Texas averages a 6.1% gross long-term rental yield on a $235,000 median 3-bedroom house, with $1,190 monthly rent. Yields range widely across the 1981 neighborhoods in our dataset; the city guides below cover the markets investors most often ask about.
Property tax averages 1.25% of value across the state. Regulatory environments vary by city, short-term rental rules in particular are a city-by-city question, not a state-wide one. Each linked city guide covers its specific regulations, suburb-level yields, and total operating costs.
City Markets Covered in Texas
- Austin Short-Term Rentals Gross 136% More, but Net Yields Stay Thin
- Dallas Short-Term Rentals Gross 98% More, but Costs Narrow the Gap
- Fort Worth Long-Term Rentals Yield 6.0%, Short-Term Caps Kill the Alternative
- Houston's 9.4% Short-Term Yield Hides a Thin Net Return
Browse the dashboard → Free preview · every neighborhood in Texas
Texas State-Level Snapshot
State-level medians smooth across very different markets. For example, in Texas the spread between top-yielding neighborhoods between cheaper and premium markets can vary by several percentage points. Click into any city guide above to see neighborhood-level rankings.
Explore Texas in the dashboard
Free preview with neighborhood-level data, every bedroom count, every property type.
View Texas →Methodology and Assumptions
Defaults used in the figures above. All inputs are adjustable in the dashboard.
How available nights are determined
Available nights default to 330 per year, reflecting an active operator with minimal blocked time. Where local regulations cap whole-home short-term lets (for example London at 90 nights, New South Wales at 180), the cap is applied. In markets where short-term rental requires owner-occupancy or is otherwise prohibited for investment properties, available nights drop to zero.
How occupancy is measured
The percentage of available nights that get booked, drawn from market data. A property listed for 200 nights with 100 bookings shows 50% occupancy. Adjustable in the dashboard.
Long-term rental management default
Defaults to self-managed (zero management fee), reflecting the most common arrangement for US individual investors. The dashboard slider lets you add a property manager fee if you plan to outsource.
Short-term rental management default
Set to self-managed (zero management fee) by default, the most common arrangement for individual investors. Hiring a professional manager typically costs 20-25% of gross revenue and reduces net yield proportionally. Toggle in the dashboard.
How property tax is calculated
Calculated as a percentage of property value, varying by state and county. California properties show lower effective rates due to Proposition 13's 1% cap on assessed value. Property tax sits with the owner; long-term tenants do not pay it.
Sampling and data sources
Short-term rental yield figures reflect properties currently listed on short-term rental platforms. In high-tourism markets, listings tend to concentrate in central postcodes, which can pull city-median yields above what residential areas of the same city would achieve. Yields for any specific suburb may differ materially from the city-wide median.
For metric definitions and broader methodology, see the About page.
Data reflects market conditions as of April 2026. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial or legal advice. Regulations and market conditions change frequently. Verify current rules with local authorities before making investment decisions.