Texas has a housing affordability crisis. Here’s how state lawmakers may tackle it in 2025

(The Texas Tribune) – Buying or renting a home in Texas used to be relatively cheap. Amid the state’s economic boom, its once-celebrated housing affordability has slipped.Texas renters now spend more on keeping a roof over their heads than ever. As home prices have vastly outpaced incomes, homeownership has become a distant fantasy for many Texas families.Related Stories The state’s high housing costs have caught the attention of state officials – who worry that Texas could lose its competitive edge with other states if it doesn’t get a handle on home prices and rents.Here’s how Texas lawmakers may address housing costs when the Legislature returns to Austin later this month – and how the debate could unfold.Housing shortageTexas needs about 320,000 more homes than it has, according to a recent estimate by housing policy organization Up For Growth. That deep shortage, housing advocates argue, drove up home prices and rents as the state’s economy boomed and competition increased for a limited supply of homes – even though Texas builds more homes than any other state.State lawmakers must find ways to address that shortage, real estate experts and housing advocates warn, if they want to keep housing costs in check as...