Fort Worth & Mid-Cities Buyers: Why the Next 60 Days Beat Spring

November 8, 2026 · @Brent — Most buyers wait for spring. In Fort Worth and the Mid-Cities, that’s often the more expensive choice.

Last holiday season, Tarrant County buyers paid 95.9% of a home’s original list price. This spring, they paid 97.8%. On a $345,000 home, that difference is about $6,500.

Source: NTREIS MLS (Matrix Stats), Tarrant County single-family closed sales. Seasonal figures average the monthly numbers.

The pattern is simple. In winter, homes sit longer and sellers give more. In spring, about 30% more buyers are closing every month, homes sell in about a month, and sellers hold firm. The market is already sliding back toward winter: October buyers paid 96.6% after 41 days.

Here’s why the next 60 days favor buyers in Hurst, North Richland Hills, Bedford, Euless, Watauga, Richland Hills, Haltom City and Fort Worth — and what to do before the window closes.

1. Motivated Sellers Are Already on the Market

Between August 8 and November 8, 2026, 942 single-family homes in Tarrant County expired without selling, according to NTREIS MLS. Many of those owners still need to move. Others have homes that have sat through the fall with price cuts and no offers.

A seller heading into the holidays with a home that hasn’t sold is usually more open to talking. That can mean a lower price, help with closing costs, or a seller-paid rate buydown. In spring, the same seller may have several new buyers to choose from.

For more on how the seasons compare across DFW, see Buying or Selling a Home in DFW During the Holidays.

2. Builders Are Clearing Inventory Close to Home

Year-end builder deals aren’t only out in the far suburbs. At D.R. Horton’s Waterbend community in Euless — HEB ISD, minutes from DFW Airport — the “home of the week” was marked down from $470,240 to $440,240 as of November 8, 2026. That’s $30,000 off before anyone negotiates.

Builders close their books on December 31, and finished homes still standing are a cost they want gone. Prices and incentives change week to week, so call before you visit a model — here’s why to bring your own agent to new construction, and the latest DFW builder incentives.

3. Competition Comes Back in February

Fewer people shop in November and December. Families wait until after the holidays, and many buyers wait for tax refunds. By February and March, they’re back, and homes start selling faster again.

Right now you’re competing with fewer buyers for homes that have already been on the market a while. That’s the reverse of spring.

4. Rates Have Eased Three Weeks in a Row

The average 30-year fixed fell from 7.40% in mid-October to 7.18% on November 5, according to Freddie Mac. That’s about $55 a month on a $385,000 home with 5% down — helpful, but not the main reason to move now. The leverage above matters more. For the full picture, see Mortgage Rates Hit 7% Again.

5. A December Closing Can Help at Tax Time

If you itemize, mortgage interest you pay in 2026 counts on your 2026 return. Points paid to buy your main home can generally be deducted in full the year you pay them, if you meet the IRS’s conditions.

Every situation is different. Ask your CPA how a December closing affects your taxes.

What to Do This Week

1. Get pre-approved. Sellers take a pre-approved buyer seriously, and you’ll know your real budget.
2. Aim to be under contract by mid-November if you want a financed closing before December 31.
3. Look at homes that have been sitting. Listings with 60+ days on market or a recent price cut are where the room to negotiate is.
4. Ask for help with closing costs or a buydown. Here’s how a buydown compares with a price cut.