For current market data: San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR) monthly reports, Zillow and Redfin market trackers, FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data), Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, and local news outlets including the Express-News and KSAT. Key metrics to watch include median price, days on market, inventory levels, and months of supply.
SABOR Reports
The San Antonio Board of Realtors publishes monthly market reports with the most authoritative local data. These reports include median sales price, number of homes sold, average days on market, inventory levels, months of supply, and price per square foot. SABOR data is based on actual MLS transactions, making it the most reliable source for local market conditions.
Online Market Trackers
Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com provide user-friendly market data dashboards for San Antonio. These trackers offer median home values, price trends, volume data, and neighborhood-level breakdowns. While useful for general trends, they may lag behind SABOR data and use different methodologies. Use them for directional trends rather than precise market timing.
Federal Data (FRED)
The Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) database provides long-term housing market data for the San Antonio metro area, including home prices, housing starts, building permits, and mortgage rate data. FRED is excellent for understanding long-term trends and comparing San Antonio to national markets. Data goes back decades for historical context.
Texas A&M Real Estate Center
The Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University provides comprehensive data for the San Antonio market, including detailed reports on housing inventory, pricing trends, and market conditions. The center is widely regarded as the most objective source for Texas housing data and offers both raw data and analysis.
Key Metrics to Watch
The most important metrics for understanding the San Antonio market are median sales price (overall trend direction), days on market (how fast homes are selling), inventory levels (number of homes available for sale), months of supply (6 months indicates a balanced market), and list-to-sale price ratio (how close homes sell to asking price). Watch these metrics monthly to understand market direction.
How to Interpret the Data
Rising median prices with low inventory and declining days on market indicate a seller's market. Flat or declining prices with rising inventory indicate a buyer's market. Compare year-over-year data, not month-to-month, to account for seasonality. Look at neighborhood-level data, not just metro averages. And remember: national headlines may not reflect San Antonio's specific local dynamics.
