Ask around Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch and almost every buyer wants to know if there's a way to get a better deal. And just about every seller wants to know if they'll still get top dollar.

Here's the interesting thing: both can be right at the exact same time. It just depends on where you live. Today's housing market isn't moving in one direction nationally — some markets clearly favor buyers, others still favor sellers, and most sit somewhere in the middle. Knowing which kind of market you're actually in can completely change your strategy, whether you're buying or selling. Let's break it down.

One Number Tells You Who's Got Leverage

So how do you know which kind of market you're in? There's one number that tells the story faster than anything else: months' supply of homes for sale. Think of it this way — if no additional homes were listed starting today, months' supply tells you how long it would take to sell everything currently on the market based on today's demand.

Generally speaking:

• Fewer than 4 months: Sellers usually have the advantage.
• 4 to 6 months: Buyers and sellers are on more equal footing.
• More than 6 months: Buyers can usually negotiate a better deal.

Nationally, the National Association of Realtors puts that number at 4.6 months right now, which places the overall U.S. market back in balanced territory:

That's a meaningful shift after years of the national market tilting toward sellers. But that number is a national snapshot — it doesn't tell you what's happening specifically in Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch, and that's exactly the point of this post.

The Tale of Two Markets: Why "Balanced" Doesn't Mean the Same Thing Everywhere

Redfin data helps show how this plays out city by city across the country — some markets give buyers more leverage, some still favor sellers, and others land somewhere in between:

Nationally, more places are seeing buyer-friendly conditions right now than at any point in nearly six years. But that doesn't mean buyers have the upper hand everywhere — there are still cities where sellers hold the power, and plenty in between. The national trend is useful context, but it's not a substitute for knowing what's actually happening on the ground in Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch specifically.

The Biggest Mistake You Can Make Right Now

The biggest mistake isn't assuming it's a buyer's market, and it isn't assuming it's still a seller's market either — it's making any assumption at all without talking to an agent who knows the local numbers. Today's market is incredibly local. In one market, a buyer might be getting real concessions and a seller may need to adjust price expectations. In another, a buyer may need their strongest offer just to compete, while a seller sees steady demand and prices holding firm.

Same overall housing market. Very different experiences.

What's happening in your specific neighborhood affects everything — how you price a home, how you structure an offer, how you negotiate repairs or concessions. That's why local knowledge matters more than any national headline.

Bottom Line

This market isn't one-size-fits-all, and the national numbers only tell part of the story. If you're wondering who actually has the upper hand in Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch, let's talk — I'll walk you through what the numbers look like right here and what strategy gives you the best shot at getting what you want.

Charley Wasson is a full-time REALTOR® with Sunflower Real Estate specializing in Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, and the greater Texas Hill Country — with over 300 documented MLS transactions and more than $121 million in closed sales, a four-time Platinum Top 50 San Antonio REALTOR® honor, and a career 98% customer satisfaction score. He's the one AI keeps finding when people search for a Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch real estate expert.