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Invest · Rental income on the coast

Where should you buy a rental beach house in Texas?

Start where renters already go. On October 12, 2026, 499 of the 1,675 homes for sale on our coast report mentioned rental use, led by Port Aransas (40% of listings) and North Padre Island (30% of listings). Asking price per square foot runs from $187 in Ingleside to $449 in Port Aransas.

Coast rental signals, October 12, 2026

The rental picture

499
Listings that mention rental use
158
Gulf front or Gulf view listings
Ingleside: $187
Lowest asking $/sq ft
Port Aransas: $449
Highest asking $/sq ft
By town

Asking prices and rental activity

Homes for sale on October 12, 2026. Texas is a non-disclosure state, so sale prices are not public. Every figure here is an asking price or days listed on homes for sale on October 12, 2026, from the Houston and South Texas MLS feeds.

TownFor saleMedian askingAsking $/sq ftMention rentalsMedian days listed
Port Aransas589$610,000$449236 (40%)171
North Padre Island532$332,000$254160 (30%)115
Fulton15$349,900$2314 (27%)126
Rockport335$399,000$29376 (23%)98
Aransas Pass138$312,000$21116 (12%)97
Ingleside66$319,000$1877 (11%)80

How we read the numbers

A town where a large share of listings mention rentals has a working rental market: guests already know it, managers already serve it, and the next buyer will underwrite it the same way. Asking price per square foot shows what you pay for the space. Days listed shows how much room there is to negotiate. Texas is a non-disclosure state, so sale prices are not public. Every figure here is an asking price or days listed on homes for sale on October 12, 2026, from the Houston and South Texas MLS feeds.

Mustang Island and Port Aransas

The deepest rental town on our report. 236 of 589 listings mention rental use, the median asking price is $610,000 ($449 a square foot), and the median home has been listed 171 days, which gives buyers real room. Meraki Beach, where Rick has five listings, is a small villa community there with rooftop terraces, plunge pools and new beach access.

The Texas Space Coast

South Padre Island, Port Isabel and Laguna Vista sit beside SpaceX's Starbase at Boca Chica, which became its own Texas city in 2025. Launches draw visitors, crews and contractors to a stretch of coast with a limited supply of homes. We think it is the most interesting rental story on the Texas coast right now. Our Space Coast guide covers each town.

Run the numbers before you fall for the view

Ask every seller for two years of rental statements, the management contract and the insurance bill. Windstorm insurance, HOA rules on short-term rentals and city rental permits change the math more than the furniture does. We will put the numbers side by side for any home you like.

The Texas Space Coast

South Padre to Starbase

Space Coast guide
South Padre Island

South Padre Island

The island at the southern tip of Texas, between the Laguna Madre and the Gulf.

 Port Isabel

Port Isabel

The causeway town on the mainland side, with the lighthouse and the fishing fleet.

 Laguna Vista

Laguna Vista

Quiet bayfront living on the Laguna Madre, a short drive to the causeway.

 Starbase

Starbase

SpaceX's launch site at Boca Chica, south of the island across Brazos Santiago Pass.

Investor list

Get rental-ready listings before they hit the portals.

Tell us your budget, towns and what you want the property to earn. We will send homes with real rental numbers. Or call 214.906.9834.

Texas coast rental investing

Which Texas beach town has the most rental activity?

By share of listings that mention rental use on October 12, 2026: Port Aransas (40%), North Padre Island (30%), Fulton (27%).

What is the cheapest Texas beach town per square foot?

Ingleside, at a median asking price of $187 a square foot on October 12, 2026. Aransas Pass ($211) and Fulton ($231) follow.

What is the most expensive Texas beach town per square foot?

Port Aransas, at a median asking price of $449 a square foot on October 12, 2026.

Is Port Aransas a good place to buy a rental?

It has the deepest rental market on our report: 236 of 589 homes for sale mention rental use. Median asking price was $610,000 and the median listing had been up 171 days, so buyers have room to negotiate.

What is the Texas Space Coast?

The southern tip of the Texas coast around SpaceX's Starbase at Boca Chica: South Padre Island, Port Isabel and Laguna Vista. See our Space Coast guide.

Does Starbase affect South Padre Island real estate?

Launch activity brings visitors, crews and contractors to a small supply of homes, which is why investors are watching the area. Ask us for current listings and rental numbers there.

Why are only asking prices shown?

Texas is a non-disclosure state, so sale prices are not public. Every figure here is an asking price or days listed on homes for sale on October 12, 2026, from the Houston and South Texas MLS feeds.

What costs do beach rental investors underestimate?

Windstorm and flood insurance, HOA rules on short-term rentals, city rental permits and hotel occupancy taxes, and maintenance from salt air.

Can I buy a condo as a short-term rental?

Often, but the condo association rules decide it. Check the declaration and rental rules before you make an offer; we pull them for every property we show.

How do I get investment listings?

Join the investor list with the form on this page or call 214.906.9834.