Houston has the most buyer-friendly housing market in Texas
Houston was recently named Texas’s most buyer-friendly housing market and the 15th best in the US. Here’s what you need to know.
While the housing market has left much to be desired in recent years, Zillow is reassuring prospective buyers that 2026 might be looking up. The company recently released its “Best Markets for Home Buyers in 2026” list, where it definitively ranks the most buyer-friendly markets across the US. Several factors were taken into consideration to achieve the final rankings, including negotiation leverage, fluctuations in market trends, and reasonable monthly burdens. Basically, Zillow determined where people are the most likely to have a friendly buying experience and plenty of affordable home listings within their target price range.
And according to Chron, prospective homeowners in these designated areas will also face fewer competitors when it’s time to make an offer on their desired property, leading to fewer bidding wars. It’s important to remember that not everyone will have the same buying experience, and accommodations will need to be made in many circumstances. However, it’s still a positive step in the right direction. More availability, less competition, and more control over the home-buying process? Those all sound like wins to me.
Speaking of winning, several Texas cities ranked within the Top 50 of Zillow’s list, including Austin at No. 32, Dallas at No. 26, and San Antonio at No. 21. There was one Texas neighborhood that reigned supreme, though: Houston. Space City ranked No. 15 overall, making it one of the most buyer-friendly housing markets in the country. What exactly contributed to that high ranking? Let’s go over the details together below.
What contributed to Houston’s high ranking?
Houston received its No. 15 spot on Zillow’s list of “Best Markets for Home Buyers in 2026” because around 40,000 condominiums, townhomes, and single-family houses were listed for sale in November 2025. Of the available properties, the average value (as of December 2025) was about $302,473, making the houses more affordable than other areas of Texas and beyond. That’s expected to change by less than 1% this year, so you still have plenty of time to go over your home-buying budget and find something you love before prices fluctuate dramatically.
Another positive for Houston’s market? Katy and Cypress were named as No. 1 and No. 5, respectively, on MovingPlace’s Top 5 hottest trending neighborhoods list last year. The report said Cypress was chosen as No. 1 because it “has become a magnet for families and young professionals who want more space and a quieter lifestyle while still being within commuting distance of Houston’s job market and urban amenities.”
As for why Katy and the other neighborhoods joined Cypress on the list? MovingPlace stated in its report, “Many of these popular zip codes sit just beyond major metro hubs, offering the best of both worlds: access to thriving job markets and urban amenities, paired with quieter living, better schools, and a stronger sense of community.”
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