Published October 21, 2026 in Market Update

Freeport and Surfside buyers are taking more time to decide

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

Real estate, Freeport/Surfside Beach

The one number that changes what sellers should do right now: the median home in Freeport and Surfside spent 114 days on the market in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is 45 days longer than the same period a year ago, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Patience and realistic pricing matter more than ever if you are selling here.

That slowdown is not just a local feeling. Redfin reported in October 2026 that home sellers outnumber buyers by 62.6% nationally in September. More supply than demand means buyers can slow down. They are doing exactly that here.

Only a handful of homes sold fast

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted just 4.4% of homes in ZIP 77541 going under contract within two weeks of listing, in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 16.4 points from a year ago. Quick sales are the exception now, not the rule.

Prices are still up, but sellers are getting less than they ask

The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median sale price in ZIP 77541 at $265,000 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 6% from the same period in 2025. So prices have not fallen. But sellers are not getting full price either. The average sale came in at 93.8% of list price, down 1.5 points from a year ago. Only 3.7% of homes sold above list price, down 5.3 points year over year.

More listings came in, but fewer homes actually sold

New listings in ZIP 77541 rose 13.1% year over year, reaching 121 in the three months ending August 31, 2026, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. At the same time, homes sold dropped 19.4% to 54 closed sales. Pending sales fell 11.7% to 68. More homes are coming to market, but fewer are crossing the finish line.

What the national picture adds

Nationally, the Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. home prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. That is slower than what Freeport and Surfside posted locally. But rates are making it harder everywhere. CNBC reported the average contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage at 7.50% as of mid-October 2026. Fannie Mae, as reported by CNBC, forecast that rate staying near 7.4% through the end of 2026 and averaging 7.5% through all of 2027. Those rates are part of why buyers are moving carefully.

What this means if you are buying in Freeport or Surfside

More time on market is actually useful for buyers here. Coastal properties in this area come with real questions: flood zone, elevation certificates, windstorm coverage through TWIA, and short-term rental rules if that matters to you. A slower market gives you room to get those answers before you commit. Every property is different. Do not skip the details.

What this means if you are selling

With 13.1 months of supply in ZIP 77541 and a median of 114 days to sell, overpricing will cost you time. The homes that sold averaged 93.8% of list price. That gap between asking and selling is real. Pricing close to where buyers are already looking is the clearest path to a sale.