A couple in a new Orleans home could be looking at their life and finances in a whole new light.
New Orleans has seen a surge in home renovations as a result of the Harvey floodwaters and the ongoing recovery efforts.
New home sales have spiked in the city over the past few months, and the National Association of Realtors said the number of new home sales in the area increased by 12 percent over the first six months of the year.
But as the hurricane and other natural disasters hit, a number of New Orleanians have been left with empty houses.
Now a group of people in a home that once stood in the midst of the city are facing the prospect of getting back to normal.
They have been working with the New Orleans Association of Governments on the restoration of a house they bought with money donated by the community.
The house was built in the late 1800s in the former City Hall building on Main Street, just across from the Old Port.
The association says they are working with local homeowners on the renovation.
“The building itself was destroyed, but the roof was built up and that’s where it was, that’s how it was,” said Kevin Jones, the association’s executive director.
“So that was part of the deal, to get the roof back.”
Jones says the association was looking to donate the house and that it was not a long-term solution for the family.
“We had an offer, but we couldn’t find the money.
We couldn’t get the funds, so we said no.
We didn’t think it was the right thing to do,” Jones said.
The New Orleans association says the renovation will include installing a roof over the existing roof.
The structure will be completely rebuilt, and Jones says they expect it to be complete in a year or two.
Jones says it’s not a big deal to be able to rebuild a home.
“When I think about it from an economics perspective, it is a very easy thing to get started with,” Jones told NBC News.
“And, it’s actually not a huge investment.
The association is hoping to raise more money for the project by using the proceeds to help homeowners who are facing foreclosure. “
We’re not doing any of the work to make it work, so I think that is probably a positive.”
The association is hoping to raise more money for the project by using the proceeds to help homeowners who are facing foreclosure.
The group says they have received some offers for the house, but it will take time to finalize that before the group can accept any.