Football fans who watched the BCS national championship game this month must have wondered how New Orleans is doing these days, more than two years after Hurricane Katrina. There is good news on many fronts. The historic and cultural attractions that have long been a magnet for tourism are as busy as ever. And it appears that the city offers some great opportunities, especially in real estate. Many of the lovely old neighborhoods have made a remarkable comeback. The Downtown District continues to be the lively heart of the city; many older buildings have been converted into luxurious condominiums. The French Quarter, with its mixture of Spanish, French and American architectural styles, continues to attract people with fine restaurants and eclectic shopping. In the Garden District, known for its beautiful Victorian cottages and ante-bellum mansions, home buyers can find historic homes that have been converted to condominiums.

The city has a rich and diverse history, starting in 1718 when the French governor of Louisiana established it at a curve in the Mississippi River. Commerce on the river and easy access to the heart of the nation’s interior made the city’s port and wharves along the riverfront a dominant commercial and cultural feature, handling commodities like corn, wheat, petroleum products and coffee.

Early twentieth century technology (levees, drainage ditches and pumps) allowed the city to expand into newly drained marshlands. It also alleviated threats from alligators, mosquitoes and other “swamp creatures,” and reportedly solved the city’s sanitary problems. Engineers devised a system to filter river water at a cost of $25 million which assured the city a source of pure drinking water. These forays into modernization encouraged civic leaders to apply to the United States Congress to host the 1915 World’s Panama Exposition (sadly for the Crescent City, San Francisco took the honors).

During the latter half of the twentieth century, preservationists worked to restore the French Quarter to its past glory, and additions to the city’s infrastructure brought several hugely popular events to town, including the Super Bowl, presidential conventions and even the World’s Fair. In addition, the city has long been known for its festivals and celebrations, especially Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. In short, it was a highly desirable destination for tourists and business people alike.

Hurricane Katrina was not the first storm to damage New Orleans, but nothing in its recent past matched the blow delivered by Katrina in August 2005. In the immediate aftermath, the city’s mayor, Ray Nagin, reported that 80 percent of the city was under water, in some places as deep as 20 feet. Within days of the storm’s end, however, conversation among locals started to focus on ideas for rebuilding New Orleans, making the Crescent City more vibrant and culturally alive than ever.

Four sectors support the local economy: shipping and shipbuilding, oil and gas, tourism, and a biomedical industry that continues to feel the effects of Katrina. The city’s unique characteristics (its location at the mouth of the Mississippi River, its port facilities, and its festivals and tourist attractions) are powerful economic engines. Developers, including Donald Trump, are considering high-rise condo projects downtown. Homebuilders are planning new neighborhoods featuring regional and historic architecture. The Port of New Orleans has agreed to open up several miles of riverfront, and community organizers are in the early stages of planning to transform the city’s riverfront into a continuous green space featuring a series of parks and recreational opportunities. New Orleanians love their town, and they are well on the path to creating an internationally prominent waterfront and a reinvented Crescent.

Free Mortgage Advice is being offered by Charcol, the UK’s leading mortgage adviser, to the UK market. Charcol will use its group experience and industry knowledge, built up by over 30 years of leading the mortgage broking market, to bring quality advice to the nation’s mortgage borrowers for free.

Ian Kennedy, chief executive of Charcol, comments: “The need for expert mortgage advice has arguably never been more apparent than now, with mortgages consistently at the front of both many people’s minds and the front pages of newspapers. There is a general nervousness in the market and borrowers are starting to really question whether they have the right home loan. In addition, with many lenders moving and, crucially, tightening their criteria, it is difficult for consumers to know who will lend to them. As a broker, we are full aware of who lends on what criteria and can provide our customers with the very best mortgage for them for no cost at all.”

Key Charcol Facts
• Charcol is a whole of market mortgage broker.
• Charcol has extremely high levels of satisfaction. 87% of clients in 2007 are either satisfied or extremely satisfied.
• Hassle free – Charcol will manage your entire mortgage application through to completion, liaising with solicitors, valuers and lenders on your behalf.
• Exclusive mortgages – Charcol uses its reputation as the number one broker to secure exclusive mortgages, many of which are market-leading, that are not available anywhere else.
• Charcol Promise - Arranging a mortgage with Charcol gives clients a mortgage for life. They will always contact you to arrange your new mortgage when your preferential rate expires, and all for free.

Kennedy continues, “In an increasingly time poor society, our service really does provide the answer for many borrowers looking to secure the right mortgage for them. We will search the entire market and make a recommendation that is completely tailored to the individual. Borrowers can be confident that they will get the most suitable mortgage for them, from across the whole market, with no advice fee.”

To take advantage of market-leading free mortgage advice, borrowers should call 0800 358 5560, or visit www.charcol.co.uk