Published October 24, 2026 in Market Update

Lufkin has more homes for sale, but contracts are rising too

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

Real estate, Lufkin

The one fact that changes what you should do right now: pending sales across Lufkin rose 131.1% in the three months ending August 31, 2026, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. More homes are sitting on the market, yes. But buyers are still signing contracts at a much faster pace than a year ago.

That gap matters. Inventory grew 29.3%, but pending sales grew 131.1%. That is not a market where buyers are walking away. It is one where more people are looking and more are committing.

What the national picture adds

Nationally, Realtor.com counted active listings topping 1.16 million homes for sale in September 2026. More supply everywhere is the backdrop. But Lufkin's pending sales surge suggests local demand is absorbing that supply better than the national mood might imply.

Rates are a real headwind. CNBC reported the average 30-year fixed rate fell slightly to 7.41%, down from 7.50%. That is still high. Realtor.com also noted mortgage applications fell 7% in a single week and were 18% lower than a year before. Buyers are pushing through the rate environment, but it is not easy.

The two Lufkin ZIP codes tell different stories

Lufkin splits across two ZIP codes, 75901 and 75904, and they moved differently this period. It is worth knowing which one your home sits in.

In 75901, the Real Estate Data Aggregator shows the median sale price reached $310,000, up 14.8% from the same period in 2025. That is a meaningful gain. Fewer homes sold, 14 in total, down 44% from a year ago. But 56 contracts are pending, up 107.4%. That pipeline is real.

In 75904, the median sale price came in at $237,300, down 17.5% from a year ago. That is a notable dip and worth watching. On the other hand, the Real Estate Data Aggregator shows homes there sold in a median 53 days, which is 32 days shorter than a year ago. Sellers are pricing more carefully, and buyers are responding. Pending sales in 75904 rose 150%, and 20% of listings went under contract within two weeks of hitting the market.

What sellers should know

Months of supply climbed in both ZIPs. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put 75901 at 19.7 months of supply, up 11.4 months from last year. ZIP 75904 came in at 17 months, up 8.8 months. That is a lot of inventory relative to the pace of closings. It means pricing carefully matters more than ever.

In 75901, only 7.1% of homes sold above list price, though that is actually up 7.1 points from a year ago. In 75904, 4.6% sold above list, also up from a year ago. Bidding wars are rare, but they are not gone. Homes priced right are still getting strong offers.

The sale-to-list ratio in 75901 was 96.1%, down 1.7 points from last year. In 75904 it was 98.3%, up 1.7 points. Sellers in 75904 are actually landing closer to their asking price than they did a year ago, even as the median price fell. That tells you pricing strategy is doing a lot of work.

What buyers should know

More choices exist right now than at any point in the last year. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 212 homes for sale across Lufkin in the three months ending August 31, 2026. New listings jumped 80.4% from a year ago. That is real selection.

Rates are still a challenge. CNBC reported 7.41% on a 30-year fixed loan as of late October. Realtor.com noted rates climbed above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Budget carefully and get pre-approved before you start touring.

Nationally, Realtor.com reported that 20.8% of listings took a price cut in September 2026, the highest share since October 2022. That is a national figure, not a Lufkin one, but it signals that sellers everywhere are adjusting. Patient buyers may find room to negotiate.

The quick read on where things stand

One more thing worth saying: these numbers cover full ZIP codes. One street can read very differently from the ZIP code as a whole. A few sales in a small area can shift the median. Your block may be moving faster or slower than these figures suggest.