Why This “Buyer’s Market” Isn’t What It Seems
At a Christmas party last week, someone at my table asked what I do for a living.
When I said I’m a real estate broker, the questions came fast: “So, how’s the market?”
I smiled — because that’s always the question — and answered honestly:
We’re entering a borderline buyer’s market. Inventory is up, days on market are longer, and sellers are starting to negotiate again.
But this buyer’s market is different.
Inventory may be rising, but affordability remains painfully out of reach for many families.
The issue isn’t supply alone — it’s access.
💡 The Illusion of a “Buyer’s Market”
Across North Texas, and nationally, the numbers tell a tough story.
Home prices have risen faster than wages for more than a decade, while mortgage rates hover near 7%. Even with more homes on the market, many buyers simply can’t afford to buy them.
In Tarrant County, the median home price is around $345,000.
The median household income sits near $80,000.
That math doesn’t add up — not when you factor in taxes, insurance, and childcare.
So yes, inventory is higher. But affordability hasn’t caught up.
🏡 The Promise — and Limits — of Assistance Programs
When people ask for solutions, I point to affordable housing initiatives and down payment assistance programs. These are essential — Texas has some great options:
Tarrant County Homebuyer Assistance Program: up to $50,000 for eligible buyers.
Fort Worth Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP): up to $25,000 within city limits.
Statewide programs through TSAHC and My First Texas Home, offering grants or low-interest second liens.
The challenge?
Most have loan limits around $300,000–$350,000, and finding a desirable family home in that range isn’t easy anymore.
And those income caps that define “eligibility”?
They often exclude the very people who need help most.
⚖️ The Missing Middle
I hear it all the time from middle-income professionals — teachers, nurses, first responders, small-business owners:
“We make too much to qualify for assistance, but not enough to afford the next home our family needs.”
They’re the backbone of our communities — yet they’re being priced out of the neighborhoods they serve.
Meanwhile, lower-income households who do qualify often can’t use the programs because of credit or underwriting barriers. So funds sit unused, and families stay stuck.
This is the missing middle — the overlooked gap between subsidized housing and the open market. And it’s growing.
🏗️ What Needs to Change
Real affordability takes both policy reform and market innovation.
Here’s where we can start:
Expand income and purchase-price limits so moderate-income buyers can access assistance.
Incentivize builders to create “missing middle” housing — attainable, family-sized homes below the luxury tier.
Partner with nonprofits and lenders for credit repair and homebuyer readiness programs.
Modernize zoning and density rules so we can build smarter, not just bigger.
❤️ Closing Thought
We can’t call this a buyer’s market when most buyers are locked out.
Affordability isn’t just a low-income issue anymore — it’s a middle-class crisis.
Until we redefine what “affordable” truly means and modernize who qualifies for help, we’ll keep watching families get priced out of their own communities.
Kathy (Katherine) Rzad
Broker | Seven Lilies Realty | Radius Agent Managing Broker
📍 Arlington–Mansfield, TX | Advocate for elevated professionalism & attainable homeownership
✨ Let’s talk about housing that works for everyone.
What solutions do you think could help bridge the gap for the “missing middle”?
