Home Buying Market

Are Houston Sellers Paying Closing Costs in 2026? It Depends on Your Neighborhood

Short answer: Yes, in most of Houston. Sellers gave buyers concessions in 58.5% of Houston-area sales in the three months ending August 31, 2026, versus 44.7% nationally (Redfin). But Houston is not one market. In West University Place, Bellaire and other close-in neighborhoods, the numbers look very different. What the metro numbers say (August 2026) […]
Life Doesn’t Wait for the Houston Real Estate Market | When To Move

Life Doesn’t Always Wait for the Houston Real Estate Market By Wendy Sarmasag | Houston REALTOR® | West University Place, the City of Bellaire & Greater Houston A lot of Houston homeowners and buyers have spent the last few years waiting. Waiting for mortgage rates to come down. Waiting for home prices to fall. Waiting […]
What Houston Home Buyers and Sellers Can Expect During the Second Half of 2026

Every Real Estate Market Is Local If you’ve been following national real estate headlines, you’ve probably heard predictions about mortgage rates, home prices, and housing inventory. While those forecasts are helpful, here’s something I remind my clients every day: Houston doesn’t always follow national trends. In fact, neighborhoods just a few miles apart can experience […]
Think Home Prices Will Crash? What Houston Buyers and Sellers Need to Know in 2026

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in Houston, you’ve probably heard someone say: “I’m waiting for home prices to come down.” In fact, one of the biggest reasons some buyers are still sitting on the sidelines in 2026 is because they believe a housing market crash is coming. Some think they’ll get […]

Are Houston Sellers Paying Closing Costs in 2026? It Depends on Your Neighborhood Short answer: Yes, in most of Houston. Sellers gave buyers concessions in 58.5% of Houston-area sales in the three months ending August 31, 2026, versus 44.7% nationally (Redfin). But Houston is not one market. In West University Place, Bellaire and other close-in neighborhoods, the numbers look very different. What the metro numbers say (August 2026) […]

Life Doesn’t Wait for the Houston Real Estate Market | When To Move Life Doesn’t Always Wait for the Houston Real Estate Market By Wendy Sarmasag | Houston REALTOR® | West University Place, the City of Bellaire & Greater Houston A lot of Houston homeowners and buyers have spent the last few years waiting. Waiting for mortgage rates to come down. Waiting for home prices to fall. Waiting […]

What Houston Home Buyers and Sellers Can Expect During the Second Half of 2026 Every Real Estate Market Is Local If you’ve been following national real estate headlines, you’ve probably heard predictions about mortgage rates, home prices, and housing inventory. While those forecasts are helpful, here’s something I remind my clients every day: Houston doesn’t always follow national trends. In fact, neighborhoods just a few miles apart can experience […]

Think Home Prices Will Crash? What Houston Buyers and Sellers Need to Know in 2026 If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in Houston, you’ve probably heard someone say: “I’m waiting for home prices to come down.” In fact, one of the biggest reasons some buyers are still sitting on the sidelines in 2026 is because they believe a housing market crash is coming. Some think they’ll get […]

Should You Pay a Buyer’s Closing Costs? What Houston Home Sellers Need to Know If you sold a home a few years ago, you may remember when sellers could simply say “no” to almost everything. No repairs. No concessions. No negotiations. If buyers wanted the house, they often had to accept the seller’s terms. Today’s Houston real estate market is different. As inventory has increased across many Houston-area neighborhoods, […]

Buying a Home in Houston Can Feel Scary. Here’s Why Many Buyers Are Glad They Took the Leap Anyway If I’m being honest, almost every buyer I work with has some level of fear before purchasing a home. They’re worried about interest rates. They’re worried about prices. They’re worried about making the wrong decision. And in today’s market, those concerns are understandable. As a Houston REALTOR® with more than 20 years of experience helping […]

Houston Housing Market Update: What May 2026 Means for Buyers and Sellers The latest Houston housing numbers are in, and if you’ve been hearing that the market has “slowed down,” the data tells a more nuanced story. As a Houston REALTOR® who works with buyers and sellers throughout West University Place, Bellaire, Meyerland, Braes Heights, and other Inner Loop communities, I’m seeing many of the same trends […]

