Temple TX Housing Market
September 2026 Update
Real MLS data, not Zillow estimates. Updated monthly by a local agent with $20M+ in transactions.
What is the Temple TX housing market like in 2026?
Temple was balanced and buyer-leaning in the August 30, 2026 CTXMLS snapshot. The median sold price was $260,000 across 100 closings in the July 31-August 28, 2026 window, Temple had 641 active listings, estimated supply was 6.1 months, median closed DOM was 75 days, and the median close-to-original-list ratio was 94.7%. 54% of active listings have taken at least one price cut.
- Median sold price: $260,000 (100 closings)
- Inventory: 641 active listings (6.1 months)
- Median closed DOM: 75 days
- Median active DOM: 74 days
- Close-to-original-list: 94.7% median
- Source window: July 31-August 28, 2026 closings
What’s Really Happening to Temple TX Home Prices
Taylor breaks down the actual MLS data behind the headlines. No speculation, no hype. Just numbers.
Temple TX Market at a Glance
Five numbers from the August 30, 2026 CTXMLS export. The closing window runs July 31-August 28, 2026 (29 days); market conditions move daily.
How Does Temple Compare to the Rest of Bell County?
Same August 30, 2026 CTXMLS export, same July 31-August 28, 2026 closing window. Belton runs a smaller, slightly tighter, higher-priced market; the countywide figures include Killeen, Harker Heights, Salado, and the smaller towns.
| Market | Active | Closings | Median Sold | Median DOM | Months Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temple | 641 | 100 | $260,000 | 75 | 6.1 |
| Belton | 251 | 51 | $309,900 | 46 | 4.7 |
| Bell County (all) | 2012 | 339 | $275,000 | 53 | 5.7 |
How Does 2026 Compare to 2025?
Two comparison windows: trailing 12 months and Q1 head-to-head. The pattern is consistent — prices softening, homes sitting longer, volume holding steady.
Trailing 12-Month Comparison
| Metric | Apr 2025 – Apr 2026 | Apr 2024 – Mar 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Sales | 1,499 | 1,443 | +3.9% |
| Median Sold Price | $273,755 | $279,990 | -2.2% |
| Median DOM | 69 days | 57 days | +12 days |
| Median $/sqft | $160 | $168 | -4.8% |
Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025
| Metric | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 283 | 290 | -2.4% |
| Median Price | $264,990 | $276,500 | -4.2% |
| Median DOM | 86 days | 82 days | +4 days |
Q1 is always Temple’s slowest quarter. January saw only 74 sales (the annual low). But the 4.2% median price drop is not just seasonal. Compare it to the trailing 12-month decline of 2.2% and you see acceleration. Prices are softening faster now than they were 6 months ago. That is real data, not speculation.
12-Month Price & Volume Tracker
Every month of Temple sales from August 2025 through July 2026 — one source, one pull: the August 5, 2026 CTXMLS trailing-365 export. Watch the seasonal pattern: winter trough, spring volume peak, and a median that keeps settling back into the $260Ks.
| Month | Sales | Median Price | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | 128 | $260,250 | Summer fade |
| Sep 2025 | 141 | $261,075 | Declining |
| Oct 2025 | 113 | $274,900 | Bounce |
| Nov 2025 | 90 | $295,825 | Luxury skew |
| Dec 2025 | 123 | $269,000 | Year-end reset |
| Jan 2026 | 74 | $262,750 | Annual low |
| Feb 2026 | 96 | $261,445 | Slow recovery |
| Mar 2026 | 119 | $268,255 | Spring warming |
| Apr 2026 | 125 | $286,990 | Mix spike |
| May 2026 | 168 | $268,600 | Volume peak |
| Jun 2026 | 164 | $266,735 | Summer strength |
| Jul 2026 | 141 | $265,000 | Settling |
Top 15 Neighborhoods by Sales Volume
Where is the money actually moving? These 15 neighborhoods account for the highest transaction volume in the trailing 12-month period.
| # | Neighborhood | Sales | Median Price | DOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Ridge | 47 | $254,990 | 66 |
| 2 | Pecan Creek | 37 | $248,485 | 47 |
| 3 | Mesa Ridge | 36 | $300,024 | 78 |
| 4 | North Gate | 30 | $306,150 | 141 |
| 5 | Parks at Westfield | 29 | $302,750 | 237 |
| 6 | Hartrick Ranch | 25 | $291,250 | 187 |
| 7 | Willow Glenn | 20 | $253,908 | 92 |
| 8 | Tanglewood | 17 | $416,000 | 107 |
| 9 | Alta Vista II | 15 | $260,000 | 73 |
| 10 | Lake Pointe Ph III | 15 | $265,000 | 62 |
| 11 | County View | 15 | $285,269 | 115 |
| 12 | Windmill Farms Ph II | 15 | $250,000 | 34 |
| 13 | Legacy Ranch Ph I | 15 | $460,000 | 97 |
| 14 | Lake Pointe Ph II-A1 | 14 | $302,500 | 25 |
| 15 | The Terrace | 14 | $276,635 | 84 |
Where the Volume Is
Nearly half of all Temple sales (47.2%) happen between $200K and $300K. The $250K-$300K band is the single largest tier. Here is every price bracket ranked by sales volume.
