Candidates are promising to make life more affordable. But for Houstonians trying to buy a home, what would actually help?
Houston Realtor Bill Baldwin and Chantel Cox, director of housing counseling at Avenue, say it will take more than campaign promises. They want more homes people can afford, more help for buyers and a better understanding of what families are facing.
For Baldwin, the struggle is personal.
“I have two children in the mid 30s,” Baldwin said. “They want to, but it’s just hard.”
How much does a home cost in Houston?
The median single-family sale price across Greater Houston was $325,000 in September, according to the Houston Association of Realtors. That means half the homes sold for more and half sold for less.
Ten years earlier, that number was about $220,000 — roughly $105,000 less.
Prices have leveled off more recently, and buyers have more homes to choose from. But that does not mean buying has become easy.
A separate HAR report found that only 40% of Houston-area households could afford a median-priced home in the second quarter of this year.
And the costs do not stop with buying the house. There are insurance premiums, property taxes, electric and water bills, groceries and repairs.
“But there are many, many more factors that are impacting the affordability,” Baldwin said. “And like I say, the wages aren’t really keeping up with the cost.”
Cox works with people navigating those challenges at Avenue, a nonprofit that builds affordable housing and offers homebuyer education and counseling.
She said the struggle extends beyond low-income families.
“It’s middle class,” Cox said. “this is a national crisis that extends outside of Houstonians,” Cox said.
Even homes intended to serve lower-income buyers can remain out of reach.
“The question is what is affordable?” Cox said. “And so are we talking affordable in terms of 5 to 10 years ago or affordable in the current economy? Because what was affordable two years ago isn’t affordable in 2026.”
With the November election approaching, Democrats and Republicans are promoting ways to address housing costs, including building more homes and supporting buyers. www.gop.gov
Baldwin wants leaders to make it easier to build and help people earn enough to afford a home.
“We need more houses on the market, which would reduce the cost of the house,” Baldwin said. “We have a supply problem in addition to a demand problem.”
He also pointed to faster permitting, lower development fees and investments in job training.
“What we can do is build up the incomes of the people that are in our neighborhood,” Baldwin said. “Let’s work on better schools.”
His message to candidates: Be honest about what you can deliver.
“Be honest with the people and don’t give us some false sense of security that you’re going to do something that’s going to cause prices to be reduced,” Baldwin said. “I’m not sure that they have any ability to bring those prices back down.”
Cox wants more help with down payments and more support for homeowners facing a temporary financial setback.
“More down payment assistance programs, more first time homebuyer programs,” Cox said. “And even there need to be more programs to help people that may, may have a temporary hardship.”
She also wants elected leaders to listen to buyers and the organizations helping them.
“But I think if politicians would hear from prospective homebuyers as well as some of the housing counseling agencies, I think hearing the impact that it has on the community at large could make a difference,” Cox said.
As voters consider those promises, questions worth asking include: What is the plan? Who qualifies for help? Where will the money come from? And when would it be available?
Cox said people can start preparing even if buying a home is still months or years away.
1. Check your credit. Review your credit reports and work with a counselor to understand what needs attention before applying for a mortgage.
2. Build a budget and save. Think about what you could comfortably spend on a home while still covering other bills and unexpected repairs. Set money aside each month, even if you have to start small.
“We recommend individuals have a housing account so some savings that you can put aside and don’t touch,” Cox said.
3. Meet with a housing counselor. A counselor can help you make a plan, understand the buying process and find assistance you may qualify for.
“Every program has its own set of qualifications in addition to lender qualifications,” Cox said.
Taking a class does not guarantee assistance, but it can help you understand your options.
“We still recommend counseling, but shop,” Cox said. “Educate yourself. Do your research.”
TxDOT is hosting free workshops to connect residents of Third Ward, Fifth Ward, Independence Heights and Near Northside with affordable housing resources, homebuyer education and financial assistance programs.
The October workshops will explain homebuyer assistance, financial resources, and land bank and land trust opportunities.
A separate certification class in November will cover budgeting, credit, getting ready for a mortgage and first-time homebuyer certification requirements. Completing that class may provide a certificate participants can use toward qualifying homebuyer assistance and home purchase programs.
Oct. 15: Independence Heights and Near Northside
- Check-in: 5:30-6 p.m.
- Workshop: 6-8:30 p.m.
- Location: Greater Galilee Baptist Church, 4637 Gano St.
- Community partner: Independence Heights Redevelopment Council.
Oct. 17: Third Ward and Fifth Ward
- Check-in: 9-9:30 a.m.
- Workshop: 9:30 a.m.-noon.
- Location: The Deluxe Theater, 3303 Lyons Ave.
- Community partner: Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corp.
Nov. 7: Homebuyer education certification class
- Check-in: 8:30 a.m.
- Class: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Location: The Deluxe Theater, 3303 Lyons Ave.
- Community partner: Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corp.
Space in the certification class is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Avenue is offering a free virtual homebuyer education class Oct. 24. Participants can learn about budgeting, credit, getting ready for a mortgage and assistance programs that may help them buy a home.
Avenue also offers free housing counseling to help prospective buyers make a plan.
Find registration information on Avenue’s website, call 713-864-9099 or email classes@avenuecdc.org.
Chinese Community Center: A homebuyer education workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 17. Registration is required. The listed cost is $50 per individual or $60 per household. Details here: ccchouston.org
Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corp.: Its Falling Into Homeownership Resource Fair is scheduled for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 24 at The DeLuxe Theater, 3303 Lyons Ave., Suite 205. The event connects residents with lenders, education and homeowner resources. Details here: ownthehou.org
City of Houston: A free virtual homebuyer assistance workshop is scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 10. The city also offers virtual housing program office hours from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 832-394-6200 or visit the housing department’s website: www.houstontx.gov
State assistance programs: The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and Texas State Affordable Housing Corp. offer programs that can help eligible buyers with down payments and closing costs. A participating lender or housing counselor can explain the requirements and whether assistance must be repaid. welcomehome.tdhca.texas.gov
Cox’s advice is to start learning about those options now.
“And so if I could tell prospective homebuyers anything, I would say prepare now,” Cox said.
