With home prices of $171-per-square foot in Metairie versus $286-to-300-per-square foot in popular New Orleans neighborhoods, it's a no-brainer buyers will go where a dollar goes farther. And at $107-per-square foot for a new build on the Westbank, more are prefering to commute over the bridge to work.
According to the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate prices are staying relatively flat in New Orleans as surrounding suburban communities have seen sizable jumps: Marrero up 6.5%, Belle Chasse up 5.7%, Jefferson Parish up 4.7%, St. Tammany Parish up 2.1%, St. Charles up 6.2% and St. John up 2.7%.
Home prices continue to be deciding factor. In the first half of 2019 Jefferson Parish recorded 1,918 home sales at an average of $238,000. This compares to Orleans Parish were just 1,623 moved at an average of $350,000.
Regardless of numbers, sales will continue to be moved by an expected influx of 12-thousand new jobs coming to the region.