Austin Real Estate Market Update: Sales Are Picking Up

There are some encouraging signs in the Central Texas housing market. Sales are picking up, prices are holding relatively steady, and continued economic investment in the Austin area gives us some positive indicators as we look ahead.

According to the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) and Unlock MLS, 2,739 homes sold across the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area in July, up 4.4% from last year. The median sales price was $435,000, just 1% higher year-over-year, while total sales volume increased nearly 7% to more than $1.6 billion.

July 2026 at a Glance

• Median Sales Price: $435,000

• Closed Sales: 2,739

• New Listings: 4,280

• Average Days on Market: 63

Zooming out, the numbers are encouraging there too. According to the latest economic data from ABoR and Unlock MLS, home sales are up 4.2% year-to-date, with 15,853 closings so far this year.

So, What Does That Actually Mean?

What stands out to me isn't just that more homes are selling. It's that we're seeing increased activity without a major jump in prices.

Buyers have more choices and more negotiating power than they did a few years ago. They're able to take their time, compare properties and be more selective about where they're willing to spend their money.

For sellers, homes are absolutely still selling — but today's market rewards the ones that are priced correctly and presented well from the beginning. Buyers have options, so simply putting a home on the MLS and waiting isn't much of a strategy anymore.

Austin's Economy Keeps Moving

The housing numbers are only one part of what's happening in Central Texas.

Single-family permitting across the region increased 21.2%, unemployment remains at 4.1%, and recently announced investments from Apollo Global Management and several life sciences companies are expected to bring more than 680 new jobs to the area.

Austin continues to attract businesses, investment and jobs, and that matters when we're looking at the long-term health of our housing market.

An Interesting Shift in Austin's Rental Market

The rental market is worth watching too.

After several years of significant apartment construction, Austin's multifamily pipeline is slowing. Construction is now down 73% from its 2023 peak, while rents recorded their first quarterly increase since 2022.

We've had a tremendous amount of new apartment inventory hit the market over the past few years, so seeing that pipeline slow could begin to change the balance between renting and buying. It's something I'll continue to keep an eye on.

The Bottom Line

Austin is still a very nuanced market. What's happening in one neighborhood or price point can look completely different just a few miles away.

The overall numbers are helpful for understanding where Central Texas is headed, but they don't tell you what your home is worth, how much competition you'll face as a buyer, or what strategy makes sense for a particular property.

If you're thinking about buying or selling, I'm always happy to dig into the numbers for your specific neighborhood and give you a clearer picture of what's actually happening there.

— Ami Davis
Christie's International Real Estate

Market statistics and economic data sourced from the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) and Unlock MLS Research.