Is Houston a buyer's or seller's market?
The Houston housing market leans to buyers as of October 2026, with Harris County, Texas scoring 35 of 100 on our market score, a buyer's market (Realtor.com data). Homes for sale would last 5.6 months at the September 2026 sales pace, against 5 months a year earlier (Redfin).
These are county-level numbers for Harris County, Texas, the county Houston is in. Parts of Houston reach into Fort Bend and Montgomery counties; these numbers cover Harris County. Market score: Realtor.com® Economic Research, October 2026. Months of supply: Source: Redfin, a national real estate brokerage. September 2026.
Get the Harris County brief
The Houston housing market right now
What it means
About 23 of every 100 homes for sale in Harris County, Texas were under contract in October 2026, and the typical listing had been on the market 55 days. That is a slower pace than in most US counties. Buyers have more homes to choose from and more room to ask for a lower price, repairs or closing help.
Harris County, Texas market score
0of 100
Buyer's market
23 of every 100 homes for sale are under contract.
Ring marks a year ago
What we're watching
The score has held steady
Harris County, Texas's market score went from 33 to 34 over the three months to October 2026, against 35 a year earlier. The pace of contracts against listings hasn't moved much.
About as many homes for sale as a year ago
18,836 homes were listed in October 2026, 3% more than the same month last year (Realtor.com).
Price cuts are about where they were
19% of listings had a price cut in October 2026, against 21% a year earlier. The US figure was 21% (Realtor.com).
Supply is stretching out
Months of supply was 5.6 in September 2026, against 5 a year earlier (Redfin).
These describe the direction of recent months, not a forecast.
Two years of Harris County data
Market score, 0 to 100
Better for buyers35
▼ 1 vs a year ago
Realtor.com, October 2026
Latest month: October 2026Homes for sale
Better for buyers18,836
▲ 3% vs a year ago
Realtor.com, October 2026
Latest month: October 2026Median days on market
Better for buyers55days
▲ 3 vs a year ago
Realtor.com, October 2026
Latest month: October 2026Listings with a price cut
Better for sellers19%
▼ 1 pts vs a year ago
Realtor.com, October 2026
Latest month: October 2026
County-level figures for Harris County, Texas. Dashed lines on days on market and price cuts show the US. Realtor.com® Economic Research.
Houston housing market by home type
Months of supply is how long the homes for sale would last at the current sales pace. A common rule of thumb reads under about five months as leaning to sellers and over six or seven as leaning to buyers.
| Home type | Months of supply | A year earlier | Median sale price | Median days on market | Homes sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All homes | 5.6 | 5 | $311K | 56 days | 3,526 |
| Single-family | 5.1 | 4.6 | $314K | 54 days | 3,196 |
| Condo | 13.5 | 10.5 | $148K | 70 days | 118 |
| Townhome | 8.7 | 5.8 | $277K | 63 days | 150 |
Harris County, Texas, September 2026. "Few sales" marks fewer than 10 homes sold in the month, so that row can swing a lot. Source: Redfin, a national real estate brokerage.
Houston market questions
Is Houston a buyer's or seller's market?
The Houston housing market leans to buyers as of October 2026, with Harris County, Texas scoring 35 of 100 on our market score, a buyer's market (Realtor.com data). Homes for sale would last 5.6 months at the September 2026 sales pace, against 5 months a year earlier (Redfin).
Why are the Houston numbers for Harris County, Texas?
Monthly listing and sales data is published reliably by county, so we use the county Houston is in. Parts of Houston reach into Fort Bend and Montgomery counties; these numbers cover Harris County. Neighborhoods inside the county can lean differently.
How is the market score worked out?
We divide homes under contract by homes for sale in each county, using Realtor.com data, then rank that against about 3,000 US counties on a 0 to 100 scale. 40 or under leans to buyers, 60 or over leans to sellers, and the range between is balanced.
Get the Harris County numbers every week
The market score, months of supply and price cuts, plus new default notices and sale dates. Free, one email a week.