Days on Market by Speed
28.6% of homes sell within 30 days. But 27.9% sit for 120+ days. The gap between correctly priced and overpriced is enormous.
| Speed | Sales | % of Total | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 days | 838 | 28.6% | Priced right from day one |
| 30-60 days | 583 | 19.9% | Slightly above market, adjusted |
| 60-90 days | 404 | 13.8% | Needed a price cut |
| 90-120 days | 289 | 9.9% | Overpriced or condition issues |
| 120+ days | 818 | 27.9% | Priced wrong, expired, or relisted |
818 homes (27.9%) sat for 120+ days. That is not a market problem — that is a pricing problem. In this market, listing 5% above comps does not result in 5% fewer showings. It results in zero offers and a stale listing. The first 14 days on market generate the most buyer interest. Miss that window and you are chasing the market down.
Mortgage Rates — Freddie Mac Benchmark, August 27, 2026
The benchmark below is the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) national average for the week ending August 27, 2026 — a published, citable reference, not a lender quote. Product-level pricing (FHA, VA, investor, DSCR) moves daily with lender overlays; request a same-day loan estimate before comparing payments.
What These Rates Mean Monthly
Principal and interest only (excludes taxes, insurance, PMI/MIP). Assumes a 30-year fixed at 6.66% — the PMMS national average for the week ending August 27, 2026.
| Purchase Price | 5% Down | Loan Amount | P&I at 6.66% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $10,000 | $190,000 | $1,221/mo |
| $275,000 | $13,750 | $261,250 | $1,679/mo |
| $350,000 | $17,500 | $332,500 | $2,137/mo |
Buyer, Seller, or Investor: Here’s Your Play
Same market, three different strategies. The data says different things depending on which side of the table you sit on.
More Room, Still Property-Specific
- 6.1 months of supply = balanced overall, with room to negotiate on longer-sitting homes
- Negotiate repairs, closing costs, and rate buydowns simultaneously
- The 94.7% median close-to-original-list ratio confirms meaningful negotiation, but not on every listing
- New construction builders offering 3-2-1 buydowns and $10K+ closing credits
- Stack builder incentives: buydown + closing credit + upgraded finishes
- Homes under $260K with correct pricing still move in 30-45 days — the data confirms that window is real
Price It Right or Sit
- 27.9% of homes sit 120+ days — every one of them was overpriced at launch
- Price at or slightly below comps to capture the first-14-day buyer surge
- Offer a 2-1 buydown as a seller concession — it costs less than a price cut and moves homes faster
- Under $260K and new construction still sell under 45 DOM
- Pre-listing inspection eliminates buyer objections and speeds up closing
- Accept the market. A home priced right sells. A home priced at 2024 levels does not.
Underwrite the Deal, Not the Label
- Use the 94.7% median close-to-original-list ratio as context, then compare the exact property to recent comps
- Use a same-day lender quote; DSCR and conventional investor pricing changes with leverage and coverage
- Target the $200K-$250K tier: high volume (576 sales), strong rental demand near BSW
- Windmill Farms, Oak Ridge, Pecan Creek = fastest turnover if you need to exit
- New construction with builder incentives can create instant equity positions
- Fort Hood, BSW, and industrial corridor growth continue to drive rental demand
What I’m Telling My Clients Right Now
I am telling every buyer I work with the same thing right now: negotiate hard. This is not the 2022 market where you waived inspections and offered $20K over ask just to get a house. That market is gone.
Here is what I am doing with my clients right now. On resale homes, we are offering 3-5% below asking and requesting seller concessions for rate buydowns. On new construction, we are stacking every incentive the builder offers — buydowns, closing credits, upgraded finishes — before we even talk purchase price. Most builders in Temple are hungry right now.
For sellers, I am having direct conversations about pricing reality. If your neighbor sold for $295K last year, that does not establish today’s value. The August 30 snapshot median was $260,000, but a citywide median is not a CMA. Price from current neighborhood comps, condition, and competing inventory.
For investors, the 94.7% close-to-original-list ratio shows negotiating room, not automatic cash flow. I am still underwriting the exact rent, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and financing before calling anything a deal.
