Investor-friendly real estate agents in Houston, TX
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Get matched in Houston3 vetted investor agents across the Houston metro
Houston is the cheapest of Texas's big metros to buy into after San Antonio, with typical home values around $305,000 and rents about $1,650, which gives it the best rent-to-price ratio of the four. It has no zoning, so what a lot can be used for is set by deed restrictions instead. It also floods: Hurricane Harvey flooded about 154,000 homes in Harris County in 2017, and most of their owners didn't have flood insurance. Underwrite flood risk and insurance first and Houston can work. Our three vetted partners cover the whole metro, from Katy and Sugar Land to The Woodlands, Conroe and the coast, and do off-market deals, buy-and-hold, small multifamily and STRs.
Deals sourced through active Houston wholesalers, from a partner who spent four years as a wholesale acquisitions agent and contracted 100+ deals.
Single-family through small multifamily rentals, with local vendor lists and property manager introductions for out-of-state owners.
STRs in Houston and on the coast at Galveston and Crystal Beach, plus Lake Conroe to the north.
Video tours, MLS data and local contractor and manager connections for investors who can't walk the property.
Is Houston worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Houston metro, straight from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow. Hover or tap a chart for exact values.
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5,946,825 |
| 2011 | 6,054,200 |
| 2012 | 6,179,862 |
| 2013 | 6,322,916 |
| 2014 | 6,493,223 |
| 2015 | 6,663,204 |
| 2016 | 6,797,263 |
| 2017 | 6,888,415 |
| 2018 | 6,963,003 |
| 2019 | 7,050,007 |
| 2020 | 7,169,284 |
| 2021 | 7,248,044 |
| 2022 | 7,406,285 |
| 2023 | 7,587,646 |
| 2024 | 7,777,907 |
| 2025 | 7,904,627 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | +23,581 |
| 2012 | +39,042 |
| 2013 | +54,770 |
| 2014 | +66,988 |
| 2015 | +62,064 |
| 2016 | +27,136 |
| 2017 | -9,472 |
| 2018 | -10,274 |
| 2019 | +6,028 |
| 2020 | +19,760 |
| 2021 | +26,259 |
| 2022 | +37,649 |
| 2023 | +40,015 |
| 2024 | +20,136 |
| 2025 | +7,308 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,569,700 |
| 2011 | 2,636,800 |
| 2012 | 2,740,300 |
| 2013 | 2,842,300 |
| 2014 | 2,941,400 |
| 2015 | 2,994,900 |
| 2016 | 2,994,400 |
| 2017 | 3,022,100 |
| 2018 | 3,089,700 |
| 2019 | 3,162,000 |
| 2020 | 3,002,400 |
| 2021 | 3,074,400 |
| 2022 | 3,252,100 |
| 2023 | 3,376,900 |
| 2024 | 3,436,400 |
| 2025 | 3,470,700 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | $1,233/mo |
| Dec 2016 | $1,229/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $1,286/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $1,309/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $1,335/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $1,350/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $1,501/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,566/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,600/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,629/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,629/mo |
| Aug 2026 | $1,643/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $150,122 |
| Dec 2011 | $144,583 |
| Dec 2012 | $147,316 |
| Dec 2013 | $161,423 |
| Dec 2014 | $179,597 |
| Dec 2015 | $196,221 |
| Dec 2016 | $204,936 |
| Dec 2017 | $212,137 |
| Dec 2018 | $221,709 |
| Dec 2019 | $229,315 |
| Dec 2020 | $243,567 |
| Dec 2021 | $283,207 |
| Dec 2022 | $317,518 |
| Dec 2023 | $314,822 |
| Dec 2024 | $316,308 |
| Dec 2025 | $309,914 |
| Aug 2026 | $305,001 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | 13.3× |
| Dec 2016 | 13.9× |
| Dec 2017 | 13.7× |
| Dec 2018 | 14.1× |
| Dec 2019 | 14.3× |
| Dec 2020 | 15.0× |
| Dec 2021 | 15.7× |
| Dec 2022 | 16.9× |
| Dec 2023 | 16.4× |
| Dec 2024 | 16.2× |
| Dec 2025 | 15.9× |
| Aug 2026 | 15.5× |
Data retrieved October 15, 2026. Figures cover the Houston metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Houston
Zillow Home Value Index, Houston metro, Aug 2026 (−1.9% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Aug 2026 (+0.1% YoY). Single-family 3-beds rent higher.
Typical rent ÷ typical home value. Well under the 1% rule; plan on cash flow from buying right, not from rents.
Over the past year: home values −1.9%, rents +0.1%.
Texas landlord-tenant basics
Texas is one of the more landlord-friendly states, and the law is statewide: cities can't add rent control. Eviction procedure changed on January 1, 2026 (SB 38), so guides written before then are out of date on notice delivery and court timelines. The points investors ask about most:
- No rent control: cities may only regulate rent after a disaster declaration and with the governor's approval (Local Government Code § 214.902). There's no statewide cap on increases; the lease controls, and month-to-month tenancies change terms with a month's notice.
