Published October 14, 2026 in Market Update

Freeport and Surfside buyers have more room to negotiate

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

Real estate, Freeport/Surfside Beach

The one number that tells the whole story right now: 13.1 months of supply. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted that figure for ZIP 77541, which covers Freeport and Surfside Beach, for the three months ending August 31, 2026. Six months is roughly balanced. Above that, buyers gain ground. At 13.1 months, sellers need to be sharp on price and condition.

Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% as of October 8, 2026. That rate shapes what buyers can afford each month. It also shapes how long they take before making an offer. Right now, they are taking their time.

What the numbers mean for sellers

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows homes in this ZIP took a median of 114 days to sell. That is 45 days longer than the same stretch in 2025. More inventory and fewer buyers means your home has to earn its price. The average sale came in at 93.8% of list price, down 1.5 points from a year ago. That gap between asking and selling is real. Pricing close to the market from day one matters more than it did.

Only 3.7% of homes sold above list price, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. That is down 5.3 points from a year ago. Bidding wars are rare here right now. If your home has been sitting, the price or the condition is likely the reason, and both are things you can act on.

What the numbers mean for buyers

More time on the market means more time for you to compare. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows only 4.4% of homes went under contract within two weeks of listing. That is down 16.4 points from the same period in 2025. The rush is gone. You can look carefully, ask questions, and negotiate.

Rates are a real headwind. Freddie Mac reported the 15-year fixed averaged 6.73% as of October 8, 2026. Realtor.com noted that mortgage rates topped 7% for the first time since January 2025 in September 2026. That context matters. Buyers are being careful because carrying costs are high. That is part of why homes are sitting longer.

A note on Surfside vs. Freeport

Surfside Beach and Freeport share ZIP 77541, so the Real Estate Data Aggregator counts them together. They are not the same market. Surfside is a small beach town with its own buyer, often someone looking for a second home or a coastal getaway. Freeport is a working town, closer to the Brazosport plant and refinery jobs. A beach home in Surfside and a house in Freeport can sit at very different price points and draw very different buyers, even in the same ZIP code.

If you are thinking about Surfside specifically, windstorm coverage is part of the conversation. Homes on or near the coast need a TWIA windstorm certificate, and that can affect both insurance and a sale. Elevation matters too. A raised home with a documented elevation certificate is a different product than a slab-on-grade, and buyers and lenders treat them differently. These are normal parts of buying or selling near the coast here, not surprises.

The bigger picture

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported that U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. The local median sale price in ZIP 77541 rose 6% over the same period, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. So prices here moved faster than the national average, even as the number of sales fell. That tells you demand did not collapse. It slowed. Homes that are priced well and in good shape are still selling.

These are ZIP-level numbers. One street, one neighborhood, or one property type can read very differently from the whole. A canal lot in Surfside, a bay-side home, and a house in Freeport proper are not the same product. If you want to know where your specific home or search fits, that is a conversation worth having.