Updated July 22, 2026 with June Zillow data. If you search “Austin home prices 2026,” you will see two stories that sound contradictory:
- Austin is still much more expensive than it was in 2019.
- Austin is still far below its pandemic peak.
Both are true. Using Zillow’s Home Value Index (typical middle-tier home), Austin peaked at about $581,636 in June 2022. In June 2026, the same series sat near $426,944 — roughly 27% below peak, or about $155,000 lower on the typical home.
Among the 100 largest U.S. metros, that is the biggest percentage gap from the post-2021 high. See the full ranking: 25 major metros still below peak.
Austin home prices at a glance
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Peak (Zillow ZHVI) | $581,636 — June 2022 |
| Latest | $426,944 — June 2026 |
| Change from peak | −26.6% (−$154,692) |
| Texas statewide from peak | −5.8% (Aug 2022 peak → June 2026) |
Browse Austin against every other metro on our Home Prices by Metro table, or compare Texas with other states on Home Prices by State.
Who feels “stuck” in Austin?
Not every Austin homeowner. The stuck-buyer group is mainly people who bought near the 2021–2022 frenzy:
- Peak buyers (roughly 2021–mid-2022): On paper, the typical metro value is still well below the June 2022 high. That does not mean every address is underwater — loan size, down payment, and neighborhood matter — but the metro average has not recovered.
- 2019 / early-2020 buyers: Often still ahead of their purchase price even after the correction, because Austin’s long run-up was so large.
- New buyers in 2026: Facing lower list values than 2022 peaks, but still dealing with higher mortgage rates than the 3% era. Run your budget on our home affordability calculator and compare owning vs renting on Rent vs Buy.
Austin vs other Texas metros
Austin’s correction is the outlier. Other large Texas markets are below peak too, but by less:
- San Antonio: about −9.7% from its August 2022 peak
- Dallas: about −8.5% from August 2022
- Houston: about −4.4% from its post-2021 high
Statewide, Texas is still about 5.8% below its August 2022 peak. Austin pulled the “stuck buyer” story harder because it rose further and faster during remote-work migration.
Should you buy or wait in Austin?
There is no universal answer, but the June 2026 data reframes the debate:
- Waiting for a return to the 2022 peak has already meant years of delay. Prices can grind sideways or resume rising without ever reprinting that high.
- Buying below peak is not the same as buying cheap. $427K typical is still a high absolute price versus pre-pandemic Austin.
- Rate math dominates. Use rent vs buy by state for Texas context, then stress-test payment size with the affordability calculator.
FAQ: Austin home prices 2026
Are Austin home prices falling in 2026?
Relative to the 2022 peak, yes — the typical Zillow value is still about 27% lower. That is a peak-to-now gap, not a claim that every month of 2026 set a new low.
Are Austin homes underwater?
Some peak-era buyers may be underwater on paper; many earlier buyers are not. “Underwater” depends on your purchase price and loan, not just the metro average.
Is Austin still expensive?
Yes. Being below peak does not mean prices returned to 2019 levels. Compare metros on our metro home-price tool.
Where does Austin rank nationally?
Among the 100 largest metros, Austin has the largest percent gap from its highest reading since 2021. Full list: metros still below peak. State context: states still below peak.
Method
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, middle tier, seasonally adjusted. Peak = highest monthly value from January 2021 through June 2026. Current = June 2026. Data updated July 22, 2026.
Related: national Home Price Index, home prices by state, 25 metros below peak.