Builder Insights: New Construction and Home Design Trends Dominating the Northshore Market by 2026
The Northshore is Evolving: Are You Ready for What Buyers Will Want Next?
The real estate market across St. Tammany Parish—from the bustling corridors of Covington to the serene lakefront of Mandeville and the quiet charm of Madisonville—is in a constant state of dynamic competition. New construction is setting a new standard for what homebuyers expect and, more importantly, what they are willing to pay for. As a homeowner, this presents a critical question: As new homes rise with the latest features and smartest designs, how does your current home stack up?
Understanding these evolving trends isn’t just an academic exercise for builders and designers. It’s crucial intelligence for every current homeowner. These are the very trends that will dictate what future buyers will pay a premium for, directly impacting the value of your single largest asset. This isn’t about chasing fads; it’s about making strategic decisions to protect and maximize your equity. The goal is to ensure that when you decide to sell, you’re not just getting a fair price—you’re getting the best price, without sacrificing your profits to outdated commission structures.
Key Takeaways
- The “Modern Louisiana” Aesthetic is King: New builds are blending traditional Acadian and Farmhouse styles with modern elements like painted brick, dark window frames, and metal roof accents, setting a new bar for curb appeal.
- Indoor-Outdoor Living is a Must-Have: Expansive covered patios with full outdoor kitchens are no longer a luxury but a standard feature that buyers demand, creating a significant value gap compared to homes with simple concrete slabs.
- Functionality Drives Floor Plans: The demand for “flex spaces” that can serve as an office, gym, or playroom is rendering rigid, formal layouts obsolete. Kitchens and bathrooms are now expected to be smarter, sleeker, and more spa-like.
- The “Renovate vs. Sell” Calculation Has Changed: With rising material costs and contractor shortages, selling your home to capture its current equity is often a more financially sound decision than undertaking a massive, disruptive renovation to keep up with new construction.
- Don’t Let Commissions Erase Your Gains: Selling with a low cost real estate broker is the smartest financial move. A 1% listing fee puts thousands of dollars back in your pocket—money that can be used as a down payment on a home that meets tomorrow’s standards.
The Big Picture: Architectural and Exterior Design Shifts
The first impression is everything. On the Northshore, builders are mastering a look that feels both timeless and forward-thinking, directly influencing buyer perceptions of a home’s value before they even step inside.
The “Modern Louisiana” Aesthetic
The once-dominant Modern Farmhouse and classic Acadian styles are evolving. Today’s most sought-after new homes showcase a sophisticated blend we call “Modern Louisiana.” Think of the clean lines of painted white or limewashed brick, contrasted sharply with black or bronze window frames. Metal roof accents over porches and bay windows add a touch of industrial chic, while prominent gas lanterns flickering by the front door provide that essential nod to our region’s heritage. You can see this aesthetic taking root in communities from the historic neighborhoods near downtown Covington to the master-planned Northshore subdivisions that buyers are flocking to.
Indoor-Outdoor Living as a Standard, Not a Luxury
Louisiana living is outdoor living, and new construction reflects this as a core principle. The simple 10×10 concrete slab patio is a relic. Buyers today expect and demand expansive, functional outdoor spaces. We’re talking about deep-covered patios that act as a true extension of the living room, often featuring vaulted ceilings, ceiling fans, and pre-wiring for TVs and sound systems. A complete outdoor kitchen—with a built-in grill, sink, and refrigerator—is rapidly becoming a non-negotiable feature. Large sliding or folding glass doors create a seamless transition, effectively erasing the line between inside and out. For homeowners whose outdoor space is an afterthought, this trend creates an immediate and noticeable value gap.
A Focus on Low-Maintenance and Durable Materials
With our climate’s challenges, from blistering sun to hurricane season, buyers are increasingly educated on the long-term value of durable, low-maintenance materials. Wood siding is being replaced by fiber cement siding (like HardiePlank), which resists rot, insects, and moisture. Wooden decks are giving way to composite decking that won’t splinter or require annual staining. Furthermore, programs like the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program are increasing awareness around the importance of architectural shingles and robust roofing systems designed to withstand high winds, which can also lead to significant insurance savings. These features signal a well-built, lasting home that buyers are willing to invest in.
Inside the Home: How Northshore Floor Plans and Finishes are Changing by 2026
While curb appeal draws them in, it’s the interior layout and finishes that seal the deal. The way families live has changed, and new floor plans are adapting quickly, making many older homes feel dated and less functional by comparison.
The “Flex Space” is the New Home Office
The pandemic permanently altered the way we view our homes. The formal dining room that’s used twice a year is an inefficient use of square footage. Today’s buyers demand flexibility. New floor plans almost universally include a dedicated “flex space”—a room near the front of the home with a door that can function as a home office, a children’s playroom, a home gym, or a media room. This adaptability is a massive selling point that older, more rigid layouts simply can’t offer without significant renovation.
