Texas
Build, baby, build: Texas needs houses.
Texas continues to experience significant population growth as Americans flee other states for new opportunities and, historically, a lower cost of living. According to the Texas Comptroller’s office, approximately 225,000 people moved to Texas between 2021 and 2022, but homebuilding has not kept pace with the influx of new residents. The increased demand for housing — combined with factors such as high interest rates, high property taxes, inflation and rising insurance costs — have left Texas with a housing deficit of 306,000 units, second only to California. Texas lawmakers are likely to tackle housing affordability during the 2025 legislative session.
Just because a family cannot afford or qualify for a mortgage does not mean they should not be able to live in a home they are proud of in a community where they can afford to rent.
To improve Texans’ living situations, it’s just as important to increase the supply of single-family rental homes as it is to increase the supply of homes for purchase. We need options for everyone.
Many who have testified before Texas Senate and House committees during the interim have emphasized the importance of increasing the housing supply for both buyers and renters. Some have zeroed in on several potential solutions: easing zoning regulations and minimum lot size requirements, streamlining local permitting processes and allowing for easier conversion of commercial property into residential. (The comptroller’s report also outlined some of these options.)
Meanwhile, calls to limit corporate purchases of single-family homes to rent miss the mark. According to a 2021 report by the National Association of Realtors, corporate investors bought 28% of homes sold that year in Texas — more than twice the national average. But corporate investors in single-family homes range from large companies to small mom-and-pops. And according to legislative testimony, home purchases by corporate investors of every size have not exceeded 20% of the total.
In reality, to generate much-needed housing at scale,Texas needs corporate investment. It’s up to our elected leaders to clear the way by eliminating barriers to supply and creating greater housing options and accessibility for all Texans.
Charles Blain, a frequent contributor to the Houston Chronicle, researches and writes about policies that promote opportunity and social mobility.
BANDERA COUNTY, Texas – A woman died Monday after her vehicle was swept into a creek by high, fast-moving waters and carried several miles downstream, authorities said.
Bandera County flooding
What we know:
The Bandera County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 emergency call at approximately 5:30 a.m. from a female driver who reported that her vehicle had been inadvertently pulled into a creek near Lower Mason Creek Road.
The caller told dispatchers that she was floating downstream at a high rate of speed and was trapped inside the vehicle, according to a statement from Bandera County Sheriff Josh Teitge.
Emergency operators maintained contact with the woman for several minutes before the call disconnected, which sheriff’s officials said was likely caused by water infiltrating the vehicle. Before losing connection, operators successfully pinged the woman’s cellphone, allowing authorities to pinpoint her last known location.
Sheriff’s deputies and fire personnel immediately launched a massive search-and-rescue operation. The agency deployed swift-water rescue assets, drones, and a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter unit to scour the flooded area throughout the day.
Search crews located the completely submerged vehicle at approximately 4:30 p.m., several miles downstream from where it had first entered the water.
The driver was recovered from inside the vehicle but “succumbed to the trauma of the event,” Teitge said.
The identity of the victim was not immediately released pending notification of family members.
Teitge expressed gratitude to local first responders, the Center Point Fire Department, state helicopter crews, and dozens of community volunteers who assisted in the daylong search.
Bandera is located roughly 50 miles northwest of San Antonio.
The Source: Information in this article is from the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office.
Josh Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Byron Buxton went deep for the 23rd time this season, leading off the sixth, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 on Monday night.
All six runs in the game came off homers, with Texas’ Joc Pederson delivering a two-run shot in the third off rookie Mike Paredes.
Minnesota’s 25-year-old left-hander fell an out short of his first major league win in his second start among four career appearances since May 31. Paredes allowed four hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Buxton has homered in six of his past nine games to get within one of major league leaders Yordan Alvarez of Houston and Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber.
Four Twins relievers held Texas to one hit over the final 4 1/3 innings, starting with Taylor Rogers (3-3) striking out Pederson, the only batter he faced, to end the fifth.
Andrew Morris pitched a perfect sixth, Eric Orze allowed a single over 1 2/3 innings and Yoendrys Gómez retired the final four Texas batters for his second save in two days and seventh of the season, six coming with Minnesota.
Josh Smith came off the bench for the Rangers in his first appearance since May 3, fouling out to catcher Alex Jackson on the only pitch he saw from Orze. Smith’s six-week absence started with a glute strain and wrist inflammation before he was hospitalized with viral meningitis.
Kyler Fedko made his major league debut for the Twins as the left fielder. The 26-year-old went 0 for 4, striking out his first two times up against Texas left-hander Mackenzie Gore, who struck out a season-high 10 in seven innings. Gore (4-6) allowed four hits and four runs with two walks in seven innings.
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