Houston anchors the largest gas station market in the country. Texas counts roughly 16,500 convenience stores, more than any other state, and the Houston metro carries a heavy share of that activity through dense urban corridors, freeway frontage, and steady fuel demand. A busy urban Houston station can move 100,000 to 150,000 gallons per month against a US average near 4,000 gallons per day, which makes site selection and throughput verification central to every deal. Gas Station Trader is the fuel and C-store practice of Eagle Nest Property Group in Dallas, Texas, with brokerage through Eagle Nest Brokerage LLC, a licensed Texas broker. We have transacted 250 million dollars plus, and principal Stuart W. Monteith is a D CEO Power Broker for 2025 and 2026.
The Houston gas station market
Texas leads the nation with roughly 16,500 convenience stores, and Houston represents one of the deepest pools of fuel and C-store inventory in the state. The metro mixes high-volume urban sites, freeway frontage stations, and suburban neighborhood stores, which gives buyers a wide range of formats and price points. A busy urban Houston station can run 100,000 to 150,000 gallons per month, well above the US average near 4,000 gallons per day. About 60 percent of US operators run a single store, so Houston also offers steady deal flow from owners planning retirement or a portfolio shift. We work both branded and independent assets here. See our branded gas stations and NNN gas stations for current inventory, and review statewide context at gas stations for sale in Texas.
Buying a gas station in Houston
Most Houston buyers finance through the SBA 7(a) program, which caps at 5 million dollars and requires a 15 percent minimum equity injection for special-purpose gas stations, meaning 10 to 15 percent down. Real estate terms run up to 25 years, June 2026 rates sit near 9 to 11.5 percent APR variable, and closings take 30 to 90 days. Conventional financing asks 30 to 40 percent down, and many banks avoid underground storage tanks due to CERCLA liability. Every SBA fuel deal needs a Phase I ESA, which costs 1,800 to 3,500 dollars under ASTM E1527-21. Start with our financing page and the SBA 7(a) loan guide, then run numbers in the valuation calculator. Our buyer representation covers the full process.
Selling a gas station in Houston
Houston sellers benefit from strong statewide demand and a large operator base, but pricing and packaging decide outcome. Business-only sales typically trade at 2.5x to 4.0x EBITDA, combined business and real estate at 4.0x to 7.0x, and deals with strong real estate near 8x EBITDA, reaching 7x to 9x in premium markets. Most sales take 3 to 6 months. Business broker commissions run 10 to 20 percent on business-only deals and roughly 6 to 10 percent on real-estate-inclusive transactions. Clean financials, verified fuel throughput, and a current Phase I ESA shorten the timeline and protect value. We list, market, and negotiate Houston assets through our seller representation, and many owners pair an exit with a sale-leaseback. Review the how to sell a gas station guide.
Values and cap rates in Texas
Texas gas station cap rates sit around 5.63 percent, close to the national average near 5.6 percent, which works out to roughly 5.58 percent with fuel and 6.87 percent without fuel. Tenant credit drives the spread. Murphy USA trades near 5.13 percent, 7-Eleven runs 5.00 to 5.40 percent, and Circle K sits at 5.35 to 5.65 percent. For comparison, Florida is tighter near 5.11 percent and weaker markets push past 6.0 to 6.5 percent. Profit concentration matters in any valuation. The C-store is about 30 percent of revenue but roughly 70 percent of profit, with in-store margins of 20 to 40 percent against only a few cents of net fuel profit per gallon. Model your target with the cap rate calculator and read cap rates by state.
