Melissa McClendon-Realtor

03/25/2026

Join us TODAY from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM at the Owner's Unit of 2101 Esplanade Avenue (1401 N. Galvez) for a chance to win a Gift Card.

01/27/2025

🤩 Check Out These Smart Ways To Increase Your Rental Income

1. Use The Equity You Already Have
You can take out a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), a home equity loan, or do a cash-out refinance on the first mortgage to get the funds you need to purchase another investment property.

2. Put Your Debt-to-income Ratio To Work For You
As far as the bank is concerned, if your first investment property is generating an income every month, or has the potential to generate an income every month, it is probably worth borrowing against for purchasing another investment property.

3. Increase Your Investment Portfolio
It stands to reason that the more you add to the number of investment properties you own without overextending your finances, the more rental income you stand to collect.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/25/2025

👌 Real estate investing is a great way to increase your income, but with it comes responsibilities that require a great deal of the investor’s time.

👇🏻 Whether you’re a first-time investor or a seasoned one who’s ready to hand over the reins, the following five points can help you decide if it’s time to hire a property management company rather than tackle the task yourself.

1. You own more properties than you can comfortably manage alone
If your goal is growing your portfolio, you’ll probably reach a point where you can’t manage the day-to-day requirements of multiple properties all by yourself.

2. You live somewhere else
If you live nowhere near your rental properties, you’ll probably want to hire a property management company to handle them. When a pipe bursts or you need to interview new prospective tenants for a rental you own in another state, a property management company can take care of it for you.

3. You’re too busy
If you simply don’t have the time to do it all, hiring a property management company can alleviate some of the responsibilities related to your real estate investments so you have more time for work, family, and/or play.

4. You don’t want to be a landlord
Being a landlord requires a certain type of person. If you’re not keen on being at your tenants’ beck and call and dealing with the responsibilities that come along with being a landlord, hiring someone else to manage and protect your properties is a smart move.

5. You’re ok with spending money for convenience
In many cases, having a property management company in place reduces maintenance fees and helps avoid problems that can lead to potential legal fees, vacancies, and damages caused by mishandled repairs.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/22/2025

🔍 Are you a new real estate investor?

👍 Here are 5 basic things every real estate investor should know.

1. Local pricing
As an investor, one of the first things you should look at is the current pricing trends in the area.

2. Mortgage pre-approval
The lender locks in an interest rate for you that stays the same regardless of interest rates at the time you actually purchase a home.

3. Developing communities
One way to ensure your success as a real estate investor is to buy properties in up-and-coming neighborhoods. Growing communities experiencing new infrastructures make for great investment opportunities.

4. Low-tax areas
If taxes are higher or are slated to rise in a given area, but a neighboring community has lower taxes, more people will want to buy in the lower tax community.

5. School rankings
Communities with high ranking schools tend to draw parents hoping to enroll their children in quality education. Good investors know that buying in such areas can lead to high profits.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/22/2025

⌛ Got some time off?

☀️ Here’s how to prepare for the ultimate stay-at-home vacation.

1. Get chores done ahead of time
Get things like dusting, vacuuming, and laundry done before your vacation starts and don’t think about them again until your vacation is over.

2. Invest in some added comfort
Your home may be the most comfortable place on the planet to you, but for a real vacation feel, add some extra luxuries.

3. Create ideal vacay spaces
If your idea of a great vacation includes the spa, create a spa-like staycation by transforming your bathroom with scented candles, relaxing music, and essential oils.

4. Plan meals ahead of time
Be sure you have menus and phone numbers ready for your favorite places to eat out so ordering from them for delivery is super easy, too.

5. Map it out
If you have an idea of what you’d like your staycation to be, map it out beforehand and delegate tasks to each member of the family.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/20/2025

🏡 Creating a game plan for home ownership is a smart move, so here are several things you need to do now that you’ve bought your first home.

1. Document your valuables
As you unpack, create a spreadsheet and list the important things accordingly. Save the document at work or in the cloud just in case your computer is among the things lost or destroyed.

2. Make a plan for maintenance
Download an app to your phone that will remind you to do things like change filters, clean out gutters, and change your smoke detector batteries throughout the year.

3. Start an emergency fund
A good rule of thumb for an emergency fund is saving one percent of the purchase price each year. If your home cost $150,000, you’d put away about $1,500 every year.

4. Think about buying a home warranty
You pay a quarterly or annual premium for the coverage, which then repairs or replaces these issues.

5. Buy additional insurance
If your employment or health is on shaky ground, it may be advantageous to purchase additional insurance that covers your mortgage payments should you lose your job or become disabled.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/18/2025

🔍 Looking to invest in multiple properties?

👇 Here’s how to build a larger real estate investment portfolio.

1. Build A Team To Help Manage It All
Begin building a team of people you can trust to help you manage it all.

2. Spread Your Investments Over Several Markets
If you’re managing everything yourself, you’ll likely want to keep all your investment properties close together for convenience. However, this is like putting all your eggs in one basket.

