Why it matters
The New Orleans real estate market in 2025 is shaping up to be stable—but not without its challenges. Jeffrey Doussan, Operating Principal at KW New Orleans, and Team Leader Cody Caudill recently sat down to break down the latest market trends, key takeaways from the KW Family Reunion, and what agents need to do to succeed in a market that’s “flat but full of opportunity.”
📊 State of the Housing Market: “Stable & Ripe for Investment”
Unlike the stock market, if there’s one word to describe the New Orleans housing market right now, it’s “flat.” Home prices aren’t soaring, inventory isn’t dramatically shifting, and the post-COVID rollercoaster seems like a distant memory. But, as Jeffrey puts it:
“If you could survive in last year’s market, you can thrive in this one.”
Median home prices have remained steady, with only slight fluctuations month to month. Cody echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that while the market may seem unexciting, it presents a crucial reality check:
“This is just us getting back into alignment. Investors are jumping in as sellers become more motivated.”
For agents, this means focusing on fundamentals—pricing homes correctly, setting seller expectations, and guiding buyers who might be hesitant to pull the trigger. Financial products like buy downs can be a good tool for first-time buyers. Negotiating power for buyers is bringing investor money back to the table.
🏡 The Inventory Shift: More Listings, But Are They Selling?
One of the biggest shifts over the past two years has been the doubling of available homes in the MLS. While that means more options for buyers, the real question remains: are these homes selling?
Cody summed it up perfectly:
“The same number of houses are going on the market—it’s just, are they selling?”
The crucial takeaway for agents working with sellers: more homes on the market means more competition, making correct pricing, staging, and positioning essential. For sellers who are emotionally attached to 2021 pricing, this is a different market, and strategy matters more than ever.
💰 Buyer Hesitation: Why Aren’t Buyers Touring Homes?
One of the most surprising market shifts? Fewer buyers are physically touring homes before making a decision.
Why?
- Sticker Shock – Many buyers are scrolling past listings, assuming prices are too high to negotiate.
- COVID-Era Burnout – Some buyers who lost bidding wars during the frenzy of 2021 still feel burned.
- Agent Role Shift – With buyers relying on portals such as Zillow and Realtor.com, many agents aren’t actively performing search functions like they used to. Portals only show homes according to the exact specifications of the search run by the buyer.
Jeffrey put it bluntly:
“Agents are not performing searches. The client is performing the search, and the Zillow app is strictly a search engine and lacks human intelligence. Portals know what KW New Orleans Agents know.”
The opportunity here? Educating buyers on negotiation power. If a house has been sitting for 30+ days, the list price isn’t necessarily the final price. Agents need to encourage buyers to view homes and make offers.
🚀 The Opportunity for Agents
The takeaway for real estate professionals is clear: this is a market of skill, not luck. With pricing corrections, increased inventory, and shifting buyer psychology, agents who master negotiations, listing strategies, and buyer education will come out ahead.
“Some of the best coaching you can give your client right now is to ignore the price,” Jeffrey said. “If this is the home for you, let me go to work on that.”
For those looking to level up in a shifting market, KW New Orleans is where leaders talk real estate. Want to be part of the conversation? Let’s connect.
Stay tuned for more expert insights from KW New Orleans, where industry leaders share their knowledge to help you succeed in the dynamic world of real estate.