Published October 27, 2026 in Market Update

Higher mortgage rates are showing up in local pending sales

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

Real estate, Texas City/La Marque

Mortgage rates topped 7% in September 2026, according to Realtor.com. That is the first time rates crossed that line since January 2025. When borrowing costs jump, some buyers pause. You can see that pause in the local numbers.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted pending sales across Texas City and La Marque in the three months ending August 31, 2026. Every part of this market saw fewer contracts signed than the same period a year before.

How far pending sales fell

La Marque saw the steepest drop. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows pending sales there fell 22.3% compared with the same three months of 2025. That is more than one in five contracts that did not happen this year.

This is not just a local story. CNBC reported that mortgage applications to purchase a home fell 7% in one week in late October 2026. They were 18% lower than the same week a year before. Nationally, CNBC also reported that pending home sales dropped 7.3% from August and were down 11.3% year over year in September. What is happening here fits a wider pattern.

What the rest of the numbers say

Fewer pending sales does not mean the market stopped. Homes are still closing. Here is where each area stood on the key measures for the three months ending August 31, 2026, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator.

Texas City's 77590 ZIP had the lowest median sale price, at $205,000. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows that is down 6.8% from a year ago. But homes there sold in a median of 48 days, which was 15 days shorter than the same period of 2025. Faster sales even as prices eased a little.

Texas City's 77591 ZIP held closer on price, with a median of $262,950, down 2.8%. Days on market ran longer, at 62 days, which was 7 days more than a year ago. But 97.6% of list price on average is a solid result.

La Marque's median sale price was $285,000, down 4.8%. Homes there took a median of 79 days to sell, which is 17 days longer than a year ago. More inventory is part of the reason. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 234 homes for sale in La Marque, up 1.3% from a year before. The other two areas saw inventory fall.

A bright spot: quick contracts

Even with fewer pending sales overall, well-priced homes are still moving fast. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows the share of homes going under contract within two weeks of listing rose in all three areas.

In Texas City's 77590 ZIP, 25.3% of homes went under contract within two weeks. That share was up 7.1 points from a year ago. In 77591, the share rose 7.7 points to 17.4%. In La Marque, it rose 3.1 points to 17.8%. Buyers who find the right home at the right price are still acting.

What this means for buyers and sellers

CNBC reported the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.41% in late October 2026. That is a real payment burden for many buyers. Sellers who price carefully and present their home well are still closing. Those who overprice are sitting longer, especially in La Marque where supply is growing.

For buyers, more supply and longer days on market in some areas mean more room to negotiate. Strong terms matter when sellers are already feeling rate pressure from the buyer pool.

These are ZIP code averages for the three months ending August 31, 2026. One street can read very differently from the whole ZIP. A home's condition, price point, and location within the area all shape its outcome.