Katy Housing Market Hits 6-Year High: Can Locals Buy?

By Saleem Mubarak 

Katy, Texas—a suburb long praised for its schools, family-friendly vibes, and rapid development—is at a crossroads these days. 

Recent housing data released to media outlets revealed that Katy’s home inventory has reached its highest level since 2019. 

Experts are calling this situation a “return to normalcy,” but for the average resident of the community, that normal still feels far out of reach.

Insights on Demand and Growth

To better understand the ground realities, Aims Wireless reached out to veteran real estate professionals.

Talking to this scribe, Aminat Tadese, said that Katy’s housing inventory is now at a six-year high. She explained that the area’s many high rated school districts continue to drive demand and growth, which is contributing to the increase in available homes.

“Katy is also a very family-centric community. Most neighborhoods here cater to families, so with good schools, family-friendly activities, restaurants, and other amenities, parents are naturally more inclined to buy homes here—whether it’s for a better kitchen, a bigger yard, or just an overall better quality of life,” she remarked. 

Is Katy Becoming a Buyer’s Market?

When asked if the rise in inventory signals a shift toward a buyer’s market in Katy, Aminat Tadese said that, as she has mentioned before, it’s a buyer’s market almost everywhere right now. We’ve seen a significant increase in listings and a noticeable decline in sales prices. 

Sellers are offering great incentives just to get their homes sold so they don’t have to keep paying taxes, utilities, or construction mortgages. So yes, there’s definitely a lot happening in the market right now that favors buyers. As realtors, we’re focused on helping buyers get the best deals, no matter the timing, she added.

Speaking about the types of buyers still active in Katy’s high-priced market, she said, “You’d be surprised—we’re actually seeing a lot of second-time buyers. Many are selling their current homes to buy bigger ones because their families are growing.” 

Others are downsizing because their kids have finished high school. Some parents had previously bought homes in older communities just to be in good school zones, but now that the kids have graduated, they want to buy homes that better match their personal style. So yes, we’re seeing a mix—second-time buyers and a lot of out-of-town relocators as well, she claimed.

Katy Home Affordability Remains a Challenge

By the end of April this year, more than one thousand homes were on the market in Katy. This means the area now has over three months of housing inventory, something that has not happened since before the COVID era. 

At first, this may sound like good news. More homes usually mean more options and less competition for buyers.

But the numbers tell a different story. According to the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), only 19% of households in Katy and Fulshear could afford a median-priced home in early 2025. In comparison, 34% of households in Harris County and 43% in Fort Bend County could afford one.

Market Trends from Real Estate Professionals

Wayne Liu, another real estate professional, said that the Katy market is booming. He acknowledged that Katy’s housing inventory is now at a six-year high.

He said that the market is grabbing the attention of all kinds of buyers including first-timers, investors, and even relocators. 

When asked if he had noticed an increase in price negotiations or seller concessions, he replied, “Yes, both elements are present in the market.” 

He added that listings are staying on the market longer compared to this time last year.