A glance at how the Ascension commercial real estate market began 2026

The Ascension Parish commercial real estate market maintained a stable footing in the first quarter of 2026, despite a slight decrease in overall sales volume. Data from Elifin shows that while trailing 12-month sales volume dipped by 0.87% to $204.6 million, transaction velocity actually improved by 4.1% with 127 recorded sales. This resilience in deal activity provides a nuanced view of the sector, even as year-to-date dollar volumes started significantly lower than the previous year's levels.

According to the latest figures from Elifin, the Ascension Parish commercial real estate market remained relatively stable through the first quarter of 2026. Trailing 12-month sales volume reached $204.6 million at the end of March, representing a minor 0.87% decline from the previous month, while deal velocity increased 4.1% with 127 sales recorded over the same period. However, the market saw a sharp year-over-year decline in first-quarter dollar volume, with year-to-date sales totaling $16 million across 23 deals, compared to $113 million across 31 deals during the first quarter of 2025.

The industrial sector was the standout performer, posting the strongest improvement among major property types. Its trailing 12-month sales volume rose 4.43% to $75.4 million, and deal velocity climbed by 10%, even as the average sale price per square foot declined 2.41% to $155.17. In contrast, the retail sector saw a softening in activity, with trailing 12-month sales volume falling 4.18% to $34.7 million. Despite the lower volume, retail property values increased 2.83% to $304.15 per square foot, while transaction velocity remained steady.

The office and land sectors remained largely consistent with previous trends. Office sales volume held steady at $7.9 million with 14 transactions, though the average price per square foot saw a negligible dip of 0.38% to $165.29. Land sales volume decreased 4.15% to $37.7 million, yet the sector experienced a 3.57% increase in transaction activity with prices holding firm at $4.92 per square foot. Notably, the multifamily sector recorded no transactions during the quarter, and the total year-to-date office sales of $325,000 lagged significantly behind the $1 million recorded during the same period last year.