Houston Remains One of the Nation's Strongest Buyers' Markets, But National Trends Tell a More Balanced Story

If you've been wondering whether now's a good time to buy or sell in Houston, the latest data gives us a clear picture, and it's a tale of two markets.

Houston: A Buyer's Advantage

According to a recent Redfin report, there were an estimated 46.9% more sellers than buyers nationally in May, up from 46.4% in April. Roughly 1,483,839 sellers were active in the market, the highest level since 2020, compared to about 1,010,386 buyers.

Texas led the way with three of the five strongest buyers' markets in the country. Austin ranked third with 116% more sellers than buyers, followed by Houston at 111% and San Antonio at 108%.

What does that mean if you live here? It means buyers in Houston currently have more negotiating power, more inventory to choose from, and more time to make decisions than buyers in most other parts of the country. Active listings in the Houston area increased 6.5% year over year to 36,572 homes, with months of inventory edging up to 4.9 months, compared to a national average of 4.1 months.

Affordability is also improving locally. About 42% of Houston-area households could afford a median-priced home in the first quarter of 2026, up from 37% a year earlier, according to HAR's latest Housing and Rental Affordability Report. The median home price decreased 1.7% year over year to $331,500, bringing the typical monthly mortgage payment down from $2,580 to $2,400.

The National Picture: Sales Pick Up, Prices Keep Climbing

While Houston leans toward buyers, the national market is showing a different rhythm. Existing-home sales jumped 3.2% month-over-month in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million units according to NAR, the highest level since December and up 3.2% from a year ago.

A few national highlights worth noting:

The median existing-home price reached $429,300, up 1.3% year over year, marking the 35th consecutive month of annual price increases. Inventory rose 3.3% from April to 1.55 million units, representing a 4.5-month supply. First-time homebuyers made up 35% of May sales, up from 33% in April and 30% a year ago. Homes spent a median of 29 days on the market, down from 32 in April.

What This Means for Houston

Here's where it gets interesting. Nationally, prices are still rising and homes are selling faster. But here in Houston, we're seeing more inventory, softer prices, and improved affordability, conditions that favor buyers without signaling a downturn.

For sellers, this isn't a market to panic about. It's a market that rewards strategy. Pricing accurately, presenting your home well, and working with someone who understands these local nuances still gets results. For buyers, this may be one of the more favorable windows we've seen in years to negotiate, take your time, and find the right fit.

The gap between buyers and sellers nationally is near its widest point since 2020, and Houston is right at the center of that shift.

The Bottom Line

Markets like this reward people who understand both the national trends and what they actually mean on the ground here in Houston. If you're curious about what any of this means for your specific situation, whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or just want to understand where things stand, I'm always happy to walk through it with you.