KEY TAKEAWAYS: $1.5M listings span French Quarter, Garden District, Uptown, Bayou St. John and Lake Vista Mix of historic renovations and newer construction homes Many properties offer pools, courtyards, balconies, and gated parking Flexible layouts include doubles, townhomes, and expansion-re ady compounds   From preserved historic residences to more contemporary builds, New Orleans luxury homes priced around $1.5 million highlight the city’s architectural range, neighborhood diversity, and lifestyle options. New Orleans CityBusiness takes a look at several of those price point listings that span the French Quarter, Garden District, Uptown, Bayou St. John, and Lake Vista. “The housing inventory diversity is part of the City’s unique appeal throughout its historic neighborhoods,” said Leslie Perrin, realtor with the Francher Perrin Group at Compass Realtors. “Buyers in the higher end market have many options to choose from when it comes to architectural design, lifestyle, and location. While a historic renovated home offers the charm that many buyers seek, the new build offers contemporary design and low maintenance.” Homes with historic character and modern updates Several listings in the $1.4 million to $1.6 million range lean into New Orleans’ historic roots while offering updated systems, modern amenities and upgrades, and move-in-ready interiors. “New Orleans has a deep historic housing stock given our many designated historic districts, and we have a breadth of historic inventory right now in the $1.5 million price range,” said Craig Ernst, realtor and historic home specialist with Cool Murphy LLC. “People love historic homes, and most of our historic homes are also located in some of our most desirable neighborhoods, so it makes sense that they do well in the market.”   723 ESPLANADE Ave [see the SlideDeck] Ernst and colleague Elisa Cool Murphy are co-listing agents on 723 Esplanade Ave. – a classic French Quarter Esplanade Ave. home that “showcases the scale and grandeur of a historic 1873 townhouse,” said Ernst. 723 Esplanade Ave. includes ballroom-style spaces, dual primary suites (including a full guest suite with a kitchen), a balcony, multiple courtyards, and gated parking. The long entry hall pulls visitors towards the large ballroom space. Ornate mantels, chandeliers, and blue rooms reflect historic detailing of the home. “You can host your own Mardi Gras ball in your house or throw a lavish party in the spacious ballroom, and then you have two primary suite options upstairs and downstairs for residents and guests,” Ernst said. “This home is fantastic for someone desiring French Quarter living and looking for a primary or secondary home.” One of the appeals of 723 Esplanade Ave. is the location – on the Marigny side and on the edge of the French Quarter. “You have the vibes of living in the French Quarter with everything in walking distance, but you also have the luxury of easy ingress and egress,” Ernst said. 918 St. Philip St. [see the SlideDeck] 918 St. Philip St., listed for $1.598 million, is a 1887 Victorian cottage in the French Quarter that features 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and nearly 2,000 square feet of living space. It has a landscaped yard, pool, deeded off-street parking, and is on a deep 31′ x 166′ lot. Intact historic details include soaring ceilings with triple crown moldings, heart pine floors, and gracious formal living and dining rooms. The expansive chef’s kitchen opens to a sunlit den. All appliances and window coverings are included. The seller will consider including the antique dining set and grand piano with an acceptable offer. “918 St. Philip Street offers the rare opportunity to own a home on one of the French Quarter’s most iconic, story-rich streets,” said Frank Wilder, realtor with the Francher Perrin Group at Compass Realtors. “Blending timeless New Orleans character with everyday livability, this property places you in the center of it all while still feeling like a true retreat with an oversized landscaped yard and pool. It’s not just a house – it’s a front-row seat to the soul of the city.” Just off the corner of St. Ann in the lower French Quarter, 810 Bourbon St. is a restored four-bay Creole cottage dating back to the 1830s. Renovated in 2022, the residence pairs exposed brick fireplaces, herringbone wood floors, and a central courtyard with modern luxury finishes and a separate guest house. The chef’s kitchen opens to a spacious entertaining area. The primary bedroom and bathroom occupy the second floor. The property also features two guest suites in a two-story guest house, which has a balcony over the courtyard. The courtyard has a fountain, and a private gate in the courtyard opens to the contract parking adjacent to the rear of the property.   914 N. Rampart St. (listed at $1.499 million) is a unique and versatile property in the French Quarter as it currently houses a physician’s office, but was formerly known as the renowned Victorian House Bed Breakfast. Situated in the VCC-2 zoning district and built in 1900, the Victorian-era property boasts three to five guest rooms, allowing for flexible use as a boutique hospitality venue, professional office, or private residence with commercial potential. Garden District and Uptown offerings emphasize space and flexibility It’s unique to find a property in a prime Lower Garden District location that has an adjacent lot for expansion, but 1113 Thalia St. fits that description.   