Published October 26, 2026 in Market Update

Santa Fe is holding steadier than Hitchcock in the same local market

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

Real estate, Hitchcock/Bayou Vista

The headline number for Hitchcock looks great. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted a 23.3% rise in median sale price in ZIP 77563 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. But only 23 homes actually sold there. That is a small sample, and the other numbers tell a harder story.

Santa Fe, just up Highway 6, tells a calmer but more consistent story. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 75 homes sold in ZIP 77510 in the same period. Prices were up just 0.5%, which is steady, not exciting. But homes are moving, and that matters.

Speed is where the gap is clearest

The Real Estate Data Aggregator put median days on market in Hitchcock at 129 days. That is 52 days longer than the same period a year ago. In Santa Fe, the median was 54 days, which is 17 days shorter than a year ago. Those two trends are moving in opposite directions.

Supply tells the same story

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 12 months of supply in Hitchcock. That means, at the current pace of sales, it would take a full year to sell every home listed there. In Santa Fe, the same measure came in at 3.7 months. Most agents consider 4 to 6 months a balanced market, so Santa Fe is close to that range. Hitchcock is well above it.

Pending sales back this up. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 78 pending sales in Santa Fe for the period, up 8.3% from a year ago. In Hitchcock, pending sales came in at 32, down 53.6% from a year ago. Fewer homes going under contract now means fewer closings ahead.

What the national picture adds

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported that U.S. home prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. Santa Fe's 0.5% gain is below that national pace, but homes there are selling in a reasonable time and at nearly full list price. A 23.3% price jump in Hitchcock sounds like it beats the nation, but 129 median days on market and 12 months of supply suggest buyers are not rushing.

Realtor.com also reported that mortgage rates topped 7% for the first time since January 2025, as of September 30, 2026. That is putting pressure on buyers across the country. In a market like Hitchcock, where homes already sit longer, higher rates make it harder for sellers to hold firm on price.

What sellers should think about

If you own in Santa Fe, the market is moving. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed 23.1% of Santa Fe homes going under contract within two weeks of listing. That is real demand. Pricing well still matters, since buyers are watching.

If you own in Hitchcock, the price-per-home number looks good on paper. But the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted only 23 sales in three months. With 90 homes for sale and 12 months of supply, competition among sellers is real. The sale-to-list ratio of 95.2% tells you that buyers are negotiating.

What buyers should think about

Santa Fe is acreage, horses, room to breathe, and its own school district, Santa Fe ISD. Septic and well are common there, which is normal for rural Galveston County, not a flaw. Homes are selling closer to full price and faster, so buyers who find the right place should be ready to move.

Hitchcock has more inventory and longer times on market. That gives buyers more room to ask questions and negotiate. The 95.2% sale-to-list ratio from the Real Estate Data Aggregator tells you that sellers are generally accepting something below ask. Know what you want from this area before you make an offer.

One street can read very differently from the ZIP code as a whole. These numbers cover the full area. Your specific block, lot type, and price point may sit in a different position entirely. If you want to know where your home stands, reach out and we can look at it together.