El Paso sits at the far western corner of Texas, a high-desert border market where Interstate 10, Loop 375, and the El Paso del Norte ports of entry push steady fuel and convenience volume through the city. Texas leads the country with roughly 16,500 C-stores, and El Paso stations serve a mix of cross-border commuters, freight traffic, and Fort Bliss demand that few other Texas metros match. Gas Station Trader is the fuel and C-store practice of Eagle Nest Property Group, based in Dallas, with brokerage through Eagle Nest Brokerage LLC, a licensed Texas broker. We have transacted more than 250 million dollars, and principal Stuart W. Monteith is a D CEO Power Broker for 2025 and 2026. We bring that underwriting discipline to every El Paso deal.
The El Paso Gas Station Market
El Paso is one of the largest border metros in the country, and its fuel demand reflects that. Interstate 10 carries long-haul freight through the city, Loop 375 rings high-traffic retail nodes, and the ports of entry funnel daily cross-border commuters past corridor stations. A busy urban site here can move 100,000 to 150,000 gallons per month, well above the US average of about 4,000 gallons per day.
Texas has roughly 16,500 C-stores, more than any other state, and about 60 percent of US stores are single-store operators. That fragmentation creates real acquisition opportunity in El Paso. For a wider view of the state, see our Texas gas stations for sale page and our guide to the best states to buy a gas station.
Buying a Gas Station in El Paso
Most El Paso buyers finance with an SBA 7(a) loan, which caps at 5 million dollars and requires a 15 percent minimum equity injection for special-purpose fuel properties, 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 means 30 to 40 percent down, and many banks avoid underground storage tanks because of CERCLA exposure.
Underwrite the fuel and store separately. Fuel gross margins averaged 40-plus cents per gallon in 2025, but net fuel profit is only a few cents. In-store items carry 20 to 40 percent margins, and the C-store is about 30 percent of revenue but roughly 70 percent of profit. Start with our how to buy a gas station guide, the valuation calculator, and our buyer representation page.
Selling a Gas Station in El Paso
Sale timelines run 3 to 6 months in most markets, and pricing depends on how you package the deal. Business-only stations trade at 2.5x to 4.0x EBITDA, while combined business-plus-real-estate sales run 4.0x to 7.0x EBITDA, and deals with real estate included can reach about 8x in stronger locations. Per-gallon valuation methods price monthly throughput at 0.05 to 0.30 dollars per gallon.
Broker commissions run 10 to 20 percent on business-only deals and about 6 to 10 percent when real estate is included. Order a Phase I ESA early, since it costs 1,800 to 3,500 dollars under ASTM E1527-21 and is required for SBA fuel buyers. We help sellers position El Paso assets through our seller representation service and our how to sell a gas station guide. Owners exiting near retirement should also review our exit and retirement strategy guide.
Values and Cap Rates in Texas
Texas gas station cap rates average about 5.63 percent, close to the national figure of roughly 5.58 percent with fuel and 6.87 percent without fuel. Florida prices tightest near 5.11 percent, the Carolinas run 5.0 to 5.5 percent, Tennessee 5.4 to 5.75 percent, and weaker markets sit at 6.0 to 6.5 percent or higher. Tenant credit moves the number: Wawa trades at 4.83 to 5.20 percent, 7-Eleven 5.00 to 5.40 percent, Murphy USA around 5.13 percent, and Circle K 5.35 to 5.65 percent.
El Paso pricing tracks Texas averages, adjusted for corridor traffic, tenant quality, and lease structure. Model your numbers with our cap rate calculator, then read our guides on what a good cap rate is and cap rates by state.
