Blog > Houston Market Pulse: November 2026 Update
Published
This is my first-of-the-month pulse on the Houston housing market. HAR's full October report comes out mid-month, so this edition uses Freddie Mac's weekly rate survey, HAR's last four Weekly Activity Snapshots, and September closings in the 30 areas we track.
The short answer
Mortgage rates eased for a second straight week to 7.24% on October 29, a little below a month ago but still more than a point above last year. Houston's weekly pending sales ran 22% to 27% below 2025 over the last four weeks while new listings stayed near last year's pace, so buyers have more choice and more leverage. In our 30 areas, 12 September medians rose from August and 18 fell, and most big swings reflect which homes happened to close. November brings fewer listings and more motivated sellers.
Houston overall: rates and weekly activity
Freddie Mac's 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.24% for the week of October 29. That's down from 7.40% two weeks earlier (October 15) and slightly below the 7.28% of four weeks earlier (October 1). A year ago it was 6.17%.
HAR's Weekly Activity Snapshots for the Houston metro area tell a consistent story: sellers keep listing at close to last year's pace, but fewer contracts are being signed.
| Week (2026) | New listings | Pending sales | Closings | Showings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 | 3,530 (-3.0%) | 1,661 (-23.0%) | 2,037 (-1.5%) | 33,336 (-5.5%) |
| Oct. 6 to 12 | 3,369 (-3.6%) | 1,531 (-22.2%) | 1,137 (-11.4%) | 33,023 (-5.1%) |
| Oct. 13 to 19 | 3,443 (+0.9%) | 1,574 (-22.8%) | 1,392 (-15.9%) | 32,030 (-7.8%) |
| Oct. 20 to 26 | 3,215 (-3.2%) | 1,515 (-26.7%) | 1,574 (-3.8%) | 31,526 (-6.7%) |
Percentages compare each week with the same week of 2025. Source: HAR Weekly Activity Snapshots, weeks 40 to 43.
Over the four weeks combined, new listings totaled 13,557 (down 2.2% from 2025), pendings 6,281 (down 23.7%), closings 6,140 (down 7.5%) and showings 129,915 (down 6.3%). HAR's snapshot doesn't track price cuts, but off-market listings ran 12% to 20% below last year every week, so sellers are staying on the market rather than giving up.
What changed over the last 30 days
- Rates rose, then gave it back. From 7.28% on October 1 to 7.40% on October 8 and 15, then down to 7.24% by October 29. On a $400,000 loan, the drop from 7.40% to 7.24% saves roughly $45 a month.
- The pending gap widened. Pendings ran 22% to 23% below 2025 for three weeks, then 26.7% below in the week of October 20 to 26. That's the number I watch most, because pendings become next month's closings.
- Listings held steady. Weekly new listings stayed within 4% of last year, so inventory keeps building.
- Open houses picked up. HAR counted 10,300 in the week of October 20 to 26, up 19.1% from the same week last year. People are looking, just slower to commit.
September closings in our 30 areas
These figures come from HAR MLS sold data through the market tools on this site. The median is the September 2026 closed price, and the change compares it with August. Where only a handful of homes closed, one sale can move the median a lot, so read the small areas as a rough signal. Click any area name for its guide.
| Area | Sept. 2026 median | vs. August | Sept. sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaDo | $312,750 | +5.9% | 6 |
| Midtown | $382,000 | +1.9% | 12 |
| Montrose | $650,750 | +0.1% | 40 |
| Woodland Heights | $1,800,000 | +407% | 10 |
| Near Northside | $350,000 | +21.7% | 15 |
| Museum District | $525,000 | -10.2% | 3 |
| Rice Military | $627,500 | -4.6% | 8 |
| River Oaks | $3,000,000 | +66.7% | 9 |
| Greater Heights / Houston Heights | $718,000 | +19.9% | 77 |
| West University Place | $1,631,100 | -8.9% | 16 |
| Lazybrook / Timbergrove | $592,250 | -9.0% | 18 |
| Garden Oaks | $880,500 | -2.2% | 10 |
| Bellaire | $1,230,000 | -5.4% | 23 |
| Memorial | $683,900 | -22.9% | 38 |
| Meyerland | $477,500 | -7.3% | 10 |
| Spring Branch | $479,900 | +15.6% | 85 |
| Pearland | $380,000 | +3.3% | 102 |
| Missouri City | $413,000 | +13.9% | 99 |
| Sugar Land | $400,000 | -9.9% | 121 |
| Friendswood | $434,500 | +6.0% | 58 |
| Clear Lake | $278,000 | -5.8% | 85 |
| Spring | $339,925 | -2.4% | 334 |
| League City | $399,995 | -3.6% | 148 |
| Cypress | $384,633 | -10.0% | 249 |
| Richmond | $375,000 | +2.6% | 232 |
| Katy | $332,936 | -3.7% | 450 |
| Kingwood | $320,000 | -0.5% | 69 |
| Tomball | $342,000 | -2.3% | 137 |
| The Woodlands | $560,000 | -1.8% | 93 |
| Fulshear | $399,990 | -11.1% | 179 |
Spring Branch combines the Spring Branch West, Central, East and North MLS areas, and Meyerland is HAR's Meyerland Area. Source: HAR MLS sold data through September 2026, pulled October 28, 2026 (Meyerland on October 31).
