I help buyers and sellers across the Garden District, Uptown, Mid-City and Lakeview move with clarity — and net more in the process.
Garden District · Mid-City · Bayou St. John · Lakeview · Old Metairie · Kenner
Before real estate, I spent four decades as a hospitality executive — most of it as Chief Operating Officer of full-service private country clubs. That work was an education in client experience, negotiation, and detail. When I moved into real estate, those instincts came with me. I don't just list homes and write offers; I listen, strategize, and stay in the deal until the keys change hands.
I've lived in New Orleans for forty-six years — Kenner, Metairie, the Warehouse District, and now Uptown. I've also bought and sold a good number of homes and investment properties myself, so I understand this market as an investor and homeowner, not only as an agent. That perspective is hard to fake, and it changes the advice I give.
My idea of a perfect Saturday: café au lait at the river before the Quarter wakes up, Magazine Street in the late morning, an afternoon under a live oak in City Park, and Frenchmen Street after dark — never Bourbon.
That's the rhythm I help people buy into. Whether you're a first-time buyer ready to stop renting, a growing household that needs more room, a luxury buyer after something extraordinary, or an empty-nester ready to right-size — I meet you where you are and guide you with honesty and a little creativity. Part of Keller Williams Realty New Orleans.
Roughly 60% of my work is with buyers, 40% with sellers — across price points, with real depth at the top of the market.
I've represented buyers and sellers in the million-dollar-plus range in New Orleans, Metairie, and the French Quarter — where discretion, pricing precision, and a steady hand at the negotiating table matter most.
I buy and hold property myself. I'll help you weigh cash flow, risk, market timing, and appreciation — from a primary residence with upside to income-producing and legacy assets.
If you're ready to stop renting and start building equity, or you've outgrown your current place, I'll walk you through the process step by step so the decisions feel clear, not overwhelming.
Right-sizing is as much emotional as financial. I price to the market, market the home properly, and keep the focus on your number — so you walk away with more than you expected.
Not sure where you fit? Tell me what you're working on →
Tap a neighborhood for the honest local read — price, architecture, lifestyle, and the kind of buyer it suits.
The Garden District is the architecture that makes people fall in love with New Orleans — double-gallery Greek Revival mansions, cast-iron fences, and live oaks arching over St. Charles Avenue where the streetcar still runs. Homes here range from grand single-family estates to beautifully restored historic condos and doubles, and most sit inside a local historic district, which means renovations are reviewed and the streetscape stays protected.
Buyers come for the scale and craftsmanship — twelve-foot ceilings, original millwork, deep porches — and stay for the location: a short walk to Magazine Street's shops and restaurants, Lafayette Cemetery, and Commander's Palace. It rewards a buyer who values character over square-footage-per-dollar and understands that owning a historic home is a relationship, not just a purchase.
Because this is one of the most price-sensitive and condition-sensitive markets in the city, the spread between a well-renovated home and a deferred-maintenance one can be enormous. I help buyers read past the staging to the bones — foundation, roof, systems, insurance — and help sellers position a home so it stands out among discerning buyers. If you love this architecture as much as I do, let's talk through what your budget actually buys here.
Mid-City earns its name — it sits at the geographic heart of New Orleans, which is exactly why people love it. From here you can reach the French Quarter, the CBD, Uptown, and the lakefront quickly, and the Canal Street streetcar drops you downtown without a car. The housing stock is classic New Orleans: colorful shotguns, side-hall doubles, and raised-basement cottages, many of them renovated over the last decade.
The neighborhood anchors itself around City Park — 1,300 acres of live oaks, the Sculpture Garden, the museum, and the lagoons — plus the restaurant-and-bar corridor along Bayou Road and the festivals at the Fair Grounds. It draws a wide mix of buyers: young professionals, medical staff working near the new hospital corridor, and people trading a longer commute for genuine walkability.
Value-wise, Mid-City is one of the better balances of price, charm, and access in the city, though elevation and flood history vary block to block — something I check carefully before you write an offer. If you want the culture and convenience of central New Orleans without Garden District pricing, this is the first place I'd point you.
Bayou St. John has a vibe all its own. The slow water of the bayou itself runs through the neighborhood, and on a good afternoon you'll see people paddling kayaks, picnicking on the grassy banks, and gathering for music near the Magnolia Bridge. It's one of the oldest settled parts of the city, and the architecture shows it — Creole cottages, center-hall homes, and some of the most photographed historic houses in New Orleans line the water.