1113 Thalia St. [see the SlideDeck] Located near Magazine St., Coliseum Square, and St. Charles Ave., the property includes a historic 1922 home with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3,023 square feet of living space, next to an adjacent empty space, all situated on a 4,112-square-foot lot. Currently a double, the home can be converted into a single residence, said realtor Ninh Tran, who shares the listing with Rêve Realtors colleague Suzy Lamore. The property is listed at $1.599 million, “It is centrally located to everything in the city. It’s a great property for someone looking for a compound with expansion capabilities, or an owner-occupied buyer looking to make an investment, or a family looking to convert the property back to a single-family home. The lot size gives you many options, and the location and space are very appealing,” Tran said. The sellers have made several investments, said Tran. There are new custom aluminum shutters, a new roof installed in 2022, leased solar panels, a thoughtfully designed brick patio ideal for entertainment, and a spacious pool. Additional features include 13-foot ceilings, original hardwood floors, exposed brick, a chef’s kitchen that overlooks the galley porch, an antique barn door to separate the kitchen from the living area, and vintage doors throughout. The primary bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, walk-in closet, and a galley balcony with city views. “Historic homes that are turnkey, move-in ready and that have investments to preserve the character and upgrade the residence always do well in the market, and 1113 Thalia has many attractive, updated renovations and modern upgrades,” said Tran.   1535 Camp Place [see the SlideDeck] Priced at $1.6 million, 1535 Camp Place is a townhouse built in 1858 and renovated in 2023. The home, which is set up as two units but can be converted to single family, boasts its original shrimpy pink façade, features classic examples of the city’s architecture, and is in a park-like setting one-half block from the historic Coliseum Square. The rear courtyard has been transformed into an oasis with a fountain, and a balcony overlooks the park. Another historic home built in 1920, 3322 Esplanade Ave. is in walking distance to the Jazz Fest and Bayou St. John. Priced at $1.495 million and featuring 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and 5,478 square feet of living space, the home currently is used as a double but has connecting doors between the two units on both the first and second stories. Historic details include original hardwood floors, high ceilings, fireplace mantels, and historic stairwells. The primary suite has a spacious bedroom, sitting room, screened porch balcony, walk-in closet, laundry, and spacious bathroom. There are grand living and dining rooms; balconies, porches, and screened porches; and the chef’s kitchen has a breakfast area. The property backs up to Ponce de Leon St. and has a parking pad/patio space with room for a pool.   Located on the border of the Irish channel and the Garden District neighborhoods, 2520 Magazine St. is a three-story Queen Anne Victorian home with a wraparound front porch that faces the St. Patrick’s Day parade route. Priced at $1.485 million, the historic home built in 1895 features 5 bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms, and 4,325 square feet of living space. Highlights include 12-foot ceilings, original stained glass, a wood staircase, floor-to-ceiling windows, and nine marble fireplaces. Outside is a heated pool and turf yard.   From St. Patrick’s Day to Mardi Gras, 3216 St. Charles Ave. is where Mardi Gras parades pass right by your front door. Priced at $1.49 million, the newer townhome built in 1996 features 4 bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms, and 3,300 square feet of living space. Highlights include gated off-street parking, a private rear patio, a balcony overlooking the avenue, elevator ready design, and a spacious third-floor suite with its own full bathroom.   One of the newer construction options around the $1.5 million price point is 1037 Allen Toussaint Blvd., a 2015 custom, corner-lot home listed at $1.445 million in Lake Vista. Modern amenities include a whole-home generator, EV charging, and elevator-ready design. Featuring 4 bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms, and 4,668 square feet of living space, highlights include multiple balconies, custom columns and trims, a grand two-story foyer with a custom curved staircase and crystal chandelier, open living spaces with soaring ceilings, custom crown molding, hardwood floors, and a chef’s kitchen with custom cabinetry, specialty lighting, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and a large center island overlooking the living and dining spaces.   Here is more information about several New Orleans luxury homes listed in the $1.5 million price range: 1535 Camp Place, New Orleans, 70130 List price: $1.6 million Specs: 3 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms, 3,300 square feet of living space (built in 1858) Listing agent: Eleanor Farnsworth, Latter Blum | Compass 1113 Thalia St., New Orleans, 70130 List price: $1,599,000 Specs: 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3,023 square feet of living space (built in 1922) Listing agents: Ninh Tran and Suzy Lamore, Rêve Realtors 918 St. Philip St., New Orleans, 70116 List price: $1,598,000 Specs: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,944 square feet of living space (built circa 1887) Listing agents: Bryan Francher, Leslie Perrin, and Frank Wilder, Latter Blum | Compass 810 Bourbon St., New Orleans, 70116 List price: $1,575,000 Specs: 3 bedrooms, 3 ½ bathrooms, 3,285 square feet of living space (built in 1830) Listing agent: Shelley Lawrence, Wurth Real Estate Services 723 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, 70116 List price: $1.53 million Specs: 5 bedrooms, 4 ½ bathrooms, 3,593 square feet of living space (built in 1873) Listing agents: Craig Ernst and Elisa Cool Murphy, Cool Murphy LLC 914 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, 70116 List price: $1,499,000 Specs: 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 3,406 square feet of living space (built in 1900) Listing agents: Jared Briley and John Schaff, Latter Blum | Compass 3322 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, 70119 List price: $1,495,000 Specs: 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 5,478 square feet of living space (built in 1920) Listing agent: Rachael Kansas, RE/MAX N.O. Properties 3216 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, 70115 List price: $1,490,000 Specs: 4 bedrooms, 3 ½ bathrooms, 3,300 square feet of living space (built in 1996) Listing agent: Judie Oudt, Latter Blum | Compass 2520 Magazine St., New Orleans, 70130 List price: $1,485,000 Specs: 5 bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms, 4,325 square feet of living space (built in 1895) Listing agent: Kasi Champagne, eXp Realty, LLC 1037 Allen Toussaint Blvd., New Orleans, 70124 List price: $1,445,000 Specs: 4 bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms, 4,668 square feet of living space (built in 2015) Listing agents: GiGi Burk and Debbie Lewis, Burk Brokerage, LLC ...read more read less