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MORE HOMES, MORE BALANCE IN HOUSTON’S AUGUST HOUSING MARKET
Stable pricing and steady inventory signal a more balanced market
HOUSTON — (September 9, 2026) — Houston homebuyers had more options to choose from in August as inventory remained elevated and home prices held relatively steady. While sales activity slowed compared to a year ago, the market continued to move toward a more balanced environment for buyers and sellers.
According to the Houston Association of Realtors’ August 2026 Housing Market Update, single-family home sales declined 11.5% year over year to 7,100 closings. Active listings reached 38,947 homes while inventory held steady at 5.3 months, providing consumers with a broader selection of properties across the Greater Houston area.
“Balance remains the defining characteristic of Houston's housing market,” said HAR Chair Theresa Hill with Compass RE Texas, LLC - Houston. “Buyers have more options and more time to make decisions, while sellers continue to benefit from relatively stable prices. That's a healthier environment for consumers and a positive sign for the long-term strength of our market.”
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.67% from 6.59% a year ago, according to Freddie Mac. Despite the increase, the median price of a single-family home fell $5,000 to $330,000, resulting in a slight decline in monthly principal and interest payments compared to August 2025.
Houston's affordability has now improved on a year-over-year basis in 22 of the past 25 months, outpacing the national trend, where affordability improved in just 15 of the past 24 months.
Housing Market Overview
Across all property types, total sales reached 8,362 transactions in August, down 10.2% from a year earlier. Total dollar volume was approximately $3.5 billion. Active listings across all property categories increased 1.0% year over year to 60,390 properties.
Single-Family Homes Update
The single-family housing market continued to normalize in August as buyers benefited from more available inventory and a wider selection of homes. Sales declined 11.5% year over year to 7,100 homes.
The supply of available homes remained elevated. Active listings increased 0.5% year over year to 38,947 homes, while inventory held at 5.3 months. Nationwide, inventory sits at a 4.6 months supply, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Pending sales totaled 7,939 in August, reflecting continued buyer engagement even as market activity moderated. Homes spent an average of 54 days on the market compared to 52 days a year ago.
Single-family home sales totaled 88,565 properties in the past 12-months. In contrast, they totaled 86,999 in all of 2019, which was the last normal year prior to the pandemic. While the Houston housing market has returned to normal since the pandemic, U.S. single-family housing sales were down 20.1% compared to 2019, according to HAR Chief Economist Dr. Ted C. Jones.
Broken out by housing segments, single-family home sales performed as follows:
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$1 - $99,999: increased 11.1% (110 transactions)
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$100,000 - $149,999: decreased 4.8% (177 transactions)
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$150,000 - $249,999: decreased 11.3% (1,308 transactions)
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$250,000 - $499,999: decreased 13.7% (3,949 transactions)
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$500,000 - $999,999: decreased 16.5% (1,221 transactions)
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$1M and above: decreased 2.1% (334 transactions)
HAR also reports on existing single-family home sales, which declined 5.3% year over year in August, with 5,206 closings. The average price declined 1.0% to $433,016, while the median price was down 2.9% to $330,000.
HAR will publish its August 2026 Rental Market Update on Wednesday, September 16.
For HAR’s Monthly Activity Snapshot (MAS) of the August 2026 trends, please CLICK HERE to access a downloadable PDF file.
Townhome/Condominium Update
In August, townhome and condominium sales were unchanged year over year, with 405 units sold. The average price declined 1.5% to $245,692, while the median price fell 7.1% to $195,000.
Active listings increased 3.1% to 3,504 properties. Months of inventory rose from 8.1 months in August 2025 to 8.8 months this August, giving buyers more options. Pending sales declined 8.0%, from 439 to 404.
Houston Real Estate Highlights in August
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Single-family home sales decreased 11.5% year over year.
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Pending sales declined 3.5%.
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Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes increased from 52 to 54 days.
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The single-family median price declined 1.5% to $330,000.
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The single-family average price increased 1.2% to $426,760.
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Single-family home inventory was flat at a 5.3-months supply.
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Total property sales declined 10.2% with 8,362 units sold.
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Total dollar volume decreased 8.8% to $3.5 billion.
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