Texas rents under $1000 are disappearing

Plus: Buyer’s agent commissions are bouncing back

August 14, 2025

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1. Buyer’s agent commissions are bouncing back

According to Redfin’s analysis published Tuesday, during the second quarter of 2025, the average buyer’s agent commission was 2.43%, up from 2.38% in Q2 2024.

It was the third consecutive quarter that commissions ticked a little higher after new NAR commissions rules went into effect in August 2024.

The commission rates have now returned to the levels observed in early 2024 prior to the introduction of these NAR rules, which were part of a settlement related to a class action lawsuit by home sellers.

2. Texas rents under $1000 are disappearing

Over the past decade, units renting for under $1,000 a month (adjusted for inflation) fell by around 30%, per a report by Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. Meanwhile, a building boom focused on upscale apartments helped nearly triple the number of units costing at least $2,000 a month.

In Texas, rental units priced over $2,000 increased more than fourfold from 2013 to 2023, while units priced between $600 and $999 fell by about 35%.

Change in Texas rental units from 2013 to 2023

Data: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies

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3. Catch up quick

🔥 Grapevine in DFW among 2025’s hottest ZIPs in the South. (Realtor.com)

🌟 Corpus Christi named most underrated city in the South. (Travel+Leisure)

🏡 “Homes for Sale” just hit a 2-year search high on Google. (BAM)

🏡 Fairytale-esque Texas home among Airbnb’s most beloved rentals. (TikTok)

🏗️ 1,000-home community breaks ground in Fort Bend County. (KHOU)

⚠️ One in five homebuyers is willing to compromise safety to afford a home. (Redfin)

📈 Zillow economist says it’s a good time for homebuyers. (Bloomberg)

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4. Real launches a free 8-week AI training for agents

Yesterday, Real Brokerage announced Agent BreakThru: a free, eight-week AI training experience designed to help real estate professionals close more deals, market smarter, and build real momentum in today’s market.

While the experience is capped at 1,000 agents, it’s open to the entire industry, regardless of brokerage.

“The market is challenging—even for the most experienced agents. Agent BreakThru is designed to provide real tools, real coaching and real execution when they’re needed most. We’re making it available to the entire industry because we believe that when more agents succeed, it benefits everyone.”

Tamir Poleg, Chairman and CEO of Real

5. Fix-and-flip market struggles in Q2

The fix-and-flip market is struggling due to rising renovation costs, higher borrowing rates, and labor shortages, which are slowing profitability and sales nationwide. That’s according to the Q2 2025 Fix-and-Flip Market Survey from Kiavi and John Burns Research & Consulting. Here are the key takeaways:

  • 53% of flippers say deals are harder to turn quickly and profitably, with days-on-market rising as resale and new-home inventory builds.

  • Only 30% reported strong sales in Q2, down from 38% a year ago.

  • The index tracking availability of pre-flip homes fell to 59, the lowest on record, signaling tighter supply despite easing competition in some regions.

  • A record-low 15% saw homes sell mostly above after-repair value (ARV) while average renovation costs hit a record $76K.

  • Flippers paid an average of 9.5% interest on loans in Q2, squeezing margins further.

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