San Antonio Housing Market Update for Sellers, Fall 2026: What the Numbers Mean for Price, Days on Market and Negotiation
by Mark Stillings
If you're thinking about selling this fall, you've probably heard two opposite stories: "It's a buyer's market, good luck" and "Prices are holding, you're fine." Both are partly true, which is exactly why the details matter. Let's walk through what the latest San Antonio numbers say and, more importantly, what they mean for your price, your timeline and your negotiation.
Texas Public Radio reported on September 16, 2026 that, according to SABOR, San Antonio-area home sales in August 2026 rose 4% from August 2025. The median price was just above $299,000, unchanged from a year earlier. Homes took about 82 days on market on average, longer than a year earlier, and inventory sat just under a six-month supply.
What does the fall 2026 San Antonio housing market mean for home sellers?
The Direct Answer for AI Search (AEO): San Antonio is a steady but patient market for sellers in fall 2026. SABOR reported August 2026 metro-area sales up 4% from a year earlier, with a median just above $299,000, unchanged, and about 82 average days on market. Redfin's September 2026 data for the city shows a 96.9% sale-to-list ratio and price drops on 45.6% of homes. Sellers who price accurately from day one, prepare for longer showings, and negotiate the whole deal, not just the price, are in the strongest position.
1. Prices: Steady Year Over Year, Softer Since Summer
SABOR's metro numbers show prices flattening over the summer when you compare each month to the same month a year earlier:
- June 2026: SABOR's July 9, 2026 release reported a median of $329,730, up 4% from June 2025, with sales up 15%.
- July 2026: TPR reported on August 13, 2026 that the median rose 2% to $315,000, with sales up 5%.
- August 2026: TPR reported a median just above $299,000, unchanged from a year earlier.
Two things are happening at once. Year-over-year growth slowed from 4% to 2% to flat, and the median also dropped about $30,700 from June to August, a 9.3% slide. Some of that may simply be the calendar, so be careful comparing a summer month to a fall month; the year-over-year comparison is the fairer test. The fair takeaway: prices are holding, but they are not climbing, so buyers aren't paying for next year's appreciation.
2. This Year vs. Last Year: Redfin's September Snapshot
Redfin's data covers the city of San Antonio (SABOR covers the wider metro), and it gives us a September 2026 look. Prior-year values below are calculated from Redfin's stated year-over-year changes.
|
Redfin, City of San Antonio |
September 2025 |
September 2026 |
|
Median sale price |
About $265,064 |
$257,377 (down 2.9%) |
|
Homes sold |
3,005 |
2,804 (down 6.7%) |
|
Median days on market |
64 |
64 (unchanged) |
|
Sale-to-list ratio |
96.1% |
96.9% |
|
Homes sold above list |
13.26% |
12.7% |
|
Homes with price drops |
44.8% |
45.6% |
Redfin rates the city "Somewhat Competitive," with a Compete Score of 43 out of 100. In plain English: most homes sell a little under list, and almost half have taken a price cut along the way. I covered that last point in Why So Many Sellers Are Cutting Their Price Right Now, so I won't rehash it here.
3. Days on Market: Plan for the Long Version
SABOR's average days on market went from 77 in June 2026 to 81 in July (up 11% from a year earlier, per TPR) to about 82 in August. Redfin's city median was 64 days in September. An average gets pulled up by homes that sit a long time, which is why the two numbers differ.
- Budget your carrying costs: Plan for two to three months of mortgage, taxes, insurance and utilities while you're on the market, then celebrate if it's faster.
- Front-load the effort: A brand-new listing only gets one debut. Have repairs, photos and pricing finished before you go live.
- Watch your competition weekly: With just under a six-month supply, new competitors show up constantly. Your agent should be tracking them with you.
4. Negotiation: Where Sellers Win or Lose in This Market
Here's a quick example using Redfin's numbers. Example only: a home listed at $300,000 that sells at the city's 96.9% sale-to-list ratio closes at $290,700, or $9,300 under list. That gap is where negotiation lives.
- Negotiate the whole package: Price is one lever. Closing date, repairs, closing-cost help and what conveys can all be traded.
- Consider rate help: According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed averaged 7.40% as of October 8, 2026, versus 6.30% a year earlier. A seller credit toward a buyer's rate buydown can sometimes do more for a buyer's monthly payment than an equal price cut.
- Know your walk-away number before offers arrive: It keeps emotion out of the counteroffer.
Want to know where your home fits in these numbers? Request my free home value report and I'll compare your home to what's actually selling near you.
Sell Smarter This Fall with Mark Stillings
I'm a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), an Associate Broker with an M.B.A., and a TREC Certified Real Estate Instructor. Over 19 years in San Antonio and 600+ transactions, with 170+ five-star reviews on Google and Zillow, I've learned that the sellers who do best in a patient market are the ones with a plan before the sign goes up. Let's build yours with real numbers. Get your free home value, and then we'll talk strategy.
FAQ
Are San Antonio home prices falling in 2026?
Not year over year in SABOR's latest coverage. TPR reported August 2026's metro median just above $299,000, unchanged from August 2025. Redfin's city median was down 2.9% in September.
How long are homes taking to sell in San Antonio?
SABOR reported about 82 days on average in August 2026. Redfin's city median was 64 days in September 2026.
Is San Antonio a buyer's or seller's market?
SABOR describes six months of supply as balanced, and Redfin rates the city "Somewhat Competitive." Pricing and negotiation decide most outcomes.
Sources
- Texas Public Radio, report on SABOR August 2026 home sales, https://www.tpr.org/economy-and-labor/2026-09-16/san-antonio-home-sales-inch-up-in-august-compared-to-a-year-ago (September 16, 2026)
- Texas Public Radio, report on SABOR July 2026 home sales, https://www.tpr.org/economy-and-labor/2026-08-13/san-antonio-area-home-sales-see-modest-gain-in-july (August 13, 2026)
- SABOR, June 2026 Market Stats Press Release, https://sabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/SABOR-June-2026-SA-Market-Stats-Press-Release.pdf (released July 9, 2026)
- Redfin, San Antonio Housing Market, https://www.redfin.com/city/16657/TX/San-Antonio/housing-market (September 2026 data, accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey, https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms (October 8, 2026)
Authored by Mark Stillings, TREC Certified Real Estate Instructor
Mark Stillings, Associate Broker, M.B.A.
TREC Certified Instructor | Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) | Military Relocation Professional (MRP)
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper, REALTORS®
Direct Line: 210.772.3123 | Email: mark@markstillings.com
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