New Traffic Circle at Highway 1077 Eases Traffic for Bedico Creek

The much anticipated traffic circle at Highway 1077 and Bootlegger Road (Highway 1085) has been started by the St. Tammany Parish Department of Transportation.  This crucial junction adjacent to the Archbishop Hannan High School, a renowned private school just south of Bedico Creek, has much traffic as subdivision and industrial growth continues construction north on Highway 1077. 

There are actually 2 major intersections on 1077 which greatly affect the traffic for residents and employees that use this road.  The second junction is north on 1077 at Highway 190.

Although there has been much talk of building a second roundabout at Highway 190, the only one currently under construction is the one at 1077 and Bootlegger Road.

Bedico Creek Preserve, a new home, masterplanned community in St. Tammany Parish, is located out Bootlegger Road (Highway 1085) just 3.2 miles from Interstate 12.  This new community features lots and new homes for sale, and 11 individual Neighborhoods have been built and developed with lots for sale with 2 more Neighborhoods coming online during 2016.  Bedico Creek already has over 200 new residents in our community, so the traffic circle being built at 1077 and 1085 is a welcome relief for those residents that commute to work and have to travel that road twice a day.  With a convenient location near the city of Covington, Highway 21 and all of the new and existing shopping and dining, and its short distance from the interstate, Bedico Creek offers “ease of use” for our

homeowners.

The road construction is being done by Kort’s Construction Services with land clearing and utility relocation being completed in the first phase of this $3.2 million project.  The St. Tammany Parish government plans for the utility location to be done by the end of 2015, and all road construction to be done by fall of 2016.  In addition to being a huge benefit for the current and future homeowners at Bedico Creek Preserve, the new traffic circle at Highway 1077 should also help with school traffic and industrial traffic north of the traffic circle.  In fact, a new Fed Ex distribution center is being built just northwest of the private high school as well.

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More Homes Are Being Built to Supplement the Housing Inventory Shortage

A shortage in homes and a strong job market in the Greater New Orleans area definitely strengthened the housing market, especially in new home construction and the advent of new subdivisions. Solid hiring in the job market, low mortgage rates and easier credit conditions have driven the demand for new home buyers to purchase a new home for sale. The Greater New Orleans area alone represents 20% of the new jobs that have been created this year in the state of Louisiana which has led to the strong home sales on both the north shore and the south shore.

West St. Tammany Parish has seen a decrease in housing inventory making the average sales price increase.  The housing market in general is leaning more towards a seller’s market because of the lack of supply of homes for sale.  This lack of inventory in homes priced from $190,000 – $300,000 is causing a bidding war pulling the average sales price for metro New Orleans up by 7.8% from $197,300 to $212,610. New Orleans has seen an increase from 21,954 homes sold annually in 2010 to 30,322 in 2014. Homeowners are starting to realize that this is the time to sell, and for home builders now is the time to build new homes for sale in St. Tammany Parish on the northshore.

On the flip side, home buyers will not have long to wait because more homes are being built which means the inventory problem will start to correct itself. According to Richard Haase, president of NAI/Latter & Blum, who reported at the UNO/Latter & Blum Economic Outlook & Real Estate Forecast Seminar for the Northshore Region, which was held at the Clarion Inn & Suites Conference Center in Covington, ”There’s a lot of pent-up demand,” he said, because tight lending standards have kept potential buyers out of the homebuying market, even as the economy recovered. ”For the next one or two years, I’m extremely optimistic about housing prices and housing affordability,” Haase said. ”We’re in a very healthy supply-and-demand market.”

Bedico Creek Preserve in Madisonville, Louisiana, offers new homes for sale that could plug the dearth of homes priced from $190,000 – $300,000.  Two neighborhoods being built in this master planned community in St. Tammany Parish offer new homes for sale from the $230’s – $300’s. 

These two neighborhoods are called Cypress Crossing and Deer Park.  Also, if you purchase one of our lots for sale in the Garden / Courtyard section of this St. Tammany Parish subdivision, you can build a home starting from the $290’s.  For more information about our homes for sale, Contact Bedico Creek at 985-845-4200 or E-mail Info@LiveBedico.com.

