In this week’s episode, we discuss Texas’ rising home prices and the steps the Legislature is taking to reduce them.

The peace of a Houston resident has been disrupted by what he describes as a revolving door of short-term renters at the house next door, which is being advertised on Airbnb.

You’ve heard of speed dating, but a roommate matching site is helping Houston residents waste no time in finding their ideal person to live with.

Texas lawmakers have sought to make it easier to build more homes — and harder for neighbors to block projects.

Legislators in the House and Senate have reached an agreement on more property tax relief. But some critics worry the cuts aren’t sustainable forever.

It’s a nightmare scenario: discovering your home has been stolen from you without any warning. KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis has been delving into cases like these for years, uncovering the unsettling reality of property fraud.

Houston residents seeking affordable housing will soon have a new opportunity through the Houston Housing Authority’s (HHA) latest rent relief initiative.

The Houston Housing Authority’s waitlist for housing vouchers has grown to more than 18,000 families. The agency is now clarifying its roles, emphasizing that individuals must take action to maintain their place on the list.

The infamous 'Darth Vader House' in Houston has officially sold for $3.35 million! Discover the transformation ahead, including its new owner, international sculptor Enrique Cabrera, and what’s next for this architectural gem. Read on to learn how this iconic home went from a local legend to the 'Black Bull House'!

With eviction rates in Houston surpassing those of New York City, Texas House Bill 32 (HB 32) has gained attention for its potential to speed up the eviction process for renters and landlords.

The government spent years probing allegations that a Dallas HOA created rules to kick poor Black people out and that Texas discriminated against minority residents in Houston after Hurricane Harvey, only to suddenly reverse course under Trump.

Lawmakers, who are preempting locals on lot sizes in new subdivisions, have been eyeing ways to allow more homes to be built as the state faces a shortage.

The proposal is part of a push by Republican legislators aimed at helping property owners deal with squatters.

House and Senate lawmakers plan to spend at least $6 billion on property tax cuts, but haven't yet agreed on how much relief should go to homeowners over businesses.

Officials said the state’s higher cost of living means less state sales tax revenue, which makes up more than half of the state budget.

Supporters hope easing zoning rules will entice landlords to renovate and ease the state’s housing crisis.

An affordable housing project in Houston’s Independence Heights neighborhood is back on after being temporarily paused.

An affordable housing project in Houston’s Independence Heights neighborhood has been temporarily paused, raising significant concerns among community members and local officials.

The marquee proposal would increase the amount of a home’s value exemption from school taxes to $140,000 from $100,000. The legislation must win approval from the House next.

Local officials, school advocates and tax policy experts said such a proposal could have dire impacts on basic services.

Gov. Greg Abbott said cutting taxes is a top priority, however, state lawmakers don’t have as much money to plug into tax cuts as they did two years ago.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed its finding that Texas unfairly favored white residents in rural areas when it distributed $1 billion in Harvey aid in 2021.

Amidst a housing crisis affecting thousands, the Houston Housing Authority faces scrutiny over its spending practices.

A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.

The Tribune’s data journalists helped visualize everything from voter participation and extreme weather to gaps in the state’s border wall. Here are some of the highlights.

It’s a nightmare scenario: discovering your home has been stolen from you without any warning. KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis has been delving into cases like these for years, uncovering the unsettling reality of property fraud.

“We don’t want to ban short-term rentals because that would be illegal and unconstitutional," Houston Council Member Julian Ramirez said. "What we want to do is get at the bad actors, the folks who are not following the rules."

For more than six months, residents at The Life at Sterling Woods senior living complex in South Houston have faced an escalating crisis.

Turner served in the Texas House for four years and was also executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in the first Trump administration.

Mayor John Whitmire says his vision is to get people off of the streets and instead help get them into temporary housing; with the ultimate goal of getting them affordable housing or reuniting with family.

A new report from the Kinder Institute about the 2024 state of housing in Harris County and Houston, reveals just how pressing the need for affordable housing has become.

Mayor John Whitmire says his vision is to get people off of the streets and instead help get them into temporary housing; with the ultimate goal of getting them affordable housing or reuniting with family.

If you're experiencing homelessness, here's where you can find help.

Texas builds more homes than other states but hundreds of thousands more are still needed, the report said, contributing to higher housing costs.

