Belton: How Rates and Buydowns Shape Buying Power Now

What does a 7.18% mortgage rate mean for a buyer in Belton today? With the median closed price at $310,000 across 87 sales in the rolling six months ending Oct 31, 2026, the monthly principal and interest payment on a standard 20% down loan is about $1,680. ALEX Intelligence modeled buying power scenarios to show how buydowns change that number. A 3-2-1 buydown costs $11,460 (3.7% of the median price) and reduces the first-year payment to $1,210, saving $470 per month. A 2-1 buydown costs $5,820 (1.88% of the median price) and lowers the first-year payment to $1,359, saving $321 per month. These tools can make a higher-rate environment more manageable, but they come at an upfront cost. The data shows that 77% of sales closed below the original list price, indicating room for negotiation alongside financing strategies. Buyers should weigh the immediate cash flow relief against the total purchase cost when deciding whether to use a buydown. The median days on market is 66, up from 55 a year ago, suggesting buyers have time to evaluate these options carefully. Want to see this home? Call or text George at 713.918.9951 for a private showing. Coverage: most home sales in Belton are listed in another MLS, which ALEX does not receive yet. The figures in this post count only sales listed in Unlock MLS (ABOR), so they describe part of the local market, not all of it. 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