A new statewide real estate report has shown a slow decline in new home sales across Texas, including in the Houston metro area.
The latest New Home Sales Index by HomesUSA.com discovered Houston saw the most new homes sold in January out of the four biggest metros in Texas, despite being in an overall sales slump compared to December 2024. The three-month moving average of new home sales in the metro was 2,046 last month, versus 2,184 sales in December.
Housing prices also declined in January, with the average new home in Houston dropping to $395,515. That's about $6,200 less than the average price in December, which came out to $401,678.
While these declines may seem atypical, a sales slump is actually normal during the winter season, according to HomesUSA founder and CEO Ben Caballero.
Active new home listings in Houston flattened from December to January, with 13,127 active listings on the market last month.
New home sales in January throughout Texas
The report found new home sales dropped not only in Houston, but also in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Dallas-Fort Worth's three-month moving average of new home sales was the second-highest out of all four metros with 1,847 sales made in January, but that figure technically decreased by 43 homes from December.
San Antonio saw 67 fewer homes sold from December to January, totaling 1,008 sales last month.
Austin the fewest new homes sold last month out of the four major Texas metros: At 809 homes sold.
"January sales are often lower than December in Austin as builders push hard to close the year with as many sales as possible, as I mentioned in last month’s report," Caballero said. "Austin builders were offering discounts, buyer incentives, and Realtor bonuses for December closings. A slower January is not unusual for that reason."
January housing prices fell in San Antonio to an average $337,414, and Austin's average new home price fell to $483,056. This wasn't the case in Dallas-Fort Worth, however, as prices increased by nearly $2,600 to $496,498 last month.
Average prices for new homes fell in Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, but increased in Dallas-Fort Worth.Courtesy of HomesUSA.com
