Market Intelligence Report — LA-340

Lake Charles, LA

Monthly housing intelligence, market trends, and trusted local expertise.

Ref. No: 2026-LA-07
As of the latest 2026 data
Cooling

Median Listing

$240K
-0.2% YoY

Pending Ratio

0.41
+14.9% YoY

Active Inventory

820
-28.5% YoY

Median DOM

86 Days
+0.6% YoY

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The Lake Charles market is currently characterized as Cooling, with a pending ratio of 0.41 indicating demand absorption is moderate relative to available inventory. Active listings have contracted by 28.5% year-over-year, alongside a 22.3% year-over-year decrease in new listings, contributing to a tightening supply environment despite the cooling demand dynamics.

Local Market Signals

Source: FRED (St. Louis Fed)

Local economic trends can influence how quickly homes sell and how much competition sellers may face.

Job Market

5.0%+0.1 pp YoY

Unemployment rate · Jun 2026

Shows whether local employment conditions are supporting buyer demand.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (St. Louis Fed).

Population & Migration

244,655+0.5% YoY

Resident population · Jan 2025

Shows whether the area is gaining or losing potential housing demand.

U.S. Census Bureau via FRED (St. Louis Fed).

Future Housing Supply

Data not yet available.

Shows whether future inventory pressure may increase.

Market Analysis

What's moving the Lake Charles market right now.

The market exhibits a significant year-over-year contraction in inventory, with active listings down 28.5% and new listings decreasing by 22.3%. Concurrently, the pending ratio has increased by 14.9% year-over-year to 0.41, suggesting an improvement in demand absorption relative to the prior period. Median listing prices show a marginal 0.3% month-over-month increase, though a slight 0.2% decline year-over-year, while the median days on market remain stable with a 0.6% year-over-year change. The share of price-reduced listings has decreased by 2.6% year-over-year, implying some pricing resilience.

Historical Analysis

Market Trends

Median Price

$240K+0.3% MoM

Active Inventory

820-28.5% YoY

Days on Market

86+0.6% YoY

Sold Score™

59+14.9% YoY

Sold Score™ Over Time

Market liquidity index • 36 months

59
Aug 23Jul 26

Price & Days on Market

Median listing vs market velocity

Price DOM
Aug 23Jul 26

Inventory Dynamics

Total active listings vs new monthly supply

Active New listings
Aug 23Mar 24Oct 24May 25Dec 25Jul 26

Sourced from Realtor.com RDC Inventory Core Metrics, supplemented by the Primpted research desk. Updated As of the latest 2026 data.

Market Signals & Indicators

Negotiating Leverage

Despite notable inventory contraction, the current pending ratio suggests that demand absorption is not significantly outpacing the available supply. The reduced year-over-year share of price-reduced listings may indicate a slight firming of price discipline. However, the overall pace of transactions points to an environment where buyers may encounter less immediate pressure, allowing for more considered negotiations.

Luxury Segment

Elevated average listing prices, up 14.4% year-over-year to $328,695, suggest a bifurcation in price trends, with higher-priced segments potentially outperforming the broader market. This dynamic implies robust performance in the luxury tier, contrasting with the more stable median pricing trends.

Supply Dynamics

820 active listings represent the current floor, with new supply arriving at roughly 188 per month.

Pricing Pressure
15.6%

of active listings carry a price reduction, -2.6% from prior period.

$/Sq Ft
$0K

Median price per square foot has moved -0.0% year-over-year.

Absorption
0.41

Pending-to-active ratio — Cooling.

Recommended For This Market

Cooling

Selling in Lake Charles, LA? Inventory is down 29% from last year.

Lake Charles, LA is sitting near equilibrium. Preparation, pricing and timing decide whether a listing sells fast or lingers.

Buyer Demand Index
41%
Median Days on Market
86 days
Inventory YoY
−29%

Lake Charles, LA is balanced, so preparation decides the outcome. Your Sold Score shows where you stand today.

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Metro Demographics

Metro Area
Lake Charles, LA
CBSA Code
29340
State
LA

ZIPs in Lake Charles, LA

Sorted by active inventory · click a ZIP for its full report