Investor-friendly real estate agents in Killeen, TX
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Killeen exists because of Fort Hood, the largest active-duty armored post in the country with nearly 40,000 soldiers (the post was called Fort Cavazos from 2023 to 2025). That makes it one of the steadiest rental markets in Texas: soldiers and their families rent, and they turn over on a schedule. Prices are low, around $250,000 for a typical home across the Killeen-Temple metro, with rents about $1,330, a rent-to-price ratio level with Houston's and well ahead of Austin's or Dallas's. The trade-offs are turnover, older housing stock in parts of the city, and a city tax rate that went up again for 2026-27. Our vetted partner here is based in Temple and works residential, land and commercial deals across Central Texas.
Single-family buying across the Killeen-Temple area, from a partner who grew up in Central Texas.
Land development and commercial sales and leasing through a Central Texas commercial brokerage.
Is Killeen worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Killeen-Temple 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 | 408,508 |
| 2011 | 413,537 |
| 2012 | 425,586 |
| 2013 | 426,941 |
| 2014 | 430,344 |
| 2015 | 437,434 |
| 2016 | 442,166 |
| 2017 | 449,506 |
| 2018 | 458,564 |
| 2019 | 469,408 |
| 2020 | 477,213 |
| 2021 | 487,370 |
| 2022 | 494,704 |
| 2023 | 502,497 |
| 2024 | 506,188 |
| 2025 | 511,497 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | -1,974 |
| 2012 | +3,152 |
| 2013 | -6,767 |
| 2014 | -4,362 |
| 2015 | -952 |
| 2016 | -2,187 |
| 2017 | +1,348 |
| 2018 | +3,558 |
| 2019 | +5,797 |
| 2020 | +2,565 |
| 2021 | +7,159 |
| 2022 | +3,315 |
| 2023 | +2,934 |
| 2024 | -1,695 |
| 2025 | +821 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 128,800 |
| 2011 | 129,400 |
| 2012 | 130,400 |
| 2013 | 132,300 |
| 2014 | 133,400 |
| 2015 | 137,300 |
| 2016 | 141,200 |
| 2017 | 143,300 |
| 2018 | 143,300 |
| 2019 | 145,200 |
| 2020 | 142,300 |
| 2021 | 146,600 |
| 2022 | 151,000 |
| 2023 | 153,800 |
| 2024 | 156,400 |
| 2025 | 157,200 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | $839/mo |
| Dec 2016 | $851/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $867/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $894/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $936/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $1,029/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $1,242/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,292/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,304/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,315/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,321/mo |
| Aug 2026 | $1,330/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $140,418 |
| Dec 2011 | $135,479 |
| Dec 2012 | $134,848 |
| Dec 2013 | $134,813 |
| Dec 2014 | $137,658 |
| Dec 2015 | $142,280 |
| Dec 2016 | $146,765 |
| Dec 2017 | $152,515 |
| Dec 2018 | $162,907 |
| Dec 2019 | $172,127 |
| Dec 2020 | $190,205 |
| Dec 2021 | $233,820 |
| Dec 2022 | $269,020 |
| Dec 2023 | $260,266 |
| Dec 2024 | $257,487 |
| Dec 2025 | $253,290 |
| Aug 2026 | $250,457 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | 14.1× |
| Dec 2016 | 14.4× |
| Dec 2017 | 14.7× |
| Dec 2018 | 15.2× |
| Dec 2019 | 15.3× |
| Dec 2020 | 15.4× |
| Dec 2021 | 15.7× |
| Dec 2022 | 17.4× |
| Dec 2023 | 16.6× |
| Dec 2024 | 16.3× |
| Dec 2025 | 16.0× |
| Aug 2026 | 15.7× |
Data retrieved October 15, 2026. Figures cover the Killeen-Temple metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Killeen
Zillow Home Value Index, Killeen-Temple metro, Aug 2026 (−1.5% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Aug 2026 (−0.5% 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 −1.5%, rents −0.5%.
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.
- Military tenants: the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act lets a servicemember end a lease early with written notice and a copy of permanent-change-of-station or deployment orders (90 days or more). Expect it, and write your lease and underwriting with it in mind.
Short-term rental rules in Killeen
Killeen requires every short-term rental (any room or home rented for less than 30 days) to register with the city each year, under a program approved in October 2023 that opened for registration in May 2024. The rules are under review: a July 2026 city audit found only about 8% of STRs compliant, and the council has asked for recommended changes.
- Per the city's December 2025 FAQ, the first-year permit is $200, including an initial inspection, and renewal is $100 a year. Check the current fee schedule; the 2026 review may drop the inspection requirement.
- Hotel occupancy tax is due on every STR stay: 7% city, 2% Bell County and 6% state, about 15% in total. Confirm which portions your platform remits.
- Traveling military, contractors and visiting families make mid-term (30+ day) furnished rentals a common alternative. Stays of 30 days or more aren't STRs and don't owe hotel tax.
- Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Temple and Belton set their own rules. HOAs can prohibit STRs regardless.
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) — Killeen-Temple metro; U.S. Army — About Fort Hood; City of Killeen — Short-term rentals; City of Killeen — Short-term rental FAQ and checklist (Dec 2025); Killeen Daily Herald — City audit shows STR compliance problems (2026); City of Killeen — Finance (hotel occupancy tax); City of Killeen — FY2027 tax rate; U.S. Department of Justice — Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; 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 Killeen
Who will I work with in Killeen?
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Our vetted partner for the Killeen-Temple area is based in Temple, grew up in Central Texas, and works with a commercial brokerage on residential sales, land development and commercial deals. If your deal is a better fit for someone else, we'll tell you upfront.
Is Killeen a good rental market?
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It's one of the better rent-to-price markets in Texas: typical rents are around 0.53% of typical home value a month across the metro, versus about 0.4–0.46% in Austin and Dallas. Demand comes from Fort Hood's nearly 40,000 soldiers and their families. The trade-offs are regular turnover when units rotate or PCS, and property taxes that take a bigger share of rent than investors from other states expect.
Is it Fort Hood or Fort Cavazos?
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Fort Hood. The post was renamed Fort Cavazos in 2023 and the Army restored the Fort Hood name in 2025, now honoring Col. Robert B. Hood, a World War I Distinguished Service Cross recipient. You'll still see both names in listings and older guides.
Can a military tenant break the lease?
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Yes. Under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a servicemember who gets permanent-change-of-station orders or deploys for 90 days or more can end a lease early with written notice and a copy of the orders. In a military town, plan for it rather than fight it.
Do I need a permit for an Airbnb in Killeen?
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Yes. Every short-term rental has to register with the city each year, and you owe about 15% in hotel taxes (city, county and state). The city is reviewing the program in 2026, so check the current fees and inspection rules before you list.
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 Killeen 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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