Housing price to income ratio is almost the same, maybe about 10% higher in Dallas. So it doesn't seem like the zoning in these a lot of these other cities is really is what holding increasing housing prices. Houston shows that you can have a city that works very successfully that allows suburbs to choose some amount of their own zoning.
Economic historian Judge Glock talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about zoning and the housing market. Glock argues the impact on zoning on housing affordability is small and that we should learn to love property taxes as long as they're administered properly. The conversation includes a discussion of the environmental impact of urban sprawl--Glock argues sprawl has certain environmental benefits.