Last Updated: November 3, 2026
Is now a good time to buy a new home in DFW?
It depends on your finances, timeline, and comfort with today’s rates, and nobody can predict where prices or rates go. As of September 2026, the DFW median home price was $379,990 (down about 1.6% from a year earlier), homes sold at about 94% of their original list price, and the 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.24% on October 29, so buyers have more room to negotiate than a few years ago but higher monthly payments. We sat down with Edna, a sales counselor with Highland Homes at Landmark by Hillwood in Denton, to talk through timing, new construction, and how a builder’s counselor and a buyer’s agent work together. Note that Edna works for the builder, so her view is the builder’s, and ours is the buyer’s side.
Verified Credentials
- North Fort Worth Real Producers, 2026: Edson Miranda ranked Top 250 and Paige Miranda ranked Top 1,000, out of approximately 15,000 agents in the North Fort Worth market.
- RealTrends Verified, 2026: Miranda Realty Team named a Best Real Estate Small Team in Argyle, Texas, based on independently verified 2025 production.
- Team production: Over 50 homes sold and more than $25 million in Texas real estate closed over the last two years.
- Landmark experience: Our clients signed the first contract at Landmark in December 2025 (with Highland Homes) and closed as its first homeowners in June 2026.
- Service area: Denton, Argyle, Northlake, Justin, and Flower Mound, Texas
New clients ask us this question more than almost any other: “Is now actually a good time to buy?” It’s a fair question, and it deserves a real answer, not a sales pitch.
So instead of just telling you what we think, we sat down with Edna, a Highland Homes sales counselor at Landmark, to talk through it: market timing, why new construction deserves a serious look, what it means to have both a builder’s sales counselor and a buyer’s agent, and what makes Landmark worth considering.
You can watch the full conversation below, or keep reading for the breakdown.
Watch the full interview: youtu.be/ijNVCscIyb8
Watch the short version on Instagram: instagram.com/reels/DbBVlxBR4s8
The DFW Market Right Now (September 2026)
Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
DFW median home price | $379,990, down about 1.6% from a year earlier |
Active listings | About 34,500, down about 2% from a year earlier |
Homes sold at | About 94% of original list price |
New-home average sold price | About $472,000, at about 93.5% of original list after about 86 days on market |
30-year fixed rate (Freddie Mac, October 29) | 7.24%, up from about 6.2% a year earlier |
Sources: Texas Real Estate Research Center, an NTREIS-based DFW market brief, and Freddie Mac. Different sources use different geographies, so treat these as a snapshot.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy? Two Perspectives
The builder’s view (Edna). Edna’s take was that timing is a strong argument for buying now, and that Dallas-Fort Worth’s growth fundamentals are a reason for confidence. She’s a builder’s employee, and her job is to sell homes, so weigh that accordingly.
Our view as buyer’s agents. We can’t tell you whether now is the right time, and we try not to. What we can say:
- Buyers have more negotiating room than a few years ago. Homes are closing below original list on average, and builders often offer incentives, but the numbers vary by home.
- Monthly payments are higher than a year ago. At 7.24%, the payment on the same loan is meaningfully higher, so run the numbers with a lender before you tour.
- Waiting and buying both carry risk. If you wait, rates or prices could move either way. If you buy and rates fall, you may be able to refinance, but it costs money and isn’t guaranteed.
On the “top market” ranking. Dallas-Fort Worth was named the #1 “Market to Watch” in the PwC and Urban Land Institute Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2026 report for the second year running, and ranked #1 for both commercial and homebuilding prospects. The 2027 edition, released in late October 2026, reportedly keeps DFW at the top. It’s an industry survey of investors, developers, and lenders about investment and development prospects, so it reflects confidence in the region’s growth. It isn’t a forecast for home prices or a recommendation for any individual buyer.
Why New Construction Deserves a Serious Look
New construction has real advantages, and real trade-offs:
Advantages
- Choice: floor plans, lots, and finishes that fit how you live, in to-be-built homes
- Newer systems and efficiency standards, and a builder warranty (read the written warranty before you sign)
- Incentives: rate buydowns, closing cost help, and design credits can change your payment. Compare the loan type, APR, and deadlines, not just the headline rate.
