Austin Housing Market Shows Stronger Sales Activity at Mid-Year 2026
Austin Housing Market Sales Increase During the First Half of 2026
Austin Housing Market Sales Increase During the First Half of 2026, while median prices remained slightly below the previous year’s levels. According to the June and Mid-Year 2026 Central Texas Housing Report released by Unlock MLS, closed residential sales throughout the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metropolitan area increased 4.8% during the first six months of the year.
The combination of rising closed sales, increased pending transactions and moderating prices suggests that buyer activity is improving following the recent market correction. However, real estate conditions continue to vary considerably by location, price range, property type and neighborhood.
For homeowners, buyers, attorneys, accountants and other professionals who need an independent opinion of property value, these differences demonstrate why working with an experienced Austin appraiser remains important.
Central Texas Home Sales Increase During the First Half of 2026
Across the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metropolitan area, 15,698 residential properties sold during the first half of 2026. That represents a 4.8% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The year-to-date median sales price was $425,000, a decrease of 2.4%. Pending sales increased 9.8%, indicating that additional buyers were entering the market and moving forward with purchases.
June 2026 produced several encouraging indicators:
2,961 residential properties sold, an increase of 0.6%.
The median sales price increased 1.1% to $450,000.
Pending sales increased 13.2% to 2,994.
Active listings declined 14.8%.
Inventory decreased to 4.4 months.
Total sales volume increased 5.9% to approximately $1.81 billion.
Properties sold for an average of 93.9% of their final listing prices.
These figures indicate improved transaction activity, but they do not mean that every property or neighborhood experienced appreciation. Market trends must be analyzed within the specific competitive area of the property being appraised.
City of Austin Market Activity
The City of Austin recorded 1,054 residential sales during June 2026, an increase of 4.6% from June 2025. The median sales price increased 3.6% to $605,000, while pending sales rose 16.5%.
Active listings decreased 22.1%, contributing to a reduction in available inventory to 4.3 months. Austin properties sold for an average of 94.5% of their final listing prices, compared with 93.6% one year earlier.
During the first half of 2026:
Closed sales increased 6.4% to 5,396.
Pending sales increased 11.4%.
The median sales price decreased 1.3% to $572,500.
New listings decreased 7.4%.
Total sales volume increased 5.5% to approximately $4.13 billion.
Austin’s rising sales activity, combined with a modest year-to-date decline in the median price, reflects a market in which demand is improving while buyers remain price-conscious.
Travis County Housing Trends
Travis County reported 1,389 residential sales during June, an increase of 6.7%. The median price rose 4.0% to $542,000, and pending sales increased 16.7%.
Active listings decreased 17.7%, while inventory declined to 4.7 months. Total sales volume increased 13.1% to more than $1.05 billion.
For the first half of 2026, Travis County recorded:
7,092 closed sales, an increase of 6.5%.
A median sales price of $499,900, a decrease of 2.0%.
7,919 pending sales, an increase of 12.7%.
Total sales volume of approximately $4.99 billion, an increase of 6.2%.
The countywide figures provide useful context, but values can differ significantly between Central Austin, suburban communities, luxury neighborhoods and rural portions of Travis County.
Williamson County Housing Trends
Williamson County continued to demonstrate relatively strong transaction activity. June closed sales increased 4.3% to 1,001, while pending sales increased 14.5% to 1,037.
The June median sales price was $426,800, approximately 0.5% higher than one year earlier. Inventory declined to 3.7 months, the lowest among the counties included in the report.
Year-to-date results included:
5,410 closed sales, an increase of 7.0%.
A median sales price of $408,000, a decrease of 2.9%.
5,998 pending sales, an increase of 12.2%.
Active listing volume 4.2% higher than during the first half of 2025.
These figures suggest healthy buyer activity, although competition from new construction and builder incentives continues to affect certain Williamson County communities.
Hays County Housing Trends
Hays County experienced different conditions during June. Closed sales decreased 22.8% to 390, although the median sales price increased 9.0% to $400,000.
Pending sales were nearly unchanged, increasing 0.7%, while inventory rose to 4.8 months. For the first half of 2026, closed sales decreased 5.2% and the median price declined 0.7% to $370,573.
The contrast between higher June prices and lower sales volume illustrates why median-price changes should not be interpreted as direct appreciation or depreciation of an individual property. Changes in the types and price ranges of homes sold can materially influence the reported median.
Bastrop County Housing Trends
Bastrop County recorded 137 residential sales during June, an increase of 0.7%. Pending sales increased 14.8%, but the median price declined 6.8% to $344,900.
Inventory reached 6.6 months, indicating more supply relative to buyer demand than in Austin, Travis County or Williamson County.
During the first half of 2026:
Closed sales increased 3.2%.
The median price decreased 2.9% to $339,990.
Pending sales increased 6.9%.
Active listings increased 11.7%.
These conditions may provide buyers with additional choices and negotiating leverage, particularly in areas with competing new-construction inventory.
Caldwell County Housing Trends
Caldwell County experienced significant growth in both available inventory and transaction activity. June closed sales increased 12.8%, pending sales increased 4.0% and new listings rose 74.1%.
The median sales price decreased 10.2% to $260,495, while inventory increased to 5.6 months.
Year-to-date closed sales increased 17.1%, but the median price decreased 19.3% to $242,000. Active listing volume increased 36.0%.
Because Caldwell County has a smaller number of transactions than surrounding counties, shifts in the composition of properties sold can produce substantial changes in reported median prices.
Central Texas Rental Market
Rental activity also increased during the first half of 2026. Across the Austin metropolitan area, closed leases increased 7.3% to 17,185, while the median monthly rent decreased 4.3% to $2,100.
Within the City of Austin, closed leases increased 11.0%, and the median rent declined 5.4% to $2,175.
Increasing leasing activity combined with lower median rents may reflect greater rental affordability, additional competition among landlords or changes in the types of properties being leased. Rental trends can also provide supporting market context when analyzing investment properties, although an appraisal requires property-specific income and expense data.
What Does This Mean for Austin-Area Property Owners?
The mid-year report reflects improving sales activity across much of Central Texas, but the market remains highly localized. Citywide and countywide statistics do not establish the value of a particular home.
A credible appraisal considers factors such as:
Recent sales within the subject’s competitive market
Property condition and quality
Gross living area and site characteristics
Renovations and deferred maintenance
Neighborhood location and external influences
Current listings and pending competition
Builder incentives and new-construction inventory
Market conditions as of the appraisal’s effective date
Online estimates and broad market reports can offer general context, but they cannot fully account for the individual characteristics of a property. Professional Austin Appraisals provide independent, property-specific valuation analysis supported by relevant market evidence.
Market statistics were obtained from the June and Mid-Year 2026 Central Texas Housing Report published by Unlock MLS. Market statistics are presented for general informational purposes and should not be interpreted as an appraisal or a value conclusion for any individual property.
Need an Independent Austin Appraiser?
Austin Appraisal Factory provides professional residential appraisal services throughout Austin and Central Texas, including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties.
Whether you need an appraisal for estate or probate purposes, trust administration, tax planning, a pre-listing decision, a cash purchase, financial planning or another private use, an experienced Austin appraiser can help you understand the property’s supported market value.
Contact Austin Appraisal Factory today for accurate, independent residential appraisal services throughout the Austin metropolitan area.
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