If you spent any time scrolling real estate headlines in 2025, you probably noticed a theme: confusion. Rising inventory! Slowing sales! Price reductions! Interest rates! Everywhere you look, someone is predicting a wildly different outcome.

But here’s the truth: North Texas is not the rest of the country.
And as we step into 2026, the Dallas–Fort Worth market is entering one of the most strategic windows of opportunity we’ve seen in years whether you’re buying, selling, or planning your next move.

This is not a doom-and-gloom market.
This is a timing market, and timing matters.

Let’s break it down.

DFW Remains the #1 Market to Watch....Again!

For the second year in a row, industry analysts ranked Dallas–Fort Worth as the top real estate market in America to watch in 2026.

Why does DFW outperform almost every metro in the country?

• A business-friendly environment

• Over 100 corporate HQ relocations since 2018

• Major Gen Z migration, boosting long-term buyer demand

• A diverse economic base in finance, healthcare, tech, logistics

• Strong population growth in every direction of the metroplex

• Relative affordability compared to other major U.S. markets

The result?
Even as the market cooled, DFW remained stable, balanced, and resilient.

2025 in Review: A Reset, Not a Retreat

Yes, the market slowed in 2025, and that was actually a good thing.

After years of extreme competition, rising prices, and multiple-offer chaos, the market needed to stabilize. And it did.

What changed in 2025:

• Prices softened slightly (healthy correction, not decline)

• Homes took a little longer to sell

• Inventory increased

• Buyers finally gained negotiating power

• Sellers had to price strategically

But unlike Austin, Houston, or San Antonio DFW stayed the most balanced and the most in-demand.

Our absorption rate barely dipped.
Our inventory remains lower than other metros.
Our population growth continues to surge.

This is why North Texas is positioned incredibly well going into 2026.

How DFW Stacks Up Against the Texas Triangle

The Texas Triangle, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston...tells a fascinating story:

Austin

Shifted sharply into a buyer’s market.
53% of listings cut prices.
Median list price dropped $26K.

San Antonio

Absorption fell 36%.
Inventory surged.
Buyers now have leverage.

Houston

Highest inventory in the state.
High relisting rates...aka the market rejected the original price!
Slower-moving market.

Dallas–Fort Worth

Held the strongest demand.
Lowest months of supply (3.4).
Minimal change in absorption.
Competitive but not chaotic.
Stable but still appreciating in key pockets.

DFW is the most predictable, most opportunity-rich metro in Texas.

And that matters, especially for buyers looking for long-term value and sellers looking to maximize their equity.

Why 2026 Is a Window of Opportunity for Buyers

Here’s the biggest advantage buyers have right now:

You have time. You have choices. You have negotiating power.

That won’t last forever.

We say this often, but it has never been more true:

When interest rates drop, the market will shift fast and sellers will have the upper hand again.

Right now:

• Buyers can negotiate price.

• Buyers can request concessions.

• Buyers can take their time.

• Buyers can get inspections and repairs approved more easily.

• Buyers can choose from more inventory.

When rates slip into the low 6’s or high 5’s, demand will flood back almost instantly, because thousands of buyers have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the “perfect” time.

Spoiler:
The perfect time is before everyone else realizes it’s the perfect time.

Why 2026 Is Still a Strong Year for Sellers

While the media wants homeowners to panic, here’s what the data actually shows:

• DFW continues attracting relocations at a pace unmatched anywhere else in Texas.

• Inventory is up but still healthy, not oversupplied.

• Well-prepared, strategically priced homes still sell quickly.

• Buyers remain active due to job growth, affordability, and inbound migration.

And here’s your advantage:
You are selling in the #1 real estate market in the United States for 2026.

Sellers who make smart upgrades, list with the right strategy, and position their homes properly are still winning often with strong prices and fewer days on market.

What We Expect for the 2026 North Texas Market

Our forecast at Reserve 76 Realty is optimistic, grounded, and data-informed:

✔ Sales activity will increase

Interest rate stability will bring more buyers back.

✔ Buyers will compete more by mid-year

Once rates dip, competition will rise.

✔ Prices will remain stable with pockets of appreciation

Especially in Denton, Collin, and northern Tarrant counties.

✔ Sellers will regain leverage gradually

Low inventory + population growth = upward pressure on prices.

✔ North Texas will continue leading the state

While Austin, San Antonio, and Houston reset, DFW continues to grow.

This is not a volatile market.
This is a strategic market and strategy wins in 2026.

Thinking About Buying or Selling This Year? Timing Matters.

Whether you are:

• Hoping to buy before rates drop and competition returns

• Considering selling while DFW demand stays strong

• Planning to upgrade, downsize, relocate, or invest

• Wanting a free, accurate valuation on your current home

• Curious how the 2026 market impacts your long-term goals

We’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Reserve 76 Realty is built on expertise, integrity, and connection.... and we’re proud to serve North Texas families with advisory-driven real estate, not pressure.

If you’re thinking about making a move in 2026, now is the time to start the conversation.

Let’s make this your year of opportunity, with strategy, clarity, and confidence.