Going Down

Austin saw 4th biggest drop in housing prices in the U.S. since 2025

austin skyline view to downtown from Congress bridge

Austin home prices are down 6 percent year-over-year.

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Austin-area homebuyers can benefit from this market upset: Local housing prices are nearly 6 percent cheaper than they were a year ago, a new housing analysis has revealed.

Typical home values in Austin have decreased by $32,425 since February 2025. They now stand at $500,627, down from $532,202.

The new housing study from SmartAsset analyzed home values across the 100 biggest metro areas using Zillow’s Home Value Index tool for single-family homes, condos, and co-ops. Home value data was sourced for the month of February in 2021, 2025, and 2026.

Austin is joined by Oakland, California (No. 1); Saint Petersburg (No. 2); Naples, Florida (No. 3); and Plano (No. 5) as the top five U.S. cities with the biggest one-year home price reductions in the U.S.

Austin's housing prices have been on the decline since 2024, a separate study found, but SmartAsset said they're still about 7 percent higher than they were in 2021. And compared to Austin's pre-pandemic housing market in 2019, prices have ballooned by 32.41 percent.

The Austin Board of Realtors said current market conditions are giving homebuyers "a chance to catch up." Austin-area homeowners are also about to enter the best time of the year to sell their houses, which could add a sudden sense of competitiveness for buyers.

Home prices elsewhere around the U.S. have seen varying changes, according to the report.

"Between 2025 and 2026, the typical home value in large U.S. cities actually declined by 1.04 percent, with values dropping in 70 percent of cities," the report's author wrote. "But the full range of changes from market to market ran the gamut from -9.1 percent to +5.01 percent, putting both hopeful buyers and homeowners in starkly different environments across the nation."

The top three U.S. cities where home prices increased the most since 2025 are Toledo, Ohio (No. 2); Lincoln, Nebraska (No. 2); and San Francisco (No. 3).

The 10 cities with the biggest one-year decreases in home values are:

No. 1 – Oakland, California
No. 2 – Saint Petersburg, Florida
No. 3 – Naples, Florida
No. 4 – Austin
No. 5 – Plano
No. 6 – Aurora, Colorado
No. 7 – Denver
No. 8 – Atlanta
No. 9 – Stockton, California
No. 10 – Tampa

housing prices housing market real estate austin smartasset reports

HAUTE PROPERTIES

Famous bakery family's Hill Country ranch hits market for $10.95M

Photo courtesy of West and Swope Ranches

An aerial view of the compound.

A famous Hill Country ranch is back on the market, but it’s going to cost its future owner a lot of bread. Baird Ranch, the former home of Mrs. Baird’s Bakery family, has been relisted for $10.955 million, down from its more than $12 million price in 2024.

The 760-acre ranch is located near Johnson City, about 50 miles from Austin. Listing agent West and Swope Ranches says the property is well-suited for both residential and operational use.

Photo courtesy of West and Swope Ranches

An aerial view of the compound.

Longtime Texans are no doubt familiar with the family brand. Fort Worth founder Ninia "Ninnie" Baird started cooking breads and sweets in 1908 to make income when her husband, William Baird, suffered ill health. Since then, it has become a literal household name in the state and the base of countless peanut butter sandwiches.

There's plenty of fishing on Baird Ranch.Photo courtesy of West and Swope Ranches

The dough dynasty bought the ranch in 1951 and used the land for recreation and raising cattle. The property, located along Miller Creek, hosts deer, turkeys, doves, and quail, making it ideal for hunting. Fishing, swimming, hiking, gardening, and trail riding are available for those who don’t like to shoot.

Baird Ranch includes a foreman’s cabin, guest quarters, barns, storage buildings, and various outbuildings that support day-to-day ranching, but the centerpiece is a ‘50s-era ranch house with Saltillo tile floors. Assumably, there’s at least one oven tucked away in a kitchen.

“Baird Ranch is one of those rare properties that still feels untouched by time,” says West and Swopes owner Louie Swope, in a release. “The live water, incredible elevation, and a location this close to Austin is almost impossible to find at this price point. It’s a true legacy ranch in every sense of the word.”

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