A new poll from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs and Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs found that 90 percent of Texans consider housing affordability in their part of the state to be a problem, and 44 percent consider it to be a big problem.
The poll, released Thursday, interviewed more than 2,000 individuals above age 18 and is part of a series of joint surveys conducted by the schools before the November election on issues like immigration, school choice, and the environment.
According to the poll, 53% of Texas Latinos, 50% of black Texans, and 39% of white Texans rated housing affordability “a big problem.”
“In Texas, a significant number of residents are considered housing constrained, with nearly a quarter of the state’s 6.9 million homeowner households spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs, classifying them as housing cost-burdened. High property taxes and rising homeowner insurance costs place a substantial financial strain on many households. Furthermore, among the approximately 3.94 million renter households in Texas, a large portion are severely cost-burdened, spending more than half of their income on rent,” read the report.
It also noted that for Texans in the Gulf Coast region, excessive flooding, hurricanes, and severe storms worsen the problem because of the extensive damage it does to housing, forcing residents to relocate, and further limiting the supply of available affordable housing.
While its lack of zoning has largely kept Houston affordable, especially compared to its big city counterparts, even its unique level of affordability is gradually eroding. While people moving from places like New York or California can easily find affordable housing, for those in Houston hoping to move into a bigger home, it doesn’t feel nearly as affordable which, in part, is encouraging further movement to the suburbs and exurbs.
The cost of housing is largely driven by local regulations requiring large lot sizes, limiting what can be built on one’s property, and delays in things like permitting. Some cities have tackled the issue head-on while others have not, leaving a network of policies that vary from city to city and leaving neighboring housing markets varying in price.
Housing has been an issue of concern for some elected officials recently with Gov. Greg Abbott pushing for a review of investor-owned single-family homes next legislative session and groups promoting preempting overly-strict local regulations that make it more costly for developers to build. Time will tell if the growing problem and heightened concern among Texans will encourage the legislature to pursue reforms.
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