The Houston housing market is demonstrating notable stability compared to national trends, according to recent data and local experts. While existing home sales nationwide have declined 3.6% over the past year, single-family home sales in the Houston metro area rose 3.7%, the Houston Association of Realtors reported. Pending home sales surged over 12% from a year ago, signaling continued demand.
However, median home prices in Houston fell 1.5% to $330,000, and days on market increased by five days to 67. Affordability has improved for potential buyers in 17 of the last 20 months, said Joe Huber of Alchemist Real Estate. Home prices in Katy are down about $12,000 from a year ago, partly due to buyers bidding up prices amid limited inventory.
The last “normal” year for Houston area home sales was 2019, prior to the Covid pandemic. Last month, sales totaled 7,644, a 2% increase over 2019, indicating a more stable residential housing market. National single-family home sales hit a 14-year high in 2021 and approached a 30-year low in 2025. Overall, 2025 existing home sales in the United States are 24% lower than 2019.
Nationally, median home prices rose from $271,900 in 2019 to $407,600 in 2025, driven by a persistent supply shortage. Inventory in the Greater Houston area increased 8.7% year-over-year to a 4.7-month supply, slightly above the 4.5 months a year ago and above the national level of 3.8 months. The townhome and condominium market continues to struggle, with sales up slightly but median prices down over 4%, and inventory swelling to 8.2 months.
One-third of all sellers nationally have cut prices to close a sale, one of the highest percentages on record, according to data aggregators. The southern Sun Belt has the largest number of reduced prices, with Austin leading at 55% of sellers cutting prices, followed by Dallas at 47%, and Tampa and Fort Lauderdale at 45%.
“The Houston housing market has been a stable part of the Greater Houston economy,” said Raymond Campbell of Houston Home Buyers. “We expect it will slowly gain steam once the Iran war ends and there are declines in mortgage rates and energy prices.” Factors limiting home sales include high mortgage rates, inflation, poor consumer confidence, and wars. Most real estate experts expect slight increases in sales and prices in 2026.
“It is spring in Houston, and that is the most active part of the year for home sellers and home buyers. Summer is also active because the kids are out of school. The Iran war will end one way or another, and real estate will once again be on the minds of Houston home buyers,” Campbell added.