What stands out: the Heights reached a $718,000 median on 77 sales, a real sample, after a soft August. Spring Branch and Missouri City posted double-digit gains on healthy volume. Memorial's 23% drop on 38 sales reflects a quieter month at the top end, not a value change. Woodland Heights (10 sales) and River Oaks (9 sales) are small-sample swings. In Katy, Spring, Cypress and Richmond, medians moved only a few percent, which is what a steady, well-supplied market looks like.
What it means for sellers
You're competing with nearly as many new listings as last year, and nearly a quarter fewer buyers are signing contracts. The homes that go quickly are priced on the last 60 days of closings, not on what a neighbor got in spring. Pricing right the first time matters most in November, because fewer buyers will see your listing. Good prep, strong photos and a willingness to help with closing costs or a rate buydown are the tools working right now.
What it means for buyers
This is the best negotiating window of the year. Showings and pendings are down, and sellers who list in November usually need to move. Ask for seller-paid closing costs or a temporary buydown; I explain both in my post on lowering your payment above 7%. Get fully underwritten before you offer. You can refinance a rate later; you can't go back and buy at a price that has moved on.
November outlook
Expect the seasonal slowdown. HAR's 2025 charts show weekly new listings falling by more than half between mid-October and the last week of December, with showings and pendings on the same curve. Buyers get motivated counterparts; sellers get fewer but more serious lookers. HAR's full October report should land in the second week of November, and I'll break it down in the mid-month update.
Frequently asked questions
Are Houston home prices falling right now?
Not broadly. The month-to-month swings above mostly reflect which homes closed, and the 12-month typical price in each area guide is the steadier read. The clearer change is activity: pending sales have been running 22% to 27% below last year, which gives buyers more room to negotiate.
Is November a bad time to sell a house in Houston?
It's a quieter time, not a bad one. Fewer homes come to market, so a well-priced, well-presented listing gets a bigger share of the serious buyers still looking. If you need to sell, listing now at the right price beats waiting for spring and competing with the surge.
Should I wait for mortgage rates to drop before buying in Houston?
Rates were 7.24% on October 29, down from 7.40% in mid-October and a little below the 7.28% of early October. Nobody can call the next move. What you can control is negotiating seller credits and a buydown while competition is light, then refinancing if rates fall.
Why did the median in my neighborhood change so much in one month?
In areas with 3 to 15 closings a month, like Museum District, River Oaks or Woodland Heights, one or two unusual sales move the median a lot. Use the 12-month typical price in the area guide for a steadier read, and ask us for a pricing analysis on your specific home.
How many homes are selling in Houston each week?
HAR reported 1,574 closings and 1,515 pending sales for the Houston metro area in the week of October 20 to 26, 2026, with 3,215 new listings. Closings were down 3.8%, pendings down 26.7% and new listings down 3.2% from the same week of 2025.
What is your home worth in this market?
Get a free, no-pressure valuation based on recent closings near you.
Get my free home valuationOr call or text (832) 777-3904 or email evan@thecompeangroup.com.
Sources
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, October 29, 2026: freddiemac.com/pmms; weekly history via FRED series MORTGAGE30US.
- HAR Weekly Activity Snapshots: Week 40, Week 41, Week 42 and Week 43 of 2026 (Houston MSA).
- Area medians and sales counts: HAR MLS sold data, October 2025 through September 2026, via the market tools on thecompeangroup.com, pulled October 28, 2026 (Meyerland on October 31).
