Investing in Sugar Land, TX

Rents, prices, taxes and cash flow for Sugar Land rental property, from 1,270 home sales and 1,292 house leases on HAR MLS. Updated October 2026.

Is Sugar Land, TX a good place to buy a rental property in 2026?

At typical prices a financed rental in Sugar Land does not cash flow right now. An entry-level 3-bed house ($270,000, the 25th-percentile sale) rents for about $1,900 a month, a 8.4% gross yield and a 0.83 lender DSCR. With an 80% DSCR loan, estimated cash flow is −$880 a month after the loan, taxes, insurance, vacancy, management and repairs. A 1.25 DSCR, what most DSCR lenders want, needs a purchase at or under $176,433; 2% of last year's 3-bed sales closed that low on the MLS. That is why investors here buy below market: off-market, distressed or needing work.

Sugar Land investor market report

The same sections as our monthly Investor Market Update, for Sugar Land: resale houses closed 2025-10-18 to 2026-10-18, HAR MLS.

Median sale price · 12 mo
$450,000 ▼ 2.2%
Last 3 months $441K · 1,261 resales
Price per sq ft · 12 mo
$172 ▼ 1.1%
Median 2,731 sq ft · built 1993
Days on market · 12 mo
22 days ▲ 3 days
CDOM 39 · 97.3% of list · 80% below original ask
Cash buy target · 12 mo
$308,000 ▼ 3.7%
Median fixer-upper sale (74) · 24% below updated $/sq ft · cash sales $529K
Seller concessions · 12 mo
34% ▲ 2 pts
of sales · median $6,000 (1.4%)
Median rent, houses · 12 mo
$2,300 ■ flat
1,297 leases · $1.07/sq ft · 3-bed $2,050
2024-102026-10$396K
Median resale price by month, 24 months (gray = the year before).

▲▼ = change vs the 12 months before (2024-10-18 to 2025-10-18). Resale single-family houses, new construction excluded.

Balanced5.6 months of inventory

596 single-family homes active, 101 pending, against 106 closings a month (new builds included). Under 4 months favors sellers, over 6 favors buyers.

Investor math · entry-level 3-bed house (25th-percentile price) · DSCR loan 80% LTV at 7.875%
Entry price
$270K
median $323K ▼ 1.8%
Rent / mo
$1,900
median $2,050 ▲ 2.7%
Rent per $100K
$704
1% rule = $1,000
Gross yield
8.4%
rent × 12 ÷ price
Principal & interest $1,566Property tax $441Insurance $203HOA $76Vacancy $152Management $152Repairs $95Capex reserve $95
Lender DSCR · Limited
0.83
rent ÷ loan payment, tax, insurance, HOA
Cash flow / mo
−$880
-17.0% cash-on-cash · 25% down −$782
Cap rate
3.0%
all-cash, after every cost
Prices that work
Lender DSCR 1.25≤ $176K2% of 3-bed sales
Lender DSCR 1.00≤ $223K8% of 3-bed sales
$0 cash flow≤ $163K1% of 3-bed sales

Loan: DSCR 30-yr fixed quote from Blink Lending (2026-10-14), 80% of price, 30 years; cash in = down payment + 3% closing costs ($62,100). Tax at the city's median MLS tax rate, insurance 0.9% of price a year, HOA where most homes have one, and vacancy 8%, management 8%, repairs 5%, capex reserve 5% of rent. An estimate, not a promise.

Risk and carrying costs
In 100-year flood zone
1% of resale homes sold
Flood claims, 10 years
734 FEMA NFIP, city ZIP codes
Property tax rate
1.96% median on MLS, incl. MUD/PID
HOA
$915/yr 95% of homes · check lease rules
Insurance (estimate)
0.9% of value ≈ $203/mo
Cash buyers
32% of 176 sales reporting terms
Days to lease
28 days ▼ 12 days
Rental supply
3.1 mo 366 for lease now
Our take on Sugar Land
  • Prices down 2.2% vs last year, days on market +3. Balanced at 5.6 months. 80% of sellers ended below their original price, so there is room to negotiate on stale listings.
  • An entry-level 3-bed house ($270K, ~$1,900/mo) is a 0.83 lender DSCR. A 1.25 needs a buy at or under $176K, and 2% of last year's 3-bed sales closed there.