The Texas Tribune examined the state’s housing affordability crisis and why the state has struggled to build enough homes to meet demand.

Texas desperately needs more and denser housing to keep up with the demand. But zoning restrictions get in the way, a Texas Tribune analysis found.

A new breed of activists wants Texas to tame costs by building more housing. But longstanding opposition to such policies remains strong.

A KPRC 2 investigation into the Houston Housing Authority (HHA) has exposed a series of questionable contracts and projects, prompting calls for accountability from the public. Now, Investigator Amy Davis uncovered changes to the CEO’s contract before the old one expired.

Families displaced from four flood-prone apartment complexes in Houston may be eligible for federal relocation assistance, but many are still unaccounted for, with hundreds of residents yet to claim the aid they’re entitled to under federal law.

With the rising rent prices, these affordable housing projects come at a vital time.

The Texas Tribune is writing about the state’s housing affordability crisis. Help us tell the story.

California has reached a settlement with the city of Elk Grove over an affordable housing project.

A five-acre piece of property in northeast Houston that once belonged to a Houston surrogacy company is now owned by a trust that will one day be able to repay families who accuse the company of fraud, according to records.

Texas needs hundreds of thousands more homes than it has, per one estimate. That shortage has driven up home prices and rents.

There are calls for legislative changes to prevent deed fraud after KPRC 2′s story about three properties getting transferred to a complete stranger and stamped by the same notary.

Some Texas lawmakers have signaled an appetite to tackle the state’s housing affordability crisis when they convene next year.

Texas Central Railway purchased 41 homes in the White Oak subdivision with plans to eventually remove them and make way for the high-speed train project, but now, many of the purchased houses have fallen into disrepair, and squatters have moved into them.

"Stays are completely free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of Airbnb hosts—many of whom offer their home for free or at a discount through Airbnb.org," the popular vacation destination website said in a press release.

As living costs rise, young adults are seeking lucrative career paths. Ed Ryland, CEO of ARVO Realty Advisors, is mentoring the next generation in commercial real estate—a challenging yet rewarding field. Learn how his program offers internships, jobs, and mentorship to help you succeed.

A new housing report from Harvard University found that would-be homebuyers need to make more money than ever if they want to buy a home in Texas’ urban areas.

“The intent of a buyout program is to move people out of harm's way."

The Democrats’ recently approved platform includes calls to loosen zoning rules, which housing experts believe contribute to high housing costs.

Housing advocates say Texas laws fall short when it comes to property trespassers but they warn changes could worsen the state’s evictions crisis.

Texas is the only Gulf State that doesn’t license roofers. Anybody can call themselves a roofer. That’s why you have to protect yourself. Investigator Amy Davis has a list of what you should ask before hiring a roofing contractor.

City leaders and advocates hope reducing the size of lots used to build homes will increase housing supply.

The new fines underscore the challenges college students face when looking for affordable housing — and how cities struggle to provide it.

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham met with Houston City Council Tuesday to address the hundreds of people who are owed relocation assistance.

The program would give roughly 1,900 households payments of $500 for 18 months with no strings attached. Paxton called it “plainly unconstitutional.”

Republican lawmakers may try to force Texas cities to allow greater housing density as the state faces a housing crunch.

Most cities require homes and businesses to have parking. Critics say they drive up housing costs, foster car dependency and raise carbon emissions.

So-called institutional homebuyers noticeably ramped up home purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. But housing experts point out investors have retreated amid high interest rates.

The Huntington City Council has flip flopped twice on a mobile home ordinance since 2020.

Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett introduced House Bill 7412 to fix administrative issues that have created hurdles for some in rural communities.

Legal aid groups and housing advocates say there simply aren’t enough lawyers to keep up with the sheer volume of eviction filings.

More than half of the state’s 4.2 million renters spend at least 30% of their income on rent and utilities, according to a Harvard University report.

Homelessness rose last year across nearly every demographic group, but strides were made to connect people with new housing.

Both the state and the city of Houston say they want to work together to help pay down the remaining funds.

Providing safe and affordable housing for those who need it here in Houston was the subject of several votes the Houston Housing Authority Board took up Tuesday evening.

If you're experiencing homelessness, here's where you can find help.

