Published October 20, 2026 in Market Update

Central Killeen has the most room to negotiate

By Stephen Harris

Real estate, Killeen - Temple - Fort Hood

These numbers cover the three months ending August 31, 2026. Every figure comes from the Real Estate Data Aggregator or from the named websites below.

Redfin reported in October that sellers outnumber buyers by 62.6% across the U.S. That pressure is real here too, but it is not spread evenly. One part of Killeen is feeling it far harder than the rest.

The ZIP code that stands apart: 76541

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 107 homes for sale in ZIP 76541 against only 26 sold in the same three months. That math produces 12.6 months of supply, up 3.9 months from a year ago. Most of this market sits between 4 and 5 months. Twelve-plus is a different situation entirely.

The median sale price in 76541 fell 7.6% year over year, landing at $131,250, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Pending sales dropped 28.3% in the same period. Fewer buyers are stepping up, and the ones who do are paying less.

For sellers in 76541, the market is giving clear feedback. Price and condition are doing the work of filtering buyers out. If a home is sitting, the data says why.

For buyers, this is one of the few spots in this market where patience and strong due diligence can pay off. The sale-to-list ratio was 97.5%, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. That gap from list to close is real, and it is negotiable.

How the rest of the market compares

Every other ZIP code in this market sits between 4.2 and 5.3 months of supply. That is still elevated, but it reads like a slower market, not a stalled one.

Copperas Cove (76522) has the next-highest supply at 5.3 months, and its median price fell 6.7% to $247,148. Homes sold there dropped 14.7%, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. It is softer than it looks on the surface.

Belton (76513) is moving in the opposite direction. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 4.2 months of supply, down 1.7 months from a year ago, and the median price rose 3% to $324,995. More homes sold, fewer were listed. That is a tighter market.

Nolanville (76559) had the highest median price in this group at $342,301, up 7%, but median days on market hit 108, and only 6.1% of homes went under contract within two weeks. That is a slow pace for a market with rising prices. Both things can be true at once.

What the national picture adds

Realtor.com reported that mortgage rates surged above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Fannie Mae, as reported by CNBC, is forecasting a 30-year fixed rate of 7.4% for the fourth quarter of 2026 and 7.5% through 2027. That matters for affordability at every price point.

Realtor.com also reported that 20.8% of listings nationally took a price cut in September 2026, the highest share since October 2022. The 76541 data fits that pattern. Price cuts are the market's way of finding buyers when rates are high and supply is heavy.

CNBC reported pending home sales were down 8.5% year over year in September, citing Zillow. That matches what the Real Estate Data Aggregator shows locally: buyers are moving slowly, and sellers who price ahead of that reality are waiting a long time.

A note on taxes

Property taxes in this area are high, and many subdivisions carry MUD or PID assessments on top of the base rate. A $131,250 purchase price can still carry a meaningful annual tax bill. Factor that into any affordability math before you commit to a number.

One street can read differently from the whole ZIP

ZIP code averages smooth over a lot. A block off Stan Schlueter can sit in a completely different position than one off Rancier. The same is true inside 76541. If you own a home in central Killeen, or are looking at one, the ZIP-wide number is a starting point, not a verdict.