Real Estate Rumblings

Houston's gone condo crazy: It's the top city in Texas for high-end sales

The condos are coming . . . and coming.

This year Houston sold the most condos among the four major metro areas in Texas according to a 2013 study published by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

Additionally, Houston experienced the second-highest jump in sales in the state with a 25 percent increase between January and September, a period in which 5,067 condos were sold in the city. The median price for condos went up seven percent to $140,000 when compared to the same period in 2012.

Houston experienced the second-highest jump in sales in the state with a 25 percent increase between January and September.

Perhaps the most obvious indicator that condos are in high demand is the number of active listings. From January through September, active listings dropped by 31 percent to only 1,737 listings and days on the market dropped 27 percent from the previous year to an average of only 61 days on market according to the Houston Business Journal.

In terms of other major Texas cities, Austin sold 2,450 condos during January through September, Dallas sold 4,468 and San Antonio sold 469. Dallas also experienced the highest sales jump at 38 percent. Overall, statewide condo sales had an average jump of 26 percent.

Houston's increased condo sales have led the city to experience a condo and multifamily housing development boom. Many projects are currently underway including a 36-unit luxury mid-rise in the Heights and a 26-story, 46-unit luxury high-rise project in the uptown district.

Houston condo sales dramatically increased in 2013 according to a new study.

Shelby On the Market 1025 S. Shepherd June 2013 from loft looking downstairs to dining room

Photo courtesy of John Daugherty Realtors

Houston condo sales dramatically increased in 2013 according to a new study.

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rent affordability news

Houstonians need to make nearly $68,000 to afford rent in 2025

Photo courtesy of Dolce Midtown Apartments

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A new rental report from Zillow has revealed Houston renters need to make about 23 percent more money than they did five years ago in order to afford rent in 2025.

Zillow analysts examined the income needed to afford rent in 50 major U.S. metros, and determined rent prices in each city as of April 2025.

The average Houston renter needs to make $67,731 a year to afford living in the city, the report found. To afford rent for a single-family home, the income needed increases even further to $85,017.

Despite Houston's rising rent cost of living, it's still more affordable than many other cities. Nationally, the average income needed for someone to comfortably afford rent comes out to nearly $81,000. The study says that figure has increased nearly 35 percent since 2020.

"Housing costs have surged since pre-pandemic, with rents growing quite a bit faster than wages," said senior Zillow economist Orphe Divounguy. "This often leaves little room for other expenses, making it particularly difficult for those hoping to save for a down payment on a future home. High upfront costs are often overlooked, which can keep renters in their current homes."

Rent prices in Houston averaged $1,693 last month, which is less costly than the national average rent price of $2,024. Additionally, Houstonians are spending about 24 percent of their income on rent, while the typical American spends almost 30 percent of their income on rent.

Renters are also saving hundreds of dollars in comparison to those that own their homes, as a recent SmartAsset study discovered the median monthly housing costs for a Houston homeowner came out to $2,219.

At least we're not living on the East or West Coast, where eight U.S. metros require six-figure incomes to afford rent. Residents in San Jose, California need to make $136,532 a year to afford rent, the highest out of all 50 U.S. cities. Rent prices in San Jose came out to $3,413 in April.

Here's how much money renters need to afford living in other Texas metros, according to Zillow:

Dallas – $71,413
Austin – $68,840
San Antonio – $58,590

zillow housing report rent prices affordability houston