Rent too expensive? Co-living is becoming a popular money-saving option for many Houstonians
With Houston's rents averaging $1,900, co-living is emerging as a game-changer for many people.
With Houston apartment rents averaging $1,900 per month and mortgage rates remaining stubbornly high, an innovative housing solution is gaining momentum across the city: co-living.
This shared housing model is helping residents save thousands while finding community in unexpected places.
“I was literally living behind the trees right off of Fry Road,” said Jade Schuler, a local pizza restaurant bartender who found himself homeless earlier this year.
Now, Schuler has a spacious bedroom, access to a full kitchen, and even his own balcony, all for $695 per month.
“Hey, I’m in a house!” he said.
For Uber driver Jose Cruz, co-living has made independent living financially possible.
At just $584 per month, less than a third of Houston’s average apartment rent, Cruz enjoys a private bedroom in a 3,000-square-foot home while sharing common areas with eight other residents.
“It was almost a miracle,” Cruz said about discovering this affordable housing option, “Best of all, everything in this place is far more luxurious than any of the apartments I’ve seen”.
His new home includes:
- Private, security-coded bedroom
- Shared, fully-furnished common areas
- All utilities included
- Access to the kitchen and bathrooms
- Clean, well-maintained living spaces
Elizabeth Rivera, who owns and manages Mission of Grace Homes and owns the house that Jose lives in, explains that co-living is “redefining the way people see housing.” The model offers significant savings; residents, she says, can save an average of $4,800 a year compared to traditional apartment living.
The largest co-living platform in the Houston area, PadSplit, currently lists:
- 260 co-living homes
- 1,769 available rooms
- Monthly leases available
- Criminal background checks required
- Secure, private bedrooms with locks
All co-living properties feature:
- Individual bedroom door locks with security codes
- Thorough tenant screening processes
- Detailed applications required
- Criminal background checks
- Month-to-month lease flexibility
With Houston home values averaging $262,302 and mortgage rates at 6.2%, co-living offers a practical solution to the housing affordability crisis. The model particularly appeals to service workers, gig economy employees, and others seeking affordable housing options in desirable areas.
Several platforms offer co-living options in the Houston area:
