McAllen, TX Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 26% of McAllen's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of August 2026.
Homes in McAllen that pencil right now
A sample of active McAllen listings whose DSCR clears 1.25 using short-term rental income projections we accept as a direct lender. These are spread across the price range, not ranked, and current as of August 2026.
$184,900DSCR 1.813 bed · 2 bath · 1,118 sqft
- STR revenue
- $36,707/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,353/mo
On the market 167 days · Listed by BIG Realty
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in McAllen
$225,000DSCR 1.634 bed · 2 bath · 1,410 sqft
- STR revenue
- $38,562/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,573/mo
On the market 96 days · Listed by Kebes Real Estate Llc
Scout this home & market: 4-bed townhouse in McAllen
$229,000DSCR 1.313 bed · 2 bath · 1,363 sqft
- STR revenue
- $33,864/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,723/mo
On the market 13 days · Listed by Exp Realty, Llc
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in McAllen
As of August 2026, we analyzed 815 active for-sale homes in McAllen, Texas. The typical listing is priced at $325,000 and is projected to generate about $25,809 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 26.0% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — below the 52.5% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking McAllen #177 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in McAllen sit a median of 87 days on the market, and 23% of active listings came on in just the last 30 days — a slower-moving market, which shapes how much room there is to negotiate.
For a DSCR loan — which qualifies on the property's rental income rather than your personal income — McAllen runs tighter once operating costs are accounted for: many listings need a below-median price, a stronger short-term-rental setup, or more money down before the income covers the payment. It's a market where running the numbers property-by-property matters.
What actually works in McAllen
Cash-flow is the exception rather than the rule in McAllen right now: 51 of the 467 McAllen homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $265,000.
| Price | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150k–$250k | 3%0.83 | 29%1.06 | 61%1.30 | — |
| $250k–$350k | — | 4%0.83 | 7%1.00 | — |
| $350k–$500k | — | 0%0.53 | 0%0.73 | 0%0.95 |
| $500k+ | — | 0%0.42 | 0%0.40 | 0%0.65 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
McAllen in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 815 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $325,000 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $25,809 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $145 |
| Median occupancy | 53% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 2,033 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 26.0% |
| Median days on market | 87 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 22.6% of active |
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Estimates for educational purposes. Final terms subject to credit, property & program approval.
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