Louisiana REI EP 1: Give Us 29 Minutes to Explain Why 2026 Will Be THE Year to Buy Real Estate in Louisiana

Many buyers and investors across Louisiana are sitting on the sidelines right now. They’re waiting for interest rates to drop, headlines to improve, or for someone online to say it finally feels “safe” to buy again.

In this episode of Louisiana Real Estate Talks, Courtney Fricke is joined by longtime business partner and investor Stephen Keighery (aka Aussie Steve) to make a clear, grounded case for why 2026 may quietly become one of the best buying windows Louisiana has seen in years.

This conversation isn’t about hype or calling a boom. It’s about what’s actually happening on the ground in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and across the state and why disciplined dealmakers are already positioning themselves while others wait for certainty.

In this episode, we cover:

- Why Louisiana likely bottomed in 2025 and what stabilization really looks like in 2026

- How investor confidence is returning before prices fully reflect it

- The disconnect between consumer sentiment and investor opportunity and why that gap matters

- Major economic development wins across Louisiana and how they impact Real Estate long-term

- Why workforce housing and furnished rentals are one of the most overlooked opportunities heading into 2026

- How insurance and utility costs are forcing better underwriting and more disciplined deals

- Interest rate expectations and what gradual movement could unlock for transactions

- Construction delays, labor shortages, and why problem-solving investors may benefit

- The role of unknown policy shifts and incentives that could positively impact housing

- Why 2026 rewards operators, not speculators, and long-game thinkers over short-term players

2026 is not about waiting for everything to feel obvious. It’s about positioning early, underwriting conservatively, and solving real problems while the market is still uncomfortable.

The investors who win won’t be chasing appreciation headlines. They’ll be buying right, operating well, and setting themselves up for the next phase of the cycle.

Connect with the Hosts:

Connect with Aussie Steve here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCBFQ_43MCI9tJ8tB6m9q92g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephenkeighery/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stephenkeighery

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenkeighery/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephen.keighery

X: https://x.com/stephenkeighery

Bio Hub: https://homebuyerlouisiana.com/about-us/stephen-keighery/

Connect with Courtney Fricke:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/courtneyfricke

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@courtney.fricke

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneyfricke19/

X: https://x.com/courtneyfricke

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfZlfkGpNzcMuDh6NX7xVpQ Website: www.CourtneyFricke.com for more resources.

If you’re operating in Louisiana or considering investing here, make sure you’re subscribed. These Louisiana Real Estate Talks episodes are focused on real conditions, real data, and real-world dealmaking, not theory. More Louisiana-specific conversations coming next.