October 2026 brought softer sales, record-high borrowing costs for this cycle, and steady infrastructure and job-market news. Here is what mattered for Austin and Central Texas real estate market.
Market Snapshot
The September report, released October 13, set the tone. Metro-wide, closed sales fell 14.8% year over year to 2,223, the median price was $421,000 (+1.4%), and inventory stood at 5.4 months. Inside city limits, the median reached $570,958, up 4.2%. In short, prices are holding while volume shrinks. October figures arrive mid-November.
Rents are soft. One October tally showed Apartment List rents down 2.3% from a year earlier. Office is the exception: Q3 average asking rent hit a record $50.47 per square foot. s
Mortgage News
Rates eased slightly late in the month but remain painful. Freddie Mac’s 30-year average fell to 7.24% on October 29, the month’s lowest, versus 6.17% a year ago; the 15-year averaged