Is November a Good Time to Buy a Home in Houston? (November 2026 Update)

Short answer: For many buyers, yes. November gives you more homes to choose from, more time to decide and more room to negotiate than the busy spring months. The trade-off is mortgage rates, which are still above 7%. According to the Houston Association of REALTORS (HAR), the Greater Houston median sale price was $325,000 in September 2026, with 5.5 months of inventory and a median of 58 days on the market. Freddie Mac's average 30-year fixed rate was 7.24% on October 29, 2026. If your budget works at today's rate, November is a good month to shop.

Latest weekly numbers: In the week of Oct. 20-26, 2026, pending sales across the Houston area were down about 27% from a year earlier, while new listings were nearly flat (down about 3%), according to HAR's Weekly Activity Snapshot. Fewer buyers going under contract means more room to negotiate.

Figures used: HAR's September 2026 monthly report (the latest available when this was written; the October report comes out in mid-November) and Freddie Mac's weekly survey from October 29, 2026.

What the Latest Numbers Say

Greater Houston, single-family homes	September 2026
Median sale price (HAR)	$325,000
Homes sold (HAR)	7,030, down 5.7% from a year earlier
Active listings (HAR)	40,192, up 6.3%
Months of inventory (HAR)	5.5
Median days on market (HAR)	58
30-year fixed rate (Freddie Mac, Oct. 29, 2026)	7.24%

In plain terms: more homes are for sale than a year ago, fewer are selling, and homes are taking almost two months to sell. About 6 months of inventory is usually called a balanced market, and Houston is close to that. That shifts some leverage to buyers.

Why November Can Work in Your Favor

• Less competition. Many buyers wait until after the holidays, so the homes on the market often get fewer showings. That gives you time to compare, inspect and negotiate.
• Motivated sellers. A home that has been listed since late summer has usually been on the market for well over the 58-day median. Those sellers are often more open to price reductions, repairs or help with closing costs.
• Room to negotiate the terms, not just the price. With rates above 7%, asking the seller to pay for a rate buydown or part of your closing costs can lower your monthly payment more than a small price cut.
• Close before year-end. If you start now, you can often close in December. Ask a tax professional how buying before the end of the year affects you.

What It Costs Each Month at Today's Rate

Here is principal and interest only at 7.24% on a 30-year loan (taxes, insurance and any HOA or MUD dues are extra):

Home price	3.5% down	10% down
$250,000	$8,750 down, about $1,644/month	$25,000 down, about $1,533/month
$325,000 (HAR September median)	$11,375 down, about $2,137/month	$32,500 down, about $1,993/month

Some buyers also qualify for down payment and closing cost help. Our lender can tell you which options fit you when you get pre-qualified. For more on payments, read what 7% mortgage rates really cost on a Houston home.

What Your Budget Buys Near Us

Prices vary a lot across the Houston area. As of October 27, 2026, active single-family listings on the Houston MLS showed:

• Pasadena: about 218 homes for sale, average list price about $290,000 (about $166 per square foot). About half are listed between $200,000 and $299,999. See Pasadena homes for sale and our Pasadena Home Buyer's Guide.
• Pearland: about 394 homes for sale, average list price about $446,000 (about $172 per square foot). The busiest range is $300,000 to $399,999, with about 163 homes. See Pearland homes for sale and our Pearland Home Buyer's Guide.

These are list prices, not sale prices, and they change every day. For daily numbers, see the Pasadena and Pearland market reports.

When It Might Make Sense to Wait

• Your credit score or savings would be much stronger in a few months.
• You may move again within two or three years, so closing costs would eat into any gain.
• The monthly payment at today's rate would stretch your budget. Don't count on rates dropping soon; buy only what you can afford now.

How to Get Started This Month

1. Get pre-qualified so you know your real budget and your offer is taken seriously.
2. Pick two or three areas and compare price per square foot, taxes and flood risk.
3. Tour homes that have been on the market a while. They often have the most room to negotiate.
4. Make a clean offer and ask for what matters most to you: price, repairs or closing cost help.

New to buying? Read our free Home Buyer's Guide and our take on whether Houston is a buyer's market.

HAR figures are for single-family homes in Greater Houston, September 2026. Rate from Freddie Mac, October 29, 2026. Local figures are active list prices from the Houston MLS on October 27, 2026. Market conditions change monthly and vary by neighborhood.