Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Sebastian, Texas
A $38,000 home here costs
$554per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $24,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $207. The real number is $347 higher every month, 168% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Willacy County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Sebastian from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,144 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Willacy County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Sebastian against Willacy County and Texas
| Measure | Sebastian | Willacy County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $37,600 | $60,800 |
| Median property tax | $568 | $1,164 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.511% | 1.914% |
| Median gross rent | $369 | $868 |
| Population | 1,144 | 20,218 |
The weather behind that power bill
Sebastian sits in Willacy County, which averages a high of 97.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 49.8°F in its coldest, with 24.04" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 4,220 cooling and 569 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Willacy County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Willacy County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Sebastian averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Sebastian every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Sebastian I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Sebastian?
A $38,000 home in Sebastian, Texas costs approximately $554 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $207 principal and interest, $48 property tax, $25 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $32 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Sebastian?
Sebastian has an effective property tax rate of 1.511%, based on a median home value of $37,600 and median real estate taxes of $568. That is lower than the Willacy County average of 1.914%.
What is the average home price in Sebastian?
The median owner-occupied home value in Sebastian, Texas is $37,600, against $60,800 across Willacy County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sebastian?
Median gross rent in Sebastian is $369 a month, against $554 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Sebastian?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Sebastian, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $24,000 a year. That covers the full $554 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Sebastian, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Texas.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.