Economic Forecast: How St. Tammany Parish Job Growth Will Shape 2026 Housing Prices
If you live in Covington, Mandeville, or Madisonville, you’ve seen the growth—new businesses popping up along Highway 190, more traffic on the Causeway, and a constant buzz of development. This isn’t just random activity; it’s the sign of a robust and expanding local economy. But what does this economic energy actually mean for your single biggest asset: your home?
Forecasting the housing market can feel like predicting the weather, but key economic indicators, especially local job growth, provide a surprisingly clear picture. The connection between a healthy job market and rising home values is one of the most reliable principles in real estate economics. As industry leaders who founded our innovative real estate model right here on the Northshore, we’ve analyzed these trends for years.
In this forecast, we’ll break down the specific job growth trends in St. Tammany Parish and explain exactly how they are projected to impact your home’s value by 2026. More importantly, we’ll show you how to strategically leverage this information to maximize your financial return when the time comes to sell. Because in a rising market, keeping more of your hard-earned equity is what truly matters.
Key Takeaways
- Strong Job Growth: St. Tammany Parish is experiencing significant job growth, particularly in high-wage sectors like healthcare, technology, and professional services, which directly fuels housing demand.
- Projected Home Value Increase: The influx of new, well-paid residents competing for a limited housing supply is expected to drive a steady increase in Northshore home values through 2026, creating a strong seller’s market.
- Equity Protection is Crucial: As your home’s value rises, so does the amount you pay in traditional real estate commissions. A rising market makes choosing a low-cost, full-service broker the most critical financial decision for a seller.
- The 1% Solution: A modern real estate model, born in St. Tammany, allows homeowners to get full professional service while saving thousands in commission fees, maximizing their net profit from a sale.
The Engine of St. Tammany: Analyzing the Job Growth Forecast
To understand where home prices are going, we first have to understand the economic engine driving our community forward. St. Tammany Parish isn’t just one of the best New Orleans suburbs; it’s an economic hub in its own right. The parish has consistently demonstrated remarkable economic resilience and growth. In fact, St. Tammany Corporation, the parish’s economic development organization, has facilitated projects expected to generate over 1,500 new and retained jobs and more than $250 million in capital investment in recent years. This momentum is not slowing down.
Key Industries Fueling the Economic Boom
The growth we’re seeing isn’t concentrated in one area. It’s a diverse expansion across several high-value sectors, creating a stable and prosperous economic foundation.
- Healthcare Expansion: Our local healthcare systems are major employers and a primary driver of growth. St. Tammany Health System and Ochsner Health continue to expand their footprints across the Northshore, from Covington to Slidell. This includes not just hospitals but a network of specialized clinics and medical facilities. These institutions create high-paying, stable jobs for doctors, nurses, technicians, and administrators who overwhelmingly choose to live, shop, and raise their families right here in the parish.
- Tech and Professional Services: The Northshore has become a magnet for tech companies, engineering firms, and consulting services. The combination of a high quality of life and a business-friendly environment makes it an attractive base. Furthermore, the rise of remote work has allowed professionals in high-paying fields to relocate from more expensive cities, bringing their salaries with them and choosing to settle in desirable communities like Mandeville and Madisonville.
- Skilled Trades & Logistics: St. Tammany’s strategic location, with access to major interstates and proximity to the Port of New Orleans, makes it a critical logistics hub. This supports a thriving ecosystem of jobs in transportation, distribution, and skilled trades. The constant commercial and residential construction you see is another clear indicator of this sector’s strength, providing employment and signaling confidence in the region’s future.
Why This Growth Translates Directly to Housing Demand
The link between these new jobs and your home’s value is a straightforward economic principle: supply and demand.
- The Influx of Professionals: Every new high-paying job created in the healthcare or tech sector brings a new family or individual to the area who needs a place to live. These are not transient workers; they are professionals looking to put down roots. They are looking for homes in the top subdivisions on the Northshore, from established communities like Beau Chêne in Mandeville to exclusive waterfront neighborhoods.
- Desirability of the Northshore Lifestyle: New residents aren’t just looking for a house; they’re actively seeking the unique lifestyle our parish offers. The primary draw for many is the highly-rated Mandeville and Covington school systems. This, combined with our area’s reputation for safety, beautiful parks, and vibrant community life, makes St. Tammany the premier destination for families in the Greater New Orleans area.
- Limited Inventory vs. Rising Demand: While demand is increasing rapidly, the supply of available homes is not keeping pace. Building new homes takes time, and the number of existing homeowners deciding to sell at any given moment is finite. This imbalance puts upward pressure on prices. When you have more qualified buyers than available homes, values inevitably rise.
Our 2026 Forecast: What Rising Employment Means for Housing Prices
Given the powerful economic currents at play, the forecast for the Northshore real estate market through 2026 is exceptionally strong. The data points to a period of sustained growth, directly benefiting current homeowners.
