Central Texas housing market adjusts amid challenging economic conditions
2026-Q3 sales dip 2.4% year over year
AUSTIN, Texas — According to the September and 2026-Q3 Central Texas Housing Report released by Unlock MLS, rising mortgage rates weighed on the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA housing market in September, slowing sales activity as higher monthly payments created additional affordability challenges for buyers. Closed sales declined 14.8% year over year to 2,223 sales, while the median sales price increased 1.4% to $421,000. Pending sales declined just 1.8% to 2,313, suggesting some buyers remained engaged despite higher borrowing costs.
Homes also closed at an average of 92.7% of their original list price, compared to 91.4% a year earlier, reflecting closer alignment between buyers and sellers in closed transactions. While September's sharper decline highlights the immediate pressure of rising rates, third-quarter figures provide a broader view of market activity, with closed sales declining 2.4% year over year to 7,748 and the median sales price decreasing 2.3% to $420,000.
Vaike O’Grady, research advisor at Unlock MLS, said September’s slowdown reflects a shift in market activity following the recent increase in mortgage rates.
“September's decline in closed sales is significant, and it shows just how sensitive today's housing market is to changes in mortgage rates. We had been seeing steady activity, but the recent increase in rates created another hurdle for buyers, especially those trying to enter the market for the first time. The biggest factor for many buyers isn't necessarily the price of the home, but what that price means for their monthly payment at today's rates. While affordability remains a real challenge, we're still seeing activity in the market. The question now is how buyers and sellers respond to these conditions in the months ahead.”
John Crowe, 2026 Unlock MLS and ABoR president, emphasized the importance of understanding local market conditions and working with a real estate professional when making buying or selling decisions.
“It's easy to look at a headline about declining sales or rising mortgage rates and feel discouraged, but every buyer and seller is in a different position. What's happening across the broader market may look very different depending on the neighborhood, price point or type of home you're considering. That's where working with a knowledgeable real estate agent can make a real difference. They can help you identify opportunities that fit your needs and make informed decisions based on your goals rather than trying to predict what the market will do next.”
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA
Q3 2026 - For Sale
7,748 – Residential homes sold, 2.4% less than Q3 2025.
$420,000 – Median price for residential homes, 2.3% less than Q3 2025.
11,604 – New home listings on the market, 0.8% less than Q3 2025.
43,280 – Active home listings on the market, 1.8% less than Q3 2025.
7,532 – Pending sales, 1.7% less than Q3 2025.
$4,420,180,359 – Total dollar volume of homes sold, 1.7% less than Q3 2025.
93.2% – Average close to list price, compared to 92.2% in Q3 2025.
September 2026 - For Sale
2,223 – Residential homes sold, 14.8% less than September 2025.
$421,000 – Median price for residential homes, 1.4% more than September 2025.
3,546 – New home listings on the market, 2.8% more than September 2025.
13,465 – Active home listings on the market, 3.4% less than September 2025.
2,313 – Pending sales, 1.8% less than September 2025.
5.4 – Months of inventory, 0.1 less than September 2025.
$1,271,826,054 – Total dollar volume of homes sold, 10.4% less than September 2025.
92.7% – Average close to list price, compared to 91.4% in September 2025.
September 2026 - For Lease
2,242 – Closed leases, 10.0% less than September 2025.
$2,100 – Median price for rent, 2.3% less than September 2025.
2,798 – New lease listings on the market, 16.9% less than September 2025.
4,370 – Active lease listings on the market, 27.6% less than September 2025.
2,392 – Pending sales, 2.6% less than September 2025.
1.8 – Months of inventory, 1.1 months less than September 2025.
$5,185,810 – Total dollar volume of leases, 13.2% less than September 2025.
95.9% – Average close to list price, compared to 94.5% in September 2025.
City of Austin
September 2026 - For Sale
777 – Residential homes sold, 12.7% less than September 2025.
$570,958 – Median price for residential homes, 4.2% more than September 2025.
1,295 – New home listings on the market, 1.1% less than September 2025.
4,502 – Active home listings on the market, 10.3% less than September 2025.
743 – Pending sales, 8.6% less than September 2025.
5.4 – Months of inventory, 0.3 less than September 2025.
$604,776,986 – Total dollar volume of homes sold, 5.2% less than September 2025.
92.5% – Average close to list price, compared to 90.8% September 2025.
September 2026 - For Lease
1,170 – Closed leases, 10.1% less than September 2025.
$2,195 – Median price for rent, 4.4% less than September 2025.
1,382 – New lease listings on the market, 25.4% less than September 2025.
2,014 – Active lease listings on the market, 31.7% less than September 2025.
1,227 – Pending sales, 1.0% less than September 2025.
1.7 – Months of inventory, 1.2 months less than September 2025.
$2,855,228 – Total dollar volume of leases, 16.3% less than September 2025.
95.4% – Average close to list price, compared to 94.1% in September 2025.
Travis County
September 2026 - For Sale
1,031 – Residential homes sold, 9.6% less than September 2025.
$497,400 – Median price for residential homes, 2.6% more than September 2025.
1,710 – New home listings on the market, 0.9% less than September 2025.
6,360 – Active home listings on the market, 6.1% less than September 2025.
1,043 – Pending sales, 3.1% less than September 2025.
5.8 – Months of inventory, 0.2 months less than September 2025.
$715,993,294 – Total dollar volume of homes sold, 4.6% less than September 2025.
92.5% – Average close to list price, compared to 90.8% in September 2025.
