Buying Guide First-Time Home Buyer’s Guide to New Orleans
A first-time buyer's guide to New Orleans — how the process works, what to budget for, and the local details (flood insurance,…
New Orleans Property Services · Since 2007
A boutique brokerage delivering white-glove service to buyers, sellers, and investors — with an intimate knowledge of every street, corner, and historic block of New Orleans.
Now on the Market
A selection of current listings, pulled live from the MLS. Search every home for sale →
AI Home Concierge
Describe your ideal New Orleans home in your own words. Kari's concierge will point you to matching listings — and can set up a personal shortlist.
Kari's AI concierge helps with home criteria only — location, price, size, style, and features. In keeping with Fair Housing law, it doesn't advise on neighborhoods by demographics, schools, or safety; for that guidance, talk with Kari directly.
How We Help
From first tour to closing table, we help you find and win the right home — with sharp local insight on value, condition, and neighborhood fit.
Strategic pricing, standout marketing, and skilled negotiation to sell your home for the most the market will bear — with as little friction as possible.
Rental analysis, short-term rental guidance, and off-market opportunities for investors building a portfolio in a one-of-a-kind market.
Deep expertise with New Orleans' shotguns, Creole cottages, and Victorian doubles — including renovation, restoration, and preservation considerations.
Moving to New Orleans? We orient you to the neighborhoods, schools, and rhythms of the city so your first home here truly feels like home.
A precise, data-backed opinion of value for your home or prospective purchase — grounded in real comparable sales, not an algorithm.
Market Pulse
A current snapshot of the New Orleans market.
New Orleans · 3 months ending September 2026. Source: Redfin.
Meet Kari Ayala
Kari Kramer Ayala has been part of the New Orleans real estate market since 1998 and founded New Orleans Property Services in 2007. What began as a one-agent practice has grown into a trusted boutique brokerage built on professionalism, discretion, and genuine care.
A Fulbright Scholar with graduate training from Tulane, Kari brings rigor and warmth to every transaction — and an intimate familiarity with the character of each neighborhood. Deeply rooted in the community, she co-founded the International School of Louisiana and serves as President of the Krewe of Dolly.
In the Community
Kari's connection to New Orleans runs deeper than real estate — and it's exactly what makes her guidance more than transactional.
She co-founded the International School of Louisiana, a public charter offering full-immersion programs in Spanish and French, and serves as President of the Krewe of Dolly, a nonprofit supporting Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
The Difference
Big enough to get it done, small enough to truly know you.
You work with Kari herself — not a rotating team. One relationship, start to finish.
Street-by-street knowledge of value, history, flood, and character across the city.
Discreet, attentive, and thorough — the standard of care our clients return to.
$125M+ closed and 337+ families served across more than two decades.
Explore the City
Follow Along
New listings, sold celebrations, and a local's view of New Orleans — pulled straight from Instagram so the site stays current.
New Orleans Journal
A first-time buyer's guide to New Orleans — how the process works, what to budget for, and the local details (flood insurance,…
Shotguns, Creole cottages, doubles, and camelbacks — a friendly guide to New Orleans' historic home styles and what makes each one special.
What's my New Orleans home worth? How real home valuation works — the factors that drive price, why online estimates fall short,…
The Process
Whether you're buying or selling, you'll always know exactly where you stand and what comes next.
We start with a conversation about your goals, timeline, and the life you want your home to fit.
A tailored plan — a targeted search for buyers, or pricing and marketing for sellers.
Skilled, level-headed representation to protect your interests and your bottom line.
We manage the details to the finish line — and stay a resource long after the keys change hands.
Client Stories
Kari Kramer Ayala provided consulting expertise for my condo sale, and she was totally super! She toured the property, reviewed my condo documents, analyzed the comps, and then helped me arrive at a fair and accurate price for a for-sale-by-owner transaction. She’s knowledgeable, straightforward, responsive, and incredibly reassuring to work with. I highly recommend her.
From our first sit down to the final sale of our beloved family home, Kari brought a level of professionalism, knowledge, local insights, kindness, good humor, resources and ethics that was unmatched. As this was one of the hardest decisions we've made in our marriage - the emotions were high - and Kari made sure we were taken care of every step of the way. She’s no-nonsense, never one for putting on airs, and as down-to-earth as a person can be without ever shrinking from the room she’s in. She went above and beyond in all categories. Thanks Kari!!
Working with Kari made the entire home buying process feel surprisingly stress-free. She’s incredibly efficient and was always available whenever we needed her. Not only is she deeply knowledgeable about the local market, but she also clearly has strong relationships in the community; people genuinely like her, and it shows in how smoothly things moved along. Beyond her professionalism, she’s just fun to be around. What could have been an overwhelming experience turned into something enjoyable, thanks to her upbeat attitude and calm guidance. If you want someone who’s not only capable but also a joy to work with, Kari is the one. Highest of recommendations!
Kari did an expert job at representing us to buy our home. She knew the neighborhood and what would be the right pricing. She held our hand and no inquiry was too small or too many. I look forward to having her represent us again in the near future.
Kari is amazing! She has sold two homes for us and helped with the purchase of 2 others. She is patient, hard working, smart and just plain fun to work with. I highly recommend her!
Kari was incredible to work with. As a first time buyer, her wealth of knowledge and expertise in Real Estate made me feel so comfortable with all the complex details of the process. Kari made something as overwhelming as buying a first home feel achievable and exciting. She has relationships with so many trusted contacts in the industry, developed through dedicated years of experience. I knew she would have the answer to any question, big or small. On top of that, she is just a joy to work with and is a valued member of the New Orleans community. I love my new home, and would recommend her to anyone! She's wonderful.
We chose Kari after going to several open houses over a number of years (!). We had met many realtors but liked what we saw as her comprehensive knowledge of the New Orleans market, ability to listen to what we were looking for, high energy, and, frankly, skill at making the process not just easy but fun. We shared a lot of laughs, but also in the end got the house of our dreams. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Buying a house is a complex and daunting process but Kari made it feel straightforward, simple, and even fun. She thinks of everything, anticipates and resolves potential issues before they become problems, and maintains clear, candid, and consistent communication throughout the process. She has a deep understanding of the local market and works closely with other stellar professionals in town, going above and beyond to help guide every aspect of the transaction, from inspections to financing to insurance to closing. We loved working with her and recommend her without hesitation.
Kari is very knowledgeable about the market in NOLA. She is very dedicated to her clients. We always had excellent communication through the entire process. Kari goes above and beyond in making sure the property is ready for showings. She knows every professional contact in the area for whatever might be needed to have the property ready for buyers. Her exceptional service took us to a very positive Closing experience. We have worked with Kari not only for the sale of our property but also during the buying process. Every time, a delight and satisfaction to work with Kari even during challenging market conditions. Thank you Kari!!
We’ve worked with Kari on three separate occasions and she’s been an absolute pleasure to work with. She worked quickly and diligently to meet our needs and ensure we were taken care of. Recommend her and her team for any real estate transactions.
Let's Talk
Whether you're buying, selling, or investing, a short conversation is the best place to start.