RETURN TO HOMEA conversation with Ann Dail, Broker/Owner of Baton Rouge Area Homes, LLC.
The French word Baton-Rouge or “Itta Homma” in Choctaw means “red stick”. The name came in the 1600’s when French explorer Sieur d’Iberville found a reddish color cypress pole marked with animal blood that set the boundary between Houma and Bayou tribal hunting grounds. Thereby the name “red stick” began. Today Baton Rouge is the capital city of Louisiana, home to the state legislature thus a government town. It is the city of Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers and Southern University Jaguars, thus a college town. It is home to Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Cancer center and Baton Rouge General and LSU teaching hospitals, and Women’s hospitals, and Ochsner hospitals, thus a medical town. It is a hub of the industrial and chemical and petroleum industry, thus a manufacturing town. It is situated on both sides of the Mississippi River, thus a shipping town.
Our Town
Baton Rouge is now one of the fastest growing cities in the South in terms of technology with state programs focused on recruiting high tech industries like film-making and sound studios and computer-based companies into the area thus a technology town. In 2010 motion picture productions filming in the Baton Rouge area spent an estimated $196MM. Why some even joke now it’s becoming another “Hollywood” as you might just run into some of the film stars at Perkins-Rowe or Towne Center, two of the “big city” developments and shopping hubs in our town. It is now a metropolitan area encompassing these areas you may recognize: Baker, Central City, Denham Springs and Livingston Parish, Geismer, New Roads, Prairieville and Ascension Parish , St. Francisville and The Felicianas, St. Gabriel, St. James Parish, West Baton Rouge, and Zachary
The People
Baton Rouge is considered to be one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the U. S. with population in the metropolitan area over 800,000 putting it in the leagues with cities like Austin, Charlotte, Kansas, City, and Nashville. Baton Rouge is a blend of cultures: Cajun and Creole and native Indians, as well as a sizeable international population including Hispanic and Vietnamese descent.
Two major cultures that historically affected Baton Rouge’s “flavor” are Cajun and Creole. In 1755 when French-speaking settlers of Acadian in Canada were driven into exile by British forces, many took up residence in rural Louisiana around its bayous and waterways. Their plight was immortalized in literature with the poem “Evangeline”. These French settlers became popularly known as “Cajuns”, a French-speaking culture that has enriched and permeated the Baton Rouge culture and entertainment and food. You find French “roux” as the base for sauces in popular dishes like etoufee and gumbos. . And wealthy plantation owners and the slaves that worked their plantations have grandchildren who are radically modern and well-educated compared to than their ancestors. Yet, a rich Creole heritage is present from the slave days of the plantations. Gumbos and creole flavors of tomatoes and spices are wonderful in foods. Living on the bayous these recipes are filled with non-traditional meats like alligator, crawfish, frog legs, deer meat, as well as others more familiar around the U.S. Yummm…I can smell those crawfish now! 
And Louisiana people know how to have fun! The subtropical climate with mild winters and hot , humid summers lends itself to the outdoors. Just a 20 minute drive from Baton Rouge you can go down to Alligator Bayou and enjoy an evening of the Cajun 2-step after you enjoy a boat tour of the swamps. There are festivals like Pennington Balloon festival or Red Stick International Animation Festival to suit any taste featuring local foods, dances, and activities. MardiGars parades have made Louisiana famous. We love football and baseball and basketball and tennis here. A water park is located south of the City. Fishing and hiking and hunting and touring are big. North, South, East, and West there are a wealth of Old Plantation Homes converted to bread and breakfast resorts. 
One of the more famous is the “haunted” plantation, The Myrtles, in St. Francisville just north of Baton Rouge. But if you’re from the North and not accustomed to the outdoors, you can enjoy one of the best Symphonies and take in live performances at The Shaw Center for Performing Arts or Baton Rouge Little Theatre. We even have traveling Broadway shows or LSU’s theatre in the round. You could write a book about the variety of restaurants. There is something here for everyone! Whether it’s the symphony or the outdoors, Louisiana people work hard and play hard!
Ratings
Baton Rouge is was ranked one of the “Top 10 Places for Young Adults” in 2010 by Portfolio Magazine. In 2009 CNN ranked it as the 9th best place to start a new business.
It is one of the top 20 cities in North America for economic strength by Brookings .
