro etc. that have a more small town feel. All nice growing areas. Something new popping up all the time. The people are generally very friendly and it has an okay active downtown.

It’s a college town as well so there is a sizable population of young people in the area. I see people fishing all the time out on boats in Henderson swamp area not too far away. There is also Lake Martin and I’m sure plenty of other areas though I don’t fish so I can’t name them all lol.

Lafayette is a more exciting bustling place. I think the only thing Lake Charles has over it is the casinos if you’re into that. But you can always take day/weekend trip for that any time. Plus other cities have casinos in Louisiana as well.

Worst thing is the traffic and drivers lol.

[AyeAyeCapn]

[quote=abnfdc;52891106]I've lived here twice.

Why?

This place is hotter than hell and more humid than I don't know what. It takes 10 years after a hurricane to replace the blue tarps on the roofs regardless of when the insurance payout was, has an absurdly high sales tax, and the public paved roads are among the worst I have encountered in 45 years living in multiple states and countries. It is also the dirtiest state I have lived in, absolutely filthy as if nobody is civilized enough to not throw trash out of their cars or leave the old washing machine in the ditch next to the highway. Dirtiest city goes to El Paso, so ya'll are safe there.

Due to the sales tax issues here, I try to spend most of my money out of the state.







The current date is September 15. It's 97 (real, NOT "feels like").



Consider the seasons in Louisiana like in the Southern hemisphere. May through September is when you need to huddle inside and stare out the window waiting for October through March.


I doubt homo sapiens lived here before the age of air conditioning.


Did I mention late August through eptember is like the rainy season in Cambodia?


I'd seriously recommend you keep looking at other states.

[Innotech]

I love the heat and rain personally. Beats the heck out of sleet and snow and bitter depressing winter. Summer may be a little uncomfortable but it rarely shuts down activities like icy weather does.

[hdwell]

Up in Shreveport the rainiest time is May and June. Driest is August and September. Yes it's still hot!

[cBach]

Lake Charles has the lakes and Cameron Parish with great crabbing/fishing nearby. It also has the casinos which have shows and entertainment.

Lafayette has the food and the culture but not as many recreational activities.

Both cities have amazing festivals. Contraband Days in LC, Festival International in Lafayette, and Mardi Gras in both places.

LC has more pollution because of the chemical plants but that is west of the Calcasieu River. Simply avoid Westlake, Sulphur, and Carlyss and all will be okay.

The land is best east of town if you want large open swaths of land.

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by cBach

Lake Charles has the lakes and Cameron Parish with great crabbing/fishing nearby. It also has the casinos which have shows and entertainment.

Lafayette has the food and the culture but not as many recreational activities.

Both cities have amazing festivals. Contraband Days in LC, Festival International in Lafayette, and Mardi Gras in both places.

LC has more pollution because of the chemical plants but that is west of the Calcasieu River. Simply avoid Westlake, Sulphur, and Carlyss and all will be okay.

The land is best east of town if you want large open swaths of land.

Having lived in south LA all of my adult life, I can say, without reservation, Lake Charles has nothing that would tempt me to live there..but, we are all different.

[DeanGuitarist]

Originally Posted by DeanGuitarist

Have a trailer and 3 acres for sale in Jennings area. We're wanting to move north.

Forgot to add...3 acres, 2 car shop and 2 car covered garage. Both 24x26. Quiet location, paved road. Near the water station so there's excellent water pressure. Quiet neighbors, fields in front and rear. Good for hunting duck. They use the fields for crawfish and rice. Catch your own crawfish. Nothing beats free crawfish during season when they are asking $45 on up for a sack of 35#. Open land for a garden or fence it for your beef. Or sheep. Or like us, we have a few goats. And chickens. There's a stream down the road to fish. Loads of places all over really. Straight shot to town, plus on same highway, jump on I-10 to go to larger cities. Roughly between Lake Charles and Lafayette.

[rgathrights]

Originally Posted by DeanGuitarist

Forgot to add...3 acres, 2 car shop and 2 car covered garage. Both 24x26. Quiet location, paved road. Near the water station so there's excellent water pressure. Quiet neighbors, fields in front and rear. Good for hunting duck. They use the fields for crawfish and rice. Catch your own crawfish. Nothing beats free crawfish during season when they are asking $45 on up for a sack of 35#. Open land for a garden or fence it for your beef. Or sheep. Or like us, we have a few goats. And chickens. There's a stream down the road to fish. Loads of places all over really. Straight shot to town, plus on same highway, jump on I-10 to go to larger cities. Roughly between Lake Charles and Lafayette.

EXCELLENT TIME TO SELL!


Put up a free listing on Craigslist and don't let anyone sucker you into a Bond-for-deed / lease or rent on this property.


I would sell that for no less than $175,000 in this crazy market. Wait and if no solid offers in 15 days then lower price to $150,000.



Above all else, put up a sign in the front yard FSBO with the price clearly on sign. Most of my property sales have come through drive bys or word of mouth reputation.



FYI, all of my realtor offers were just lowball offers with loads of conditions like having to warranty the sewer and water systems for several years after sale. Even worse with realtors were the looky-loo visits that I knew could not afford it or the looky-loos looking for reasons to offer lower.