3. Have Plenty Of Available Cash
There are a few different ways to ensure you have the cash you need on hand.
-Refinance or sell an existing property
-Partner with other investors
-Do a 1031 exchange when you sell an investment property

4. Know Your Investment Goals
-Do I want to invest in different markets or stay local?
-Do I want to focus on the value of my portfolio?
-How many properties do I need to buy in order to reap a profit that exceeds my expenses?
-What do I hope to achieve? Higher monthly cash flow, more stability, or a combination of both?

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/15/2025

🍳 Is your apartment’s kitchen tiny? Do you struggle to find storage for all your kitchen goods?

🍱 If so, check out these pantry organization tricks that will give you the extra space you need in that small apartment kitchen.

1. Use Wire Racks In The Cabinets
To make more room for everything you need to store, use wire racks in the cabinets. These racks stand alone so there’s no installation required.

2. Use Plastic Containers For Storage
Not only is this a great way to store your food since it’s airtight, but it also adds a stylish touch to the room’s décor.

3. Use Freezer Bags
Remove bulk meats from their original packaging and section it into usable portions using freezer bags. Be sure to remove all the air to compact the bag as much as possible.

4. Use Command Hooks
Command hooks use strong, sticky tape rather than nails or screws to hold the hook on the wall. The tape is easy to remove, if needed, leaving behind no visible damage on the wall.

5. Make Use Of The Space Above The Cabinets
If your kitchen cabinets don’t extend to the ceiling, make use of the space above them.

6. Embrace Drawer Dividers
By using drawer dividers, you can organize the chaos, which will give you more space for more things.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/13/2025

🤔 The road to successful real estate investing is pitted with potholes and loose gravel along the way. It helps to have someone who’s already traveled that bumpy path to help you avoid the holes, but if that isn’t the case, we’ve compiled a list of helpful tips below.

🔽 Whether you’re just starting out with your first investment property or you’ve already bought several, the following list is full of great tips.

1. Choose properties in up and coming neighborhoods
Buying rental properties is a great way to increase your wealth through real estate investing.

2. Diversify geographically
By purchasing properties in other areas, you diversify your investments and protect your portfolio from the volatility of a local market.

3. Don’t spend too much on renovations
You don’t need to buy high-end fixtures and accents in order to make a rental attractive.

4. Don’t over-leverage yourself
Successful real estate investors have a combination of properties that they own free and clear and some that they finance.

5. Consider investing in a single-family home
Most people would love to live in a house, but some lack the finances to own one and others simply do not want to own.

6. Get ahead of big maintenance problems
Finding and fixing minor issues before they become big ones can save you a lot of money.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/11/2025

🐾 Do you have small children or pets in your home? What about someone with a weakened immune system?

⬇️ If so, you may want to add disinfecting your floors to your sanitizing routine. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Not Everyone Needs To Disinfect Their Floors
The best way to go about disinfecting your floors is to begin where you enter the house. Entryways are notoriously germy as that’s where everyone comes in with shoes on.

2. Use Steam To Disinfect
Steam cleaners work on almost every type of flooring, including carpeting. Make sure it reaches temperatures of at least 167ºF, which is the temperature the CDC recommends for killing most bacteria and viruses.

3. Mopping
Regular floor cleaners typically contain surfactants that loosen bacteria so it can be mopped away. After mopping with a household floor cleaner, be sure to follow up with a spray disinfectant that contains rubbing alcohol or bleach to fully disinfect the floor.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/11/2025

👀 Looking to add a bit of color to your front façade without going overboard?

👇 Here are several ways to add that pop of color you so crave.

1. The Front Door
If you aren’t sure which color is best for your home’s front door, choose something from its current color palette and run with it.

2. The Shutters
Another easy way to add color without going overboard is to paint your home’s shutters.

3. The Trim
Feeling gutsy? Painting the trim on your home a bold color makes quite a statement.

4. Flowers And Flowerpots
Choose easy to care for varieties that produce plenty of bright, colorful flowers.

5. Decorative Elements
The front door is the perfect place to add a seasonal wreath that’s colorful and fun, while that bench on your front porch is just screaming for some colorful throw pillows in each corner.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon

01/08/2025

🤔 Not sure whether a condo or apartment is best for your living situation?
😉 Here’s what you need to know to make the right decision.

1. The Main Difference Between An Apartment And A Condo
An apartment building is a multi-unit complex owned by one individual who serves as the landlord for all the units. A condominium is a multi-unit complex as well, but each unit is owned by a different individual.

2. Other Differences Between Condos And Apartments
- HOA Fees And Utilities
- Floor Plans And Layout

3. The Pros And Cons Of Renting A Condo
- Pros: Are usually in great shape and often include modern upgrades. Owners may be more open to negotiating rent and other fees. Often include great amenities including pools, concierge, fitness centers, outdoor spaces, etc.
- Cons: You may be responsible for paying HOA fees or maintenance fees. You may have to deal with an inexperienced landlord.

4. The Pros And Cons Of Renting An Apartment
- Pros: Your chances of dealing with a professional, experienced landlord are greater. You won’t need to worry about maintenance. Paying rent is easy as there is likely an online portal to do so.
- Cons: Apartments are often small and impersonal. You won’t be able to make any renovations in an apartment. Landlords don’t often allow pets in apartments.

Melissa McClendon | Nola Home Realty Group
[email protected] | (504) 417-5131
www.nolahome.com

Melissa McClendon