The Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) has released its August 2026 MLS report, and the headline is clear: more homes, more balance in Houston's August housing market. Isola Realty Group has summarized the key numbers below so buyers, sellers, and agents can see where the local market stands heading into fall.
Key numbers: single-family homes
- Sales: 7,100 closings, down 11.5% year over year.
- Active listings: 38,947 homes, up 0.5% year over year.
- Inventory: 5.3 months of supply, flat year over year.
- Days on market: 54 days, up from 52 days a year earlier.
- Median price: $330,000, down $5,000 or 1.5% year over year.
- Average price: $426,760, up 1.2% year over year.
- Pending sales: 7,939, down 3.5% year over year.
- Trailing 12-month sales: 88,565 properties.
Key numbers: all property types
- Total property sales: 8,362 transactions, down 10.2% year over year.
- Total dollar volume: $3.5 billion, down 8.8% year over year.
- Active listings: 60,390 properties, up 1.0% year over year.
What HAR leadership is saying
“Balance remains the defining characteristic of Houston's housing market,” said HAR Chair Theresa Hill with Compass RE Texas, LLC - Houston. “Buyers have more options and more time to make decisions, while sellers continue to benefit from relatively stable prices. That's a healthier environment for consumers and a positive sign for the long-term strength of our market.”
Single-family sales by price band
According to HAR, single-family sales changed as follows year over year across price ranges:
- $1 to $99,999: up 11.1% (110 transactions)
- $100,000 to $149,999: down 4.8% (177 transactions)
- $150,000 to $249,999: down 11.3% (1,308 transactions)
- $250,000 to $499,999: down 13.7% (3,949 transactions)
- $500,000 to $999,999: down 16.5% (1,221 transactions)
- $1 million and above: down 2.1% (334 transactions)
Existing homes and townhomes/condominiums
Existing single-family home sales totaled 5,206 closings in August, down 5.3% year over year.
In the townhome and condominium segment, HAR reported:
- Sales: 405 units, unchanged year over year.
- Median price: $195,000, down 7.1% year over year.
- Average price: $245,692, down 1.5% year over year.
- Active listings: 3,504 properties, up 3.1% year over year.
- Months of inventory: 8.8 months, up from 8.1 months a year earlier.
Rates, affordability, and national context
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate stood at 6.67% according to Freddie Mac, up from 6.59% a year earlier. HAR notes that affordability has improved year over year in 22 of the past 25 months. For comparison, nationwide inventory stands at 4.6 months of supply, while Houston's single-family inventory sits at 5.3 months.
What it means for buyers and sellers
For buyers, more active listings and slightly longer days on market mean more choices and more time to make a decision. For sellers, prices have held relatively steady, with the single-family median down 1.5% and the average up 1.2% year over year, so thoughtful pricing and presentation remain important. Isola Realty Group can help you review what these numbers mean for your neighborhood and price range.
Watch the official HAR video
HAR's market update video is available on YouTube: Watch the HAR video.
Source: Houston Association of Realtors, August 2026 MLS report released September 9, 2026. Read the full HAR report.