Fall ushered in a season of balance for the Houston rental market. September brought renters more choices while lease prices remained steady.
According to the Houston Association of Realtors’ September 2025 Rental Market Update, a total of 3,642 single-family homes were leased, which is up 5.3 percent from the 3,460 leases signed a year earlier.
September marked another month of expanding inventory, giving renters more choices than at any point in HAR’s recorded history. There were 11,255 single-family homes available for rent, surpassing the previous record set in August.
The average lease price was $2,347. It was statistically unchanged year-over-year for the third consecutive month, indicating that lease prices have plateaued after several years of increases.
Real estate agents added 6,841 new listings to the Multiple Listing Service compared to 5,510 last September, which represents a 24.2 percent increase year-over-year. Rental properties were on the market slightly longer—37 days compared to 34 last year.
“We continue to see steady demand for single-family rentals as many people find homeownership challenging right now due to affordability issues—not just in Houston, but nationwide,” said HAR Chair Shae Cottar with LPT Realty. “With so many properties on the market, renters have more choices than ever, and that’s helping them find places that fit their needs and budget. Landlords are also adapting as the market becomes more balanced heading into the end of the year.”
Leasing activity for townhomes and condominiums slowed in September. A total of 532 units were leased compared to 585 during the same time last year, representing a 9.1 percent decline. The average lease price for these properties was $1,892, down 3.3 percent from $1,956 in 2024.
At the same time, new listings increased 14.7 percent year-over-year to 1,137 units. Active listings also outpaced last year’s level, up 14.7% with 1,137 available townhomes and condos. Days on Market held steady at 44 days, unchanged from last September.