It sits right against City Park and blends into Mid-City, so you get the same central access with a quieter, more residential feel and a strong sense of community. Festivals, the Fair Grounds, and Esplanade Avenue's restaurants are all close. Buyers here tend to be people who fell for the setting first and the floor plan second.
Homes range from compact cottages to substantial historic residences, and the closer you get to the water, the more the premium. As with much of this part of town, I pay close attention to elevation, flood zone, and insurance before recommending an offer price — the view is worth a lot, but the numbers still have to work. If the bayou's pace is what you're after, I know this pocket well.
Lakeview is one of the most transformed neighborhoods in the city. Much of the housing stock was rebuilt or substantially renovated over the last two decades, which means you'll find newer construction, higher elevations, modern systems, and floor plans that feel current — a real contrast to the historic districts. Lots tend to be wider here, with driveways, garages, and yards that are scarce elsewhere in New Orleans.
The neighborhood runs right up to the lakefront, with Lake Pontchartrain, the marina, and miles of walking and biking paths along the water. Harrison Avenue serves as the local main street for coffee, dining, and errands, and the layout is quiet and well-kept. It tends to attract buyers who want space, predictability, and a more suburban feel without leaving Orleans Parish.
Because so much was rebuilt post-2005, build quality and elevation vary widely from house to house — I help buyers tell a quality renovation from a quick flip, and I read the flood and insurance picture closely, since that's the single biggest carrying-cost variable out here. If you want a turnkey home with room to breathe, Lakeview is worth a serious look.
Lake Terrace and Lake Oaks are my quiet favorites — the best-kept secret on the lakefront. Tucked between the University of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain, these planned neighborhoods feature wide lots, generous setbacks, and a mix of well-built mid-century homes and newer custom construction. Streets are calm, mature, and notably uncrowded, with the lake and its breeze just a block or two away.
What makes the area distinct is the combination of higher ground, space, and proximity to the water without the traffic of busier districts. You're minutes from the lakefront paths, the marina, and City Park, with easy access to the I-610 and downtown. It's the kind of place people drive through and ask, "I didn't know this was here" — which is exactly why I like it.
Inventory is limited and turnover is slow, so when the right house comes up it pays to be ready. I keep a close eye on this market and can often flag a listing before it gets attention. For buyers who want lake-adjacent calm, real lot size, and a sense of discovery, Lake Terrace / Lake Oaks is the hidden spot I send them to first.
Old Metairie is the most established address in Jefferson Parish, and it carries itself that way — wide, oak-lined streets, deep lots, and a mix of stately traditional homes, brick Colonials, and high-end custom new builds. It sits just over the parish line from Uptown New Orleans, so you stay minutes from the city while gaining the lot sizes, garages, and elevation that are hard to find inside Orleans Parish.
The area draws buyers who want space and a settled, low-turnover feel without giving up proximity to downtown — many of them medical professionals, attorneys, and longtime locals trading up. Metairie Road anchors the neighborhood with restaurants and everyday errands, and the commute to the CBD or the airport is short in either direction. Homes here range from charming mid-century cottages on generous lots to substantial renovated and ground-up estates.
This is one of the markets where my luxury experience matters most — pricing is condition-driven and the spread between a dated home and a fully renovated one is wide. I help buyers read past finishes to elevation, drainage, and true renovation quality, and I help sellers position an Old Metairie home to reach the right audience. If you want an established, high-elevation address close to the city, this is where I'd start.
Metairie is the practical heart of the New Orleans suburbs — and the place I send buyers who want the most home and convenience for their money. It's a large, well-connected community with quick access to the interstate, Lakeside Shopping Center, Ochsner's main medical campus, and Louis Armstrong International Airport, which makes it a natural fit for commuters, relocating families, and anyone who values getting around the metro area easily.
The housing stock is varied and approachable: brick ranches, raised slab homes, townhomes, and pockets of newer construction, generally with driveways, garages, and yards. Prices sit below the historic New Orleans districts for comparable square footage, which is exactly why move-up buyers and investors keep an eye on it. Elevation and flood history range widely across Metairie, so checking the specifics of a given block is essential before you commit.
I work this market regularly on both sides of the deal. For buyers, I focus on resale strength, carrying costs, and insurance reality rather than just the listing photos. For sellers, I price to a competitive segment where presentation and accurate positioning move a home quickly. If you want value, convenience, and easy access to the whole metro area, Metairie deserves a serious look.