Economy and Prices
Baton Rouge enjoys a strong economy. It is home to a Fortune 500 Company and a Fortune 1000 company. Top employers are the State of Louisiana, Turner Industries, Exxon Mobile Chemical, The Shaw Group, Our Lady of the Lake and Baton Rouge General hospitals, and LSU and our schools. There are service providers like banks and utilities and communications and restaurants to support the 800,000 population. But a wealth of new jobs exists in the high tech fields in smaller innovative technology businesses. And the Mayor of Baton Rouge and Governor of Louisiana support education to train our workforce in these high tech occupations.
Bottom Out
While Baton Rouge has also been affected the last 3 years by the economy, it has not suffered like much of our country. Prices of homes have held firm, not enjoying the appreciation of past years, but also not losing value as some have suffered. And sellers are getting close to their asking price, though they must exercise more patience with longer times on the market, and must put effort into making their homes attractive to buyers who have a large inventory to choose from. Finally, Baton Rouge has suffered lower unemployment rates compared to the U.S. Unemployment rates with an influx of new companies and population growth.
Going Green
From the beginning the early Baton Rouge zoning and planning commissions set aside blocks in the center of each neighborhood to build parks and schools. We’ve been “going green” for decades. Today most neighborhoods have a park within walking distance run by BREC and funded by taxes with playgrounds, swimming pools, dirt bike trails, equestrian trails, ball fields, tennis courts, and our newest a central outdoor skate park for skateboarding and roller blades. The zoo run by BREC has received awards. And now many YMCA’s coordinate activities with BREC recreation. It’s a great town to stay fit.
The Future
Baton Rouge’s future looks bright. While there will always be a need for manufacturing and distribution from the river and railroads, the emphasis in Baton Rouge is embracing change to our new automated world. Everyone’s life has been changed in the past 10 years with computers and Face Book and high technology. Baton Rouge wants to be on the forefront of that development wave. The mayor is developing a FUTUREBR plan officially released February 2011 that encompasses the entire metropolitan area addressing transportation and housing. It is “aimed at creating a strong economic environment that attracts and retains quality jobs, revitalizes employment centers and provides a quality of life that supports the workforce.” The isolated sugar cane and rice plantation culture is being replaced by young energy as evident on weekends in downtown at Friday night’s “Alive Five” activities.
Realtors and technology, and My Personal Experience
I relocated to Baton Rouge over 15 years ago when my husband was transferred here. At the time cell phones were expensive and a novelty. We had one. My husband’s company paid for it. Having lived in Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and California, I was skeptical about the move, My background is chemistry with masters level studies in communications and information and I transitioned from that into being a real estate broker. Technology has impacted our real estate business just like all businesses. Not only are cell phones “smart” now and everyone has one, but I work from a mobile office going to my customer’s office or home instead of making them drag their children to my office or meet me in precious hours off work. Most work is done online. I work on a tablet pc where we can download contracts and sign right on the screen. Paper ads are being replaced by internet ads. Our emphasis is on technology and reaching the consumer on the internet, as over 85% start there looking for property. This places us, like Baton Rouge, with a bright future. Today I am glad I made that move to Baton Rouge and proud to be part of a company and city and state embracing the changing world around us just as we are also doing at Baton Rouge Area Homes, LLC.
About Ann Dail Currently is Broker/Owner of Baton Rouge Area Homes (BRAH) and Lafayette Area Homes. This forward thinking team of professional Realtors has a passion for operating on the “e”commerce Super Highway of the Internet and has put together a company that can attract buyers and get homes sold. With a Relocation affilliate that has relationships with the largest household goods moving company in Louisiana and with short term corporate housing that is poised to help relocating clients or those building new homes and A New Construction arm and a Buyers Agent and Re-Sales team, we are ready to help with your home or investment needs.
Ann Dail, Broker/Owner
ePRO, SRS (Seller Representative Specialist) B.A.Chem.
Baton Rouge Area Homes
Lafayette Area Homes
USA/Louisiana/Baton Rouge
225-761-0551
http://www.BatonRougeAreahomes.com
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This guest post is part of our Realtor Thursday Series. We invite realtors from towns and cities all over the country, big or small, to participate. Our goal is to “travel” to as many towns as we can in every state. Every town is unique and wonderful to our readers. If you would like to showcase your town, your neighbors and your talents as a realtor, please contact us at liz@dalesiegel.com