Real estate
BY GRACIE WARHURST
The average market value of homes in Williamson County declined about 3.8% in the last year, according to the Williamson Central Appraisal District. The decrease reflects continued market stabilization, Deputy Chief Appraiser Chris Connelly said. Across the county as a whole, the average market value for a home dropped from $473,876 in 2025 to $455,812 in 2026, as of Jan. 1. Connelly said the decline in home values can be attributed to the “change in the national economy that has pushed interest rates up and made it harder to borrow or get a lower interest rate.” WilCo home values drop slightly in 2026
Some context
Going forward
Homes in the city of Hutto saw the largest decrease, falling 6.08% to an average of $338,519. The city of Leander saw the smallest decline in home values, dropping 2.85% to an average of $465,503. The decrease in home value doesn’t necessarily equate to a decrease in property taxes for residents, Connelly said. Homeowners will have a better idea of what their tax bills will look like in August, when official tax estimates are made available on the county site. The homestead exemption caps the annual increase of a home’s appraised market value to a maximum of 10% over the previous year. This factors into a property’s assessed value, which is the reduced value of the property after any qualifying limitation, such as a homestead exemption, has been applied. Despite the declines in appraised home values, WCAD officials said residents may still see increases to their assessed value. Assessed values on homesteaded properties can rise 10% each year until that value catches up to the home’s market value. The county mailed out property appraisal notices on March 31. If property owners disagree with their valuation, the deadline to file a protest is May 15, or 30 days after the notice is mailed, whichever is later.
Williamson County total market value (2020-26)
$200B
$150B
$100B
$50B
$0
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
2020
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Current housing inventory levels match those seen in early 2024 and homes are sitting on the market for an average of 92 days, according to a news release from the WCAD. Home market values in the county saw double-digit growth shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began, Connelly said. With increased interest in buying homes in Central Texas, the housing supply dropped significantly, driving up prices. “I would say this year is a further stabilization,” Connelly said. “Since [2020], [home values] have gradually dropped each year.” Despite the decrease in value for individual homes, the county as a whole saw an increase in its total market value, rising 2.28%. This is because the market value includes residential, commercial, multifamily and land properties.
Average Williamson County residential home value 2025 2026
$0 $100K $200K $300K $400K $500K $600K
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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