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The Opportunity to Learn Construction Skills for Students in St. Tammany Parish

World Changers, an entity of LifeWay Student Ministries, provides mission experiences for students looking to serve others and share the gospel.  By interacting with churches in different communities throughout the United States, students have the opportunity to learn construction skills such as sheetrock, painting, siding, roofing, windows & doors repair or replacement, interior repair / renovation projects, wheelchair ramps, fencing, landscaping, and

disaster cleanup.  They also learn leadership skills which will help them with not only future mission trips but also future education and professional opportunities. The

World Changers program began in 1990 and has expanded to 67 North American locations as well as international locations.  In 2011, World Changers  became a part of LifeWay Student Ministries which expanded the number of students involved as well as the church networking opportunities.
World Changers along with Northshore Baptist Association, Southern Baptist Association, Kent Design+Build and the St. Tammany Parish government will aid in this year’s project in St. Tammany Parish. A federal grant through the Community Development Block Grant program will be used to purchase $30,000.00 in lumber, paint, doors, windows and all other materials needed for the volunteers to get the job done.
This is the 4th year in a row that volunteers from around the country will repair and fix up homes for low and moderate income home owning families in St. Tammany Parish. Twelve homes in the community were chosen via an application process and the majority of the homeowners are disabled and/or elderly.


The 150 volunteer teens and adults from around the country will be housed at First Baptist Church in Covington. The volunteers’ week of construction work such as painting, scraping, demo and repair of these homes.

“We welcome the World Changers group back to St. Tammany. They have made such a difference in so many people’s lives over the past four years, and we cannot thank them enough,” St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister said. “Collaborative efforts like these between public, private and faith-based organizations, make our community stronger, improve our quality of life, and benefit everyone involved.”

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Premier St. Tammany Parish Master Planned Community

Bedico Creek Preserve, a premier master-planned conservation community in Madisonville, is nestled among nearly 500 acres of green space, lakes and ponds. Preserving and caring for the natural environment and wildlife is a top priority here. Life moves at a slower pace and there’s a healthy respect for the innate beauty of land and water. More than 200 acres of parks, 20+ acres of lakes and water features, a 375-acre nature preserve, and many natural amenities make it a thoughtful choice for discriminating homebuyers.

Driving into the community, the well-appointed main entrance is accented with twin sugar kettle waterfalls on either side and a wide thoroughfare crosses a quaint wooden bridge over Bedico Creek. Passing the gatehouse into the community, even the casual visitor will notice a careful cultivation of the atmosphere of the Northshore of yesteryear.

Inside the community you’ll find a collection of neighborhoods surrounded by thoughtfully planned, man-made amenities. The Rod & Paddle Club complex overlooks a sparkling lake and features the community swimming pool, a large party pavilion, a picnic area with colorful wind sails, a quaint fishing pier, a nine-hole disc golf course and an outdoor fire pit at Sunset Point.  It’s an ideal place for outdoor entertaining, leisurely paddling a canoe on the lake, or spending time with family and friends.
A rustic trail system for hiking within the wildlife preserves of the community and 3.5 miles of lovely paved walking/hiking/biking trails gracefully meander through the surrounding neighborhoods.  These trails connect parks, lakes, ponds and nature preserves to the neighborhoods, making it easy and convenient for homeowners to enjoy their natural surroundings.

Bedico Creek is not just another typical subdivision. It’s a community comprised of beautifully designed new and custom homes, located in individual neighborhoods that range in price from the $230’s to more than $1 million. Multi-generational families will find neighborhoods that suit first-time homebuyers just starting out, growing families, or retirees looking for a low-maintenance, carefree lifestyle.

Deer Park offers smaller lot sizes and square footage homes from the $230’s to $260’s. Courtyard and Garden feature low-maintenance garden homes that begin in the $290’s.  Larger lot neighborhoods like Cypress Crossing, Lakeview, Longview, and Preserve are made up of single-family homes for growing families from the $300’s to the $500’s. Heron Point (just opening this Spring with its own gated access), Estates and Manors were created with upwardly mobile families in mind. These homes start in the $480’s and exceed $1 million.  Two new neighborhoods, Nature Walk and Heron Lake are slated to open later this year. All of them have water or nature views available. Most offer the availability to invest in a lot and build on it in the homeowner’s time frame.

Building a new home is a very important investment of time and money. Every one of the recommended builders at Bedico Creek Preserve has gone through a careful screening process to ensure that buyers are going to get some of the best, most qualified builders in the area. These preferred builders are ready to design and build homes on a lot purchased by the homeowner, or homeowners can use their own plans and builder in most neighborhoods, with approval by the Architectural Control Committee.

