Brownsville, TX
Brownsville, TX landlord and rental property insurance
What Brownsville landlords should know before insuring a rental. A quote is not a binder.
Owners who rent out property in Brownsville, Cameron County, are working in a market where 38% of occupied homes are rentals. The city counts about 191,967 residents; Texas as a whole has a renter share of 37%.
Key housing figures for Brownsville, TX
| Measure | Brownsville | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Renter-occupied homes | 38% (22,930) | 37% |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $139,900 | $283,800 |
| Median gross rent | $923/mo | $1,403/mo |
| Median year structure built | 1995 | 1992 |
| Homes in 2–4 unit buildings | 9% | 5% |
| Single-family homes (detached or attached) | 71% | 67% |
Data: Census ACS 5-year estimates for 2020–2024 via Census Reporter, and Census Vintage 2024 population estimates.
Setting coverage on a Brownsville rental
At a median home value of $139,900, Brownsville is lower than Texas overall ($283,800). Underwriters care about replacement cost rather than sale price, so bring square footage, construction type, and update history to the conversation.
For context, the NAIC reported that Texas dwelling-fire policies insuring Under $150,000 averaged $866 a year in 2023, against a statewide dwelling-fire average of $1,226. Those are owner-occupied dwelling-form figures, not landlord quotes.
Loss-of-rents planning in Brownsville
With median gross rent near $923 per month, twelve months of interrupted income in Brownsville comes to about $11,076 for a single unit. Multiply by your unit count when you size loss-of-rents coverage.
Construction era of Brownsville rentals
With a median year built of 1995, many Brownsville rentals are reaching the age where original roofs, water heaters, and HVAC units are replaced. Note those dates on your request.
Brownsville's mix of rental buildings
Brownsville is mostly single-family, around 71% of units, with 2–4 unit buildings at 9%. Single-family rentals here typically go on a dwelling fire policy.
How Brownsville compares with nearby Texas markets
Houston has a renter share of 58% with homes valued around $277,800 at the median. Nearby San Antonio reports 48% renter households and a $235,700 median home value, so proportionally more renters than Brownsville. Dallas has a renter share of 58% with homes valued around $320,700 at the median. Brownsville places 25 of 30 profiled Texas cities by share of rented homes. Buildings with five or more units hold about 15% of Brownsville's homes; those generally need commercial apartment coverage rather than dwelling forms.
Storm and hazard considerations in Brownsville
Typical Texas property risks such as Gulf hurricanes, tropical storms, and named-storm or windstorm deductibles and wind and hurricane exposure near the Gulf coast affect owners in Brownsville and the rest of Cameron 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.
Your Brownsville quote checklist
- Mortgage company details, if financed
- Liability limit and months of rent to protect
- The Brownsville address and how many units it has
- When the building went up and when the roof was last replaced
- How it is occupied today, including any vacancy or short-term use
- Any system updates, with years
- Your existing policy and recent claims
Request a Brownsville landlord quote
Brownsville landlord insurance questions
How many renters live in Brownsville?
About 38% of occupied homes in Brownsville, roughly 22,930 households, are renter-occupied according to the 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
Is landlord insurance required in Brownsville?
No Texas law mandates it for Brownsville owners, though lenders, HOAs, and property managers commonly require it.
How much does landlord insurance cost in Brownsville?
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.