A Family of Five Embarks on an Adventure

Melissa and Shaun wanted to travel the world and go on wonderful adventures with their three children. But after living in California for 20 years, they felt the cost of living was unsustainable for that kind of lifestyle. Around the same time, their friends were starting to move to cities like Nashville and Austin, and they were intrigued by the possibilities.

The First Move

In search of a new spot to call home with a nice climate and good public schools, they were vacationing in Fairhope, AL when they fell in love with its quaint beauty. Excited by the prospect of change, they quickly bought a house there and moved.

While Fairhope was charming, they soon realized it was too small for their tastes and not as culturally rich as they’d hoped. They found themselves making the easy drive to New Orleans every weekend, and it didn’t take long to appreciate that the Crescent City was where they belonged.

The Tricky Part

Melissa and Shaun wanted to move their family to New Orleans, but the hard part was figuring out the school situation for the kids. While looking for a realtor, Melissa found me through Google, and I stepped in to help. Having worked for lots of families with children in public schools, I’m knowledgeable about that landscape and knew I could help Melissa figure it out.

At the same time, Melissa and Shaun continued to visit often (bringing the kids and dogs along), looking at homes that could be a good fit for their wants and needs. I made sure they checked out several different neighborhoods before deciding on anything. Their search lasted many months, and at one point, Melissa was afraid that I’d quit on them. I assured her that I’m all about helping my clients find the right home -- no matter how long it takes!

The Second Move

Then a new construction home with a great aesthetic caught their eye, and the new roof meant their homeowner’s insurance would be low. The house at 3213 Laurel St. filled the bill. It’s also in an awesome, walkable neighborhood -- steps from great shopping and restaurants. They made an offer, and it was accepted.

Next, they brought the children in town for public school testing, and thankfully, that went well. They had a first-choice school in mind but were prepared to pivot if it didn’t work out. Then, in April of 2022, they received news that all three children were accepted to the public school of their choice. It was like they’d won the lottery.

Says Melissa, “It was absolutely the right move, and we’re so glad to call New Orleans home!”

What Melissa Says About the Experience

I’m thrilled that Melissa had this to say about working with me:

“It’s like Tracey knew what we needed without us even having to tell her. We’d send her potential listings, and she’d say “yes” or “no”. Coming from out of state, it was helpful to have someone so knowledgeable. She’s so patient and professional – but she feels like a good friend!

“From the beginning, Tracey connected me with another parent whose kids are in public school. That helped narrow down the school issue – which was an unknown world to me.

“She was also involved in helping us find a commercial space for our new business, Le Bonbon. Modeled after some of our favorite toy, gift, and candy shops in Los Angeles, there was nothing else like it here with the same cool vibe – so we went for it! Le Bonbon is two blocks from our house, and it’s perfect. So far, the feedback from kids and parents alike has been amazing, and we’ve been very busy!”