Ready to Sell Your Home This Year? Make Sure the Price is Right.

Louisiana REALTORS® • February 3, 2025

Pricing your home correctly from the start is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure a smooth and successful sale. While it may be tempting to aim high and hope for negotiations, overpricing can lead to fewer showings, extended time on the market, and, ultimately, a lower sale price than you might have achieved with a strategic approach.


Homes Priced Too High Push Buyers Away

Overpricing your home can discourage potential buyers from even scheduling a showing. Today’s buyers are well-informed and have access to online tools that allow them to compare prices, features, and recent sales in your area. If your home is significantly more expensive than comparable properties, many buyers will skip over your listing entirely. This could narrow your pool of potential buyers and make it harder to generate interest.


Overpriced Homes Sit on the Market Longer

Homes that are priced too high often stay on the market longer than they should. In real estate, there’s a psychological effect where buyers equate “time on the market” with “trouble.” Lowering the purchase price to attract more buyers could create more negative perceptions, leaving buyers wondering if the house has hidden issues. Even if your home is in excellent condition, the longer it sits unsold, the more difficult it becomes to attract serious offers.


Understand the Factors That Influence Your Home’s Value

Determining the right price for your home starts with an understanding of the factors that influence its value:


1. Current Trends in Local Housing Markets

Real estate markets vary widely by location, and even neighborhoods within the same city can see different trends. Factors such as job growth, population shifts, and the availability of housing in your area will directly impact demand and pricing.


2. Condition of Your Home

Buyers are willing to pay more for properties that are well-maintained, updated, and move-in-ready.


3. Interest Rates and Affordability for Buyers

Higher interest rates reduce purchasing power, meaning buyers may prioritize competitively priced homes that offer the most value for their budget.


4. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)

A CMA evaluates sales prices of recently sold homes, active listing prices, and market conditions to give you reliable data you can use to price your home.


A REALTOR® Can Help You Price Your Home

Pricing your house competitively is key to attracting serious buyers, reducing time on the market, and maximizing your return. One of the most important steps you can take to price your house appropriately is to partner with a trusted and experienced agent in your local market.


A REALTOR® can help you understand your local market and provide you with a comparative market analysis, helping you set a price based on data, not guesswork. This ensures your house will be positioned well in the current market.


Beyond pricing, a REALTOR® brings local expertise, offering insights into trends and buyer preferences specific to your area. They can also help you anticipate buyer questions or concerns, giving you the edge in negotiations.


They can recommend minor upgrades or cosmetic changes that can significantly boost your home’s appeal and justify its price. If your home has major issues, a REALTOR® can help prioritize which repairs will have the biggest impact on your asking price.


Agents offer guidance on how to market your home effectively and help you highlight your home’s best features to attract the right buyers and keep your home from sitting on the market.


By partnering with a trusted REALTOR®, you gain access to valuable expertise, market insights, and strategic guidance that can help you sell your home. A skilled agent understands the nuances of your local market, from buyer preferences to current trends, and will help you set a competitive price that attracts serious offers without undervaluing your property. Don’t let overpricing be the obstacle that prevents a successful sale. Find a trusted local REALTOR® today.

SELLING YOUR HOME

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 2 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • March 20, 2026
With legislative work wrapped for week two of the session, here is your look back at what took place inside the halls of the Capitol. This week was defined by one major theme: workforce. Across both chambers, lawmakers moved a substantial package of measures focused on workforce development and reforms to Louisiana’s labor and workers’ compensation systems. House Labor Committee One of the busiest areas of activity was the House Labor Committee, which met Thursday morning and took up a slate of bills tied to employment policy, workforce structure and independent contractor issues like measures on portable benefits. The committee’s work underscored the broader push this session to modernize Louisiana’s workforce. Workers’ Compensation Reform The conversation around workers’ compensation reform also gained serious momentum. On the House side, additional labor-related bills addressed independent contractor definitions and other employment law issues. This week marked one of the first major pushes of the session on labor and workforce policy. House & Governmental Affairs Beyond labor-focused legislation, activity also continued in other key committees. In the House & Governmental Affairs Committee, lawmakers advanced multiple bills dealing with the timing of bond and tax elections. Tax, Commerce and Property Looking back at the broader week-two agenda, the Legislature also began considering several tax, commerce, and property-related measures, including proposals impacting property tax assessments, homestead exemptions, and the issues affecting private property. While workforce dominated the week, these issues are starting to gain traction as the session moves forward. A portion of our legislative package will be heard next week as HB 468 moves to the House Commerce Committee and HB 292 moves to the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee. Be on the lookout for any potential calls-to-action for these, or any other upcoming bills. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 1 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • March 13, 2026
Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session opened this week with several developments that matter directly to REALTORS ®, property managers and housing providers, alongside some broader political shifts worth watching. HB 292: Security Deposit Return Timelines Rep. Delisha Boyd’s HB 292, which addresses procedures for returning residential security deposits, was deferred to next week. This provides additional time for stakeholders to engage with members on practical impacts for lease administration, move out inspections and documentation standards. We’ll continue working to ensure any changes to deposit law are clear, workable and do not expose housing providers to unreasonable liability. Land Use and Development: St. James Parish Decision The Louisiana Supreme Court’s recent St. James Parish decision significantly tightens the standards for overturning local land use decisions, reinforcing that zoning and permitting authority rests with parish and municipal governments as long as their decisions are not arbitrary or capricious. For real estate and development, that means more predictability if projects are aligned with adopted plans and ordinances, but also higher stakes in local elections, planning processes and parish-level negotiations. Governor’s State of the State In his State of the State address, Governor Jeff Landry reiterated his push to phase out the state income tax, expand the LA GATOR and MJ Foster scholarship and workforce programs, and replace vehicle inspection stickers with a QR code system. These programs frame a debate around long-term competitiveness, workforce readiness and household cost of living which are all key drivers of housing demand and migration patterns. Business & Market Trends The business community is focusing the session on insurance, workforce and energy. Commercial and property insurance costs remain a top concern for employers and property owners, and we are monitoring civil justice and insurance reform proposals that could affect market stability and availability. At the same time, Louisiana is seeing more than $100 billion in announced industrial and data center projects, which could reshape local markets, labor conditions and housing needs in multiple regions of the state. Please view the weekly bill tracking report at the link below provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Real estate agent showing a couple a tablet, possibly displaying property details in a bright room.

How Policy Impacts Your Real Estate Pipeline: The Direct Link Between Legislation and Listings

By Louisiana REALTORS® • March 11, 2026
Stay ahead of the Louisiana housing market by understanding how legislation impacts listings, inventory, buyer qualification, and long-term real estate growth.
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