September 2026 - For Lease
1,364 – Closed leases, 6.6% less than September 2025.
$2,175 – Median price for rent, 3.3% less than September 2025.
1,589 – New lease listings on the market, 22.3% less than September 2025.
2,471 – Active lease listings on the market, 28.1% less than September 2025.
1,407 – Pending sales, 1.7% more than September 2025.
1.8 – Months of inventory, 1.1 months less than September 2025.
$3,303,730 – Total dollar volume of leases, 12.6% less than September 2025.
95.5% – Average close to list price, compared to 94.3% in September 2025.
Williamson County
September 2026 - For Sale
765 – Residential homes sold, 12.1% less than September 2025.
$395,000 – Median price for residential homes, 2.5% less than September 2025.
1,078 – New home listings on the market, 7.7% more than September 2025.
4,249 – Active home listings on the market, 2.8% less than September 2025.
784 – Pending sales, 3.4% less than September 2025.
5.0 – Months of inventory, 0.1 months less than September 2025.
$346,377,123 – Total dollar volume of homes sold, 15.0% less than September 2025.
93.0% – Average close to list price, compared to 91.9% in September 2025.
September 2026 - For Lease
611 – Closed leases, 20.4% less than September 2025.
$2,100 – Median price for rent, 0.2% more than September 2025.
877 – New lease listings on the market, 9.7% less than September 2025.
1,336 – Active lease listings on the market, 29.9% less than September 2025.
713 – Pending sales, 11.3% less than September 2025.
1.8 – Months of inventory, 0.9 months less than September 2025.
$1,325,688 – Total dollar volume of leases, 20.3% less than September 2025.
96.5% – Average close to list price, compared to 94.6% in September 2025.
Hays County
September 2026 - For Sale
294 – Residential homes sold, 30.5% less than September 2025.
$399,900 – Median price for residential homes, 10.8% more than September 2025.
498 – New home listings on the market, 12.4% more than September 2025.
1,898 – Active home listings on the market, 4.9% more than September 2025.
323 – Pending sales, 1.8% less than September 2025.
4.8 – Months of inventory, 0.4 months more than September 2025.
$160,099,822 – Total dollar volume of homes sold, 17.5% less than September 2025.
93.2% – Average close to list price, compared to 92.2% September 2025.
September 2026 - For Lease
185 – Closed leases, 3.6% less than September 2025.
$1,995 – Median price for rent, flat compared to September 2025.
252 – New lease listings on the market, 2.7% less than September 2025.
440 – Active lease listings on the market, 19.6% less than September 2025.
188 – Pending sales, 5.5% less than September 2025.
2.1 – Months of inventory, 0.5 months less than September 2025.
$401,491 – Total dollar volume of leases, 2.6% less than September 2025.
96.2% – Average close to list price, compared to 94.7% in September 2025.
Bastrop County
September 2026 - For Sale
105 – Residential homes sold, 21.1% less than September 2025.
$340,000 – Median price for residential homes, 1.2% less than September 2025.
196 – New home listings on the market, 6.2% less than September 2025.
723 – Active home listings on the market, 10.4% less than September 2025.
116 – Pending sales, 3.6% more than September 2025.
7.6 – Months of inventory, 0.9 months more than September 2025.
$40,861,500 – Total dollar volume of homes sold, 23.1% less than September 2025.
92.2% – Average close to list price, compared to 91.1% in September 2025.
September 2026 - For Lease
60 – Closed leases, 27.7% more than September 2025.
$1,997 – Median price for rent, 8.0% more than September 2025.
62 – New lease listings on the market, 3.1% less than September 2025.
90 – Active lease listings on the market, 18.9% less than September 2025.
63 – Pending sales, 53.7% more than September 2025.
1.7 – Months of inventory, 1.5 months less than September 2025.
$121,137 – Total dollar volume of leases, 39.2% more than September 2025.
97.5% – Average close to list price, compared to 95.8% in September 2025.
Caldwell County
September 2026 - For Sale
28 – Residential homes sold, 36.4% less than September 2025.
$301,500 – Median price for residential homes, 1.0% more than September 2025.
64 – New home listings on the market, 7.2% less than September 2025.
235 – Active home listings on the market, 33.5% more than September 2025.
47 – Pending sales, 80.8% more than September 2025.
6.4 – Months of inventory, 1.8 months more than September 2025.
$8,494,315 – Total dollar volume of homes sold, 40.0% less than September 2025.
92.1% – Average close to list price, compared to 90.9% in September 2025.
September 2026 - For Lease
22 – Closed leases, flat compared to September 2025.
$1,650 – Median price for rent, 1.5% more than September 2025.
18 – New lease listings on the market, 33.3% less than September 2025.
33 – Active lease listings on the market, 5.7% less than September 2025.
21 – Pending sales, 22.2% less than September 2025.
2.4 – Months of inventory, 1.0 months more than September 2025.
$33,764 – Total dollar volume of leases, 3.9% less than September 2025.
96.0% – Average close to list price, compared to 96.3% in September 2025.
For more information or to download the September and Q3 2026 Central Texas Housing Market Report, visit UnlockMLS.com/Stats.
Unlock MLS marks the intersection of knowledge, humanity, and home. For nearly 60 years, we’ve fostered the most complete, accurate, timely, and reliable real estate marketplace for the 18-county Central Texas region. In partnership with the 18,000 real estate professionals who power our MLS, we lead the industry in transparency, data integrity, and a people-first focus to make home buying, selling, and renting accessible and attainable for all. For more information, visit UnlockMLS.com.