58% of Texas owner-occupied housing have a mortgage loan, compared to 63.3% nationwide.  This is due to state’s lower-than-national home prices that enable 42% of Texas households either to pay cash or repay the mortgage sooner.  Since 1978, the price of a Texas home purchased with a mortgage averaged $161,000 or 82% of the national average price of  $196,300.  MORE TO COME!