6th fastest growing suburb in America: Arabi, LA

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Hurricane Katrina didn't just devastate New Orleans. When it hit nearby Arabi in 2005, it tossed trees onto homes, turned over cars, and leveled local businesses. Most houses that weren't ruined were damaged by winds or flooding. This pushed prices all the way down. But as the region and the national economy have improved, many new homes have gone up, while others have been remodeled.

“Everyone said it would take 10 years to come back, which it did,” says local real estate agent Lara Schultz of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. "We’re [finally] gaining momentum again with new construction."

Just about 20 minutes from downtown New Orleans, Arabi is attracting both middle-class families and single, female buyers, Schultz says. They’re coming for the new homes—usually cottages, with high ceilings and porches. Or they want the town's remaining historical homes, which often date back to the early 20th century and were made out of salvaged wood from ships.

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