Millions of dollars in property and home sales primarily in the immediate area around Toledo Bend Reservoir are keeping real estate agents busy. And although many of the buyers are people looking for retirement spots, a new category is investing in the area.

For the past year, a larger part of the lookers and buyers are coming from the south Louisiana area and Florida — searching for shelter.

Dayna Yeldell, an agent with Bo Dowden Realty, says people want hurricane hideaways or second homes and they’re tired of running from the hurricanes every year.

Business has been so brisk for Yeldell that she quit a full-time job in Texas and went from part-time to full time for Dowden’s company. From January through September ninth, Yeldell has closed on three-point-nine (m) million dollars in sales.

Leon Bradford is a transplant from south Louisiana who is calling Sabine Parish home. Bradford and his family lived in New Orleans, but fled ahead of Hurricane Katrina. Fortunately, Bradford says, they had a place near Toledo Bend to run to. But the Bradfords are not returning to New Orleans.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press

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