Brownsville, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Brownsville STRs averaged $244/night at 45.8% occupancy in April 2026, with an investability score of 88/100.
Quick Answer: Brownsville, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the South Padre Island market area is 66%. average monthly revenue in the South Padre Island market area is $5,779. average daily rate in the South Padre Island market area is $329. the top operator in the South Padre Island market area is Vacasa with 381 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the South Padre Island regional market, which includes Brownsville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Brownsville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Brownsville’s short-term rental market spans roughly 5,679 active listings, making it one of the larger coastal markets in South Texas. The market is dominated by entire-place units, which account for 5,541 listings (97.6% of supply), with private rooms adding 137 more. In April 2026, the market-wide average daily rate was $243.70 and occupancy reached 45.8%, producing a RevPAR of $111.71 and average monthly revenue of $3,061 per listing.
Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy slipped 3.1 percentage points and ADR fell 6.1%, though monthly revenue still came in 3.2% ahead of the prior year, suggesting a favorable shift in booking composition. The channel mix leans heavily toward Airbnb: 3,099 listings appear on both platforms, 2,043 are Airbnb-only, and 537 are VRBO-only. Bedroom distribution skews toward 2-bedroom units (2,375 listings), followed by 3-bedrooms (1,515), 1-bedrooms (1,198), 4-bedrooms (349), and 5-bedrooms (239). Proximity to South Padre Island beaches and SpaceX Starbase at Boca Chica are the primary demand drivers, supplemented by cross-border commerce from Matamoros and a reported 10.2 million annual visitor count.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 51% |
| Feb | 69% |
| Mar | 58% |
| Apr | 44% |
| May | 50% |
| Jun | 65% |
| Jul | 71% |
| Aug | 47% |
| Sep | 38% |
| Oct | 37% |
| Nov | 39% |
| Dec | 41% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Brownsville are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in South Padre Island market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the South Padre Island market as a whole, which includes Brownsville, so these counts are not Brownsville-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 381 | 19,054 | ★ 4.41 |
| 2 | RedAwning | 253 | 2,069 | ★ 4.51 |
| 3 | SPI Rentals LLC | 213 | 8,264 | ★ 4.63 |
| 4 | Padre Island Rentals | 210 | 9,703 | ★ 4.55 |
| 5 | South Padre Trips | 159 | 3,494 | ★ 4.45 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Brownsville?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Brownsville are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 36% |
| vrbo | 9.5% |
| both | 54.6% |
Home Value Trends (Brownsville)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Brownsville are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Brownsville — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Brownsville adopted its first short-term rental ordinance on November 12, 2024. Any rental of fewer than 30 consecutive days listed on platforms such as Airbnb or VRBO must be registered and permitted before operating. The application fee is $50 (non-refundable), and permits must be renewed annually. On-time renewal carries no additional fee; late renewal requires another $50 payment.
The application requires proof of ownership or a property management agreement, a floor plan and site map, a designated local emergency contact available 24 hours a day, and proof of liability insurance. STRs are only permitted within zoning districts inside Brownsville city limits. Operators must also register with the Finance Department to collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax monthly, as hotels do. Texas state HOT is 6%; Brownsville may levy an additional city rate (Texas cities may add up to 7%), but the specific city rate was not confirmed from primary sources and should be verified with the Finance Department at 956-548-6167.
Owner-occupancy is not required. Operating without a permit can result in fines and permit revocation. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. The ordinance is new as of late 2024, so operators should monitor any updates to rules or tax rates as the city refines implementation.
Market Comparison
The national median STR occupancy rate is approximately 55% and the national median ADR is approximately $220. Brownsville’s April 2026 occupancy of 45.8% sits below the national median, though its ADR of $243.70 is modestly above. This pattern is common in coastal markets with pronounced seasonal peaks: annual average occupancy tends to be compressed by soft fall months even when summer performance is strong.
The operator landscape is consolidated at the top. Vacasa leads with 381 listings and 19,054 reviews (average rating 4.41). SPI Rentals LLC manages 213 listings (4.63 rating) and Padre Island Rentals holds 210 listings (4.55 rating, 9,703 reviews). The top five operators together account for 1,216 listings, roughly 21.4% of total supply. This level of professional management concentration is moderate, leaving significant room for independent operators while signaling that management quality is a meaningful competitive differentiator in this market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brownsville, Texas
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