The Direct Correlation: More Jobs = Higher Home Values
This isn’t speculation; it’s a market reality. As demand from new job-holders continues to outpace the supply of available homes for sale, prices are naturally driven upward. Based on current economic growth models and job creation statistics from state and local agencies, housing market analysts predict a significant and sustained increase in St. Tammany Parish home values, with prices expected to climb steadily through 2026.
This trend creates what is known as a “seller’s market.” It’s a window of opportunity where homeowners hold a distinct advantage. Buyers are motivated, offers are competitive, and sellers are in a prime position to achieve an excellent return on their investment. For anyone who has considered selling, the coming years represent a potentially lucrative time to make a move.
The Hidden Challenge of a Hot Market: Protecting Your Equity
While a rising home value is great news, it presents a significant challenge that many homeowners overlook: the commission trap. Traditional real estate commissions are calculated as a percentage of the sale price, typically 5-6%. As your home’s value appreciates, the dollar amount you pay in commission skyrockets.
Let’s be clear: the goal isn’t just to get the highest sale price. The real goal is to walk away from the closing table with the most cash in your pocket. Every percentage point in commission is a direct reduction of your net proceeds—the money you use to buy your next home, invest for retirement, or fund your family’s future. In a market where your home’s value is climbing, giving away 6% of that value becomes increasingly painful.
The Smart Strategy: How to Capitalize on the 2026 Market with 1 Percent List HUB
This is where a modern approach to real estate becomes a game-changer. As a low-cost real estate broker founded right here in St. Tammany, we saw this problem and engineered the solution. You don’t have to sacrifice service to save money, and you certainly don’t have to give away your hard-earned equity.
Full Service, Not Full Price: The Modern Way to Sell
There’s a common misconception that a lower commission must mean a lower level of service. That is simply not our model. We are a full-service brokerage that provides everything—and often more—than a traditional agent, but we do it for a fraction of the cost. We believe technology and efficiency should create savings for the consumer, not just higher profits for the brokerage.
When you list your home with us, you receive the complete, professional experience you expect and deserve:
- Professional Photography & Aggressive Marketing: We make your home look its best and ensure it’s seen by the maximum number of potential buyers.
- Comprehensive MLS & Online Syndication: Your listing appears on the local MLS, Zillow, Realtor.com, and hundreds of other major real estate sites.
- Expert Agent Representation and Negotiation: You have a dedicated, licensed Realtor guiding you, advising you, and fighting to get you the best possible price and terms.
- Complete Transaction Management: We handle all the showings, feedback, offers, paperwork, and coordination with lenders, appraisers, and title companies all the way to a successful closing.
We provide the full service of a traditional agent; we just do it for a smarter, fairer 1 percent commission.
The Math Doesn’t Lie: See Your Savings
The financial impact is not trivial; it’s substantial. Let’s look at a simple, realistic scenario for a homeowner in our area.
| Feature | Traditional 6% Brokerage | 1 Percent List HUB |
|---|---|---|
| Sale Price (Mandeville Home) | $450,000 | $450,000 |
| Total Commission | $27,000 (6%) | $13,500 (1% + 2% for buyer’s agent*) |
| Your Net Savings | $0 | $13,500 |
*Transparency is key. Our 1% fee is for the listing side. We, like all brokers, recommend offering a competitive commission to the agent who brings the buyer, typically 2-2.5%. Even so, the savings are massive.
That $13,500 is your equity. It’s your money. You can see the potential impact for your own home by using our online savings calculator. In a market poised for growth, these savings become even more significant.
A St. Tammany Original, A National Leader
The low-cost, full-service real estate model wasn’t just brought to St. Tammany—it was born here. 1 Percent List HUB was the original office that sparked a nationwide movement. Our founder, Grant Clayton, launched this company in Mandeville with the belief that homeowners deserved a better, more affordable way to sell their property without sacrificing service.
Today, there are dozens of 1 Percent Lists franchises across the country, all based on the model we perfected right here. Our roots and expertise in the Covington, Mandeville, and Madisonville markets are unmatched. We are not just another discount real estate broker; we are the thought leaders who started the revolution.
Your Next Step: Position Yourself for Maximum Profit in 2026
The economic outlook for St. Tammany Parish is bright. Strong and diverse job growth is set to fuel the housing market, driving home values higher and creating a fantastic opportunity for homeowners to build significant equity over the next few years. This is the time to be strategic.
As your home’s value increases, choosing the right real estate partner becomes the most critical financial decision you can make. Don’t let outdated commission structures take an ever-larger piece of your wealth. Don’t give away your hard-earned equity.
The future of the St. Tammany housing market is bright. Are you ready to find out what your home is truly worth in this evolving economic landscape?
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation home equity analysis and learn how the 1 Percent List HUB can help you save thousands.
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