How Long Does It Take to Sell a House in Texas?

The real estate market in Texas is experiencing an increase in inventory, meaning homes are taking a little longer to sell. 

In June 2024, Texas' average number of daysArticle Texas Housing Insight Trerc.tamu.edu on the market (DOM) was 59, according to the latest data from the Texas Real Estate Research Center (TRERC). This is slightly higher than the national average of 53 DOMAugust 2024 Data ResearchAugust 2024 Data Research.

Let's take a closer look at the top markets in Texas and the factors that influence how fast a home sells.

How Long It Takes to Sell a House in Popular Texas Cities

Among Texas’s four big cities, San Antonio has the highest number of DOM at 71 days, according to TRERCArticle Texas Housing Insight Trerc.tamu.edu. Austin, Dallas, and Houston sit at 67, 51, and 50 days, respectively. That tells us buyers are snapping up homes faster in Houston and Dallas. 

Outside of the big four, some Texas cities are seeing a spike in sale prices compared to last year. RedfinTexas Housing Market State sales data shows that Texarkana leads the way, with sale prices up 50.8% from July 2023. This is followed by Canyon Lake, up to 38.5%, and Lake Jackson, up 24.0%. 

Lake Jackson has the shortest DOM at 23 days, while Canyon Lake has the longest at 94 days. Texarkana averages 57 days. 

Now that you know approximately how long it takes to sell a house in Texas, you may be interested in learning about the factors that affect home sales in the Lone Star State.

Factors That Affect How Fast a Home Sells in Texas

Inventory

Inventory is the single biggest factor determining whether a housing marketHousing Market Expectations Blog leans toward a buyers' or sellers' market. 

A low inventory means fewer homes are for sale, which typically places upward pressure on prices that can spark bidding wars. A high inventory means buyers have more choice. This can lead to properties lingering longer on the market, prompting sellers to lower their prices. 

According to August 2024 Data ResearchAugust 2024 Data ResearchRealtor.com, in August 2024, the number of homes for sale nationally increased in all 50 of the country’s largest metros compared to August 2023. 

Eleven metros saw higher inventory levels compared to the pre-pandemic years from 2017 to 2019. Austin and San Antonio are two of these metros, with inventory up 36.7% and 24.9%, respectively. More homes for sale is a good sign as it can help stabilize property prices in Texas. 

Location

If you want to become a Texas real estate agentTexas Real Estate License, the first thing you'll learn is that location matters. Some locations are more desirable than others. 

Texas's fastest-growing real estate markets tend to be in the major metropolitan areas. These metros are currently experiencing an influx in migration. This is partly due to the lower cost of living in Texas compared to more expensive states like New York and California.

The further you go from Austin, Dallas, and Houston, the longer it generally takes to sell a home. An exception may be real estate near recreational and coastal areas. However, even in popular tourist destinations like Galveston and Port Aransas, real estate sales are slower than in prime metropolitan areas.

Employment Opportunities

Another reason people are flocking to Texas is the strong job market. A growing number of top companies are establishing offices in Texas, bringing new jobs and new workers. This is creating a strong demand for properties in the major cities. 

The unemployment rate in Texas is 4.1%Texaslmi.com as of July 2024, just under the national rate of 4.2%. The Midland Metropolitan area has the lowest unemployment rate in Texas at 2.8%, followed by the Amarillo at 3.4%. 

Here are the unemployment rates for other prime Texas metropolitan areas as of July 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMetro Laummtrk.htm Web:

• Austin-Round Rock (3.6%)

• College Station-Bryan (3.7%)

• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (3.8%)

• San Antonio-New Braunfels (4.0%)

• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugarland (4.8%)

New Construction

In 2023, new home construction in Texas outperformed many other U.S. markets. Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio are leading home-building markets in the United States. The Texas Real Estate Research Center expects this trend to continue in 2024.

Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Texas

With increased real estate inventory and new home construction in the works, Texas is a promising housing market with strong earning potential for real estate agents. 

If you want to become a real estate agent in Texas, you need to do two things: 

1. Check that you meet the Texas Real Estate Commission’sSales Agent Become Licensed (TREC’s) licensing requirements. 

2. Complete a Texas real estate course. Aceable offers an online Texas real estate course approved by TREC that you can complete in as little as 180 hours. Our course will help prepare you for the TREC licensing exam. 

Sign up for the Texas Real Estate Pre-licensing Deluxe Course hereCheckout?productId=EceDQHBZwuQ7afXG&courseId=0fqUi1DARkHodkIg&state=TX Checkout.aceableagent.com.