Texas Housing Crisis Deepens as Industry Pros Take Control of Regulation

On May 6, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Kristi Davis, James B. Goodwin, and Mark Woodroof to the Texas Real Estate Commission, a body tasked with overseeing brokers and protecting homebuyers. These seasoned real estate professionals now hold significant power in a state where housing costs are crushing families. With Texas facing a dire affordability crisis, their deep industry connections raise a critical concern: can they prioritize the public’s needs over the interests of their peers?

The stakes are staggering. Median home prices in Texas jumped 40 percent from 2019 to 2023, and 91 percent of extremely low-income renters struggle to pay rent. The Commission exists to ensure fair dealings and transparency in real estate. Yet appointing industry insiders to lead it feels like handing the keys to those already profiting from a broken system, leaving everyday Texans to wonder who’s truly looking out for them.

The credentials of Davis, Goodwin, and Woodroof are extensive. Davis serves as vice president at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and has led major real estate groups. Goodwin, owner of JBGoodwin REALTORS, previously chaired the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Woodroof, named Commission chair, leads Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene. Their expertise offers valuable insight, but their ties to the industry threaten to skew priorities.

Nationwide, boards dominated by professionals often protect insiders, raising costs and limiting competition. The National Association of REALTORS, where all three have held leadership roles, recently faced antitrust challenges over commission practices that inflate homebuying expenses. Such connections suggest these appointees may favor policies that preserve the industry’s profits rather than challenge practices harming consumers.

Texas’ housing crisis demands regulators who put people first. Nationally, 70 percent of households cannot afford a $400,000 home, and Texas lacks over 665,000 affordable rental units. Recent reforms, like the 2024 NAR settlement mandating clear buyer-agent agreements, prove that strong consumer protections can reshape markets. Yet a Commission led by industry veterans risks weakening these gains, focusing on broker interests instead of enforcing transparency.

Advocates for housing justice push for bold solutions, like the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act, which could build millions of affordable units and lower rents by 10 percent. These efforts require state-level allies. A Commission prioritizing industry goals could stall progress, leaving renters and first-time buyers vulnerable in a market stacked against them.

Defenders of these appointments argue that industry knowledge ensures effective regulation. Professionals understand the market’s complexities, they claim. Yet expertise alone isn’t enough. States like California balance their licensing boards with public members to keep consumer needs central. Texas’ Commission, with just three public members out of nine, tilts heavily toward industry voices, risking oversight that favors profits over fairness.

History underscores the danger. The 2007-09 financial crisis, driven by weak regulation, devastated homeowners when insiders held too much sway. Consumer protection laws, like the 1974 Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, have curbed abuses, but only when enforced by regulators committed to the public. Texas must avoid repeating past mistakes in today’s volatile market.

Texas needs a Real Estate Commission that reflects the public’s urgency. Increasing public members, enforcing strict conflict-of-interest rules, and focusing on affordability can rebuild trust. The housing crisis affects real people, families priced out of homes and renters stretched to breaking. Regulators must champion their cause, not the industry’s wealth.

As these appointees face Senate confirmation, Texans deserve a voice. The Commission’s choices will shape housing for years, deciding whether the market serves the many or enriches the few. Transparency and accountability must guide the way, ensuring regulators fight for a Texas where everyone has a fair shot at a home.