Author: Athena Real Estate

We are delighted to welcome Tamara Neal to the Athena Real Estate team!

Tamara is a licensed and practicing real estate agent who has years of experience as a New Orleans walking tour host and carriage tour operator. She is a certified expert in the history of the City’s buildings and their unique architecture. Downtown, Uptown, French Quarter, Garden District, Central City, Mid-City, and her hometown of Metairie – Tamara knows them all. Tamara’s great knowledge of the City make her a natural for real estate.

Tamara has deep family roots in New Orleans and moved to join her family here in the 80s, after early years growing up in Biloxi, Mississippi. Her first career was traveling the country showing Quarter Horses, which segued into positions at racetracks, including assistant trainer and Master Farrier. She opened a uniform company when she moved to Metairie and then spent more than a decade in the tour business before making the transition to real estate.

“I know every inch of New Orleans,” Tamara said, “not just the buildings and streets but the mood and environment of the neighborhoods. I have learned to read people very well, and that allows me to help my clients find just the right environment for their unique lifestyle.”

She also loves home décor and teams with daughter/partner, Jamie Magee, to provide great recommendations for makeovers and renovations.

In her free time, Tamara spends time with family, especially her grandchildren. She also does volunteer work with rescue animals.

Tamara has the combination of knowledge and people skills allow her to help clients find exactly what they are looking for. To take a tour of the City’s best home opportunities, call or email her today!

Tamara’s Cell: (504) 513-0092
Athena Office: (504) 507-8331
Tamara’s Email: my1homerealtor@gmail.com

The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is certain to affect virtually every business in operation in the United States—and globally.  Particularly vulnerable are those independent contractors, like real estate agents, who rely on commission income.  With government orders to “shelter in place,” and the lack of government services vital to conduct real estate activities, the pandemic will negatively affect agents’ income, no matter how badly they want to work.

At the core of Athena’s values is its commitment to put people over profits and support the members of its team.  So when this nasty virus first hit our shores, Athena announced its COVID-19 Agent Support Policy.  Since then, Athena has dedicated half of its operating cash to support its agents financially, reserving only the resources necessary to maintain basic operations.

But Athena’s owners couldn’t help but ask: what more can we do to help?  Indeed, what more can every brokerage do?

Athena’s COVID-19 Agent Support Policy was a good start, but we are doing more to support our agents.  Effective immediately, Athena is increasing every agent’s commission compensation on any transactions closed for at least the next 60 days.

We call on every brokerage to follow suit and support the agents who rely on commission income for their livelihoods. We are confident that, once the crisis is under control, real estate activity will boom, and ours will be a good business in which to be.  Until then, brokers have an obligation to help agents “bridge the gap” and continue to make ends meet.

With Louisiana–and all of America–in a state of emergency, there is sure to be a disruption to all industries, real estate not the least among them. Athena Real Estate has carefully considered measures it may take to help the business disruption to our agents during these trying times. We are proud to announce our company’s COVID-19 financial support policy for our agents, effective immediately.

We’ve all heard enough lip service from companies with “health tips” and policies that “support” their teams in spirit only. Rather than extending more words of encouragement that ring hollow, Athena will provide financial assistance to our agents whose businesses have been significantly disrupted by the emergency declarations in Louisiana and the response to the COVID-19 virus. Agents with significant disruption to their business may receive an immediate cash advance on real estate income, which they may use to pay bills, buy medical supplies, pay for childcare, or for any other purpose. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Athena firmly believes that brokerages and employers have a social responsibility to support–financially and otherwise–their employees and independent contractors during difficult times like these. Saying you are a “family first” company requires more than words of encouragement: it means putting people over profits. Especially in our industry, where moms and dads rely on uncertain commission income, brokerages have a responsibility to “bridge the gap” for team members struggling to make ends meet during an unavoidable period of business interruption caused by a national crisis. We hope other brokerages will recognize they have such responsibility and follow our lead in supporting their agents while the country fights through and recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alison Tujague has a unique blend of talents and experience that make her an ideal real estate agent: she adds value to every transaction, whether a client is selling a house, buying a dream home, or investing in one of New Orleans’ hidden real estate gems.

Alison’s approach is strategic and personalized. She paves the way by taking the time to truly understand a client’s goals. She then capitalizes on her knowledge, passion, and experience to provide practical, market-sensitive guidance that ensures her client reaches his or her goals. Throughout the process, Alison displays her trademark honesty, hard work, and attention to detail.

As a REALTOR® and former SEC-registered investment advisor, she excels in identifying real estate opportunities. She is a great source for optimizing a home’s value through curb appeal, design concepts, home staging, and renovations.

Alison is an accomplished investor in her own right. Her real estate savvy and expertise in adding value were the subject of an episode of TLC’s popular home improvement series, Flip This House.

Born in New Orleans and raised in River Ridge, Alison is a graduate of Louisiana State University. She holds a Series 65 Securities License as well as LSE and LSS REALTOR® service designations. She currently resides in Old Metairie with her husband and three children and volunteers her time at Jesuit High School, Holy Name of Jesus School, Boys Hope of New Orleans and other local organizations.

“I absolutely love real estate,” Alison says, “and I have an eye for it. For a couple purchasing a home for a growing family or an investor seeking to maximize return, I’ll make sure they get the best value on the market.”

If you are a buyer, seller or investor in New Orleans, Alison is a smart choice. Call or email her today!

Alison Tujague
Cell: (504) 236-1618
Office: (504) 507-8331
Email: alitujathena@gmail.com

We are delighted to announce that attorney/realtor Meg Peters has joined the Athena team!

