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.

Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana and is situated on the Mississippi River. It is known for its friendly people, vibrant culture, unique food, and lively music. It is home to LSU (Louisiana State University) and Southern University which provide the city with exciting sports venues and entertainment.

Baton Rouge also has the farthest inland deep-water port on the Mississippi River, six deepest in the nation. It is ranked within the top ten ports when considering the cargo tonnage. Because of this port, Baton Rouge is the center for much commercial and industrial activity. There are many large industry and chemical complexes that support the local economy with other growing trades including travel, finance, insurance, and health care. The two main railroad lines further establish Baton Rouge as a center for transportation and industry.

There are approximately 90,000 households within the greater Baton Rouge area and the cost of living is only 87% of country’s average. There is an average of 214 days of sunshine during the year and mild temperatures averaging 80 degrees in the summer and 50 degrees in the winter. Current residents may entice you to consider making Baton Rouge your home with their welcoming attitude alone, but there so many reasons why this area is a great place to live and why it is a great time to buy.

Lenders are currently fearful of borrowers defaulting on their payments and so they are being much stricter when it comes to approving loans. It used to be that anyone could be approved for a loan to buy a house, even those with poor credit and no down payment, but now you must have decent credit (at least 560-580), money to put down, and proof of a sustainable income that will more than cover mortgage payments.

Many people worry about buying into a market that has crashed and is continuing to fall. This is not the case in Baton Rouge. Most of the southern states did not participate in the real estate boom to the same extent as the rest of the country and thus it did not fall as far. Some real estate agents are even reporting the market as healthy and stable. The Baton Rouge area is faring very well compared to the rest of the nation and ought to be considered when making your next real estate purchase.