DeRidder, LA Housing Market

Market Overview

DeRidder, LA’s housing market reads as moderate, with a PropertyIQ Score of 65 out of 100, placing it in a middle zone rather than clearly favoring buyers or sellers. The median home value is $207,985, which is $9,054 below the Louisiana state average of $217,039. The median household income is $65,944, above the state average of $60,756, and the unemployment rate is 4.4%, matching the state benchmark. These figures suggest a market where local incomes are somewhat stronger than the state norm while home prices remain slightly lower.

The PropertyIQ score is shaped by mixed signals. The 12-month home value momentum of 8.47% points to notable appreciation over the past year, but the 3-month momentum of -0.85% indicates recent cooling. The median home value’s year-over-year change of -$2 is essentially flat. Listings are moving at a measured pace, with a median of 80 days on market and 10.9% of listings reporting a price cut. With 145 homes for sale, the market is not showing extreme scarcity or sharp oversupply. The dataset does not provide a population growth figure, so population-driven demand cannot be directly assessed.

Key Trends

One trend is the contrast between longer-term and shorter-term price momentum. The 12-month home value momentum of 8.47% shows strength compared with a year ago, but the 3-month momentum of -0.85% suggests price growth has recently reversed slightly. The year-over-year median home value decline of $2 on a price near $207,985 is negligible in dollar terms, but combined with the negative 3-month reading it indicates a flattening or mildly cooling price environment.

A second trend is rental market strength relative to the state. DeRidder’s rent index is $1,323, which is $259 higher than the Louisiana average of $1,064, a roughly 24% premium. Meanwhile, the median home value is about 4% below the state average. The combination of lower home values and a higher rent index stands out.

A third trend is moderate market speed. The median days on market is 80, meaning homes are taking roughly two and a half months to go under contract. The share of listings with a price cut is 10.9%, suggesting slightly more than one in ten sellers has adjusted the asking price. These are not distressed conditions, but they do point to a market where buyers have some room to negotiate.

A fourth trend is local affordability relative to Louisiana benchmarks. DeRidder’s median household income of $65,944 is $5,188 above the state average, while its median home value of $207,985 is $9,054 below the state average. This creates a more favorable income-to-home-price relationship than the state benchmark, which may support buyer activity even as short-term price momentum cools.

Who Is This Market For

This market is likely to appeal to first-time buyers and budget-conscious households. With a median home value below the Louisiana average and a median household income above the state average, DeRidder offers relatively approachable purchase prices compared with local earning power. The 80-day median days on market and 10.9% price-cut share also give buyers some negotiating room rather than forcing rushed decisions.

The market may also suit long-term rental investors. The rent index of $1,323 is well above the state average of $1,064, while the median home value is moderate at $207,985. That gap can support investor interest in cash-flow-oriented rentals, provided expenses and local market conditions are evaluated property by property. Move-up buyers may find value here as well, since local incomes are above the state average and home values remain below the state median, but they should expect a measured sales pace rather than rapid equity gains.

This is not a market where short-term flippers can rely on fast appreciation. The 3-month home value momentum is negative at -0.85%, the year-over-year median home value change is -$2, and 10.9% of listings have a price cut. Those signals do not point to rapid turnover or sharp price increases.

Outlook

DeRidder’s near-term outlook appears balanced to slightly cooling. The positive 12-month home value momentum of 8.47% provides a foundation of recent appreciation, but the negative 3-month momentum of -0.85%, the flat year-over-year median home value, the 80-day median days on market, and the 10.9% price-cut share all point to a market that is losing some upward price pressure. If the short-term cooling continues, home values may remain flat or decline modestly rather than rising sharply.

At the same time, the market has stabilizing factors. The unemployment rate of 4.4% matches the state average, median household income is above the state benchmark, and the rent index remains significantly above the state average. Those conditions may support demand from both owner-occupants and investors. However, without a population growth figure, it is difficult to know whether new household formation is adding demand. The most data-supported view is that DeRidder will likely remain a moderate market, with affordability and rental strength providing more support than short-term price momentum.