Rates: 30-year fixed average 7.40% (2026-10-15), 6.27% a year earlier; 15-year 6.71% (Freddie Mac via FRED). Investor DSCR loan quote 7.875% (Blink Lending, 2026-10-14).

The math works below market. That is where our deals are.

We source off-market and distressed houses in Sugar Land and across Houston, and send them to investors whose buy box fits, with our numbers attached. Free account, no obligation.

Create a free investor account

Sugar Land ZIP codes compared

3-bedroom resales and 3-bedroom house leases by ZIP code, last 12 months. Flood claims are FEMA flood insurance claims in the last 10 years.

ZIPMedian priceMedian rentGross yieldSalesLeasesFlood claims (10 yr)
77479$376,500$2,2007.0%157247483
77498$268,000$1,9158.6%139219144
77478$370,000$2,1006.8%9098107

Sugar Land subdivisions with the most rental activity

Subdivisions with at least 6 sales and 6 house leases in the last 12 months. All home sizes, so compare like with like before you offer.

SubdivisionMedian priceMedian rentGross yieldSalesLeases
New Territory$475,000$2,5006.3%3522
Telfair$665,000$3,5506.4%2721
Sugar Creek$525,000$3,0006.9%379
Riverstone$730,000$3,4995.8%2717
Lakefield Sec 1$318,000$2,0007.5%928
Village Of Oak Lake R/P$325,000$2,2008.1%1616
Townewest$210,000$1,88010.7%1217
Pheasant Creek Sec 2$270,000$1,8508.2%1018
Settlers Park Sec 1$254,000$2,0509.7%621
Settlers Park Sec 2$307,000$2,1508.4%719

Sugar Land investor questions

How much does a house rent for in Sugar Land, TX?
The median house in Sugar Land leased for $2,300 a month over the last 12 months (1,292 leases on HAR MLS). 3-bedroom houses: $2,050; 4-bedroom: $2,500. The median rental leased in 28 days.
What do homes sell for in Sugar Land, TX?
1,270 single-family homes sold in Sugar Land over the last 12 months. The median price was $445,000 ($445,000 for resales, excluding new construction) at $173 per square foot, down 1.2% from the year before. Homes sold in a median 23 days at 97.4% of list price. New construction was 1% of sales.
What are property taxes in Sugar Land, TX?
The median total tax rate on homes sold in Sugar Land was 1.96% of assessed value (all taxing units combined, MLS tax records). On a $320,000 rental that is about $6,272 a year. Rentals get no homestead exemption. 95% of homes sold carry an HOA (median $914 a year).
Is Sugar Land a buyer's or seller's market right now?
590 single-family homes are for sale in Sugar Land against about 106 sales a month, 5.6 months of supply. Under 4 months usually favors sellers, over 6 favors buyers. 0 houses are listed for rent.
Which ZIP code in Sugar Land has the best rent-to-price?
77498: 3-bedroom resales sold for a median $268,000 and rented for $1,915, a 8.6% gross yield. ZIP-by-ZIP numbers are in the table on this page.
Does Sugar Land flood?
FEMA flood insurance claims in the last 10 years: 77479: 483, 77498: 144, 77478: 107. Risk varies street by street, so check the FEMA flood zone and the seller's disclosure for every property before you buy.

Compare other Houston areas

See all areas side by side

Also for Sugar Land: what homes sell for · buying a home.

Sources: HAR MLS closed sales and leases (single-family houses); Freddie Mac 30-year average rate via FRED; FEMA National Flood Insurance Program claims (OpenFEMA). Data as of 2026-10-20. Medians of single-family homes and house leases in the Sugar Land postal city (Fort Bend County). Based on information from the Houston Association of REALTORS® MLS; not guaranteed accurate. Nothing here is a guarantee of returns. Verify every number with your own due diligence.

Want deals in Sugar Land?

Tell us your market, budget and strategy. We will send deals that fit, or run a free CMA on a property you are looking at.

Prefer email? hello@gableway.com