Louisiana is a southern state in the United States that boasts of New Orleans as being its largest metropolitan area. The state is the only one in the US that is divided not into counties but into parishes. It is a beautiful state, the topography of which is comprised of two major parts. These are the alluvial, swamp and coast regions and the uplands. The former make up an estimated 20,000 square miles of the entire area of the state while the latter cover an area of 25,000 square miles.

The Louisiana real estate market could offer the greatest landscapes with scenic view to any buyer. The magnificent bayous, the vast prairies, the bays locked within lands as well as the inland lakes provide varied choices to any person who may want to live near these kinds of natural beauty. These bounties are even coupled with a perfect subtropical climate that is humid. Louisiana’s weather is the kind that provides any resident or would be resident the preferred long summers that are hot and humid, which are perfect for trips to the lake or rides across the rivers. It is also the best weather for taking that family or romantic picnic by the bay. The winters in the state are also not bothersome because they are just mild and short.

The Louisiana real estate market is indeed a very lucrative business for any investor. This is because the state also has an economy that is very stable. In 2005, the total GSP of Louisiana of $168 billion placed the state in the 24th rank among the 50 states of the nation. The per capita income per person was also recorded as $30,952. While the state is known for its tourism industry, it is also quite notable for its production of seafood. Louisiana is considered as the biggest craw fish producer in the whole world. Aside from seafood, the state also produce cattle, cotton, rice, dairy products, soybeans and poultry and eggs. They are also not far behind when it comes to industrial products.

If these advantages are not enough to lure people into buying Louisiana real estate, then the offerings of quality education sure will. As the world becomes more competitive, parents are now very concerned about the higher education that they provide to their kids. Louisiana offers among the nation’s best public and private schools as well as colleges and universities. Anyone who would invest in the real estate in Louisiana will surely get huge capital gains for their investment while those who buy properties will be provided with the best that they are looking for in a place of residence.

Madisonville, Louisiana is one of the oldest communities within the state of Louisiana and has many of the great things that Louisiana has to offer. It was originally named Cokie from the French word Coquille, which means shell. Later, the town decided to change the name to Madisonville in the early 1800′s to honor President James Madison. It sits on the Tchefuncte River which means that the history of the town has been heavily influenced by water. The site has eight sites listed on the National Historic Register.

Part of the town sits on Jahcke Shipyard where thousands of people used to work and earn a living for years. During the early 1900′s many individuals decided to come by boat during the summer and weekend. They come to see the historic Greek revival to Creole cottage. There are also several museums such as the Lake Ponchartrain Basin Maritime Museum which many visitors each year. In this museum and others there are millions of historic artifacts which document the time of the Indians and the explorers. The museum, which is over 30,000 square feet and has a state-of-the-art theater, highlights Madisonville’s great legacy. The city also has several world renowned marine educational institutions.

Visitors and residents also go to see the Fairview-Riverside State Park which is located just east of town. On hot days, you can see many people outside having a picnic, playing games or taking a leisurely stroll. The park sits right next to the Otis House which is an early Victorian home built in the 1880′s by W. T. Jay. Frank Otis. It was then purchased, remodeled and donated to the state. There are regular tours of the mansion daily. If you want to camp overnight, the park offers several campsites equipped with electricity and water.

Many people drive down the shores of Lake Ponchartrain, which takes them by some of the most beautiful homes in all of Louisiana. Once you get on the outskirts of town, you will see several marshlands and in the distance you will see the Tchefuncte Lighthouse. The lighthouse is scheduled to be remodeled in the coming years. Many individuals also fish in Madisonville because of the abundance of trout, redfish, catfish and others.