Curious what your block is doing right now? Call me at 504-628-5428.
No guesswork and no pressure — just a clear plan before we ever look at a home or sign a listing.
Before we meet, I send a packet that outlines exactly what to expect — buyer or seller — so you walk in informed and we don't waste the meeting on basics.
I'd rather sit down face to face. It's the fastest way for me to understand what you actually need — not just the bed-and-bath count, but the life behind the move.
Buyers and sellers need different roadmaps. I lay out how your specific transaction will go, step by step, so there are no surprises down the line.
With the groundwork done, the meeting goes deep — strategy, pricing, timeline, and the details that actually move your deal forward.
The question I hear most is simple: "Why should I choose you?" Here's my honest answer. I bring an investor's eye and a hotelier's standard for service to every transaction — and I keep emotion from costing you money when the stakes are high.
I once worked with a widow who wanted to downsize and had a firm number in mind. After inspections, the negotiation got complicated and emotional. My job was to keep her focused on the goal and out of the weeds — and when the dust settled, she netted more than she'd originally hoped for. That's the work: clear thinking when it counts.
I've also stood beside clients through the hardest moments of their lives, helping them handle property decisions while they dealt with everything else. I don't disappear after the offer is accepted. I stay in the deal, solve the problems that come up, and keep my promises — which is why so much of my business comes from past clients and their referrals.
Let's talk about your move
Being in a preferred flood zone does not mean your property won't flood — plenty of homeowners learned that painfully during recent storms. I read elevation, history, and insurance reality, not just the map.
And many sellers are still emotionally overpricing their homes based on what the house means to them rather than what the market actually supports. My job is to tell you the truth about your number, even when it's not what you want to hear.
The best transactions are built on mutual respect and full transparency — and that's the relationship I aim for with every client and everyone on the other side of the deal. When we're all straightforward about a property, the process is smoother and the outcome is better. Protecting the people who trust me starts there.
I'm part of New Orleans' only multi-generational, family-owned real estate brokerage — 136 agents, $250M+ in annual transactions, and 28 years building this market.
Visit KW New Orleans →"We lived in Texas and needed a realtor in the New Orleans area to begin our search to relocate. Ken began work right away, spent the whole day with us, and at the end we had an accepted contract. We had to return to Texas and Ken handled everything — every detail, every step. He even went to the property and set up an air mattress, pillows and towels because he knew we'd arrive late from a long drive after a long day. Ken exceeded every expectation we had. He truly had our back through the entire process, and we couldn't have asked for a better realtor to guide us into a city we didn't yet know."
"Ken was instrumental in the sale of my house. He took care of everything and I mean everything. He knows his profession in and out, and any issue that came up was promptly solved. If you have a property to sell, reach out to Ken — you will not regret it."
"If you want an honest, hardworking real estate agent, then Ken Hamrick is your man. He made the process so easy for me. Thank you, Ken, for making me feel like I was your only client."
This is the question dominating every real estate conversation in America right now. The honest answer is that nobody knows with certainty. What smart buyers understand is the old industry wisdom — "marry the house, date the rate." You can refinance when rates improve. You cannot go back and buy the right home at the right price once it's gone.
Everyone wants to time the market perfectly and almost nobody does. In the New Orleans Metro Area specifically, prices have remained relatively stubborn even as national trends shift. The more important question isn't whether prices will drop — it's whether the home makes sense for your life and your finances right now. Waiting for a perfect moment that may never come is a strategy that has cost many buyers dearly.
This is where sellers get into trouble most often. Online estimates from Zillow and similar platforms are notoriously inaccurate in a market as nuanced and neighborhood-specific as New Orleans. A proper Comparative Market Analysis from a local expert who understands the difference between Lakeview and Lakewood, Old Metairie and Old Jefferson, is the only reliable answer.
Commissions are negotiable and spelled out in writing before we list or write an offer — no surprises at the closing table. For sellers, my fee covers pricing strategy, professional marketing, negotiation, and managing the deal to close. For buyers, we'll review how my compensation is structured under the current rules at our first meeting, so you know exactly what you're agreeing to.
An online platform can show you photos. It can't read an inspection report, manage a difficult seller, or keep a deal alive when something goes sideways — and in New Orleans, something usually does. I'm backed by Keller Williams Realty New Orleans, the city's only multi-generational, family-owned brokerage, with the local relationships and resources to get complicated deals closed.
Tell me a little about what you're working on — buying, selling, or just thinking it through. I'll be in touch within 24 hours.