Houston Rental Market Update

Hope Sampson

Global Real Estate Advisor  •  Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

Investor Market Brief

A Hot Streak for Houston Rentals: What July's Numbers Mean for Your Portfolio

July turned into one of the strongest leasing months we've seen all year, and it's worth walking through what that means if you own rental property in Houston. Single-family demand jumped sharply as the peak summer moving season hit its stride, while the townhome and condo segment told a slightly different story worth watching.

Here's what the Houston Association of Realtors' latest data shows for July:

Single-Family Rentals

Signed leases (July) 5,185  (+12.1% YoY)
Active listings 9,832 homes
Average lease price $2,419  (flat YoY)
Days on Market 37 days  (up from 34)

Townhomes & Condos

Leased listings (July) 706  (-2.8% YoY)
New listings 1,327  (+8.5% YoY)
Average lease price $2,060  (+4.1% YoY)
Days on Market 49 days  (up from 45)

July's surge reflects the usual summer moving rush, but the encouraging part is that demand and supply are rising together, keeping the market from tipping too far in either direction as fall approaches.

— Paraphrased from Theresa Hill, HAR Chair, Compass RE Texas, LLC – Houston

What This Means for You

The two segments are pulling in different directions this month, and it's worth knowing which one applies to you. Single-family demand jumped over 12% year over year, which is a strong seller's-market signal for well-priced homes in that category — even with days on market ticking up slightly as more renters shop around.

Townhomes and condos told a different story: fewer homes leased despite more coming onto the market, yet pricing still climbed over 4%, which tells me the units that did lease were priced and positioned well. If you own in that segment, presentation and pricing strategy matter more right now than they did a few months ago.

As always, I'm here if you have questions about your properties or want to talk through what this means for your next move.

Hope Sampson

Global Real Estate Advisor, Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

Hope Sampson  |  Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

4265 San Felipe St., #800, Houston, TX 77027

713.928.0282  |  hopesampson@kw.com  |  RealEstateWithHope.com

Data source: Houston Association of Realtors, July 2026 Rental Market Update

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