HOUSTON — Housing affordability is improving across Greater Houston, but the region’s latest figures underscore why homes below the median price remain important to buyers.

The Houston Association of Realtors reported that 40% of area households could afford a median-priced home in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 36% a year earlier. The improvement still left most households below that affordability benchmark. HAR’s second-quarter affordability report

August brought further moderation in prices. Greater Houston’s single-family median sale price was $330,000, down 1.5% from a year earlier, according to HAR’s September 9 market report. Those regional figures encompass different neighborhoods and property types, rather than describing every local market equally. HAR’s August market report

In Montgomery County, Alta Homes is among the builders offering homes below that regional median, with advertised prices beginning in the $170,000s.

As of September 10, the company listed a two-bedroom home at Lake Conroe Village in the Montgomery area for $174,990. Its inventory also included a three-bedroom home at Lexington Heights in Willis for $239,990, with October availability, and a three-bedroom home at Crockett Meadows in Conroe for $254,990. These are asking prices for specific properties, subject to availability. Alta’s published inventory

“Buyers in these areas are asking for affordability, but they still want a nice place to call home,” said Dru Kahlenberg, CEO of Alta Homes. “We’ve adjusted our construction designs and our approach to better meet that need.”

Kahlenberg said the company’s focus includes maintaining construction quality at its entry-level prices and providing personal guidance through the buying process. For Alta, he said, responding to affordability concerns involves both the home itself and the experience of purchasing it.

For buyers, an attainable purchase price is the beginning of the calculation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends accounting for property taxes, insurance, association fees where applicable, utilities and maintenance alongside the mortgage payment. CFPB’s homebuying budget guidance

A home in Willis, Conroe or the Montgomery area may offer a different balance of price, space and location than a property closer to central Houston. Comparing those tradeoffs—and the full cost of ownership—helps buyers determine which option fits their household.