Happy New Year — a look back

Happy New Year!  I trust your resolutions are in order and that you’re off to a great start today.

I’ll have more to say about last year when final data is available for December market activity, but for today I’ll share a recent article from the Austin American-Statesman:
 

‘Meh’: Austin’s housing market cooled in 2025, with stubborn prices and falling sales 

If you’re a Statesman subscriber, you’ll be able to read the entire article at that link.  In case you’re not a subscriber, I’ll offer a quote:

“The one-word review for Austin’s housing market in 2025 might be this: ‘Meh.’  That was the term Unlock MLS (https://www.unlockmls.com/)  market research advisor Vaike O’Grady used while reviewing nearly a year’s worth of data — reflecting market activity through October — in a presentation earlier this month.”

The article included sales data through October, but I am able to show November results now.  Here are a few key points:

    — Active Listings — up 11.2% compared to November 2024
    — Closed Sales  — down 15..9%
    — Months’ Inventory — up 1.5 months to 6.3 months’ supply
    — Median Sales Price  — down 1.1% year-over-year
    — Average Close to List Price — 91.7%, down from 92.5% in
        November 2024

As I have commented in previous messages and blog posts, 2025 was a frustrating time for home sellers, with intermittent (or non-existent) showing activity and disappointing feedback and offers.  At the same time, prospective buyers had more homes to choose from, but they were cautious about overpaying for a home, and frustrated by mortgage interest rates twice what they were a couple of years ago and by list prices still influenced by an extreme seller’s market in 2022.

The number of Pending listings were up year-over-year in October and November.  When I report year-end results, I’ll share whether that trend continued through the 4th quarter, and what closed sales and sale prices came from that activity.

Forecasts for 2026 are mixed, and our market environment will still depend significantly on economic and political influences in the state and the country.  As always, I participate in the market every day, representing home sellers and buyers, studying our regional market constantly and reading widely to stay well-informed.  I’ll keep you informed as we move through 2026.

Whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic, I wish you a healthy, prosperous and joyous 2026!