As long as the population is increasing in an area, there will always be a demand for new housing. However, ensuring that the housing supply matches the demand in terms of quantity, quality, size, location, and price is more difficult. Public policy can help direct the housing market through the careful use of zoning and construction incentives. Public policy must be especially active in ensuring that there is an adequate supply of housing for families who struggle to afford market-rate housing.
This aspiration presents data and information for four indicators, which are listed in the grey panel on the right side of this page. Specifically, the four indicators within this aspiration report the following:
- Population, households & employment growth: Information regarding the growth of the population and its ethnic composition, projections for future growth, and information about the family makeup of households and the growth of jobs in the area, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Texas State Data Center
- Housing construction: Data on building permit activity by county, with separate statistics for single-family, 2-4 family, and multifamily construction, as reported by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University
- Vacancy rates: Data on vacancy rates for both rental and owner-occupied housing, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau
- Senior housing: Data and information from sources that include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Seniors Housing Association, the American Communities Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services regarding specific issues related to housing for the aging population, including housing options