This trend is typically due to high mortgage rates, limited inventory and elevated prices. However, some realtors say that winter is a good time to buy a home because of less competition and more motivated sellers.
The setup
According to the monthly Realtors Confidence Index, properties nationwide typically remained on the market for 41 days in January 2025, up from 35 days in December and 36 days in January 2024.
Existing home sales in the South, according to the index, fell 6.2% from December to an annual rate of 1.83 million in January with the median price of a home costing approximately $356,300, up 3.5% from last year.
In comparison, according to Realtor.com, in Texas, January real estate trends included seeing more homes for sale, increased seller activity and a higher share of homes with price reductions compared to 2024.
Neighborhoods in the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose followed similar nationwide trends with homes spending more days on the market, cheaper prices and a dip in the number of homes sold.
A closer look
In January, the average number of days a home spent on the market before selling increased by 40% or more in four out of five local ZIP codes compared to 2024. On average, homes spent 108 days more on the market. In 77019, homes spent 126 days more on the market compared to last year.
The only neighborhood to see a decrease in time spent on the market was homes in the 77098 area, which encompasses lower Montrose and the Upper Kirby District. Homes went from spending 255 days on the market to only 20.
Subsequently, the same number of homes were sold in the 77098 ZIP code in both years with prices remaining more or less steady.
As for the number of homes sold last month, the overall total home sales were down in only two of five local ZIP codes. However, two remained stagnant while the remaining neighborhood saw only a slight increase.
Homes sold in the Heights increased by almost 12% while neighboring ZIP code 77007 saw an 18.42% decrease, falling from 38 homes sold in 2024 to 31 in 2025.
Homes in both 77006 and 77098 remained flat year over year, with realtors selling seven and two homes in each market, respectively.
In markets where the most homes were sold, prices were cheaper.
In the Heights, or 77008, home prices fell from $619,825 to an even $600,000. In the two ZIP codes where the number of homes were stagnant—77006 and 77098—prices also fell slightly. Homes located between Bissonnet Street and West Gray Street were approximately 4% cheaper while homes in the Upper Kirby District saw a $5,000 decrease.
In neighborhoods where prices went up—77019 and 77007—sales declined.
Homes located from Fourth Ward to River Oaks along Kirby Drive jumped from less than a million to more than $2 million. As a result, homes sales decreased by 30%. A similar trend followed with homes in 77007, encompassing Washington Avenue and Rice Military. Homes prices increased by 23% and as a result, home sales decreased.
However, despite the national real estate trend of home sales decreasing in January, 118 homes were still sold in the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose region. Of the 118 homes, 59 were sold in the $500,000 to $749,999 range.
