Relocation guide
Moving to the Rio Grande Valley: a local REALTOR®'s guide
Alfonso Bedolla · Access Realty RGV
I'm Alfonso Bedolla, a REALTOR® with Access Realty RGV and a fourplex owner in McAllen. People ask me where to live when they move to the Valley for SpaceX, a hospital, a plant, or to be closer to Mexico. This is what I tell them.
Who is moving to the Valley right now?
There is a bit of everything: people coming for work at SpaceX's Starbase, for the medical sector, or for industry and the maquiladoras; families from Mexico looking to settle on this side; and Winter Texans who come for the season. Everyone arrives with a different plan. Some want to rent while they get to know the area; others come ready to buy and stay.
| Who is arriving | What they usually look for |
|---|---|
| SpaceX / Starbase | A home that works for a daily drive to Boca Chica |
| Healthcare | Hospitals are among the Valley's largest employers; healthcare created about 43% of the region's new jobs in the last decade |
| Industry and maquiladoras | Proximity to the bridges and to the plants on both sides of the border |
| Families from Mexico | Settling on this side of the border, often in Spanish, with help understanding how buying works here |
| Winter Texans | Seasonal living, from a few months a year to a second home |
Where should you live if you work at Starbase?
I start by asking two things: how much are you willing to drive, and what does your family need? Starbase is about 20 miles east of Brownsville on Highway 4, the only road in.
If you are going to Starbase every day, I would start in Brownsville, paying attention to the exit toward Boca Chica and the drive from each property. I would also look at Los Fresnos and Rancho Viejo, depending on budget. San Benito and Harlingen can work too, but there I say: before you decide, make the drive at the time you would leave for work and come back. Seeing the distance on a map is one thing; making that trip every day is another.
| Area | Why consider it | Alfonso's note |
|---|---|---|
| Brownsville | Closest to Starbase; the exit toward Boca Chica (Highway 4) starts here | Where I would start if you drive to Starbase every day; check the route from each property |
| Los Fresnos and Rancho Viejo | Nearby options north of Brownsville, depending on budget | Worth reviewing once you know your budget |
| San Benito and Harlingen | More options and a different feel, farther from Starbase | Before you decide, drive the commute at the hours you would actually leave and come back |
| McAllen | The Valley's largest city, farther west | A different offer; good if your work or family life is in Hidalgo County |
For me it is not only about finding a pretty house. It also has to work for your routine.
What should you know before you move here?
- Get ready for the heat and humidity. They are real here.
- You will depend on your car. Choose where you live with your job and your family's activities in mind.
- Run the complete numbers. Rent or mortgage, electricity, transportation, and everything else. Don't come with the idea that everything in the Valley is cheap.
- Visit several areas before deciding. Brownsville, San Benito, Harlingen, and McAllen each offer something different. What matters is where you feel at home and where living works for you.
And something I love about the Valley: our culture. Spanish, the food, how close Mexico is, and that family atmosphere. Give it time and you will feel it too.
Ready to look? Tell me where you will work and what your family needs
WhatsApp AlfonsoCall (956) 640-2090Email AlfonsoOr follow him on Instagram @bedolla.rgv · Google profile · leave a review
Frequently asked questions
How far is Starbase from Brownsville?
SpaceX's Starbase sits on the Boca Chica peninsula, roughly 20 miles east of downtown Brownsville along State Highway 4 (Boca Chica Boulevard), the only road in. It was incorporated as the city of Starbase in May 2025. Alfonso's advice: drive the route at your real commute hours before you choose a home.
Is the Rio Grande Valley cheaper than the rest of the country?
Local reports estimate the cost of living in the McAllen and Brownsville areas at roughly 20 to 30 percent below the national average, mostly because of housing. Alfonso still tells newcomers to run the full numbers (rent or mortgage, electricity, transportation, and everything else) instead of assuming that everything in the Valley is cheap.
Do I need a car in the Rio Grande Valley?
Yes. The Valley is spread out and most people depend on a car, so Alfonso recommends choosing where you live based on your job and your family's daily activities.
Should I rent first or buy when I move to the Valley?
Both happen. Some newcomers rent while they get to know the area; others arrive planning to buy and stay. Alfonso helps with both and, as a landlord himself, can explain what renting in the Valley looks like.
Does Alfonso work with families moving from Mexico?
Yes. Alfonso Bedolla works in English and Spanish and regularly helps families from Mexico who want to settle on the U.S. side of the border in Brownsville, San Benito, Harlingen, or McAllen.
Last updated: