The answer depends on how you use the current balance between supply, pace, and pricing.
If you are worried about giving up too much in a negotiation, I would stay calm. The recent numbers in Houston, TX point to a market where leverage exists, but it has to be used with discipline. With supply at 5.16 months and accepted offers averaging 97% of asking, I see room to negotiate without assuming every seller will fold.
My read is that Houston, TX is giving buyers a workable window, not an open-ended one. The market was labeled balanced recently, and a typical sale took 29 days over the previous 30 days. That combination usually rewards clean terms and realistic pricing more than aggressive low offers.
I also pay attention to where asking and closing prices are lining up. Active homes, new pending homes, and pending homes all centered at $325,000 recently, while the typical closed price was $319,000. That gap is useful because it tells me many negotiations are ending below list, but not far below it.
Lead with a price that respects the recent closing range. Keep your terms clean and your deadlines tight. Do not negotiate against yourself before the seller responds. If you are preparing to sell in Houston, TX after you buy, I would keep the same discipline on your list side because this market is rewarding realistic positioning on both ends.
