42% of Houston Households Could Afford a Median-Priced Home This Summer

The Houston Association of Realtors released its Housing and Rental Affordability Report on November 5, and the third-quarter numbers moved in the right direction. HAR found that 42% of households in the Greater Houston area could afford a median-priced home from July through September, up from 39% in the same quarter of 2025. The median home price eased 0.4% to $340,300, from $341,600 a year earlier.

My degree is in accounting, so I like to look at what sits under a headline number. The average 30-year fixed rate during the quarter was 6.68%, a little higher than the 6.57% of a year ago. The typical monthly payment, including principal, taxes and insurance, came to $2,520, and a household needed a minimum annual income of $100,800 to buy the median-priced home. For comparison, 45% of households statewide could afford the median-priced Texas home, and 38% could nationally. On the rental side, 44% of Houston-area households could afford the median monthly lease. The math is a little better than last year, but the payment is still the number that decides most purchases.

If you want to see where your own budget lands, whether you are buying your first home or selling to move up, I am glad to walk through the numbers with you. Call me at 281-818-8177 or book a time at le-rocks.com.