Market conditions change. This article reflects general market conditions and observations as of June 2026. Real estate is hyper-local and evolves constantly. For current listing data and active market conditions specific to the neighborhoods you’re considering, book a free consultation or start your home search with live MLS data.
One of the questions I get asked most often is some version of: “Is now a good time to buy?” My honest answer is always the same: it depends less on the market and more on your personal situation. But that doesn’t mean market conditions don’t matter — they absolutely do. And right now, there are things San Antonio buyers need to understand.
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The Big Picture: San Antonio’s Resilience
San Antonio has consistently been one of the more resilient real estate markets in Texas. While markets like Austin saw dramatic boom-and-correction cycles, San Antonio’s steadier growth has made it a more predictable market for both buyers and long-term investors. The economic foundation — military (JBSA is one of the largest military bases in the country), healthcare (the South Texas Medical Center is the largest employer in the city), tourism, and a growing tech sector — provides stability that more speculative markets lack.
San Antonio is also one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States by population. More people means more housing demand. More housing demand historically supports home values over the long term.
Where Are Home Prices in 2026?
After the sharp appreciation of 2020–2022, San Antonio’s housing market went through a period of correction and normalization. The market has found a more stable footing, with prices that are more sustainable than the frenzied peaks.
For first-time buyers, this is broadly good news. The intense competition — multiple offers, waived inspections, offers $50K over asking — has eased significantly from peak-market conditions. Buyers have more negotiating room, more time to think, and more leverage to ask for seller concessions toward closing costs.
#7
San Antonio consistently ranks among the most affordable large metros in the U.S.
~2.2%
Bexar County average property tax rate — among the highest in Texas
Top 5
Fastest-growing large cities in America — San Antonio’s consistent ranking
Interest Rates: The Honest Conversation
Interest rates are the topic most buyers want to talk about — and the one where I have to be most honest with them. The reality is that nobody can reliably predict where rates go. Anyone who tells you rates are “about to drop” or “going to keep rising” is guessing, regardless of how confident they sound.
Here’s what I tell every buyer I work with: you marry the home, you date the rate. The home you buy is likely to be your home for 5–10+ years. The interest rate is just the rate you’re paying today — and if rates drop significantly in the future, you can refinance. If you’re waiting for perfect rates and they never come, you’ve spent years building someone else’s equity instead of your own.
What rates do affect meaningfully is your buying power — how much home you can afford at a given monthly payment. This is why programs like TSAHC that offer below-market mortgage rates alongside DPA grants are particularly valuable in a higher-rate environment. The below-market rate isn’t just a nice perk — it meaningfully changes what you can afford.
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Is There Inventory? What Are Buyers Seeing?
Inventory levels in San Antonio have improved from the extreme lows of 2021–2022. Buyers have more options today than they did at the peak of the seller’s market. However, the inventory picture varies significantly by price range:
- Under $250K: This segment remains competitive. Good entry-level homes move quickly. Being pre-approved and ready to act is essential.
- $250K–$350K: This is the core first-time buyer market in San Antonio. More inventory, more options, more negotiating room than the segment below.
- New construction: Builder inventory in the suburbs (Cibolo, Helotes, far north SA) continues to provide options, often with builder incentives like rate buy-downs or closing cost credits. These can be excellent opportunities — but you need your own agent to protect your interests in those transactions.
What Does the San Antonio Market Mean for First-Time Buyers Specifically?
Here’s my honest take on the current environment for first-time buyers:
Waiting is expensive in a different way now. If rates drop, competition increases and so does every seller’s asking price. The buyers who move when others are sitting on the sideline often find themselves in a better negotiating position.
The frenzy is over. You’re no longer competing with 20 all-cash offers waiving every protection. You can take your time, do your inspection, and negotiate.
Seller concessions are back. In the current market, asking for seller credits toward closing costs is reasonable and often successful. This is a meaningful tool for buyers using DPA programs, because it can stack with program assistance to reduce out-of-pocket costs even further.
DPA programs are still funded and active. The availability of TSAHC, TDHCA, and other programs hasn’t changed — which means buyers who do their homework can still get significant assistance.
The question isn’t “is it a good time to buy?” The question is: “Is this the right time for you to buy, given your financial situation, your timeline, and your goals?” That’s a conversation — and it’s the one I want to have with you.
What About Property Taxes?
This is the conversation I have to have with every San Antonio buyer. Bexar County’s property tax rate is real — averaging around 2.2% of assessed value, it’s one of the higher rates in the country. Texas has no state income tax, which is partly offset by higher property taxes, but for buyers coming from lower-tax states, this is a significant number.
On a $250,000 home, you’re looking at roughly $5,500/year in property taxes — about $458/month on top of your mortgage payment. This has to be part of your budget from the start. The good news is that Texas’s homestead exemption (file it in January after you close) reduces your taxable home value and limits how fast the assessed value can rise each year.
Should You Buy in 2026?
My honest answer: for buyers who are financially ready (or close to it), the current San Antonio market offers more opportunity than it has in several years. Seller leverage is lower. Inventory is better. DPA programs are active. Buyers who are prepared — with pre-approval in hand, the right agent, and an understanding of the available programs — are in a strong position.
The single biggest step you can take to find out where you stand is a free conversation. I’ll look at your actual situation — your income, your credit, your savings, your timeline — and give you a real answer about what buying looks like for you right now. Connecting you with the right lender is one of the first things I do.