Rent or Buy? The Real Tradeoff Most People Don’t Talk About Rent or Buy? The Real Tradeoff Most People Don’t Talk About You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now? It’s a question a lot of people are asking. With today’s home prices and mortgage rates, renting can feel like the easier path. In some cases, it might […]

Mortgage Rates Just Saw Their Biggest Drop in a Year Mortgage Rates Just Saw Their Biggest Drop in a Year You’ve been waiting for what feels like forever for mortgage rates to finally budge. And last week, they did – in a big way. On Friday, September 5th, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to the lowest level since October 2024. It was the […]

Condos Could Be a Win for Today’s Buyers Condos Could Be a Win for Today’s Buyers Not every homebuyer wants the biggest house on the block. Some want something simpler, more affordable, and easier to maintain, especially in a market where every dollar counts. That’s where condos come in. For first-time buyers, they can be a smart way to get into homeownership without […]

More Contracts Are Falling Through. Here’s How To Get Ahead. More Contracts Are Falling Through. Here’s How To Get Ahead. When you sell a house, the last thing you want is for the deal to fall apart right before closing. But according to the latest data from Redfin, that’s happening a bit more often lately. The good news is, it’s completely avoidable if you lean […]

Is It Better To Buy Now or Wait for Lower Mortgage Rates? Here’s the Tradeoff Is It Better To Buy Now or Wait for Lower Mortgage Rates? Here’s the Tradeoff Mortgage rates are still a hot topic – and for good reason. After the most recent jobs report came out weaker than expected, the bond market reacted almost instantly. And, as a result, in early August mortgage rates dropped to […]

Why Selling Without an Agent Can Cost You More Than You Think Why Selling Without an Agent Can Cost You More Than You Think Cutting out the agent might seem like a smart way to save when you sell your house. But here’s the hard truth. Last year, homes that sold with an agent went for almost 15% more than those that sold without one. That gap […]

Why a Newly Built Home Might Be the Move Right Now Why a Newly Built Home Might Be the Move Right Now Are you looking for better home prices, or even a lower mortgage rate? You might find both in one place: a newly built home. While many buyers are overlooking new construction, it could be your best opportunity in today’s market. Here’s why. There are […]

Selling and Buying at the Same Time? Here’s What You Need To Know Selling and Buying at the Same Time? Here’s What You Need To Know If you’re a homeowner planning to move, you’re probably wondering what the process is going to look like and what you should tackle first: Is it better to start by finding your next home? Or should you sell your current house before […]

What You Need To Know About Homeowner’s Insurance What You Need To Know About Homeowner’s Insurance Homeowner’s insurance is a must-have to protect what’s probably your biggest investment – your home. And while you never want to think about worst-case scenarios, the right coverage is basically your safety net if something goes wrong. Here’s how it helps you. Covers Repairs and Rebuilding Costs: […]

Should I Buy a Home Right Now? Experts Say Prices Are Only Going Up Should I Buy a Home Right Now? Experts Say Prices Are Only Going Up At one point or another, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Yesterday was the best time to buy a home, but the next best time is today.” That’s because nationally, home values continue to rise. And with mortgage rates still stubbornly high […]

More Buyers Are Making Moves – Is It Time To Sell? More Buyers Are Making Moves — Is It Time To Sell? More people are taking steps to buy a home. And, if you’ve been waiting for the right time to move, this may be the sign you’ve been looking for. For the past few years, a lot of would-be homebuyers hit pause on their plans. […]

What To Expect from Mortgage Rates & Home Prices in 2025 What To Expect from Mortgage Rates and Home Prices in 2025 Curious about where the housing market is headed in 2025? The good news is that experts are offering some promising forecasts, especially when it comes to two key factors that directly affect your decisions: mortgage rates and home prices. Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling, here’s […]

What To Know About Credit Scores Before Buying a Home What To Know About Credit Scores Before Buying a Home If you want to buy a home, you should know your credit score is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage. Lenders review your credit to see if you typically make payments on time, pay back debts, and more. Your […]