This interactive chart visualizes ownership and home equity data for Houston, Texas. Houston Zip Code 77026 has the highest percentage of homes owned free and clear, with an incredible 74% of homes owned outright (within the top 2%, nationally). The Zip Code with the highest equity overall is 77005, (West University Place), with a median home equity of $787k for homes subject to a mortgage. This puts West University Place's Zip Code among the top 1% nationally. Overall, 42% of Houstonions own their homes free and clear, slightly above the national average.

Houston is a relatively expensive city for earners on the lower end of the income spectrum, with an unfavorable housing affordability ratio for minimum-wage workers. Experts have a range of opinions about whether Houston is in a housing bubble, but in 2019 renting is generally considered a better investment than buying.

The Walletwyse Home Equity Index estimates positive equity in owner-occupied homes for U.S. states, cities and Zip Codes. This includes median home values and mortgage balances, the percentage of homes owned free and clear, and aggregated total equity. The release schedule for our city maps is published here, along with the methodology for the index.