Hey y'all! The newest numbers from the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) cover September 2026, and they tell a pretty clear story: prices are holding steady, buyers have more homes to choose from, and they're taking their sweet time before they commit. If you're thinking about selling this winter or early next year, here's what I want you to know before you put that sign in the yard.
The Greater Houston Numbers at a Glance
Here's how single-family homes across Greater Houston did in September 2026 compared to September 2025:
- Homes sold: 7,030, down 5.7%
- Median price: $325,000, essentially unchanged (it was $325,990 a year ago)
- Average price: $421,311, up 0.7%
- Active listings: 40,192 homes for sale, up 6.3%
- Months of inventory: 5.5 months, up from 5.1
- Average days on market: 58 days, up from 56
- Pending sales (under contract): 6,789, down 11.6%
- 30-year mortgage rate: averaged 6.86% in September per Freddie Mac, up from 6.35% a year earlier
Townhomes and condos had a tougher month. Sales were down 21% from last year, the median price dropped 9.1% to $209,000, and inventory climbed to 9.3 months.
Keep in mind these are metro-wide numbers. What's happening in your subdivision or zip code can look very different, so if you want the story for your specific area, check out my free market snapshot or browse what's for sale in Houston.
What This Means in Plain English
I like to boil the numbers down to three things:
- Prices are steady, not falling. A flat median and a slightly higher average tell me values are holding up overall, even with fewer sales.
- Buyers have options. With more than 40,000 homes on the market and inventory at 5.5 months, we're getting close to the roughly six-month mark that many in the industry consider a balanced market. That means your home is competing with more listings than it would have a couple of years ago.
- Buyers are being careful. Pending sales dropping 11.6% is the number I'm watching most. It tells me buyers are touring, comparing and thinking it over before they write an offer.
Mortgage Rates: The Piece Everybody's Watching
Rates are a big part of this story. HAR noted that buyers of a median-priced Houston home with 20% down saw their monthly principal and interest payment go up about $83 compared to a year ago. Weekly rates kept climbing into early October, reaching 7.40%.
The good news: Freddie Mac's November 5 survey showed the 30-year fixed rate at 7.18%, the third straight weekly decline. That's still higher than the 6.22% we saw this time last year, but any downward movement can bring some buyers back off the sidelines. I'm not going to predict where rates go from here, and if you're also buying your next home, I always recommend sitting down with a trusted lender to run your own numbers.
Why Selling During the Holidays Can Still Work
A lot of folks assume nobody buys a house between Thanksgiving and New Year's. In my experience, the buyers who are out looking in November and December are usually serious. Many are relocating for work, have a lease ending, or simply want to be settled before the new year. They don't have time to window shop.
The flip side is that your listing has to be ready on day one. In a market where buyers have choices and homes are averaging 58 days on market, the homes that are priced right and show well are the ones that get the attention.
How to Stand Out When Buyers Have Choices
Here's what I'm telling my sellers right now:
- Price it right from the start. Overpricing and then chasing the market with reductions usually costs more time than it saves. We'll look at recent sales near you, not just the metro average.
- Handle the small stuff. Fresh paint in neutral colors, working light bulbs, caulked tubs and a clean HVAC filter go a long way. Buyers notice these things.
- Keep holiday decor light. A wreath on the door and a few warm touches feel welcoming. A living room packed with decorations makes it harder for buyers to picture the space as theirs.
- Don't skip curb appeal. Rake the leaves, trim the beds, add a couple of seasonal pots by the front door and make sure the porch light works for those early sunsets.
- Be flexible with showings. Buyers often tour during holiday time off, so a little flexibility can make a real difference.
- Think about buyer incentives. With rates above 7%, some buyers respond well to a seller credit toward closing costs or a rate buydown. Their lender can explain which options make sense, and we'll talk through what fits your goals.
You can read more about how I market homes on my selling page.
What I'm watching next month: HAR's October report should be out soon, and I'll be keeping an eye on three things: whether pending sales start to recover, whether the recent dip in mortgage rates holds, and how inventory behaves as we head into the slower winter weeks. I'll break it all down for you here next month.
Thinking About Selling? Let's Talk
Every home and every neighborhood is different, and the metro numbers only tell part of the story. If you're curious about what your home is worth in today's market, I'd love to help you figure out your best timing and strategy, with no pressure at all.
Send me a message or call or text me at (346) 241-2463. I'm always happy to talk real estate!
Source: Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), September 2026 Housing Market Update (released October 14, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, November 5, 2026.
