Published October 19, 2026 in Market Update

Crystal Beach and Port Bolivar have more deals moving, even with prices a bit lower

By April Aberle, REALTOR® | RE/MAX Crossroads Realty

Real estate, Crystal Beach/Port Bolivar

Nationally, the picture looks rough. Redfin reported that sellers outnumbered buyers by 62.6% in September. Redfin also put the weekly average mortgage rate at 7.4% as of October 8. CNBC, citing Mortgage News Daily, put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.46% as of October 14. Those numbers are real, and they are slowing things down in a lot of places.

But the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 71 homes sold in ZIP 77650, Crystal Beach and Port Bolivar, in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 24.6% from the same months of 2025. Buyers are still showing up here.

The one number that tells you the most: pending sales. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 91 homes under contract, up 44.4% from a year before. Deals going pending today become closings in the next few weeks. That pipeline is growing.

Prices dipped a little, and that is part of why buyers are moving

The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median sale price in ZIP 77650 at $390,000 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 4.3% from the same period in 2025. For sellers, that is a small step back. For buyers, it is a reason to act.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. Crystal Beach and Port Bolivar moved the other direction. This area has its own rhythm, driven by beach access, second-home demand, and the details of each property.

Homes are taking longer to sell, but the right ones are moving fast

The Real Estate Data Aggregator measured a median of 131 days on market. That is 4 days longer than the same period in 2025. Most homes here take time. That is normal for a beach and second-home market.

But 7.7% of homes went under contract within two weeks of listing. That share is up 4.5 points from a year before. The right home, priced well, still moves quickly.

Supply is tighter, and that matters for buyers

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 275 homes for sale in ZIP 77650, down 15.1% from a year before. Months of supply came in at 11.9, down 5.5 months from 2025. There is still plenty of choice, but the inventory is leaning back toward balance.

Realtor.com reported that price cuts hit 4-year highs nationally in September 2026. That national trend has not left Crystal Beach untouched. The 4.3% price dip here reflects some of that same pressure. Sellers who price sharply are the ones closing deals.

What this means if you own here

More buyers are going under contract here than a year ago. That is the clearest signal in these numbers. Prices are a little softer, but the sale-to-list ratio held steady at 93.8%, unchanged from 2025. Sellers who price with the market are still getting close to what they ask.

For coastal homes like these, windstorm coverage and elevation certificates matter. Buyers will ask. Having those documents ready can smooth a sale and shorten the time under contract.

What this means if you are buying here

Rates are high nationally. CNBC put the 30-year fixed average at 7.46% as of October 14. That is real. But buyers who can work with today's rates are finding a market where prices have come down a bit and inventory has tightened.

On the Bolivar Peninsula, beachfront, canal, bay, and interior lots are different products with different prices. Do not compare them as one. Know which type fits your goal before you start.

These are ZIP code numbers. One street, one lot type, or one block of the Peninsula can read very differently from the overall picture. The beachfront side of a road and the bay side of the same road are not the same market.