Located on Highway 1085 in Madisonville, in the booming I-12 Corridor, Bedico Creek is just minutes from shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and healthcare facilities, with more being added each year.  Homeowners with children have access to some of the best public and private schools that St. Tammany Parish has to offer.

Bedico Creek is a David Waltemath development. During the past twenty-five years he has created many extraordinary Gulf South communities, including English Turn, The Estates of Northpark, Highlands of Santa Maria, and Green Trails in Baton Rouge.  His track record of success and commitment to the community speaks for itself.

Several stunning new homes will be showcased at Bedico Creek Preserve in this year’s Northshore Home Builders Association Parade of Homes. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore this exceptional community, its stunning homes and beautiful neighborhoods.  See for yourself the value of building your future at Bedico Creek. Bring your Realtor, if you like; they’re always welcome.  More information is available about this fast growing, premier St. Tammany Parish master planned community by e-mailing Info@LiveBedico.com or calling 985- 845-4200.

Energy Efficiency Saves in Small Measures

In order to have a proper perspective of how much energy saving measures will have in your new or existing home, you have to know the paramenters of energy saving capability as well as have the right expectation for the process going into it.  If you live in a much older home, built in an older neighborhood during a time when real estate was not as “coded” as it is today, you can expect to see a more dramatic increase in savings after spending more money up front to make changes.  This is because building codes are truly on the cutting edge of emerging green techniques which are constantly promoting more structurally sealed homes with low-energy, efficient technologies installed in them.  The savings really do add up, though, through a combination of several energy saving techniques.  Home buyers and homeowners can be assured that energy efficiency saves in small measures that over a year’s time give a return on investment.



Start Simple
Because the process of building is an imperfect process (no matter how detail-oriented your builder is) performed by mutliple contractors who “touch the job” once and then leave, you would be amazed as to how much small spaces and leaks allow air and moisture into your home.  To begin the energy efficiency process, you will want to seal your home as much as possible by caulking and sealing the spaces around your plumbing pipes, electrical systems, light fixtures, and windows as well as the unused portions of your home which can include your attic or crawl space below.  By closing up these areas to air and moisture, you can reduce the amount of air it takes to heat and cool your home.

Work on Major Systems When Possible
HVAC systems are notorious for being big energy suckers, so if you have the money to invest in a completely new system which would include an overhead air conditioning and furnace system (the most energy efficient way to heat and cool your home), you should do so.  If you don’t have the finances for such an expense, having a contractor come out for a service call to inspect your ductwork for blockages or leaks will make sure that your ducts area as efficient as possible.  Clean ductwork allows better airflow which heats and cools a space more quickly.

Small Changes Make a Big Difference
While you are inspecting and focusing in on your HVAC system, you will also want to immediately replace your thermostat if you do not already have an electronic thermostat.  Electronic thermostats can run from $28 – $120 depending on how quality or complicated you would like them to be.  This is a small investment which makes a HUGE difference in your heating and cooling bill.  Buy purchasing a programmable thermostat, you are able to control your home’s temperature when you are home, away at work, or sleeping to keep your heater or air conditioner from “running all day.”

Change Your Ambiance and Save Energy
Another suggestion as a way to reduce the amount of energy used in your home is to replace all of your light bulbs with bulbs that are either CFLs or LED lights.  However, if you are affected by lighting and the ambiance it provides, you could end up spending a lot on the front end to get the desired lighting affect you would like with LED lighting – the closest lighting alternative to old fashioned light bulbs.  If you aren’t picky about lighting, the new CFL light bulbs are energy efficient and last longer than old fashioned bulbs and are becoming more affordable as well.

Adjust Your Temps During Warmer Months
The last energy savings idea to use is to reduce the water temperature on your hot water heater.  “Out of the box,” hot water heaters are programmed to approximately 140 degrees.  If you reduce this to 120 degrees, you can save on heating expenses.  Also, by insulating the pipes on your hot water heater and the pipes going into either the wall or the floor, you can maintain the heated water as well.  While this might be a good idea during warmer spring and summer months, you may want to increase the temperature again during colder weather months because the air temperature feels cooler when you shower or bathe.

By using these energy efficient techniques altogether, you can drastically reduce the amount of money you spend each month on your energy bills.  If you are only able to do a couple or few of the ideas at present, your savings will be less.  However, any money saved is money that can be used for other life necessities in a tough economy.

