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APIDES PARISH, La. - Despite interest rates being near an all-time high over the past three decades, Central Louisiana's real estate market is showing resilience. Matt Ritchie, a local realtor with nearly 30 years of experience, attributes this to steady sales prices despite slowing sales activity.

    "We're seeing a slowdown in sales, but not a decline in prices," Ritchie said, crediting interest rates for the trend. Residential interest rates are currently at 7.5%, and experts predict they won't dip below 6% this year.

    However, commercial projects like the Beaver Lake Renewable Energy Facility could bring down rates by injecting new life into the area. "We're optimistic that these large-scale developments will come to fruition," Ritchie said, citing recent additions like Amazon's presence in the market as a positive sign for commercial growth.

    Job creation and population growth are key drivers of real estate values, according to Ritchie. "Retailers and businesses look for areas with growth potential, not decline," he emphasized, highlighting the importance of job growth in Central Louisiana's future development.