Bottom line Houston is now the #2 metro in the country for foreclosure starts, and with the property tax protest deadline under four weeks away, your distressed-seller and buyer pipelines both just got a lot more urgent. ATTOM’s Q1 2026 Foreclosure Market Report clocked 3,614 foreclosure starts in the Houston metro — second only to New York — while Texas led all 50 states with 10,617 starts, up 20% year-over-year. Nationally, bank repossessions jumped 45% YoY, and Texas now has the shortest foreclosure timeline in the country at 165 days, meaning distressed inventory is moving from default to auction faster than anywhere else in America. 📱 Client talking point Foreclosure starts in Houston are up materially over last year, and Texas now processes foreclosures faster than any other state. If you’ve been considering a short sale or need to get ahead of a trustee sale, the timeline is shorter than you think — let’s talk this week. Source: ATTOM Data Q1 2026 Foreclosure Market Report via HousingWire Houston single-family home sales rose 3.7% year-over-year in March with 7,644 homes sold, and pending sales jumped 12.8% — a strong signal for April closings. Median price edged down 1.5% to $330,000 and Days on Market stretched from 62 to 67, while single-family inventory climbed to a 4.7-month supply from 4.5 months a year ago. 📱 Client talking point Houston’s market just hit something rare — more inventory, softer prices, and buyers are signing contracts at a 12.8% higher pace than last year. For buyers, this is the window. For sellers, list now while pending demand is still this strong. Freddie Mac’s April 16 PMMS showed the 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 6.30%, down from 6.37% the prior week and well below the 6.83% from a year ago. The drop followed easing 10-year Treasury yields after a two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire, but Realtor.com economists warned rate volatility will stay elevated until geopolitical tensions resolve more permanently. 📱 Client talking point Rates just hit a four-week low at 6.30%, down half a point from last year. On a $350K home, that’s roughly $120/month in savings versus April 2025. If you were waiting for a rate dip to re-engage, the window is open today — but it may not last. Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, April 16, 2026 Texas homeowners must file 2026 property tax protests by May 15 (or 30 days after receiving their Notice of Appraised Value). Under new HB 1533 rules from the 89th Legislature, appraisal districts must now share their evidence 14 days before your hearing — a major shift that favors homeowners and makes protests significantly more winnable this year. 📱 Client talking point Your 2026 property tax protest deadline is May 15. New Texas law now forces the appraisal district to hand over its evidence 14 days before your hearing — a big win for homeowners. If your Notice of Appraised Value just hit, don’t throw it out. Let’s look at comps. A 12-page step-by-step guide covering the May 15 deadline, the 5-step playbook, the evidence that actually wins, and the exemptions most Texans are missing. No email required to read it — just click to download. Houston’s rental market hit a record in March, with townhome and condo leases up 12.4% year-over-year to 673 properties leased. New townhome/condo listings grew 10.1%, but days on market extended from 53 to 61 — a sign that renters have more choice and landlords are adjusting to slower absorption. 📱 Client talking point Renters are staying renters longer — Houston just set a March leasing record. If you own an investment property, lease demand is strong. If you’re on the fence about selling, consider converting to a rental with 4.7 months of sales inventory now on the MSA market. Whether you’re facing a tough sale, looking for investor-grade inventory, or just want a real conversation about your options — I’m here to help.Houston’s Foreclosure Market Just Shifted — Here’s What Agents Need to Know
Houston Ranked #2 U.S. Metro for Foreclosure Starts in Q1 2026
HAR March Report: Sales Up 3.7%, Prices Soften, Inventory Keeps Growing
30-Year Rate Falls to 6.30% — a Four-Week Low
Texas Property Tax Protest Deadline Is May 15 — New Transparency Rules Favor Homeowners
The 2026 Texas Property Tax Protest Playbook
Houston Rental Market Sets a March Leasing Record
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Weekly Brief · Issue 001
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