If you have been watching Hood County TX home prices this year, the story right now is less about dramatic swings than about a market finding its footing under higher rates. Here is what the numbers actually show about the Hood County real estate market, and what they mean if you are buying or selling a home in Granbury or anywhere else in Hood County this fall.
The median sale price across Hood County came in at $365,342 in August 2026, up 2.9% year over year, according to Redfin's Hood County data. That is a modest but real gain, and it tells me sellers who priced their homes realistically this summer are still walking away with more than they would have a year ago.
At the same time, inventory has been shrinking. Realtor.com data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows 641 active listings in Hood County as of August 2026, down 8.56% from a year earlier, according to FRED's Housing Inventory: Active Listing Count. Fewer homes on the market, combined with prices that are still climbing, is a sign buyers have not fully retreated even as borrowing costs have gone up.
Homes are also taking a little longer to sell than they were a year ago. The median days on market in Hood County stood at 68 days in August 2026, per FRED's Median Days on Market data, and the median list price was $389,350 as of July 2026, per FRED's Median Listing Price data. The gap between that list price and the actual sale price is a reminder that pricing strategy matters more now than it did during the frantic bidding wars of a few years ago.
What is driving this? Mortgage rates are the biggest factor. The average 30 year fixed rate climbed to 7.229% for the week ending September 25, 2026, up from 7.065% the week before, after the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate to a range of 3.75% to 4.00% at its September meeting, as reported by Fortune. Higher rates are keeping some buyers cautious and stretching out the time it takes to get a deal to closing, which lines up with the longer days on market we are seeing locally.
On the other side of the ledger, Hood County keeps growing. The county's population is now estimated at 71,692 people, a 1.69% increase over the past year, continuing a steady climb that has added nearly 40% since 2010, according to World Population Review's analysis of U.S. Census data. That kind of sustained demand is a big part of why inventory keeps shrinking even as rates rise. People still want to live here, whether that is for the lake, the small town feel of Granbury, or an easier commute into the Fort Worth area than they would get living closer in.
So what does this mean if you are on the fence right now? If you are selling, this is still a market where a well priced, well presented home moves and closes close to list price. You do not need to chase the market down with a steep price cut, but you do need realistic expectations about that 68 day average and a plan for the first two to three weeks on market, since that is usually when buyer interest is strongest.
If you are buying, the higher rate environment is real, but it also means less competition than we saw in past years. Fewer bidding wars, more room to negotiate on repairs or closing costs, and a little more breathing room to make a decision. Many buyers right now are also looking at rate buydowns or adjustable rate options to soften the monthly payment while rates are elevated, so it is worth exploring your financing options before you start touring homes.
Every situation is different, and county-wide numbers only tell part of the story for your specific street or neighborhood. Whether you are browsing homes for sale in Hood County Texas or keeping an eye on the Granbury TX real estate market to decide when to list, give The Jonathan Cook Team a call at 817-999-6777. We live and work in Hood County and are happy to walk you through what these numbers mean for your situation, no pressure, just straight answers.