Houston, TX
Buyer's marketCash-flow-friendly fundamentals: 7.0% gross rent yield and 70% of sales closing below list make Houston a steady BRRRR and rental market.
DATA · Zillow Research (via scrape.do) · AS OF APRIL 2026
| Detail | Value | Detail | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median list price | $304,967 | Median sale price | $292,583 |
| Sale-to-list ratio | 0.975 | % sold below list | +69.9% |
| Active inventory | 12,314 | New listings | 2,945 |
How Houston has moved.
Houston sits at a median home value of $265,062 as of the latest Zillow read, down 2.7% year-over-year — a meaningful softening that’s putting deal flow back on the table for cash buyers.
The sale-to-list ratio sits at 0.975, and 69.9% of closed sales are landing below list. That’s a clear buyer’s market — sellers are negotiating, and motivated-seller direct mail is converting at rates we haven’t seen since 2014.
Rents tell a stronger story. The Zillow Observed Rent Index for Houston is $1,549/mo against a $265k median — that’s a 7.01% gross annual rent yield, well above the national 4-5% baseline. BRRRR and long-term rental strategies have real cushion here.
Median days-on-market is running around 35 days against 12,314.333 active listings. Pace is moderate — neither chaos nor stagnation. Standard wholesaling cadences work here.
MDR’s composite investor score for Houston is 88/100 based on rent yield, sale-to-list discount, motivated-seller proxies, and DOM. That puts it in our top tier — actively recommended for new capital deployment this cycle.
The same data, five operator lenses.
Lead lists, sourcing channels, and disposition strategies tuned to the local market.
ARV math, rehab scope, and exit timing for the local buyer profile.
Buy-rehab-rent-refi-repeat math tuned to local rents, prices, and DSCR.
Buy-and-hold rental analysis tuned to local rents, taxes, and tenant mix.
Subject-to, seller financing, wraps, and lease-options sized for the local market.
Houston for investors.
Is Houston a good market for real estate investors in 2026?
Metro Deal Report's composite investor score for Houston is 88/100, based on rent yield, sale-to-list ratio, motivated-seller proxies, and days on market. That puts Houston in our top tier — actively recommended for new capital deployment this cycle.
What is the median home price in Houston?
The typical home value in Houston as of the most recent Zillow read is $265,062. Median list price is $304,967 and median sale price is $292,583. Year-over-year change: -2.7%.
What can a landlord expect to rent a property for in Houston?
Zillow's Observed Rent Index for Houston is $1,549/mo. Against the typical home value of $265k, that produces a gross annual rent yield of 7.01% — above the national 4-5% baseline, supportive of BRRRR and long-term rental strategies.
Is Houston a buyer's or seller's market?
Houston's current sale-to-list ratio is 0.975 with 69.9% of homes closing below list. That's a clear buyer's market — sellers are negotiating. Median days on market: 35 days. Active inventory: 12,314 listings.
Which investment strategy works best in Houston?
Houston's data favors a mixed approach — no single strategy dominates, so selective deal sourcing wins. See the per-strategy breakdowns at /wholesaling/houston, /brrrr/houston, and /flipping/houston.
Loan options for Houston properties.
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