- Eviction: a written notice to vacate (or, for unpaid rent, to pay or vacate) is required before filing, with 3 days' notice unless the lease sets a different period (Property Code § 24.005). SB 38, for suits filed on or after January 1, 2026, changed how that notice can be delivered and sped up the court process. Use a current form or an eviction attorney.
- Security deposit: refund it, with a written itemized list of deductions, within 30 days after the tenant moves out (§§ 92.103–92.104). You don't have to until the tenant gives a written forwarding address (§ 92.107). Withholding in bad faith costs $100 plus three times the amount withheld, plus attorney's fees.
- Late fees must be in a written lease and can't be charged until rent is unpaid two full days after the due date. A fee of up to 12% of monthly rent (buildings of 4 units or fewer) or 10% (larger buildings) is presumed reasonable (§ 92.019).
- Repairs: if a tenant who is current on rent gives notice of a condition that materially affects health or safety, and you don't make a diligent effort to repair within a reasonable time (7 days is presumed reasonable), the tenant can end the lease, repair and deduct, or sue (§§ 92.056–92.0561).
- Texas has no statute setting a notice period for landlord entry. Put an entry clause in your lease.
Short-term rental rules in Houston
Houston started requiring short-term rental registration on January 1, 2026 (City Code ch. 28, art. XXIII, adopted in 2025). It's a registration program, not a ban: there's no zoning to restrict where STRs go.
- Every STR inside city limits (any unit rented for less than 30 consecutive days) needs its own certificate of registration, renewed annually, at $275 per property per year plus any city administrative fee.
- You need a 24/7 emergency contact who can reach the property within an hour, proof of approved human-trafficking awareness training, and proof of hotel tax registration. The certificate has to be posted inside the front entrance.
- Platforms must remove non-compliant listings after notice from the city, and violations carry daily fines.
- Hotel occupancy tax is 17% in total inside Houston: 7% city (filed with Houston First), 2% Harris County, 2% Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, and 6% state.
- Deed restrictions are Houston's substitute for zoning, and the city can enforce them. Many subdivisions' restrictions limit commercial or short-term use, so read them before you buy. Suburbs and unincorporated areas have their own rules.
Last reviewed October 13, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice — rules and fees change, so confirm with the city, the statute, or your attorney before you rely on them. Sources: Zillow Research data (ZHVI, ZORI) — Houston metro; City of Houston — Short-term rental registration; City of Houston — STR ordinance as adopted (2025); City of Houston — STR answers to FAQs; Houston First — Hotel occupancy tax filing; Harris County Tax Office — Hotel occupancy tax; City of Houston — Deed restrictions FAQ; Houston Permitting Center — Floodplain management (Chapter 19); Harris County Flood Control District — Hurricane Harvey; Texas Property Code § 5.008 — Seller's disclosure; Texas Property Code ch. 92 — Residential tenancies; Texas Property Code ch. 24 — Forcible entry and detainer; Texas Local Government Code § 214.902 — Rent control; SB 38 (89th Legislature, 2025) — Eviction procedure, enrolled text; Texas Comptroller — Hotel occupancy tax.
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Questions investors ask about Houston
Which areas do your Houston agents cover?
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Our three vetted partners cover the Houston metro: Katy, Sugar Land, Missouri City and Pearland; Spring, The Woodlands and Conroe to the north; Galveston and Crystal Beach on the coast; and College Station and Huntsville. They handle off-market deals, buy-and-hold, small multifamily, STRs and out-of-state buyers. We match you with up to three.
Does Houston cash flow?
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Better than Austin or Dallas, but not at median prices with a mortgage once you add Texas property taxes and Gulf Coast insurance. Typical rent is about 0.54% of value a month. The deals that cash flow here are bought below market, frequently off market, with taxes and insurance quoted up front.
How do I check flood risk on a Houston property?
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Start with the seller's disclosure: Texas sellers must disclose 100- and 500-year floodplain status and past flood insurance claims. Then check the FEMA flood map and Harris County's flood tools, ask whether the house flooded in Harvey (2017), and get a flood insurance quote. Homes outside the mapped floodplain flooded in Harvey too, so don't skip flood coverage just because a lender doesn't require it.
Does Houston really have no zoning?
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Right. The city doesn't zone land uses. Instead, recorded deed restrictions control what most neighborhoods can build or operate, and the city helps enforce them. Have the title company pull the restrictions for any property you plan to add units to or run as an STR.
Do I need a permit for an Airbnb in Houston?
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Yes, since January 1, 2026. Each short-term rental in city limits needs an annual certificate of registration ($275 per property per year), a 24/7 contact who can be on site within an hour, human-trafficking awareness training and hotel tax registration. Hotel taxes total 17% inside Houston.
Is Texas landlord-friendly?
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Yes. Cities can't impose rent control, there's no cap on rent increases, evictions start with a 3-day notice to vacate unless the lease says otherwise, and deposits are due back within 30 days of move-out once the tenant gives a forwarding address. The catch is property tax: Texas has no state income tax and leans on property tax instead, so expect annual bills of roughly 2% of assessed value in most of these metros. That, plus insurance, is what usually breaks Texas rental math.
What does it cost to get matched with a Houston agent?
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Nothing. Agents Invest is free for investors. The agent pays us a referral fee only if you close a deal with them.
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