Real Talk.

A seller who believed his historic home wouldn't sell. A 150-year-old Esplanade Avenue home that sat on the market for six months. A ballroom waiting to be understood. A kitchen full of tiny chickens hiding a secret above its ceiling. A Bridgerton-inspired ball that brought the house back to life. And a buyer who discovered it all through Instagram. The story of how understanding a home—not just marketing it—helped 723 Esplanade sell for $1.5 million, in record time, and with

I wrote Prepped to Sell because I wished there was something sellers could read before or after our first consultation that would help them feel less overwhelmed and more empowered. Over years of client conversations, listing launches, marketing strategy, and real-world experience, I realized we had already written the book—we just hadn’t pulled it together yet. This is that bridge between feeling stuck and making moves.

Bridgerton’s architecture isn’t fantasy. See how New Orleans Greek Revival homes capture the same symmetry, drama, and historic presence.

Every homeowner has a project that lives louder in their head than it does in real life. I’ve now seen it enough times to give it a name.

Paris had La Belle Époque — the moment when the world finally saw what had been there all along. New Orleans is having that moment now. I’m calling it Authenticism: a return to good old things, real materials, and homes that still carry their stories. If you’ve ever loved brick, plaster, old wood, and rooms that feel like they’ve been lived in… this one’s for you.

Meet Craig Ernst, New Orleans’ trusted historic-home expert. Architecture, history, and real estate insight — all in one steady, brilliant voice.

Where to find mid century living in New Orleans