Austin, TX
Rental property insurance for Austin landlords
Coverage for rental homes and 2–4 unit buildings in Austin, with local Census housing data. A quote is not a binder.
Owners who rent out property in Austin, Travis County, are working in a market where 57% of occupied homes are rentals. The city counts about 980,000 residents; Texas as a whole has a renter share of 37%.
Austin rental housing by the numbers
| Measure | Austin | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Renter-occupied homes | 57% (257,933) | 37% |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $555,300 | $283,800 |
| Median gross rent | $1,729/mo | $1,403/mo |
| Median year structure built | 1994 | 1992 |
| Homes in 2–4 unit buildings | 7% | 5% |
| Single-family homes (detached or attached) | 49% | 67% |
Data: Census ACS 5-year estimates for 2020–2024 via Census Reporter, and Census Vintage 2024 population estimates.
Dwelling limits for Austin landlords
Homes in Austin carry a median value near $555,300 according to the Census, compared with $283,800 statewide. Because land is never rebuilt, many owners find their rebuild estimate differs from that figure in either direction.
NAIC data for 2023 shows an average Texas dwelling-fire premium of $2,855 in the $500,000–$599,999 coverage band, which brackets Austin's median value; across all coverage amounts the state average was $1,226. Treat it as background, since landlord pricing depends on the building and occupancy.
Fair rental value coverage for Austin units
Median gross rent in Austin is about $1,729 a month. A year of lost rent at that level is roughly $20,748 per unit, a useful yardstick when you choose fair rental value coverage.
Construction era of Austin rentals
Half of Austin's homes were built before 1994 and half after. Polybutylene supply lines were installed in some homes from the late 1970s to mid-1990s, and insurers may ask whether they have been replaced.
Types of rental property in Austin
Austin's housing is mixed: about 49% single-family, 7% in 2–4 unit buildings, and 43% in buildings of five or more units. Dwelling forms fit up to four units; larger buildings need commercial apartment coverage.
Austin next to other Texas rental cities
For comparison, Houston comes in at 58% rented and $277,800 median value, with median rent of $1,361. Nearby San Antonio reports 48% renter households and a $235,700 median home value, so proportionally fewer renters than Austin. Nearby Dallas reports 58% renter households and a $320,700 median home value, so proportionally more renters than Austin. Among the 30 largest Texas cities we profile, Austin ranks 5 for renter share. Buildings with five or more units hold about 43% of Austin's homes; those generally need commercial apartment coverage rather than dwelling forms.
Storm and hazard considerations in Austin
Typical Texas property risks such as flash and coastal flooding, which needs separate flood coverage and hail, especially across North and Central Texas affect owners in Austin and the rest of Travis County. Flood and earthquake are excluded from standard dwelling forms and need their own coverage.
Hazard themes reflect FEMA’s National Risk Index and NOAA’s Storm Events Database; check the index for your specific county.
Requesting coverage for a Austin rental
- Lender name for the mortgagee clause
- Liability limit and months of rent to protect
- Street address in Austin and number of units
- When the building went up and when the roof was last replaced
- How it is occupied today, including any vacancy or short-term use
- Electrical, plumbing, and heating update years
- Current insurer and any losses in five years
Request a Austin landlord quote
Austin landlord insurance questions
What share of Austin homes are rentals?
About 57% of occupied homes in Austin, roughly 257,933 households, are renter-occupied according to the 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
Do Austin landlords have to carry insurance?
Texas law does not require landlord insurance, but lenders usually require property coverage, and many leases, HOAs, and property managers require liability coverage.
How much does landlord insurance cost in Austin?
It depends on the building, coverage, and deductible. For background, the NAIC reported a 2023 Texas dwelling-fire average of $1,226; see our Texas page for the full table.
Other Texas cities
Landlord insurance in Texas · Cost by state
Last updated October 15, 2026. Sources and method: how we research.