Lender · Fort Worth, TX · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 6k+ votes
9mo
@Alque Williams there certainly are people who are investing actively right now. The best way to meet them is by looking for them in a local fashion. Let's try some local real estate meetup groups. Meetup.com is a good resource for those but some of the groups will also post here on Bigger Pockets Marketplace too. Even facebook might have some good local groups for you. Some of those facebook groups have thousands of members. Oh, eventbrite too. But post locally for this. That’s the best bet.
I'm in the New Orleans market. Agree with the points Andrew shared. This market is very local centric and does really well with networking through several REIA groups. I'm happy to connect directly as well for any guidance and help you with any deals. My husband and I are currently wholesaling in the area.
Investor · New Orleans, LA · Member since 2012 · 968 posts · 747 votes
3mo
I'm actively investing and working in the New Orleans market, and I'd describe it as a very fragmented market right now.
Some submarkets are holding up reasonably well, while others are seeing softer pricing, longer days on market, and increased seller concessions. Inventory has generally increased from the ultra-tight conditions we saw a few years ago, giving buyers more negotiating power.
For investors, the biggest challenge I'm seeing is deal flow. Construction costs, insurance costs, property taxes, and financing costs have all increased substantially, which means the margin for error is much smaller than it used to be. A lot of properties that would have been solid deals 5-7 years ago simply don't pencil out today.
That said, opportunities still exist if you're buying at the right basis. I'm seeing more motivated sellers, more stale listings, and more willingness to negotiate than we saw during the peak frenzy years.
A few things I'd pay close attention to in New Orleans specifically:
• Insurance costs can dramatically impact returns. • Flood zone and drainage considerations matter more than many out-of-state investors realize. • Neighborhood-level analysis is critical. Conditions can vary significantly within just a few miles. • Population trends and job growth remain important long-term considerations.
If you're looking at a specific strategy (fix-and-flip, BRRRR, rentals, small multifamily, etc.), I'd be happy to share what I'm currently seeing on the ground.