Investing near Starbase and the Port.

The Port of Brownsville, the Rio Grande LNG terminal on port land and SpaceX’s Starbase at Boca Chica are all in Cameron County. Together with the international bridges to Matamoros, they are the main reasons investors look at this corner of Texas.

• Opened in 1936 at the southern tip of Texas and connected to the Gulf by a 17-mile ship channel.
• With about 40,000 acres, it is the largest land-owning public port authority in the United States.
• In June 2026 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Brownsville Navigation District and NextDecade completed the deepening of the main channel from 42 to 52 feet.
• An economic impact study by Martin Associates for the port estimated $12 billion in economic activity tied to the port in 2023.

NextDecade is building the Rio Grande LNG export terminal on a site of about 1,000 acres at the Port of Brownsville. It reached a final investment decision on Trains 1 to 3 in July 2023, on Train 4 in September 2025 and on Train 5 in October 2025, for about 30 million tonnes a year of capacity once complete. The company expects first LNG in 2027.

Schedules move. Earlier plans for the terminal targeted 2026; the company now points to 2027. Base your numbers on what a property earns today, not on a project date.

• The community around SpaceX’s launch site at Boca Chica voted 212 to 6 on May 3, 2025 to become the City of Starbase; Cameron County certified the result on May 20, 2025.
• In May 2025 the FAA cleared SpaceX to raise Starship launches from Boca Chica from 5 to as many as 25 a year.

The Brownsville port of entry includes four international bridges (Gateway, B&M, Veterans at Los Tomates and the Los Indios Free Trade Bridge) and a rail crossing. For families and businesses on both sides, that proximity is part of the appeal of owning here.

• Long-term rentals in Brownsville and Los Fresnos, near the port, the bridges and the road to Starbase. Test rents with comparables, not headlines. See the collection.
• Land in growth corridors as a long-horizon position. Zoning, utilities, road access and flood zone decide what a tract is worth. See the collection.
• Commercial and industrial space near the bridges and the port for trade and logistics. See the collection.
• Vacation rentals on South Padre Island, with their own registration and tax rules. Read the guide.

• Flood zone: look up the property on FEMA’s flood maps and price flood insurance.
• Wind coverage: Cameron County is in TWIA’s coverage area; get a quote before the option period ends.
• Use and utilities: confirm the zoning or deed restrictions, water, sewer, power and legal road access, especially for land.
• Agricultural land: a foreign buyer must file an AFIDA report with the USDA within 90 days. Details.
• Title and survey: review the title commitment and any easements with the title company.