If you’ve been waiting for a break in the Texas housing market, the timing may finally be coming together. A recent Realtor.com report pinpoints the week of October 12-18, 2025 as the “Best Week to Buy” nationally—thanks to a rare combination of higher inventory, lower prices, and reduced competition.Realtor.com
Here’s what that means for buyers in Texas, especially in metro areas like Austin, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and the surrounding regions—and how you can take advantage.
What the Realtor.com Data Shows
According to the research:
- Active listings during mid-October are expected to be ~32.6% more than at the start of the year. More homes means more choice. Realtor.com
- Prices tend to be about 3.4% lower than their seasonal highs. For a home priced near $440,000, that’s more than $15,000 in potential savings. Realtor.com
- Competition from other buyers tends to drop, by around 30.6% lower demand than peak summer weeks.
- Homes typically stay on the market longer than during busy summer months—giving buyers more room for negotiation. Realtor.com
- Price reductions are more common in this window—about 5.5% of homes historically see their price lowered during this period.
So mid-October offers a strong “window of opportunity.” But Texas isn’t uniform; metro markets vary a bit in when things are most favorable. Realtor.com
What This Looks Like in Texas
Here are how some of the major Texas metros stack up, and what to expect:
| Metro Area | Best Time to Buy per Report | Key Advantages in That Period | Things to Watch |
| Austin-Round Rock | Sept. 28 – Oct. 4 (slightly earlier than national) | Larger selection; prices have already pulled back from peak; inventory is strong; negotiations more viable. | Need to act relatively soon since the market begins cooling; interest rates, lot premiums, and construction costs still factors. |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | Sept. 28 – Oct. 4 as well. | Similar situation: good inventory, price drops compared to summer; more homes available with less bidding war pressure. | Be aware of micro-market variation (what neighborhood, how built, age of house) still matters. |
| Houston | More aligned with national week: October 12-18. | Buyers in Houston should see an influx of listings, more leverage with sellers, and better-than-summer pricing. | Watch mortgage rates; also, conditions and supply in certain suburbs may lag the metro average. |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | October 12-18. | Expect more choices with price reductions, slower pace giving time to inspect, negotiate.Realtor.com | For budget homes, demand may still be higher; inventory in nicer neighborhoods may still be limited. |
Why Texas is Well-Positioned Right Now
Several recent trends make Texas especially interesting for buyers:
- In Austin, the housing boom has cooled. Inventory is rising; affordability is improving. It’s shifting toward more of a buyer’s market. Realtor.com
- For many metros, new listings are more plentiful than earlier in 2025, while buyer activity has slowed, letting buyers have more breathing room. Realtor.com
- The shift is not uniform: desirable suburbs or luxury / high-amenity neighborhoods may still behave more like seller’s markets and see less reduction in competition or price. But overall, Texas homebuyers are gaining leverage.
How to Make the Most of this Opportunity
If you’re looking to buy in Texas, here are tactics to maximize your position in the upcoming best-buying period:
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage now. Interest rates still matter a lot. Being ready gives you speed when you find a home.
- Watch for new listings and set alerts. Because mid-October may bring a surge. Being among the first to see them can give you a choice.
- Be patient and inspect carefully. Slower markets often reveal issues (from deferred maintenance, etc.). Take your time to evaluate.
- Negotiate, not just on price. With sellers more open, you might get concessions—closing cost help, minor repairs, flexible closing timelines.
- Don’t wait too long. While waiting after the best week may yield slightly lower prices, the best selection tends to be before or during it. By late fall/winter, inventory usually decreases. Realtor.com
Caveats & Risks to Keep in Mind
- Mortgage rates volatility. Even with better inventory, high rates can limit what you can afford—or reduce the savings.
- Local neighborhood effects. Even in strong metros, some pockets are still in high-demand zones where bidding is fierce.
- Supply imbalances. Not all areas have equal new home supply. Certain suburbs or outlying areas may still have lagging inventory or inflated lot/land costs.
- Potential economic shifts. Inflation, employment, or regulatory changes could alter market sentiment (positively or negatively).
Bottom Line
For Texas homebuyers, mid-October 2025 looks like the most favorable time in recent memory to make a move in many markets. Whether it’s getting more house for your budget, securing better terms, or simply having more choices, the week of October 12-18 (and for some Texas metros, a week earlier) offers a unique opening.
If you can get financially ready now, define your must-haves vs. nice-to-haves, and pay attention to listings, this window could help you leap ahead.
For help with buying or selling your home, get in touch with Sabrina Sparkman.