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FHA Reducing Loan Costs for Credit Challenged Buyers

There is no question that the Recession affected both the mortgage industry as well as the home buying process when it comes to obtaining a loan to buy a new home.  Mortgage companies, lenders, and banks had their feet “held to the fire” and were required to jump through multiple hoops in all categories and steps to the loan procurement process.  Even now, on average, it takes 6 weeks to 3 months just to refinance your existing home even if you have (and have had) a steady job, money in the bank, equity in your home, and excellent credit.  The strict requirements that lenders are applying

to loan applicants are also being applied to their own corporations with stiff penalties and sanctions in store for any bank or mortgage company that even comes close to “bending the rules.”

With that being said, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac who were able to restructure and survive the housing market falter have now found a way, along with the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) to finally bring some relief to first-time home buyers by offering loans with either a 3.5% or 3% down payment of the loan.  Now, the FHA has reduced the cost of its loan for first-time home buyers, dropping from 1.35% of the loan value to just .85% of the loan value.  The FHA provides an affordable loan to all home buyers and does not, for the most part, discriminate against home buyers who are “credit challenged,” those who may have a less than stellar credit score.  Therefore, as long as you are above the threshold of the credit score required by the FHA, your loan cost will be the same whether you are 5 points above the threshold or 200 points above the threshold.

FHA loans are the most beneficial for custom home buyers who cannot afford a 10% down payment on their loan, who may have had struggles with credit in the past, and first-time home buyers.  Fannie

Mae and Freddie Mac were established just after the Great Depression as lenders backed by government bonds in order to allow low-income Americans to be able to buy a house.  They have since privatized and restructured, but they are still focused on helping low-income or struggling families afford and pay for their new house.  With the latest reductions in down payments and loan costs, it could now be affordable and plausible for younger professionals to graduate from college, start their careers, and form their own households by buying a new home for the first time.

If you are in the market for a new home to buy in St. Tammany Parish on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, Louisiana, come Visit Bedico Creek Preserve in Madisonville, Louisiana to view 9 new Neighborhoods of Homes for Sale within our masterplanned community just outside of Covington, LA.  We have 18 builders building new and custom homes in our subdivision.  Many builders can and will build any size or type of home that meet our architectural standards.  Call 985-845-4200 or E-mail Info@LiveBedico.com today to find out more about our new home community!


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Residential Construction is Environmentally Friendly

In the past 10 years, new single-family and multi-family structures are trending more energy efficient, spending less energy and emitting fewer greenhouse gases.  During the 1950’s and 1960’s, the United States started to really develop huge residential sections of cities and towns.  Neighborhoods and subdivisions began to pepper the landscape with many houses in a row.  These homes typically had unique and open façade with front porches and tree-lined sidewalks for neighbors to spend time outdoors and interact with each other.  Subdivisions and communities today are harkening back to these times by building what developers are calling Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TND’s), master planned communities with a town center and homes built with rear alleys for rear-entry and side-entry garages.  Because of the types of homes that were built in the 1950’s to 1980’s, the homes tended to be smaller but did not have the advantage of the energy efficient, green building techniques of modern-day builders.

Beginning at the end of the 1980’s, builders started building single-family residences that were much larger than previously built homes.  These homes were more sprawling, typically had two stories and more square footage.  These homes consumed a lot of energy and emitted more greenhouse gases.  At the end of the 1990’s, the National Association of Home Builders started a program that focused on green building techniques.  And, during 2000 – 2009, the homes that are built are still larger than homes built decades ago, but they consume less energy and emit less greenhouse gases.

Specifically, residential construction of single-family and multi-family homes from 2000 – 2009 consume 22% of the total energy consumed on the grid in the United States, and they are accountable for 18% of the greenhouse gases that are currently expelled.  Many buildings at Bedico Creek Preserve are highly experienced in building green with energy efficient techniques.  Also, Bedico Creek Preserve values the conservation of energy and the promotion of a natural environment by developing our lots and building our homes into the surrounding greenscapes instead of clear-cutting the land to make room for new homes.  That is the reason that buyers who purchase a home in our subdivision in St. Tammany Parish enjoy not only the acreage on their lot but also the surrounding 500 acres of green spaces, lakes and waterways, and even a wildlife habitat.  If you are a conservationist at heart and want to commune with nature each and every day where you live, Contact Bedico Creek to take a tour of our Neighborhoods.  Call 985-845-4200 or E-mail Info@LiveBedico.com.

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