Medina is a multicultural town on the Texas-Mexico border
On the Texas-Mexico border, about 50 miles south of Laredo, Medina is a small town in Zapata County with affordable homes near Falcon Lake, a popular destination for fishing. “There’s a lot of hunting, fishing and petroleum in that part of Texas,” says Realtor Patrick Serna with Serna Realty Group. “It’s right on the border, so it’s multicultural, and there’s international commerce with Mexico. The area is known to be very affordable. You can get a really nice house for pretty cheap over there. It’s not a luxury home type of area, but it’s got its perks.”
Bungalows, ranch-style and manufactured homes
Buyers in Medina can find single-family homes for sale, typically bungalows, ranch-style and manufactured homes. Homes are generally small in Medina: most are under 1,500 square feet. Streets in Medina often do not have sidewalks or curbs, and many properties have fences around them. Prices for single-family homes start around $50,000 and get as high as $265,000. “Because it’s very affordable, a lot of people will buy a nice house in Zapata, and they will only use it when it’s wintertime,” Serna says. “You have a lot of winter Texans in Zapata and Laredo. When it gets really cold from November to February, people who live in the northern parts of the country will purchase a home in Zapata or Laredo because it’s the farthest south you can go.” He notes an added bonus for some property owners: “Sometimes, people buy a property down there, and all of a sudden, they’re getting a monthly royalty check for $10,000 because they have oil on their property,” he says. “A lot of people like that.”
Learning in Zapata County Independent School District
Students attend schools in Zapata County Independent School District, which gets an overall B-minus grade from Niche. They can start at the B-minus-rated Fidel & Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School before continuing to the C-rated Zapata Middle School and the B-minus-rated Zapata High School. Students in Zapata County ISD can participate in extracurricular activities such as mariachi, theatre and UIL Academics.
Neighborhood parks and nearby Falcon Lake
Miraflores Neighborhood Park is a public park with a playground, swing set and pavilion. Two miles west, Zapata County Pct. 4 Veterans Park has a playground, shaded picnic tables, a walking path and a basketball court. Six miles south, Falcon Lake County Park and Boat Ramp is a popular spot for fishing, boating and swimming. “That’s very famous in all of Texas for trophy-sized catfish, alligator gar and plenty of bass and perch,” Serna says.
Mexican-American cuisine
Rex Tortilla Factory is a local restaurant selling breakfast tacos on homemade tortillas. La Bamba Restaurant serves Mexican-American fusion cuisine with dishes like a Mexican burger, shrimp plate and chalupa plate. Puro Pinches Tacos also sells Mexican-American fusion food with creative dishes like a hot Cheeto pirata. Groceries are available at DG Market, Border Town Market and 3 G’s Grocery & Drive-In. In the Zapata County area, “You have a lot of authentic Mexican retail – clothing, purses, jewelry, a lot of leather products,” Serna says.
About 50 miles south of Laredo
Medina is a car-dependent community outside Zapata, Texas, about 50 miles south of Laredo. The closest medical center is Zapata Family Med Walk-In Clinic, 3 miles south. Residents can fly out of Laredo International Airport, 53 miles north, to travel out of town.
