Should You Buy a Home in The Woodlands, Texas Now or Wait Until Spring?

If you’re tryign to decide if buying a home in The Woodlands now is a smart move or wait until Spring, the simplest answer is...buy when the right home and monthly payment work for you, but be prepared for more competition as the Spring Market ramps up.

What seasonal demand usually looks like

Spring is typically the highest-activity window in real estate, usually running from March through June. While September through December tends to be the slowest period, which can create more room for negotiation.

Over the past 10 years, buyer demand in The Woodlands has usually started building before Spring even begins with January-to-February transactions rising in 8 out of 10 years (only dipping in 2015 and 2023). That’s a big clue that “waiting until Spring” can mean you’re stepping into a market that’s already accelerating.

What you gain by buying now

If you buy a home in The Woodlands during the winter-to-early-year window, you may benefit from:

• Less urgency in the buyer pool, which can mean fewer bidding situations

• More negotiating leverage (especially on repairs, concessions, or price—depending on the home)

• A market pace that’s often a bit calmer. Median time on market during the slower months is around 4-6 weeks, and steadily drops to the low teens and even single digits by April or May.

One more “right now” factor: mortgage rates have stabilized since September and are on a slow, downward trend—another reason to focus on your monthly payment math instead of trying to perfectly time the calendar.

What you gain (and risk) by waiting until Spring

Spring usually brings more options because more sellers list. But it also tends to bring more competition.

In Spring, a higher share of homes sell above their list price compared to the rest of the year

This year we saw the following percentage of homes that sold above their list price:

• • March: 27%

  • April: 26%

  • May: 27%

  • June: 26%

Translation: waiting can help if you need more options, but it may cost you in the form of less leverage, higher likelihood of multiple offers, and a more aggressive pricing environment.

A practical decision rule for The Woodlands

Use this quick framework to decide whether to buy now or wait until Spring in The Woodlands:

Buy now if…

1. You’ve found a home you’d be happy staying in for several years.

2. The payment fits comfortably (even with taxes/insurance and maintenance).

3. You value negotiation leverage more than having the most choices.

Wait until spring if…

1. You need time to strengthen your down payment or reserves.

2. Your credit or debt-to-income ratio needs improvement.

3. You’re not ready to move quickly if the right home appears tomorrow.

The “smart middle” option:
Start shopping now, get fully ready (and decisive), and treat Spring as a backup timeline...not the starting line.

Final takeaway

If your goal is to buy a home in The Woodlands with the least stress, shopping before spring demand peaks can be a real advantage, especially considering buyer activity often climbs as early as January into February and Spring has a higher share of over-list-price sales. But the “right” timing is still the moment when the home fits your life and the numbers fit your budget.

Want a simple “buy now vs. spring” plan tailored to your price range and must-haves in The Woodlands? I can help you compare today’s options against likely Spring competition so you can move with confidence.

Julian Schwertz is a real estate agent and marketing expert with Real Broker in The Woodlands, TX. 
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281-740-2700