[millimeterman]

It's worth noting that while Houston does not have zoning in the strict sense (e.g. assigning land to be commercial only or single family home only), it does still have quite a few harmful restrictions on land use such as parking minimums and minimum lot sizes. These regulations enforce low-density construction and car-dependence, even in the absence of exclusive zoning.

As a result, while Houston has succeeded in keeping prices under control, it should be not looked at as an example of housing and land use perfection. It's also critically important to not look at Houston and get the impression that lax zoning creates suburban sprawl (something which California really doesn't need more of). Lax land-use regulation is, in fact, an excellent tool to decrease sprawl and increase density.