Facts and Resources
Austin needs more attainable homes.
Smaller, more attainable single-family homes remain in short supply, with only 12% of homes in Austin available in the ADUs, townhome, triplex, or cottage court typology.
*Source: ABOR’s “The Truth about Austin’s Missing Housing” Report (August 2023)
BY THE NUMBERS
Austin’s Housing Market
DIVE DEEPER
LOCAL RESEARCH
The Truth About Austin’s Missing Housing: Part 1
Data analysis shows the rising economic barriers to new buyers and the decreasing supply of affordable homes for low and middle-income buyers within the past 10 years in Austin and surrounding areas.
Austin Demographic Trends Report
Discover the evolving demographic landscape of Austin with the City's immersive story map that explores the age trends shaping Austin's dynamic landscape, offering insight into the city's evolving social and economic dynamics. An interactive visualization on how different age groups contribute to Austin's vibrant community and its trajectory for the future.
Re-Legalizing Middle Housing in Austin
Government actions to re-legalize “Middle Housing” in other states has shown a growth in opportunities for small multi-unit housing options – which can be less costly, more energy efficient, and require less land.
Austin Housing Cost Analysis
A memorandum by Austin’s City Manager that explores the various costs of Austin housing based on housing typologies and land plot sizes, etc. and states different options to reduce Austin’s cost of housing and list the potential impact on public infrastructure and the environment. This article highlights the findings of a 2022 report on Housing Market Data conducted by the DSD and HPD.
The Truth About Austin’s Missing Housing: Part 2
On average, lower-income renters and homebuyers across all demographics in Austin are facing a greater shortage of affordable homes as compared to higher-income Austinites.
Residential Displacement in Austin
A conclusive report on the effects of gentrification and housing displacement in Austin and potentials ways to mitigate and subvert the process of gentrification in Austin’s vulnerable neighborhoods. The report details case studies of anti-displacement efforts in Austin along with an overview of potential policies to be implemented on a local level of Austin government.
HOME Phase II: ABOR Report
The latest research report from the Austin Board of Realtor on the impact of minimum lot size on housing affordability and the effect HOME Phase II will have on housing prices, construction dynamics, and overall housing availability for Middle-Income Households in Austin.
NATIONAL RESEARCH
Portland, Oregon’s Residential Infill Project
A look into Portland’s ambitious efforts to reshape residential zoning and increase housing availability in response to Portland's growing population. This report shows the project's initial impacts, including the facilitation of diverse housing types in traditionally single-family neighborhoods.
Houston’s Lot-Size Reform
Houston's lot-size reform has facilitated affordable homeownership by reducing minimum parcel sizes, making it viable to develop family-sized townhouses. This move addresses the high and rising housing costs by enabling a more diverse range of housing types in areas previously limited to single-family homes on large lots.
Spokane, Washington’s Build Opportunity for Housing
This initiative represents a comprehensive effort by the City of Spokane to address housing needs, deploying policies designed to increase housing availability, affordability, and diversity across the city and by collaborating with developers, community organizations, and residents.
Houston’s Tall, Skinny Housing
NYU's Furman Center delves into the burgeoning trend of erecting narrow, vertical homes within densely populated urban landscapes. This analysis explores how these slender structures, often seen as a novel solution to the pressing demands of urban housing shortages and land scarcity, are shaping the future of residential development in cities across the nation.