5 open houses in New Orleans to check out this weekend

Welcome to the weekly Open House Tour, because who doesn’t love a little real estate gawking? This time around, we’re looking at what’s on the market and open for tours in Uptown, the Garden District, and more.

Bright and airy, this circa-1918 Victorian cottage in Uptown is bright purple on the outside and clean, minimal white out on the inside. An understated palette allows the original elements--an exposed brick fireplace, high ceilings, and double parlors--to shine. Its 2,600 square feet include three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Best of all, there’s a brick terrace out back with a hot tub. The price tag is $685,000.

When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, October 21

This gracious raised-basement home in Mid-City is just a few blocks from City Park and Bayou St. John. Its main living area sits above a ground-level suite that includes two bedroooms, a bathroom, and a kitchenette--an ideal rental for a student at the neighboring Delgado Community College. The upper level is predictably gorgeous: a modern, clean-lined kitchen, marble bathroom fixtures, and wooden floors are among the highlights. A deep front porch overlooks the landscaped front yard, which, thanks to its brick pavers and topiaries, doesn’t require a lot of mowing. It’s going for $549,000.

When: 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 21

This sprawling West Bank estate takes McMansion to the next level. Built in 2004, the 4,003-square-foot home is a living embodiment of that era’s real estate bubble. The exterior is pleasingly symmetrical, with a column-flanked entrance shaded by a balcony. The foyer offers pure drama in the form of a suspended spiral staircase. From the oversized mantels and elevator to the formal English garden and gold leaf dining room ceiling, everything about this home is extra. Which is exactly what one wants when indulging in real estate gawking. The price is $724,000.

When: Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, October 21

Large lots are a rarity in New Orleans...and at approximately 8,456 square feet, this one dwarfs those of its Uptown neighbors’. As the listing points out, the lot provides ample room for a pool, guest house, or even an “Uptown compound.” The three-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage sitting on all that space is nothing to sneeze at, either. Asking $499,000, it was built in 1936 and features wood floors, exposed brick fireplaces, and plenty of windows and transoms.

When: Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, October 21

This Garden District mansion has “all the bells and whistles,” indeed, just as its listing promises. Built in 1893, the lavish Victorian features a classic double gallery. Inside, it’s iced like a wedding cake with crystal chandeliers, elaborate ceiling medallions, and corbels over the gas stove. There are five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms in its 4,325 square feet, plus a pool and a guest house. It’s going for $1,495,000.

When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, October 21