- A predictable timeline for inventory homes
Trade-offs
- Construction timelines and living near active construction
- Builder contracts are the builder’s form, so have an attorney review them
- MUD, PID, or other district costs in some communities
- Young landscaping and fewer comparable sales
None of this means new construction is right for everyone. See our 2026 guide to buying new construction.
The Builder’s Sales Counselor and Your Buyer’s Agent
A builder’s sales counselor works for the builder. That’s not a criticism, it’s how the relationship is structured, and we explain it in Why You Need a Realtor When Buying New Construction. What stood out in our conversation was hearing it from the builder’s side: Edna was direct that a counselor and a buyer’s agent aren’t in competition. The counselor knows the builder’s homes, plans, and process. The buyer’s agent represents you, compares builders and communities, reviews incentives and terms with you, and keeps your interests at the center.
How we’re paid: in most new-construction purchases the builder pays our compensation under its own program, so our help costs you nothing extra, and we confirm in writing before you sign. You’ll also sign a written buyer representation agreement under current industry rules. We work with Highland Homes’ sales team at Landmark, as we do with other builders, and we’ll tell you honestly how builders compare.
What Makes Landmark by Hillwood Worth a Look?
Landmark by Hillwood is a 3,200-acre master-planned community in Denton with about 1,100 acres of parks, trails, and wild spaces, nine builders in Phase 1, and Denton’s first H-E-B planned at its edge. It’s also still being built: construction will continue for years, on-site schools are planned but not built, and amenities and retail arrive over time. For the full picture, see our complete Landmark guide and Phase 1 guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is now a good time to buy a home in DFW? It depends on your finances, timeline, and comfort with today’s rates. Buyers have more negotiating room than in recent years, and payments are higher. Nobody can predict prices or rates.
Is DFW a strong real estate market? DFW was named the #1 “Market to Watch” in PwC and ULI’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2026, an industry survey about investment and development prospects. That’s not a forecast for home prices.
Do I need a Realtor if I’m buying directly from a builder? It’s not required, but the builder’s counselor represents the builder. A buyer’s agent represents you, and in most new-construction purchases the builder pays the agent under its own program, so it typically costs you nothing extra.
How much parkland does Landmark have? About 1,100 of Landmark’s 3,200 acres are planned as parks, trails, and wild spaces.
Who should I talk to? Edson Miranda and Paige Miranda of Miranda Realty Team, based in Northlake, TX. Reach them at 940.577.2051 or [email protected].
Bottom Line
Timing, new construction, representation, and community are four questions worth answering before you tour model homes. We covered all four with Edna, and you can hear it directly.
If you’re weighing whether now is right for you, let’s talk it through. We’ll tell you honestly.
📲 Book a consultation | 📞 940.577.2051 | 📧 [email protected]
Miranda Realty Team | Northlake, TX | Brokered by Real Broker, LLC
Areas we serve: Denton | Argyle | Northlake | Justin | Flower Mound | Greater DFW
Spirit-led counsel and straight talk, no fluff. Doing good business with good people, for the glory of God and the good of others.
Sources
- PwC and Urban Land Institute: Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2026
- ULI: Emerging Trends in Real Estate United States and Canada 2026
- Texas Real Estate Research Center
- DFW Market Brief, September 2026 (NTREIS data)
- Freddie Mac: Mortgage Rates Decline Further to 7.24% (October 29, 2026)
- Landmark by Hillwood
Related Resources
- Why You Need a Realtor When Buying New Construction
- Your 2026 First-Time Homebuyers Guide to North Texas
- 2026 Guide to Buying New Construction in North Texas
- Landmark by Hillwood Phase 1: What to Know Before You Buy
- Build vs. Inventory Home at Pecan Square
Information is accurate as of November 2026 and subject to change. This article is for informational purposes and doesn’t constitute real estate, financial, or investment advice.
