Central Texas Housing Affordability Is Not Just a Home Price Problem

Building more homes may help future buyers, but housing supply alone will not fix the financial pressure facing existing Central Texas homeowners. Property taxes, insurance premiums, utility costs, municipal fees, and bond payments all contribute to the monthly cost of staying in a home.

The numbers shown in the report are significant. Texas homeowners insurance premiums have reportedly increased 60 percent since 2019. The share of Texas metro homes considered affordable to a median-income household dropped from 60 percent before the pandemic to 32 percent by late 2023. In Travis County, 39 percent of property appraisals were protested in 2024.

This pressure affects the entire region. Austin ISD enrollment has declined over the past decade, many Austin EMS employees live outside the city, and Travis County recorded a population decline during 2023 and 2024. Housing policy must therefore address both construction and the ongoing cost of ownership. That means better coordination between cities and counties, responsible budgeting, utility-efficiency programs, workforce housing plans, and careful use of publicly controlled land.

If you are buying, selling, or evaluating property in Central Texas, you can learn more at https://chrispesek.com, email chris@drippingspringshometeam.com, or call 512-736-1703. Chris Pesek is a Texas Hill Country Realtor specializing in land, acreage, and custom homes. He has helped hundreds of clients across Central Texas and is recognized as a Top 2 Percent Producer with dozens of five-star reviews.