|
October is here, which means football is in full swing, Halloween decorations have taken over the neighborhood, and Texans are finally starting to wonder if they can turn off the AC.
The housing market is changing with the season, too.
Across Northwest Houston, more homes are competing for fewer buyers. That means buyers can slow down, compare their options, and negotiate—while sellers need the right price and presentation to avoid becoming the house everyone tours but nobody buys.
This month, we’re looking at 300 tiny rentals coming to Montgomery, the Costco and Home Depot development reshaping part of Cypress, and a surprising shift in how consumers feel about AI.
Plus, we’ve got three featured homes ranging from $269K lakefront living to a $1.395M three-acre retreat.
No tricks. Just some useful real estate treats. Let’s huddle up.
|
|
|
Market Check-In
- Tomball is settling into a slower, more competitive market. Inventory has continued to build while sales remain below recent years, giving buyers more room to shop and negotiate. For sellers, standing out on price and condition matters more than it did even a year ago.
- Magnolia continues to lean toward buyers. There are more homes available, fewer September sales than the past two years, and buyers have considerably more time and choice. Sellers should expect buyers to compare before they commit.
- Montgomery continues to offer the most choices in the region. Inventory reached another high for the year, while September sales stayed relatively steady. Buyers have plenty of leverage here, but prices have held up better than the amount of inventory might suggest.
- Cypress is showing one of the clearest shifts this fall. Inventory has been building throughout 2026 while sales have gradually slowed, giving buyers more negotiating room. September's average sold price also came in lower than recent months, making pricing especially important for sellers.
- The Woodlands is still the tightest of these five markets, but even here buyers are gaining breathing room. September brought more inventory, fewer sales, and longer selling times than last year. At the same time, average sold prices were higher than last September, showing why this market needs to be looked at home by home rather than through one headline.
Across Northwest Houston, the trend that started earlier this year is becoming harder to miss: more homes are competing for fewer buyers.
For buyers, that means more time, more choices, and more room to negotiate.
For sellers, 2026 is increasingly a market where the right price and presentation can make the difference between getting sold and getting overlooked.
|
|
|
People Are Falling Out of Love With AI
AI isn't getting dumped just yet—but the honeymoon phase may be ending.
Fractl repeated its consumer AI survey one year later and found a dramatic change: 82% of consumers said AI was more helpful than traditional search in 2025. In 2026? Just 54%.
Meanwhile, the share saying AI is less helpful jumped from 3% to 17%.
Perhaps the biggest surprise: Baby Boomers now rate AI as more helpful than Gen Z does—63% vs. 47%.
And younger consumers aren't just skeptical. They're watching how companies use it. More than half of Gen Z respondents said they'd trust a favorite brand less if AI created most of its marketing.
The takeaway: Familiarity with AI isn't automatically creating loyalty. It's creating higher expectations. AI might help you research your next move, but it probably shouldn’t make it for you. When hundreds of thousands of dollars are involved, good information matters—and trusted guidance matters even more.
|
|
|
300 Tiny Rentals Are Coming to Montgomery
Could part of the affordability solution be…a much smaller house?
A development near FM 1097 and Pearson Road could bring up to 300 roughly 400-square-foot, one-bedroom rental homes to Montgomery County, with reported starting rents around $940/month. Construction is already underway.
But not everyone is excited. Nearby residents have raised concerns about traffic, road safety, density, drainage, infrastructure, and the project's classification—the official state filing describes its scope as a “new RV Park.”
The bigger question: Does cheaper rent automatically equal affordable housing?
Not necessarily. Transportation, utilities, space, fees, and lifestyle all matter.
Coach's Take: Tiny rentals won't solve housing affordability by themselves. But more housing choices could be part of the answer.
|
|
|
Costco, Home Depot & More Are Coming to Cypress
Apparently, all those new rooftops need somewhere to buy 48 rolls of paper towels.
Grand Mason, a planned roughly 400-acre development along Grand Parkway between FM 529 and West Road, is starting to take shape.
A new 160,000-square-foot Costco is already under construction, while a roughly 135,000-square-foot Home Depot is planned nearby. The broader vision includes restaurants, entertainment, medical offices, hotels, retail, and more.
But there's an important distinction: planned doesn't mean confirmed. Costco and Home Depot have documented projects; many other pieces remain part of the larger development vision.
Why homeowners should care: More development can mean more convenience—but also more traffic and a changing landscape.
The bigger story: Cypress isn't just adding rooftops anymore. The retail and commercial infrastructure is catching up.
|
|
|
✨Featured Listing
Got friends or family looking to move? Check out what’s on the market right now.
7318 Honey Creek Lane | $330,000
3 beds | 2 baths | 1,658 sq ft | Built 2023
Single-story living in The Highlands with an open layout, quartz countertops, dedicated home office, and every bedroom on one level. Enjoy resort-style amenities including golf, pools, pickleball, fitness center, and walking trails—all just minutes away.
👉 Perfect for buyers looking for low-maintenance living without sacrificing community amenities.
00 Red Oak Court | $378,000
20 acres | Gated acreage | Wildlife exemption
Wooded cul-de-sac acreage with cleared areas ready for a future home or barn, wildlife exemption, gated privacy, and 2024 taxes reported at just $34.
👉 Perfect for buyers dreaming of land, privacy, and a custom rural retreat.
3402 Garrott Street #1 | $185,000
1 bed | 1 bath | 646 sq ft | Montrose
Want to trade rent for something of your own without leaving the city behind? This first-floor Montrose condo features vinyl plank flooring, granite countertops, in-unit laundry, assigned parking, and a location near the Westheimer corridor.
👉 A smart option for first-time buyers, downsizers, or anyone who'd rather have less house and more Houston.
23907 Escardilla Drive | $269,000
3–4 beds | 2 baths | 1,512 sq ft | Built 2024
A newer single-story home with something you don't always find at this price: a lakefront lot with no rear neighbors. The open layout features granite countertops, a large kitchen island, modern appliances, and a flexible office that can serve as a fourth bedroom.
👉 A smart option for buyers wanting newer construction, a water view, and a price under $300K.
26166 Crown Ranch Blvd | $1,395,000
3–4 beds | 3.5 baths | 3,710 sq ft | 3 acres
This custom Crown Ranch property pairs luxury with room to roam: a stocked pond, 990-sq.-ft. barn with two stalls, outdoor kitchen, oversized garage, and horse trails nearby. Inside, you'll find hickory floors, vaulted ceilings, two fireplaces, and a primary retreat overlooking the property.
👉 For buyers whose dream-home checklist includes acreage, horses, and a little breathing room.
|
|
|
🧠 Shower Thought:
The scariest four words in real estate: “We’ll price it high.” 👻 |
|
|
Catch you in our next huddle,
|
|
|