City officials hope that allowing up to three units per lot will increase supply and slow the explosive increase in housing costs. The measure was approved by Austin City Council in a 9-2 vote late Thursday night.

A new Harvard University study found an increase in the number of Texas households headed by people 65 or older spending more than 30% of their income on housing. Advocates say keeping older adults housed will require substantial public investment and reforms.

In what locals call Dickinson, but what is actually an area of Galveston County under Texas City jurisdiction, dozens of families are being forced out of their homes.

In cities dominated by single-family neighborhoods, local leaders across Texas want a broader variety of housing to combat the affordability crisis.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee outlines her priorities for the city as she runs for Houston mayor.

Using robotic 3D printers that can build the concrete walls of a house, a pair of Texas startups say the technology could help alleviate two crises: the housing shortage and climate change.

GOP leaders claim the development markets to undocumented people and is plagued by crime. One of its owners refutes the allegations and says he’s ready to show lawmakers that Colony Ridge isn’t different than any other rural Texas community.

The city’s decades-long battle to overhaul local rules to allow more, denser housing to be built may be reaching a turning point.

Housing costs have soared in the Texas city in recent years, while the state cuts back on funding.

Legislation passed this month would raise the state’s homestead exemption to $100,000, lower schools’ tax rates and put an appraisal cap on residential and commercial properties, among other measures. But voters must approve a constitutional amendment first.

LeShawn Fondren moved to Houston almost a year ago to be close to her fiancé and his family. Since the move, she’s been renting a place and it hasn’t been easy.

House Democrats attempted to insert benefits for renters and more money for public education into the tax-cuts package in a series of floor amendments but were unsuccessful.

The deal would channel $12 billion to reduce the school property tax rate for homeowners and business properties, increase the homestead exemption, and create a pilot program to reduce taxes on certain residential and commercial properties. The legislation is expected to pass later this week.

State lawmakers passed the law after a North Texas homeowners’ association barred landlords from renting to Section 8 tenants. Most of the affected tenants in that neighborhood were Black.

Texas’ top Republicans are fighting over how to split property tax cuts between businesses and homeowners. Democrats want renters to see relief, too.

For many years, the Midtown Redevelopment Authority has created new opportunities for affordable housing in Houston’s Greater Third Ward community.

For just about every homeowner in Texas, it is a huge, aggravating, infuriating problem.We’re talking about your property taxes, which just keep soaring higher and higher.

Phelan announced the formation of a House committee that could set the tone in favor of vouchers ahead of an expected special session on education. The move comes weeks after Abbott sided with Phelan on a plan to lower property taxes.

Houston has seen eviction rates soar since pandemic protections for renters lapsed. At one apartment complex, ejecting people from their homes is a ritual part of the business model.

After negotiations that became tense and public, the House and Senate fell short of delivering on one of the biggest legislative priorities for Republicans in the regular legislative session.

Democrats played a major role in killing legislation aimed at boosting Texas’ flagging housing supply — to the frustration of housing advocates.

House lawmakers added a significant boost to the Senate’s proposed homestead exemption and tacked on a contentious idea to lower the state’s appraisal cap.

Both the House and the Senate’s proposals on property tax cuts would give modest savings to the typical Texas homeowner, but critics say the House plan could create vast inequities and disproportionately benefit wealthy homeowners.

The CROWN Act would ensure protection for Texans who wear their hair in natural styles such as braids, locs, twists or knots.

Demand for on-campus housing has gone up across the country as off-campus costs have skyrocketed and students seek more affordable options.

The Senate wants to raise the homestead exemption. The House wants to tighten the appraisal cap. Both chambers’ leaders are skeptical of each other’s proposal.

Housing advocates, builders and real estate experts agree that the state simply isn’t building enough homes to keep up with its booming population and economic growth.

Cuts to school property tax bills. Bigger tax benefits for homeowners. A controversial idea to limit property tax growth. Here’s what you need to know about the brewing property tax debate at the Texas Legislature.

The Texas Rent Relief Program announced Wednesday that it will be closing its application portal early due to the overwhelming amount of submissions which flooded in just 24 hours after reopening.

Lawmakers will decide whether to keep protections that shielded tenants from eviction — or to ban them.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan’s proposal reveals the different roads the Texas House and Senate want to take on property taxes — and the fight that might emerge between the two chambers this session.