The News Stand

Housing Report Webinar: Harris County & Houston Costs Rising

The Kinder Institute at Rice University is hosting a webinar on June 17, 2025, to share findings from their annual State of Housing report for Harris County and Houston. This important report tracks how expensive housing has become in our area. The webinar will focus on how disasters, climate change, and rising insurance costs make housing even harder to afford. Three expert panelists will discuss the data: James Elliott from Rice University who studies coastal resilience, Elaine Morales-Díaz from Connective who works on housing partnerships, and Jeremy Porter from First Street who studies climate impacts. The 2024 report showed some concerning trends: home prices reached $315,000 in Harris County and $335,000 in Houston, making it much harder for families to buy homes. The affordability gap has grown 275% in Harris County since 2018. Most neighborhoods aren't affordable for families making $100,000 per year. However, the report also shows positive changes, with more Hispanic and Black families becoming homeowners in suburban areas. Nearly 1 in 10 Harris County neighborhoods show signs of gentrification. This free webinar is funded by Wells Fargo and provides crucial data for understanding Houston's housing challenges.