M
ain photo courtesy DepositPhotos. Headshot courtesy NOMAR.
Ginger Wiggins, NOMAR // September 22, 2025 //
**Key Takeaways**
- Tech, life sciences and logistics are redefining the Greater New Orleans real‑estate landscape.
- Demand for walkable neighborhoods and river‑parish homes is rising, driving up values.
- Commercial spaces are shifting toward startups, biotech, film production and advanced manufacturing.
- The 15th Annual Forecast Symposium spotlights regional growth.
For decades, tourism and energy set the tempo of Greater New Orleans’ property market. Those pillars still exist, but a new economic engine—technology, life sciences, logistics and sustainable industries—is reshaping both residential and commercial real estate.
This emerging economy attracts tech entrepreneurs, research scientists and digital nomads who are drawn to the region’s culture and expanding career opportunities across the Gulf South. Their arrival fuels demand for housing in vibrant, walkable districts from Uptown and the Westbank to the Northshore and river parishes, pushing property values higher. While affordability becomes a challenge, the trend signals confidence in a future beyond traditional sectors. Communities throughout Southeast Louisiana are renovating historic buildings and creating modern living spaces to meet this evolving workforce.
Commercially, the focus moves beyond hotel occupancy and French‑Quarter retail. Office and industrial sites are being redesigned for startups, biotech research, film production and advanced manufacturing. Hubs in Jefferson Parish and innovation corridors in St. Tammany illustrate a broad redefinition of how we live, work and invest.
The future of real estate is a regional story of resilience, innovation and growth. To explore these shifts and their implications for every corner of the community, join industry leaders at the 15th Annual Economic and Real Estate Forecast Symposium on October 16 at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. This Gulf South forum offers insight into how today’s economic forces shape tomorrow’s opportunities. More details at nolaforecast.org.
Ginger Wiggins is president/acting CEO of NOMAR and a forecast committee member. Contact her at [email protected]
