Ricardo Salazar · REALTOR® · TREC #643769 · RCR Real Connect Realty (broker license #9012393)

Investor sheet · MLS# 29778342 · https://ricosalazar.com/properties/1717-e-polk-st-brownsville-tx-78520-29778342

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For sale

$144,900

1717 E Polk St., Brownsville, TX 78520

bd: 2
ba: 2
ft²: 1,020

Est. cash flow +$251/mo · Est. cap rate 8.1% See the numbers →

MLS# 29778342 · Listed by Favio Balladares Jr., GRT Realty · Tel. 956-254-0869

TypeSingle-family home
Year built1999
Lot0.07 acres
Price / ft²$142
Est. rent$1,700/mo Est.
UTRGV Brownsville campus≈ 5 min approx.

Virtual tour Ask for a video walkthrough

Description

Welcome to this charming and versatile home in a convenient Brownsville location, just minutes from Expressway 77/83 with easy access to shopping, dining, schools, the university, and everyday conveniences. Originally built as a single-family residence, the home is currently configured with two separate living areas, offering flexibility for multigenerational living, guest accommodations, or potential rental income. The layout can easily serve as one spacious single-family home, allowing the next owner to customize it to their needs. A large detached storage building provides ample space for tools, equipment, or seasonal items and also houses the washer and dryer, adding functionality while keeping the laundry area separate from the living spaces. Whether you're looking for your forever home or a property with added versatility, this home offers comfort, convenience, and endless possibilities.

Property details

Type: Single-family home · Single Family Residence
Status: For sale
MLS#: 29778342
Price: $144,900
Price per ft²: $142
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Living area: 1,020 ft²
Lot size: 0.07 acres
Year built: 1999
Subdivision: Paredes Tract/Bella Vista Addn
City: Brownsville
County: Cameron
Days on market: 90
Listed: Jul 30, 2026
Last updated: Jul 30, 2026, 4:46 PM CT

Numbers for investors

Price per ft²

$142

Source: MLS listing

Estimated rent

$1,700/mo

Gross yield 14.1%

Asking rent: median of 17 active rentals, ZIP 78520, 2 bedrooms (not signed leases) · RGV MLS, Oct 28, 2026

Days on market

Source: MLS listing

Est. fixed costs per month: $386/mo Est.
Cash to close with 25% down: $40,572 Est.
Est. cap rate: 8.1% Est.

How we calculate the cap rate, and how accurate it is

General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Ricardo Salazar is a licensed real estate agent, not an attorney, CPA or lender. Consult qualified professionals in the U.S. and Mexico.

Investment calculator · Estimates

What could it earn?

Purchase

Price

List price per the MLS. Try your own offer.

Down payment25%

100% = cash purchase, no loan.

Interest rate7%

Planning assumption, not a lender quote.

Loan term

15 yrs 20 yrs 30 yrs

Income

Monthly rent

/mo

Asking rent: median of 17 active rentals, ZIP 78520, 2 bedrooms (not signed leases) · RGV MLS, Oct 28, 2026

Vacancy8%

Share of the year the property sits empty.

Expenses

Property tax

/yr

Estimated at 2.2% of the price per year. Verify it with the Cameron Appraisal District.

Insurance

/yr

Estimated at 1% of the price per year; coastal wind coverage can cost more.

HOA

/mo

If the property has an HOA, enter the monthly dues.

Maintenance5%

% of collected rent.

Property management8%

% of collected rent, if you hire a manager.

Closing costs3%

Buyer side: title, appraisal, lender fees (estimate).

I am a foreign buyer (no SSN)

Monthly cash flow Est.

+$251

8.1% How it’s calculated

7.4%

Estimated monthly cost

Mortgage $723
Tax $266
Insurance $121
HOA $0
Operations $203

Mortgage payment (P&I): $723/mo
Rent after vacancy: $1,564/mo
Total monthly cost: $1,313/mo
Net operating income (NOI): $11,691/yr
Down payment: $36,225
Closing costs (est.): $4,347
Cash needed at closing: $40,572

Review these numbers with Ricardo

Illustrative estimates only, not financial advice or a guarantee of results. Assumptions are editable; taxes, insurance, rent and rates vary. Verify with a lender, insurer and CPA.

How we calculate the cap rate, and how accurate it is

Cap rate = NOI ÷ price. NOI is the rent you would collect in a year, after vacancy, minus the costs of running the property. The loan is left out, so the cap rate measures the property as if you paid cash.

Gross rent, 12 months Estimate: $20,400
Gross yield: rent ÷ price, before costs: 14.1%
minus Vacancy (8% of gross rent) Assumption: $1,632
equals Rent collected: $18,768
minus Property tax Estimate: $3,188
minus Insurance Estimate: $1,449
minus HOA dues, 12 months Not provided: $0
minus Maintenance (5% of rent collected) Assumption: $938
minus Management (8% of rent collected) Assumption: $1,501
equals Net operating income (NOI): $11,691
divided by Price MLS listing: $144,900
equals Cap rate: 8.1%

Amounts are rounded to the dollar; the cap rate uses the exact figures.

Is it accurate?

It is an estimate, not a quote or a guaranteed return. It is only as good as its inputs:

From the MLS listing: price
From a rent comparable:
Your figures:
Our estimates and assumptions: rent, property tax, insurance, vacancy, maintenance, management
Not provided, counted as $0: HOA
Missing:

MLS figures are what the listing reports. We have not verified them.
The tax on a listing is the seller’s last bill, and it can be lower than what you will pay: a homestead exemption, the 10% cap on homestead appraisals and an over-65 or disability tax ceiling do not carry over to an investor.
Listings in this MLS do not include property tax, so unless you enter your own figure we use 2.2% of the price a year. Look up the property’s value and taxing units at the Cameron Appraisal District (opens in a new tab); a rental does not get the homestead exemption.
If a listing advertises its own cap rate, it may leave out vacancy, management or other costs, which makes it look higher.
To confirm it, ask for the current lease or rent roll, last year’s tax bill (Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector) and your own insurance quote from a Texas-licensed agent; coastal wind and flood coverage can cost much more. For a specific property, Ricardo can ask the listing agent for the lease, the tax bill and what the seller pays for insurance.

What it leaves out

The mortgage. Your loan shows up in cash flow and cash-on-cash, not in the cap rate.
Big repairs and replacements (roof, A/C, appliances) and savings set aside for them.
Utilities, lawn care or pest control, if the owner pays them.
Closing costs, leasing fees, income taxes in the U.S. or Mexico, and depreciation.

Location and drive times

1717 E Polk St., Brownsville, TX 78520 Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

UTRGV Brownsville campus≈ 5 min approx.
Gateway International Bridge≈ 5 min approx.
B&M International Bridge≈ 5 min approx.
Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates≈ 5 min approx.
Port of Brownsville≈ 15 min approx.
SpaceX Starbase launch site, Boca Chica≈ 30 min approx.
South Padre Island (Queen Isabella Causeway)≈ 35 min approx.

Approximate car times computed from the map: city pace for the first 10 km, highway pace after that, and trips that would cross the ship channel go around it by the Port. They do not include traffic, bridge waits or launch-day road closures.