Kitchens and Baths: The Heart of the Home Gets Smarter and Sleeker
The kitchen and primary bathroom remain the two most important rooms in the house, and the standards for both have been raised considerably.
| Feature | The Old Standard (Pre-2020) | The New Expectation (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Island | Standard size, often with a raised bar | Oversized, single-level island for prep and seating |
| Countertops | Speckled Granite | Quartz or Quartzite (for durability and clean look) |
| Pantry | A simple closet with wire shelving | A true walk-in pantry, often with custom wood shelving |
| Bonus Feature | Pot-filler faucet | Dedicated beverage/coffee bar with its own sink/fridge |
| Primary Shower | Tiled or fiberglass insert with a curb | Large, zero-entry (curbless) shower with multiple heads |
| Primary Tub | Built-in jetted tub | Freestanding soaking tub as a sculptural centerpiece |
These aren’t just minor upgrades; they represent a fundamental shift in design and function that buyers can see and feel instantly.
Smart Home Integration and Energy Efficiency
Technology and efficiency are no longer afterthoughts. Buyers expect homes to be smart and cost-effective to run. New construction often includes integrated smart thermostats (like Nest), smart lighting controls, and built-in security systems as standard.
Even more critically, the conversation around property taxes and insurance has made energy efficiency a top priority. Builders are using spray foam insulation, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and Low-E windows to drastically reduce monthly utility bills. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, strategic air sealing and insulation can save homeowners an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs. For a buyer comparing an older, draftier house to a new, efficient one, the long-term savings are a powerful motivator.
What These New Construction Trends Mean for Your Current Covington or Mandeville Home
Reading about these trends can be exciting, but it also leads to a crucial question for current homeowners: What do you do with this information? This is where we pivot from observation to action.
The “Renovate vs. Sell” Calculation
Your first thought might be, “I can renovate my home to include these features.” And you absolutely could. But at what cost? A major kitchen remodel can easily cost $75,000 or more, and a primary bath renovation can top $30,000, according to data from Remodeling Magazine’s 2023 Cost vs. Value report. Add in the cost of a new patio, smart home tech, and other updates, and you could be looking at a six-figure investment. This doesn’t even account for the immense disruption to your life and the challenge of finding reliable contractors in a busy market.
The critical question becomes: Will you get that money back? While some updates offer a good return, it’s rarely 100%. The smarter financial calculation is often to sell your home now, capturing the significant equity you’ve already built, and roll that capital into a new home that already has the features you desire.
Protecting Your Biggest Asset: Your Home Equity
Here is the hard truth: the value gap between a home with these modern features and a home without them will only widen by 2026. As more new homes are built to these higher standards, older homes will require steeper and steeper discounts to compete.
By waiting, you risk your equity being eroded by market expectations you can’t easily meet. The wisest move is to sell while the Mandeville housing market and the broader Northshore market are strong, allowing you to cash in your current equity at its peak value. This gives you the maximum financial power for your next purchase.
Maximize Your Equity: The Smartest Way to Sell on the Northshore
If selling is the right strategic move, then the next question is how to do it without giving away your hard-earned equity to commissions. This is where the old model of real estate fails homeowners, and where we created a better way.
Don’t Let Traditional Commissions Eat Your Down Payment
Let’s use a simple, powerful example. On a $400,000 home sale, a traditional 6% commission costs you $24,000. That is a massive sum of money that comes directly out of your proceeds—money that could be your down payment, new furniture, or a college fund.
What could you do with an extra $10,000 or more in your pocket? With 1 Percent List HUB, that’s not a hypothetical. It’s a reality.
The 1 Percent List Difference: Full Service, Maximum Savings
As a revolutionary discount real estate broker, we provide everything you expect from a full-service Realtor® for just a 1% listing commission. This isn’t a stripped-down service. You get:
- Professional Photography and Virtual Tours
- A Full Listing on the MLS and Syndication to All Major Real Estate Websites
- Expert Marketing and Signage
- Skilled Negotiation on Your Behalf
- Complete Closing and Contract Support
We believe homeowners deserve to keep their equity. Our model is designed to do exactly that. You can see precisely how much you’ll save with our savings calculator.
Local Roots, National Reach
Our Mandeville office is where it all began. We are the thought leaders who pioneered the low-cost, full-service model that has now swept the nation, with dozens of 1 Percent Lists franchises changing the industry for the better. When you work with us, you’re not just hiring an agent; you’re partnering with the experienced local experts who started a revolution in real estate. We understand the Northshore market because it’s our home.
Your Next Step Towards a Home Built for the Future
The Northshore real estate market is moving forward, with buyer expectations being redefined by smarter layouts, seamless indoor-outdoor living, and greater efficiency. Keeping pace with these changes is the key to protecting your investment.
Selling your current home is the first and most important step to moving with the market, and 1 Percent List HUB is the vehicle that ensures you keep the maximum amount of your hard-earned equity to make that move possible. Don’t let your profits get eaten by the past. Embrace a smarter future.
Primary CTA: Curious what your home is worth in today’s market? Get a FREE, no-obligation home equity analysis from our Northshore experts. See how much you could save and start planning your next move.
Secondary CTA: Contact us today to learn more about the home design trends dominating the Northshore market and how our 1% commission can work for you.
