Round Rock: How Rates and Buydowns Shape Buying Power in October
By George Arnold Alexander III, MPA · Associate Broker · 2026-10-12
Deal of the Week

This week's 5 best values under $1,000,000, ranked by the ALEX deal score:
1. 808 Bent Wood PL, Round Rock TX 78665 · MLS #2718358
Listed at $475,000, 4 bed, 3 bath, 2,957 sq ft. Listed 13% below the ALEX valuation; 23% under the local price per sq ft; price reduced 15% from original.
See it on alex.realestate: https://www.alex.realestate/listing-detail/1182522926/808-Bent-Wood-PL-Round-Rock-TX
2. 2325 Oscar Eli PL, Round Rock TX 78665 · MLS #6547691
Listed at $329,990, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1,908 sq ft. Listed 15% below the ALEX valuation; 8% under the local price per sq ft; price reduced 20% from original.
See it on alex.realestate: https://www.alex.realestate/listing-detail/1174304335/2325-Oscar-Eli-PL-Round-Rock-TX
3. 1033 Sonata PL, Round Rock TX 78681 · MLS #6125977
Listed at $779,900, 4 bed, 3 bath, 3,116 sq ft. Listed 13% below the ALEX valuation; 9% under the local price per sq ft; price reduced 19% from original.
See it on alex.realestate: https://www.alex.realestate/listing-detail/1177723436/1033-Sonata-PL-Round-Rock-TX
4. 1312 Terra ST, Round Rock TX 78665 · MLS #4100114
Listed at $274,990, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,507 sq ft. Listed 15% below the ALEX valuation; 6% under the local price per sq ft; price reduced 19% from original.
See it on alex.realestate: https://www.alex.realestate/listing-detail/1179657069/1312-Terra-ST-Round-Rock-TX
5. 1441 Rainbow Parke DR, Round Rock TX 78665 · MLS #5963348
Listed at $345,000, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2,030 sq ft. Listed 13% below the ALEX valuation; 13% under the local price per sq ft; price reduced 18% from original.
See it on alex.realestate: https://www.alex.realestate/listing-detail/1183765345/1441-Rainbow-Parke-DR-Round-Rock-TX
What does a 7.4% mortgage rate mean for a buyer in Round Rock today? With the median closed price at $417,500 across 140 sales in September, ALEX Intelligence modeled monthly payments to show how buydowns change affordability.
Using the loan amount of $334,000 provided in the data, the principal and interest payment at the current 7.4% rate is $2,313 per month. This calculation uses the median sale price of $417,500 as the basis for the loan amount.
Buyers can reduce this burden with temporary buydowns. A 3-2-1 buydown lowers the rate to 4.4% in year one, cutting the monthly payment by $640, then to 5.4% in year two (saving $437), and 6.4% in year three (saving $224). The total cost for this structure is $15,612, which represents 3.74% of the median sale price.
A shorter 2-1 buydown offers a rate of 5.4% in year one and 6.4% in year two, with a total cost of $7,932 or 1.9% of the price. These figures are ALEX Intelligence estimates based on current rates and median prices, not appraisals.
The data shows that while the median price rose 9.4% compared to last September, higher rates increase the monthly cost of borrowing. Buyers should weigh the upfront cost of a buydown against their long-term rate expectations and cash flow needs.
Want to see this home? Call or text George at 713.918.9951 for a private showing.
Data from Unlock MLS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Model outputs are ALEX Intelligence estimates, not appraisals.
Read more Central Texas market data on the ALEX blog: https://alex-companies.com/blog
MIT, Nvidia, Google & IBM-Trained. Cross Domain-Expert: Quantum, AI, Ethics, Sovereignty, Intelligence, Philanthropy. Solepoint Planning. VUI AI Cloud Architect. AI Certifications Development. Quant/AI Instructor. Castor Venture Club Member. Associate Broker.
George Arnold Alexander III, MPA
Director, ALEX Companies
Associate Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al.
Texas License #574878-B · Broker License #565194-BB
Broker, ALEX Real Estate · North Carolina License #367733
Independent Broker, ALEX Real Estate · Colorado License #II.100112456
[email protected] · +1 713.918.9951
Source data: Unlock MLS closed sales, September 2026, n=140; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, 30-year fixed, week of 2026-10-08 (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
Cover photo: Old Post Office Building Round Rock Texas 2021.jpg by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; darkened, cropped and text added.
Licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission. Broker: Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC · License #565194-BB.
Diane Hart Alexander, Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies · Designated Broker · #574877-B · George Arnold Alexander III, Director, ALEX Companies · Associate Broker · #574878-B
Texas Real Estate Commission Information About Brokerage Services · TREC Consumer Protection Notice · trec.texas.gov
Diane Hart Alexander, Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies · Designated Broker · #574877-B · George Arnold Alexander III, Director, ALEX Companies · Associate Broker · #574878-B
Texas Real Estate Commission Information About Brokerage Services · TREC Consumer Protection Notice · trec.texas.gov










