Houston is Texas' best housing market for buyers

😌 Welcome to Thursday, the week’s exhale.

Today's newsletter is 507 words, a 2.5-minute read.

1. Texas led the nation in population growth in 2025

Texas added 391,243 residents in 2025, the most of any state, according to census figures released Tuesday, bringing the state’s population to 31.7 million. However, growth slowed to 1.2%, marking Texas’ slowest population growth rate since 2021.

The state welcomed 67,475 newcomers from abroad in 2025, a 48% decline from 2024, when 319,569 immigrants, both documented and undocumented, moved to Texas.

Nationally, population growth remained modest, rising by less than half a percentage point to a total population of 341.8 million. Net international migration to the U.S. fell by about 55%, dropping to 1.3 million in 2025 from 2.7 million the year before.

2. Houston is Texas' best housing market for buyers

Zillow released its nationwide list of buyer-friendly housing markets for 2026, with Houston ranking 15th overall, making it the highest-ranked metro in Texas.

Houston earned its spot thanks to strong inventory levels, with roughly 40,000 condominiums, townhomes, and single-family homes listed for sale in November 2025. As of December 2025, the average home value stood at $302,473, making Houston significantly more affordable than many other Texas markets.

Several other Texas metros also landed in Zillow’s Top 50, including San Antonio (No. 21), Dallas (No. 26), and Austin (No. 32).

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3. Catch up quick

🤝 NAR and .RealEstate launch digital platform for real estate professionals. (NAR)

📉 Consumer confidence dropped to a 12-year low. (ConferenceBoard)

🏘️ Nearly half of homes on the market have an HOA cost. (Realtor.com)

💵 Jefferson County, TX makes the 2026 most affordable homes list. (Attom)

⛔ Abbott freezes new H-1B visas for state agencies. (Gov)

4. CoStar responds to Third Point with $1.5B buyback

CoStar announced Wednesday that it has authorized a new $1.5 billion share repurchase program while defending its Homes.com strategy against criticism from activist investor Third Point LLC.

The company outlined several initiatives approved by its board, including reducing Homes.com's investment by $300 million in 2026 and by more than $100 million annually thereafter, with plans to reach breakeven for the platform by the end of 2029.

CoStar also accelerated the completion of its existing $500 million share repurchase program, which was initiated in 2025, before authorizing the new $1.5 billion buyback.

5. Fed leaves rates steady, cites "solid" growth

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, signaling little urgency to resume cuts after a series of contentious reductions at its three previous meetings.

• The decision keeps the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75% and was approved by a 10–2 vote.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said recent data painted a brighter picture than at the last meeting, pointing to stronger economic growth and early signs of stabilization in the labor market.

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