Real Estate Investing in Laredo, Texas (78046)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Webb County • Population: 71,965 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 78046 (Laredo, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated poverty: 25.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Laredo, TX (78046)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $195,869
Avg Monthly Rent $910
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,667
% Renters 21.5%

Market Analysis: 78046 Laredo

The 78046 ZIP covers a section of Laredo that demands careful diligence. Prices near $196K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The 78046 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 78046's metrics run below Webb County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Who lives in 78046 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

leans the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Laredo:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $910/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Laredo, TX Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
4.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Laredo, TX metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$204K$180K$157K$133K$109K$85KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 78046 Compare?

Metric 78046 Laredo Laredo, TX Texas
Home Value $195,869 $152,060 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 2.0% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $910 $1,119 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 78046? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 78046 (Laredo, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Laredo, TX metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
67%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $195,869
Monthly Rent $910
Price-to-Rent 17.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 6.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
7.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 78046

Population: 71,965

💰 Median Household Income
$51,667
This area
$51,667
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.5%
This area
21.5%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.1%
This area
12.1%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
26.0 years
This area
26.0 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.5%
This area
7.5%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 56.2%
Other/Mixed 43.4%
Hispanic/Latino 42.9%
Asian 0.3%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
35.8%
This area
35.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
7.6%
This area
7.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
25.0%
This area
25.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 78046

B+ Avg School Grade
21 Schools
15.1:1 Avg Class Size
$15,054 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

J KAWAS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,187 Per Student
A Very Good

JOAQUIN CIGARROA MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,064 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,187 Per Student
A Very Good

LIGARDE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
591 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,187 Per Student
A Very Good

DR LEO CIGARROA H S

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
1,438 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,187 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ANTONIO GONZALEZ MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
715 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B+ Above Average

KENNEDY ZAPATA EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
340 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LAMAR BRUNI VERGARA MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
717 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LOS OBISPOS MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
658 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

BONNIE L GARCIA EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
615 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
646 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

JOHN W ARNDT EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
797 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

JUDITH ZAFFIRINI EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
603 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

PRADA EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
743 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

RICARDO MOLINA MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
769 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

SALINAS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
753 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-LAREDO SOUTH

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
110 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,137 Per Student
B Good

RODOLFO C CENTENO EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
801 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

VETERANS MEMORIAL EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
807 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
B Good

UNITED STEP ACADEMY

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
182 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
C+ Average

LYNDON B JOHNSON

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
3,271 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,953 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

6 Nearby 4,241 Off-Campus Students
D
Laredo Beauty College Inc
191 students · 11.9 mi
C+
Laredo College
10,191 students · 12.6 mi
B
Texas A & M International University
8,536 students · 13.6 mi
C
Barber Education Academy
43 students · 13.7 mi
C
The Professional Cosmetology Academy
120 students · 13.8 mi
C+
Laredo CHI Academy Beauty School
56 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,241 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Laredo, TX?

Laredo, TX is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $196K price point reasonable to enter.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Laredo, TX?

Rental owners in Laredo, TX deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

How much does a house cost in Laredo, TX?

Laredo, TX median home values land near $196K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $910/mo-per-month rentals.

Is vacancy a concern in Laredo, TX?

Vacancy in Laredo, TX is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $910/mo.

What do landlords charge for rent in Laredo, TX?

Average rent in Laredo, TX is approximately $910/mo per month. Against $196K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

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How 78046 ranks in Laredo, TX

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