What’s Actually Selling by Age
40.5% of sales are 2020+ construction. Temple’s new-build pipeline is dominating transaction volume, but pre-1980 homes still account for 1 in 5 sales.
| Era Built | % of Sales | What This Tells You |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1980 | 20.8% | Older stock still transacts — budget buyers and investors |
| 1980-1999 | 9.9% | Smallest cohort — fewer subdivisions built in this era |
| 2000-2019 | 28.8% | Solid middle segment, established neighborhoods |
| 2020+ | 40.5% | New construction dominates — builder incentives driving volume |
Cite This Report
This page is a monthly report built from CTXMLS MLS exports, refreshed on the first business day of each month. Reporters, bloggers, and researchers are welcome to quote any figure with attribution. Ready-to-quote lines from the current edition:
| Quotable stat — September 2026 edition |
|---|
| The median Temple TX home sold for $260,000 in the 29-day window ending August 28, 2026. |
| 54% of active Temple listings (349 of 641) have cut their asking price at least once. |
| Temple is holding about 6.1 months of housing supply — balanced, leaning toward buyers. |
| Temple sellers are closing at a median 94.7% of their original asking price. |
| 24% of recent Temple closings were 2025-or-newer construction. |
Download the data: monthly closings & median prices, Temple TX (CSV) — the same 12-month table published above, one row per month. Free to reuse with attribution (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Journalists and editors: a same-day quote or a custom cut of the numbers (neighborhood, price band, or city) is an email away — dealswithdasch@gmail.com. A short monthly Temple/Bell County numbers sheet is available on request.
Embed a stat: copy this attribution-ready snippet:
<blockquote>The median Temple TX home sold for $260,000 (September 2026, MLS data). — <a href="https://templetxhomes.net/temple-tx-market-update/">Taylor Dasch, EG Realty</a></blockquote>
Report Archive & Cadence
This report updates on the first business day of each month from the latest CTXMLS pull; each prior edition is preserved as a dated archive so citations never break. Current edition: September 2026 (you are reading it). Next update: October 1, 2026. Archive: August 2026.
Methodology & Sources
- Snapshot figures (hero, dashboard, Bell County table, FAQ): CTXMLS export dated August 30, 2026; closed sales July 31-August 28, 2026 (29 days); Temple, Belton, and countywide cuts as labeled.
- 12-month tracker: CTXMLS trailing-365 export dated August 5, 2026, Temple closed sales only, medians by calendar month.
- Trailing-12 tables (neighborhoods, price tiers, DOM speed, housing stock, YoY): spring 2026 CTXMLS trailing-12-month export; windows as labeled in each table.
- Mortgage benchmark: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week ending August 27, 2026.
- Definitions: months of supply = active listings ÷ monthly closing pace of the same window (directional, not seasonally adjusted). Close-to-original-list compares sale price to the first asking price, which captures total markdown.
- Coverage note: MLS-reported sales only; FSBO and unlisted builder closings are excluded. Medians, not averages, to resist outlier skew.
Temple TX Housing Market FAQ
What is the average home price in Temple TX 2026?
The median sold price in Temple was $260,000 across 100 closings in the August 30, 2026 CTXMLS export (July 31-August 28, 2026 closing window). That same export showed 641 active Temple listings. This is a monthly snapshot, so verify a specific price band or neighborhood against live comps.
Is Temple TX a buyer’s or seller’s market?
Temple was balanced and buyer-leaning in the August 30, 2026 CTXMLS snapshot: 641 active listings, about 6.1 months of supply, 75 median days on market, and a 94.7% median close-to-original-list ratio across 100 recent closings. Buyers have room to negotiate, but well-priced homes can still move quickly.
Are home prices dropping in Temple TX?
Yes, modestly. The median sold price dropped 4.2% year-over-year in Q1 2026 ($264,990 vs $276,500), and the August 30, 2026 export’s 29-day median was $260,000 — the drift continues. This is not a crash — it is a correction toward buyer-friendly pricing after the 2021-2023 run-up.
What is the best time to buy in Temple TX?
The August 30, 2026 CTXMLS snapshot gives buyers more negotiating room than a low-inventory market: Temple had 641 active listings, about 6.1 months of supply, and a 94.7% median close-to-original-list ratio. The right timing still depends on the property, financing, and current competing inventory.
How long do homes take to sell in Temple TX?
The median days on market was 75 across 100 Temple closings in the August 30, 2026 CTXMLS export. The 641 active listings in that export had a 74-day median, showing that active inventory includes longer-sitting homes. Neighborhood and price-band results vary, so use live comps for a specific address.
What are interest rates in Temple TX right now?
The Freddie Mac PMMS national average was 6.66% for a 30-year fixed and 5.98% for a 15-year fixed in the week ending August 27, 2026. Lender pricing varies daily by product and borrower, so request a same-day loan estimate before comparing payments or writing an offer.
What are the fastest-selling neighborhoods in Temple TX?
The 5 fastest-selling neighborhoods by median DOM: Lake Pointe Phase II-A1 (25 days), Windmill Farms Phase II (34 days), Pecan Creek (47 days), Lake Pointe Phase III (62 days), and Oak Ridge (66 days). These neighborhoods share correct pricing, established infrastructure, and BSW proximity.
Is Temple TX a good place to invest in real estate right now?
Temple can work for investors when the property-level rent, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and financing pencil. The August 30, 2026 CTXMLS snapshot showed negotiating room, but it does not guarantee cash flow or appreciation. Underwrite the exact property with current lease comps and lender terms.
Want the Next Market Update Delivered?
Subscribe to The Temple Insider — Taylor’s biweekly newsletter with market data, neighborhood spotlights, and deals you will not find on Zillow.