Slight Increase in Texas Home Sales Reported for First Quarter of 2026

Overview

The Texas Quarterly Housing Report for Q1 2026 indicates a slight uptick in home sales across the state, with contrasting performances among different metropolitan areas. As revealed by Texas Realtors, the overall number of homes sold increased by 0.7% compared to the same quarter last year, despite varying trends among individual metros.

Mixed Performance Across Metros

According to the report, half of the Texas metros experienced increased closed sales, while the other half saw decreases. Notable highlights include Abilene, which enjoyed a remarkable 22.9% increase in sales, and McAllen, with an impressive 17.5% rise. In contrast, the larger metros of Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio experienced slight reductions in sales, each declining by less than 2% compared to the previous year.

Median Home Prices

In a significant development, the statewide median home price in Texas for Q1 2026 was recorded at $328,000, marking a 0.8% decrease from the previous year. This represents the first decline in median home prices for this quarter in over a decade. Among the largest metros, three reported dips of under 3% while the fourth’s prices remained stable. Interestingly, almost half of the 26 metros reviewed did witness an increase in home prices, demonstrating the fragmented nature of the real estate market across the state.

Jennifer Wauhob, Chair of Texas Realtors, noted the notable shift from a period of steady price appreciation to a more unpredictable market. She emphasized that the real estate landscape can differ significantly depending on the specific city or even the neighborhood being considered, indicating that localized knowledge remains crucial for buyers and sellers.

Days on Market and Inventory

The report also highlighted an increase in the average number of days homes remained on the market, rising to 80 days, up 6 days from the same period last year. This increase occurred in 19 metro areas, while 7 metros noted a decrease in market days. Similarly, the months of inventory available for homes also rose across 19 metros, leading to a statewide figure of approximately 5 months, an increase from 0.3 months from the previous year. A balanced market typically allows for 4 to 5 months of inventory, suggesting a moderate real estate landscape in Texas.

Active Listings

In terms of active listings, there was a notable rise of 7.4% in Q1 compared to the same quarter of the previous year. However, this increase is considerably less dramatic than the increases of over 30% seen in the past three years. As Wauhob pointed out, while many regions in Texas report more homes available for sale compared to previous years, this increase is not uniform across the state.

This growing availability of homes offers potential buyers more options, yet Wauhob urges participants in the market to align their buying and selling strategies with the micro-market conditions.

Conclusion

Overall, the Q1 2026 Texas Quarterly Housing Report provides a mixed yet insightful overview of the state’s housing market. With varying trends across metro areas, a slight pickup in sales, and slight adjustments in pricing, all participants in the Texas real estate market are encouraged to consider current conditions carefully and seek advice from Texas Realtors to navigate these changes effectively.

About Texas REALTORS®

Texas REALTORS® is a professional membership organization representing over 145,000 members across the state. Serving as advocates for real estate professionals and property rights, they remain a significant resource for real estate data and guidance across Texas.