The New Orleans house you didn’t buy in 1996
A $300,000 house at 1996’s average index level, tracked to 2026 Q2.
The metro index went from 109.9 (the 1996 average) to 327.4 in 2026 Q2, 3.0× its 1996 level. That makes a $300,000 purchase about $893,553 today.
With 20% down ($60,000) and a 30-year loan at 1996’s average rate of 7.81%, today’s equity is about $893,553, 15× the down payment. The loan would be paid off by now, so the equity equals the house’s value.
The same $60,000 down payment, put in an S&P 500 index fund instead (the TSP C Fund, dividends reinvested), was worth $1.18M at the end of August 2026, the latest month the fund has reported at tsp.gov.
Run your own numbers for 1996 →
House figures are estimates for the whole metro market, from the FHFA index. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What is a 1996 New Orleans house worth today?
About $893,553 for a $300,000 house, a 3.0× market multiple to 2026 Q2 by the FHFA all-transactions index for New Orleans-Metairie, LA.
Why use an index instead of listings?
The FHFA index is built from repeat transactions on the same homes, so it controls for the mix of what happens to be for sale.
Is this investment advice?
No. This is historical arithmetic for education and entertainment.