AUSTIN, Texas - eTradeWire -- First-time home buyers in Austin are getting a reality check from new national data, and some good news from the local market. Sarah Maddali, REALTOR® and team leader of Serendipity Realty Group at Compass, says the National Association of REALTORS® 2026 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers shows how hard it has been to get in the door, while Austin's October numbers show where first-time buyers have leverage.

According to NAR's 2026 Profile, published Nov. 5, first-time buyers made up 22% of all home buyers. The median first-time buyer was 40 years old, matching last year's all-time high. First-time buyers put a median 9% down, compared with 19% for repeat buyers, and 25% used gifts or loans from relatives and friends toward the down payment.

Locally, Unlock MLS data pulled by Serendipity Realty Group shows 2,142 homes closed across the five-county Austin metro in October 2026 at a $405,000 median price. Homes that sold in their first week closed at 99.2% of original list price. Homes listed 120 days or longer closed at 85.8%.

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"Forty is the national median, not a deadline, and plenty of first-time buyers put down a lot less than 20%," said Sarah Maddali. "What I'd actually do in Austin right now is get fully pre-approved, then go look at the homes that have been sitting. Those sellers are often the ones open to closing cost help and repairs, and that can matter more to a first-time buyer than the price."

What first-time home buyers in Austin can do this month:

- Get a full pre-approval and ask your lender which down payment options and Texas assistance programs you qualify for.

- Ask about days on market. Homes listed 120+ days have been closing well below original list.

- Budget for property taxes, insurance, HOA dues and any MUD fees, not just the price.

Free Austin buyer guides are at https://sarahmaddali.com/links/

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About Serendipity Realty Group

Serendipity Realty Group is an Austin, Texas real estate team led by Sarah Maddali, REALTOR® and Military Relocation Professional (MRP). Before real estate, Sarah worked in physical therapy, and she moved into real estate after her own first home purchase left her feeling like nobody was in her corner. Since 2016, Sarah and her team have closed 220+ transactions and helped flip 22+ homes around Austin, and she has been recognized by Austin Real Producers. The team helps first-time home buyers, relocating families and sellers across Austin, South Austin and the surrounding Hill Country. Serendipity Realty Group is a real estate team affiliated with Compass. Equal Housing Opportunity.