Del Valle Entry-Level Homes: Affordability Check

What does an entry-level home cost in Del Valle today? The median price for the bottom quartile of sales is $315,000 across 111 closed sales in the rolling six-month window ending September 30, 2026. This figure represents the affordable tier where first-time buyers and those seeking lower price points are currently active. ALEX Intelligence applied a payment-to-price affordability model using the current mortgage rate of 7.32% from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey dated October 22, 2026. Assuming a standard 20% down payment on a $315,000 home, the principal and interest payment at the current rate is $1,731 per month. This calculation isolates the financing cost to show how rate levels directly affect monthly cash flow for buyers in this price range. The market shows that 111 homes sold in this tier over the last six months, with a median living area of 1,726 square feet. While the median price per square foot has risen 3.5% compared to the prior six-month period, the overall median price dropped 3.0%, suggesting that smaller or less expensive properties are driving the entry-level segment. Buyers should note that homes in this tier are selling for 96.9% of their original list price on average, indicating room for negotiation remains. For those considering a buydown to lower initial payments, a 3-2-1 buydown would cost approximately $11,736 (3.73% of the price) to reduce the rate to 4.32% in the first year, while a 2-1 buydown costs about $5,964 (1.89%) for a 5.32% start rate. These figures help quantify the trade-off between upfront concession costs and monthly savings in a higher-rate environment. 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