NAR pushes for health coverage options for Realtors

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Today's newsletter is 734 words — a 2.5-minute read. Let’s dive in…

1. Buying a starter home costs 50.6% more than renting

The typical cost of buying a starter home was $858 more per month than renting across the 50 largest metros in July — a 50.6% premium, down from 53.7% a year ago, according to a Realtor.com report.

Texas markets posted some of the nation's widest rent-favoring gaps. Austin topped the list nationally, with buying costing $1,917 more per month than renting — a 139.1% premium. Dallas-Fort Worth followed at $1,194 (81.6%), and San Antonio at $826 (71.5%).

The national median asking rent fell 1.4% year over year to $1,695, marking the 36th consecutive month of annual declines. Two-bedroom rents logged their 38th straight monthly decline but remain 17.5% above July 2019 levels.

2. NAR pushes for health coverage options for Realtors

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is pressing the Department of Labor to expand access to Association Health Plans (AHPs) for self-employed Realtors.

• The push comes as 14% of Realtors remain uninsured, with 91% of those citing premium costs as the main reason. Another 58% point to high deductibles and copays, while 35% say fluctuating real estate income makes maintaining coverage difficult.

NAR is backing a proposed DOL rule that could revise the federal definition of an "employer," potentially allowing self-employed workers to participate in AHPs through trade associations. The rule is expected in November.

The push follows the collapse of an earlier Realtor-sponsored AHP effort. A 2018 DOL rule opened the door to association plans, but a federal court struck it down in 2019, forcing industry plans to close. NAR is now seeking a more durable path forward.

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3. Catch up quick

🏘️ Texas markets dominate the list of top real estate investment cities. (Norada)

🚀 Fall 2026 student housing pre-leasing hits a record 91%. (RealPage)

🤝 Real and RE/MAX shareholders approve $2.3 billion merger. (RE/MAX)

👥 Keller Williams launches KW Modular agent community. (KW)

4. Number of homebuyers dropped to a record low

The number of active homebuyers fell to a record-low 966,752 in July, down 2.5% from June, according to a Redfin report. An estimated 1.46 million sellers were on the market — nearly 500,000 more than buyers, leaving sellers outnumbering buyers by 51.3%.

Texas metros ranked among the nation's strongest buyer's markets:

• Houston: 130% more sellers than buyers

• San Antonio: 116%

• Austin: 112%

• Dallas: 99%

• Fort Worth: 86%

The median home-sale price still rose 3.2% year over year to a July record of $407,730, but home sales fell 4.1% from June, and 14% of July purchase agreements fell through before closing.

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5. Houston luxury home sales jump nearly 10%

Houston’s luxury market is outperforming the broader housing market, with sales of homes priced at $1 million or more rising 9.4% year over year in July, according to a Houston Association of Realtors report.

Houston reached a record 40,750 active listings in July, up 3.4% from a year earlier, while overall home sales increased 1.6%. The average sale price rose 1.9% to $441,000, while the median price edged up 0.6% to $340,000.

HAR says Houston’s sales volume has returned to “normal market volumes” compared with the 12 months before July 2019, suggesting the market has largely moved beyond the pandemic-era disruption.

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