Anyone here ever lived in the French Quarter?

[tedoll78]

In two years, I'll be moving back home to New Orleans, and it's always been my dream to live in the Quarter (or within a walking distance from it).

From the time I've spent there (TONS), I know there are actually some semi-quiet places; my preference is as far away from Bourbon Street as one can get in the Quarter. This would relieve the noise and crowds issues (as much as one can reasonably expect, considering..)

And some surfing online has revealed to me that it isn't as outrageously expensive as I thought it would be (I was thinking >$1 million). Still pricey, but do-able. And who knows - maybe the housing market will crash between now and 2006? (on second thought, never mind!)

Dad's an architect, so I have a great house inspector at my disposal when the time comes for me to go on tours. With him and my partner helping me, fixer-uppers are very fair game.

Anything I should know about life there? High property taxes, flooding, termites, constant flooding, crime?

[leftofthedial]

1. never lived there, but

I damn near died there a couple of times.

[jus_the_facts]

3. LOL no doubt........

....me too! :D Don't think I'd be alive today if I were to have lived down there...it's dangerous enough just living in the same state! :evilgrin:

[Nlighten1]

5. LOL!

Same here...dangerous place...and hella fun.

[ibegurpard]

2. Didn't live there but had friends who did.

I also worked at Arnaud's in the Quarter for a year and a half. I think rents are pretty high in the Quarter.

[Sufi Marmot]

4. Flooding....?

It's my understanding that http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DyeHard/dyehard000202.html">New Orleans is slowly sinking and is expected to have increasingly severe flooding problems, particularly during tropical storms. Maybe you should just rent...?

-SM, hoping he makes it back to NOLA to hear the Rebirth Brass Band play at least once more in his life...

[Stuckinthebush]

6. Yep...

I lived there from 8:00 a.m to 4:00 a.m the next morning one particularly fuzzy weekend.

I woke up with a raging headache and smelled like piss and cheap perfume.

[supernova]

7. No, but I'd love to!

Very fun, indeed.

edit: headline syntax

[RandomKoolzip]

8. I lived in the French Quarter for two years....

On the corner of Conti and Burgundy. Unfortunately, it was right across the street from a bar, and the Deja Vu was a block up. NOT a quiet place, especially on weekends. You could hear EVERYTHING that went on outside. I liked it though, cuz I was just a hard-partying college kid at that time.

I also would be wary of flooding...Happens all the time, and global warming is making it worse. I lost a lot of items in the famous flood of May 95, and never got them back.

Crime...yes. There is a lot of crime. Expect a lot of gutter punks and con artists. Just beware of anyone who is too extroverted. Of course, everybody is extroverted in the Vieux Carre!

I personally preferred living out by UNO on Marigny St. up by the lake.. A lot quieter. Too quiet, actually; nothing happens around there. Also, just off the streetcar line on Carrollton, you get all the mansions and Tulane apt. kids, so that's a cool area. I lved in all three areas, and they all have their plusses and minuses. All areas are cheap.

Damn, now I miss New Orleans!

[GumboYaYa]

9. I always lived Uptown, but I have several friends who

lived in the quarter. It really depends upon which part of the quarter as to the housing available. There are some super nice places being renovated and the price tag is really high. There are also some low rent sections, but they are also less safe. My buddy who lived in the quarter for a few years said it was awesome, but he would never do it again. The temptations are too great.

I have a friend who is a real estate agent and sells a lot in the Quarter. If you are interested in talking to an agent yet, PM me and I will give you his info.

We are considering buying a condo/small house in the city with another couple, but we are looking in the mid city area near the fairgrounds (proximity to jazz fest is key to me). There are some really cool places around there.

[tedoll78]

10. !

I'm not going to be in any condition to buy anything for about five years (have to start and finish school:P ), but when the time is right I'll come around here again asking for advice..

Thanks!

[grasswire]

11. Here's a thought....

.....get one of those big old mansions and develop several apartments in part of it, and then rent them out to DU-ers and pay for your mortgage that way!