How is 2026?

May 2026

Hey there! How’s 2026 going so far? Also, “What’s up with the market?” Ahhh, the five little words every Realtor hears on repeat. As I’ve shared before, that answer is a little complicated because our island home is not a community of brick boxes surrounded by brick boxes. We are a diverse community in every way, including housing and our sales are often street by street. So, again, for the sake of simplicity, I’ve broken up the answer into zip codes. The following numbers are 2026 Q1 stats.

These numbers are from the Texas Realtors Market Viewer, broken down by zip code, and these stats reflect the first quarter of 2026 (Jan, Feb, and March). This data reflects all information reported through the Multiple Listing Services (MLS). This data does not reflect “off-market” non-MLS sales but is reported about the listed marketed properties. The data sets also reflect a combination of single-family, condo, and townhouse sales.

For reference, “months of inventory” means the number of months it would take for all the currently listed homes to sell if no additional homes came to the market. Ideally, we want to see 6 months of inventory at any time. A balanced market is when we can expect reasonable movement and neither buyers nor sellers in positions of having leverage. Anything less than 6 months and sellers tend to have the upper hand, anything more than 6 months, and buyers are holding the cards. As you’ve heard me say before, a balanced market is better at producing healthy, win-win negotiations and transactions that leave the market in a stronger position overall. We are currently in a “buyer’s market” and as I’ve said before, buyers are being very choosy because the amount of inventory they have to choose from gives them that option.

77550

The median (not the average) home price in the 77550-zip code was $355,000 – down 0.7% year over year from this same time last year.

The total number of closed sales in the 77550-zip code was 71, that’s up 4.4% year over year from this same time last year.

At the end of the first quarter, there were 335 active listings in the 77550-zip code. That’s down 9.2% year over year from the same time last year. Which meant 11.1 months of inventory in 77550 at the end of the first quarter.

The average days on market from listing day to closing day was 144 in the first quarter of 2026 – up 29 days from this same time last year.

77551

The median (not the average) home price in the 77551-zip code was $248,000 – down 0.8% year over year from this same time last year.

The total number of closed sales in the 77551-zip code was 55, that’s down 6.8% year over year from this same time last year.

At the end of the first quarter, there were 275 active listings in the 77551-zip code. That’s down 4.8% year over year from the same time last year. Which meant 12.5 months of inventory in 77551.

The average days on market from listing day to closing day was 123 in the first quarter of 2026 – up 19 days from this same time last year.

77554

The median (not the average) home price in the 77554-zip code was $592,500 – down 1.7% year over year from this same time last year.

The total number of closed sales in the 77554-zip code was 105, that’s up 41.9% year over year from this same time last year.

At the end of the first quarter, there were 719 active listings in the 77554-zip code. That’s down 4% year over year from the same time last year. Which offered 15.4 months of inventory in this area of the island.

The average days on market from listing day to closing day was 120 in the first quarter of 2026 – up 1 day from this same time last year.

The takeaway here is that there is movement in the market. The statement that “nothing is selling,” is just not accurate. Property is selling and buyers are buying. The formula hasn’t changed. Location plus Condition plus Price = Sold. If sold is not being achieved, adjust the variables of the formula you can control, condition and price. If you have a great location and your property is in good condition but it’s empty, or your couch is stained and stinky, consider staging. Staging a property is all about helping a buyer see it in the best light. Staging sells and staging works, all the data supports that, and your Realtor is not wrong. If your Realtor has told you to stage a house and you’re fighting it, you may be in for a disappointing long haul. Likewise, your Realtor is seldom wrong about price. Review the data and ask yourself what the carrying costs are to keep it for a few extra months instead of lowering the price to something that will sell it. Often sellers determine the cost of holding out for the extra $15K will end up costing them much more than just following the advice of the seasoned Realtor.

2026 is shaping up to be a productive year on Galveston island and the consistency of real estate being a great investment holds true. Of course, it’s cyclical and you need to hold property to build equity and maintain property to get the most from your investment. Generally speaking, times are going well, and the average home on Galveston is poised to appeal to some specific buyer. If you’re hoping to sell your house in 2026 and are weary about the market, don’t be. Consult with a local Realtor and find one you trust to shoot straight with you, then follow their advice. Galveston Island is always a good idea.