The 15th Annual Economic and Real Estate Forecast Symposium, hosted by the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® (NOMAR) on October 16, 2025, brought hundreds of professionals together at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center in Metairie. With the theme “Breaking Ground: The Emergence of a New Economy,” this year’s program focused on how shifting market forces, demographic changes, and new industries are reshaping the Greater New Orleans real estate landscape.
The Panels
The morning sessions set the tone with a macroeconomic overview and a detailed discussion of labor market trends. Gary Wagner of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette examined local residential trends, emphasizing the continued impact of high insurance costs, interest rates, and limited housing supply. Bret Swango of Colliers followed with a forward-looking analysis of labor market shifts and onshoring patterns across the Gulf South, outlining how federal incentives and supply chain realignments are driving industrial site selection.
A subsequent panel led by Stephanie Riegel of The Times-Picayune/NOLA.com brought together economic development leaders including Michael Hecht of GNO, Inc. and Ileana Ledet of Louisiana Economic Development. The discussion explored Louisiana’s competitive advantages, ongoing infrastructure investments, and the state’s efforts to attract innovation-focused industries and capital investment.
The lender panel that followed featured representatives from Gulf Coast Bank, Hope Credit Union, First Horizon, and Bonvenu Bank. Moderated by Bob Bergeron, the panelists provided an on-the-ground look at credit conditions, interest-rate expectations, and how lenders are adapting underwriting standards to a higher-rate environment. Their message was clear: despite lingering caution, capital is available for well-structured projects that demonstrate strong fundamentals and experienced sponsorship.
After lunch, former Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand spoke candidly about the region’s affordable housing crisis, demographic changes, and the regulatory and supply challenges constraining new development. His remarks underscored the importance of long-term policy alignment and public-private collaboration to sustain growth and affordability across the metro area.
The afternoon sessions highlighted the projects and people currently shaping the regional market. The “Breaking Ground” panel brought together development and construction experts to discuss rising construction costs, permitting hurdles, and the creative design strategies being employed to keep projects viable. Another session, “Who Are the Deal-Makers,” featured local market specialists covering retail, multifamily, industrial, and office trends.
The day concluded with closing remarks from Guy Williams, President and CEO of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, who explored how artificial intelligence is already transforming real estate marketing, underwriting, and decision-making. Williams described AI not as a distant tool, but as an immediate force changing how professionals analyze data, engage clients, and manage transactions.
The Takeaway
The overarching message from this year’s Symposium was one of resilience and reinvention. While tourism and energy remain foundational to the local economy, Greater New Orleans is entering a new era defined by technology, life sciences, logistics, and sustainable industries. Growth in suburban parishes, the modernization of industrial corridors, and renewed investment in infrastructure are creating a more diverse and dynamic marketplace.
For those working in real estate, development, or law, the Symposium’s discussions offered both caution and optimism. Success in this evolving environment will depend on adaptability, collaboration, and a clear understanding of the economic trends driving the next chapter of growth in Greater New Orleans.