Between 1970 and 1980 home prices in Bellaire and West University climbed more slowly than in many Houston communities, including those lacking private neighborhood restrictions against businesses and apartments.4 In fact, between 1990 and 1993, average annual home sale prices actually fell in the two zoned cities while sprinting up in a number of Houston neighborhoods, restricted and unrestricted.5 The financial risks to homes unshielded by zoning are, at best, greatly overstated.

Without zoning, Houston ranks consistently as the leader among major American cities for housing affordability. "It's more affordable here than any other large city in the nation," said University of Houston economist Barton Smith.16 According to Smith, one reason for this affordability is Houston's lack of zoning.17 And a federal report in 1991 cited zoning as a leading cause for the shortage of affordable housing in America.18 How does zoning push up the cost of housing?