The New Orleans real estate market is full of opportunities–if you have an agent who can negotiate a great deal. Meg fits that description: she is a lawyer with years of experience in title work, both as an attorney and title insurance agent. She has deep knowledge of market trends and valuations and will make sure her clients get the best deals possible.

Meg grew up in Mandeville and graduated Mandeville High. She then earned a BS in Psychology at LSU and a law degree at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. After obtaining her law license, Meg pursued her passion for real estate performing title searches at Access Land & Title Services and by practicing as a title attorney for two NOLA based title companies before joining Athena.

Meg’s market knowledge of both the Southshore and Northshore reflects her roots in the New Orleans area: Lakeview and Mid City, where her sister’s family and Meg’s family live; Uptown, University, and the Lower Garden District, where she studied law and previously lived; the Westbank and Metairie, site of her title work offices; and the North Shore, where her parents live and where she grew up.

“Acquiring or selling real estate in the New Orleans market can be complicated,” Meg said. “I have the skills, knowledge, and commitment to guide my clients through every step of the process and meet their financial and personal goals.”

Meg and her husband, Blake, find time to visit family on the Northshore and in his hometown of Baton Rouge. In their free time, they enjoy trying new cuisine around the city, live music, comedy shows, being outdoors with their rescue pup, Gator, jogging the various NOLA neighborhoods, and playing tennis. Meg also enjoys volunteer work, most recently for the “New Orleans Finest” fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Meg is a focused, persistent and knowledgeable agent who goes the extra mile. She will do the same for you: call or email her today!

Meg Peters
Email: meg@megacquires.com
Cell: (504) 320-2424
Office: (504) 507-8331
118 W. Harrison Ave., Suite 301
New Orleans, LA 70124
Licensed in Louisiana
www.AthenaRE.com

With great food and drinks, caricature paintings for the kids, and a tremendous group of people, Athena’s second annual crawfish boil was a huge success. Team-building events like this–and our commitment to top-quality representation of our clients–are what make Athena Real Estate one of the top real estate companies to work for in the New Orleans area and Louisiana at large.

David Waldvogel is excited to bring his passion and construction knowledge to Athena home sellers and buyers. “I can help my Athena clients visualize how a home or business can transform into exactly what they want,” he says. “With my construction background, I can also give them an educated estimate of costs.”

David’s roots in real estate and construction are deep: he grew up in a family whose business is real estate development and property management and after graduating from Slidell High School, he focused on real estate courses at the University of Southern Mississippi. When he and his wife moved to New Orleans after Katrina, David went into construction management, where he excelled in project management, documentation and contract negotiations.

“Many of my construction projects were renovations and restorations,” he said, “and I gained an in-depth knowledge of real estate in all the neighborhoods and business areas of New Orleans.”

David decided to join Athena, a top New Orleans real estate brokerage, because of the excellent commission package it offers, strong recommendations from other real estate agents, Athena’s modern branding, and the technology and support it offers its agents.

David, his wife and three children live in Lakeview near her parents. They are active in the Saint Dominic school and church community. His backyard BBQ pit is a favorite meeting place for family and friends.

David is a people-person who is driven by a desire to use his knowledge to help people realize their dreams. For anyone looking at real estate in the New Orleans area, he’s a smart choice.

Athena is delighted to announce that veteran agent Gina Baglio has joined our team!

Gina is an experienced real estate agent who knows New Orleans. Born in Metairie, she has been in the area all her life and knows Kenner, Harahan, River Ridge, Gretna, Harvey, St. Charles and St. John Parishes, and everything in between. As the mother of three kids and wife of a football coach, she is particularly good with information on schools and community amenities.

Better yet, Gina knows how to upgrade and renovate a home. She and her husband have built and remodeled three homes, so she knows the process first-hand.

Best of all, Gina never misses a detail. She developed that trait in her 20 years as a Registered Nurse. She is very good at “diagnosing” a home and its potential, and once an offer is made, she makes sure that the documentation proceeds without a hitch.

“I’m easy-going as a person,” she said, “but I’m a stickler for details. Whether I’m guiding a would-be homeowner or minding a sick child, I make sure everything is done exactly right.”

Gina was born in Metairie and went to Archbishop Chapelle before earning a nursing degree at Southeast Missouri State. Her career as a Registered Nurse has primarily been in pediatrics. She started her Real Estate career in 2014. She and her husband, a football coach, have three children. They are active in school and community events.

Gina transferred her real estate license to Athena because of its highly competitive commission package for Louisiana agents, Athena’s reputation as one of the best brokerages in the New Orleans area, and the technology and support offered to its agents.

Gina is not only highly professional, but also a warm and caring person. For buyers and sellers of real estate in the New Orleans area, she is a dose of the right medicine. Call or email Gina to get started!

Athena recently hosted its annual holiday party at Shaya to mark another successful year with the best realtors in New Orleans!  This is one of the few events that Athena has that is strictly for the agents and significant others, allowing for everyone to have a fun-filled adult evening celebrating a great year.  Stacie Carubba, Lauren Crain, and Katie O’Leary were honored at 2018 top-producers.

Athena proudly paid for all of its agents and guests to attend the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s New Orleans Finest Event held at the New Orleans Fairgrounds.  In order to hold ourselves out as the best real estate agents in New Orleans, we believe there must also be a commitment to giving back to those that need our help.  A big congratulations to our very own Stacie Carubba, an honoree at the event and a leading fundraiser for this important cause!