It is not often that home sales rise as summer comes to an end. But this year, the Killeen metropolitan area broke the trend. September turned out to be an unusually active month for housing activity, suggesting buyers are gaining confidence and the local market is getting more active.

Data from the Texas Real Estate Research Center shows sales rose by about five percent compared to August, adding 29 more transactions. This is unusual for the season, as home sales typically decrease when summer ends.

Nationwide, the housing market also improved, with home sales reaching their highest level in seven months. The Federal Reserve’s decision to lower rates mid-September likely played a role by making mortgages more affordable.

Temple also stood out among local cities. Over the past six months, it slightly outpaced Killeen in total sales, recording 809 compared to 807. In September alone, Killeen led the metro with 136 sales, while Temple followed closely with 128, proof that both cities continue to draw strong buyer interest.

Home prices also went up in September. The median sale price rose from $259,000 in August to $275,500 in September, a gain of around 6 percent. Compared to last year, however, prices remained steady, showing just a slight $500 increase from September 2024.

City by city, prices varied. Killeen matched its highest median price of the year at $235,000, while Temple’s median was $260,000. Belton reported the highest median price in the metro area at $326,400, its strongest since mid-2024. Harker Heights also experienced a noticeable increase, climbing from $285,000 in August to $323,800 in September.

Meanwhile, Copperas Cove remained the most affordable market, with a median price of $213,900 and 47 homes sold. Nolanville had a median price of $291,900, slightly down from the previous month but still higher than the metro average.

The steady pace of listings, inventory, and days on market shows the local housing market is staying stable. With interest rates easing and housing activity picking up, Central Texas could see more growth through the end of the year.