Introducing Louisiana First Home
LOUISIANA REALTORS • March 12, 2018
Invest in the Future. Invest in Louisiana.
As a REALTOR®, you know that many aspiring first-time homebuyers in Louisiana find it hard to save for a down payment, especially young families that are heavily burdened by student debt. Inline with our mission as the Voice of Real Estate, Louisiana REALTORS® is working with REALTOR® & Representative Paula Davis (District 69) to pass House Bill No. 383
- First Time Home Buyer Rebate
as part of the 2018 Legislative Session.
This bill would allow first-time home buyers up to $7,500 in closing costs and down payment in the form of a rebate filed for after the completion of the purchase.
But this program helps more than just first-time homebuyers. These rebate dollars will be spent by these homeowners on improvements and products for their new home. This, in turn, would give additional business to people employed in the home improvement industry and stores where home products are purchased. Other states like Mississippi and Iowa have had success in getting similar programs passed.
While we recognize our state is in a budget crisis and there is an uphill battle in getting this legislation passed, we want to be proactive for consumers. Should our state's budget be a barrier to passing this new program, our goal is to introduce this concept and educate legislators and the public about the important role REALTORS® and home ownership plays in our communities.
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 heard in committee but 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. While some of these proposals are controversial, they 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 provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Learn how Louisiana real estate regulations, disclosure laws, and licensing standards help protect homebuyers and create safer, more transparent transactions.
Nominations are open now through April 24, 2026, for the Louisiana REALTORS® 2025 REALTOR® of the Year & the 2025 Lawrence R. DeMarcay, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. Both awards are aimed to showcase an individual who has volunteered their time in service to the real estate industry. Recipients of the awards will be recognized during the Spring Legislative Conference. (Registration coming soon!) Please see the below links with the selection criteria and consider submitting a nomination today. Contact Donna Teekel at (225) 224-0704 or dteekel@larealtors.org with any questions.
