By: Bear Heiser

Access to affordable housing, and specifically affordable homeownership, is one of the most significant challenges we face in Kyle and across Central Texas. As more people move here for work, family, and opportunity, the supply of homes has not consistently kept pace with demand. Prices continue to rise, and long-time residents are feeling some pressure. This is not just a challenge for low-income families. It affects middle-income earners, seniors, and essential workers who help support our community.

Our city has seen significant growth over the past few years. That growth is a sign of a strong economy and a place people want to call home. It has also created real pressure on our housing market. For me, part of the solution begins with understanding what affordable housing really means, who it serves, and why a more diverse mix of housing can strengthen our city rather than weaken it.

What Affordable Home Ownership Really Means

When I talk about affordability, I am talking about the basic principle that a home should generally not cost more than 30 percent of a household’s income, including mortgage and utilities. That threshold allows families to afford essentials like groceries, healthcare, and transportation.

In Kyle, rising costs have made it harder for many people to enter the housing market at all. Teachers, nurses, service workers, young families, and even established professionals are struggling with higher prices that make it difficult to remain in the community they help sustain. I have met people who want to buy here but often cannot find anything within their price range, which can force them into long commutes and unstable housing situations.

Why This Is Happening

Our population growth has moved faster than our ability to build new homes. While demand has exploded, the supply of new housing, especially housing at attainable price points, has lagged behind. This imbalance has pushed prices higher and limited options for families who want to put down roots in Kyle.

Part of the problem comes from zoning and land-use rules that make it difficult to build a wider variety of housing types. For decades, most new construction has focused on large-lot, single-family homes. Today, that approach leaves a gap in the market. We lack the missing middle: duplexes, townhomes, smaller homes, cottage clusters, and other formats that could offer more points of entry into home ownership. These housing types could provide first-time buyers and middle-income earners a path to owning rather than renting.

Construction costs have also increased, and developers face challenges that can slow down or complicate projects that could deliver more attainable homes. The result is a market that leans heavily toward high-end construction, which does not fully meet the needs of working families.

Dispelling Common Myths

There is a common belief that adding more diverse housing forms lowers property values or brings instability to neighborhoods. The truth is that well-designed and responsibly managed housing can blend into the community and support local stability. It gives people the chance to live near where they work, which may reduce turnover and bring consistency to neighborhoods.

Another misconception is that affordable housing is only for low-income residents. In reality, it supports teachers, first responders, retail employees, medical staff, and many others who help make Kyle stronger every day. Housing affordability is a shared issue, and addressing it can benefit the entire community.

The Broader Impact on Kyle

Stable, attainable homeownership creates the foundation for success. Without it, families face challenges staying rooted, keeping children in the same schools, and maintaining strong ties to the community. When people cannot afford to live near their jobs, it can hurt businesses, add pressure to roads, and slow economic growth.

If we want Kyle to continue moving forward, we must work toward making our growth more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable for the long term. Businesses cannot fully thrive when workers are forced to commute from outside the region. Families struggle to feel secure when they are priced out of the market.

A Path Forward

Solving our housing challenge requires collaboration at every level. Cities like Austin and San Marcos have shown how creative zoning updates, incentives for mixed-use developments, and partnerships with nonprofits can help expand access to homeownership.

In Kyle, we can do the same by diversifying our housing inventory. We need more duplexes, townhomes, small-lot homes, and other missing-middle options. These formats could open new doors for families who want to buy, not just rent. Supporting responsible growth does not mean sacrificing the character of our city. It means making sure people who contribute to Kyle’s success have opportunities to live here.

A Shared Responsibility

Affordable homeownership is not only an economic issue. It is a community issue. When families can find stable homes at prices that match their income, we strengthen Kyle at every level. We create a more resilient, connected community where people can live, work, and build their futures.

I believe that with honest conversation, thoughtful planning, and a shared commitment to inclusion, Kyle can grow while staying true to who we are. By expanding access to homeownership and filling the missing middle, we would be investing in our neighbors and in the long-term success of our entire city.