78209 Real Estate Market Update

 

By Bruce X. Forey, REALTOR®

 

The 78209 real estate market delivered a strong summer performance in July, with several key indicators trending in the right direction for both buyers and sellers.

 

Closed sales climbed to 42 in July, up slightly from 40 in June, pushing total dollar volume to $34.5 million compared to $30.7 million the prior month. The average sale price rose to $822,083 from $767,470 in June, while the median sale price softened slightly to $632,750 from $649,950 — a typical mid-summer fluctuation in this zip code.

 

The most compelling data point? Median days on market plummeted to just 30 days in July, down dramatically from 46 in June — signaling that serious buyers are acting decisively on well-priced 78209 properties. Sellers are also capturing 97.8% of their last list price, up from 97.1% in June.

 

Inventory remained essentially flat at 170 homes, with housing supply tightening slightly to 6 months from 6.3 months. Price per square foot rose to $299 from $289.

 

78209 continues to demonstrate the resilience that makes it one of San Antonio’s most sought-after zip codes.

 

Bruce X. Forey helps San Antonio buyers and sellers navigate shifting market conditions with local expertise and a clear strategy. Reach out to discuss your next move: bruce@bruceforey.com

 

San Antonio Area Home Sales Are Slowing — And That’s Good News for Buyers Source: Redfin, “Home Sales Drop to Lowest Level in Nearly 2 Years” by Dana Anderson, August 2026.)

 

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to buy a home in San Antonio, the July market data is speaking directly to you. Sales are slowing, homes are sitting longer, and sellers — including those competing with new construction builders offering incentives — are increasingly motivated to deal. Buyers haven’t had this much negotiating leverage in years.

 

Slower sales mean more choices, longer market times, and sellers who know they need to compete. That’s the definition of a buyer’s market — and San Antonio is squarely in it.

 

What the July Numbers Show

 

According to Redfin data journalist Dana Anderson, U.S. home sales fell to their lowest level in nearly two years in July. San Antonio led Texas in the decline, with closed sales dropping 12.6% year over year — the steepest slide among major Texas metros. Homes sat on the market a median of 87 days, and national mortgage rates climbed to a one-year high of 6.54%.

 

Prices, however, held firm. San Antonio’s median sale price rose 3.3% year over year to $320,243 — a sign that while volume has slowed, the market’s underlying value hasn’t collapsed. Pending sales are also up 2.8% year over year, suggesting buyer interest is still there — just more deliberate.

 

San Antonio July 2026 Market Snapshot

Metric San Antonio — July 2026

Median Sale Price $320,243

Median Price Y/Y Change +3.3%

Homes Sold Y/Y Change -12.6%

Pending Sales Y/Y Change +2.8%

New Listings Y/Y Change -7.6%

Active Listings Y/Y Change -1.6%

Median Days on Market 87 days (+3 Y/Y)

 

The Bottom Line

 

Slower sales are not a market in crisis — they’re a market rebalancing. Years of aggressive homebuilding have given San Antonio buyers an abundance of inventory, reduced urgency, and real room to negotiate. Sellers who price competitively and market effectively are still closing. Those who don’t are contributing to the days-on-market count.

 

For buyers: this is your window. For sellers: smart pricing and strong presentation are more important than ever.

 

Have a 529 College Savings Account? A New Bill Would Let You Use It to Buy Your First Home.

 

Source: Realtor.com, “New Bill Would Let College Savers Use Leftover Money to Buy a First Home” by Tristan Navera

 

A bipartisan bill working its way through Congress could open a new path to homeownership for first-time buyers. The First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act would allow people to withdraw up to $35,000 from a 529 college savings account — tax and penalty free — to use toward a down payment on their first home.

 

529 accounts are tax-advantaged savings plans typically used for tuition and education expenses. Under current law, withdrawals for non-education purposes trigger taxes and penalties. This bill would eliminate those penalties for first-time homebuyers, letting families put years of careful saving to work toward another major life milestone.

 

“Down payment hurdles continue to block many families from owning a home. This is a common-sense solution that empowers first-time buyers to use their own savings — at no cost to taxpayers.” — Bill Killmer, Mortgage Bankers Association

 

The bill follows closely on the heels of the recently passed 21st Century Road to Housing Act — part of a broader bipartisan push in Washington to address housing affordability and help younger buyers break into the market.