Buying or building a home in Texas has never been more expensive. Families in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin are facing some of the fastest-rising housing costs in the nation. When every dollar counts, it surprises many people to learn that the International Residential Code (IRC) — the book of rules that governs how houses are built — actually lists “affordability” as one of its core purposes.
If the code itself says housing must be affordable, then why aren’t today’s houses affordable? Let’s unpack what that really means — and why it matters for Texans navigating the housing market.
The IRC: The Rulebook for Home Construction
The IRC is the baseline standard for nearly all new single-family homes and townhomes in Texas. Cities and counties adopt it (usually with local amendments), and inspectors use it to ensure builders meet minimum safety and performance requirements.
Section R101.3 of the IRC states:
“The purpose of this code is to establish minimum requirements to safeguard the public safety, health and general welfare through affordability, structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment, and to provide safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.”
Notice the very first word: affordability.
How “Affordability” Got into the Code
Before 2015, affordability wasn’t mentioned at all. The code’s intent was focused entirely on health and safety. That changed when the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) successfully lobbied to insert the term during the 2012–2015 code hearings.
The argument was simple: new code provisions, especially in areas like energy efficiency and structural resilience, were driving up construction costs. To protect consumers, affordability needed to be explicitly recognized.
But there’s a catch. While the word was added, no definitions, measurements, or enforcement tools came with it. In other words, “affordability” was written in for political reasons, not technical ones.
Does Affordability Really Come First?
By listing affordability ahead of structural safety, fire safety, and sanitation, the code appears to suggest it’s the top priority. But that’s not how it plays out in real life.
- Inspectors don’t measure affordability. There’s no formula or checklist that allows me to say, “This home is affordable; therefore, it passes.”
- Life safety cannot be bargained away. Builders cannot justify leaving out fire blocking, cutting corners on wiring, or weakening foundations simply because it would cost less.
- Courts treat safety as paramount. When building disputes reach litigation, judges consistently hold that health, habitability, and good workmanship override cost every time.
So while affordability sits first in the sentence, it does not legally outrank safety.
Why Houses Still Aren’t Affordable
If affordability is in the code, why are homes across Texas anything but affordable? The truth is that building codes are not the main driver of cost.
The biggest contributors are:
- Land prices – the cost of lots has surged, especially in metro areas.
- Labor shortages – fewer skilled tradespeople mean higher wages and longer build times.
- Material supply chains – lumber, steel, and concrete costs fluctuate wildly.
- Builder profits and marketing – many “standard” homes are packed with upgrades that inflate prices.
By contrast, code updates add relatively little. Studies by HUD and the ICC have found that most new safety or energy provisions increase the cost of a home by 1–2% at most. Land and financing can swing prices by 20–40%.
What This Means for Texas Homeowners
The inclusion of affordability in the IRC has a few practical consequences:
- Builders use it as a talking point. They may claim stricter inspections or upgraded code requirements hurt affordability.
- Homeowners should be skeptical. The word “affordability” in the code is not a free pass for shortcuts. It doesn’t excuse unsafe or substandard construction.
- Minimum code is just that — minimum. Even with affordability written in, the IRC sets only the lowest bar for acceptable construction. Many builders barely meet it.
For buyers, this means a new home isn’t guaranteed to be affordable, and more importantly, it isn’t guaranteed to be well-built just because it passed inspection.
The Texas Legal Angle
In Texas, affordability cannot erase fundamental homeowner protections. Courts have long held that every home carries implied warranties of habitability and good workmanship.
- Humber v. Morton (Tex. 1968) established that new homes must be habitable.
- Melody Home Mfg. v. Barnes (Tex. 1987) reinforced the warranty of good workmanship.
Neither of these can be waived because of affordability. A builder can’t argue, “We skipped that because it was too expensive.”
The Inspector’s Perspective
As an ICC-certified Residential Combination Inspector and TREC-licensed inspector, I’ve seen thousands of homes across North Texas. My conclusion is simple: affordability in the IRC is symbolic, not practical.
Homes today are not affordable in the true sense, and the presence of that word in the code hasn’t changed the reality for buyers. If anything, it has given builders a convenient slogan when fighting against stronger safety or energy requirements.
That’s why independent inspection is critical. The code sets a floor, but it does not ensure value, quality, or affordability. Only a thorough, unbiased inspection can protect your investment.
Takeaway for Homebuyers and Owners
- Don’t be fooled by the word “affordability” in the building code. It doesn’t mean your house will be affordable.
- The real purpose of the IRC is — and always has been — safety and habitability.
- Housing costs in Texas are driven by market forces, not the inspector who insists a foundation be properly reinforced or that wiring meet the National Electrical Code.
Bottom line: Affordability may be written into the code, but it doesn’t protect your wallet. What protects you is making sure your home is safe, durable, and code-compliant. That’s why hiring an independent inspector is one of the most affordable decisions you
