$162,407Average Value$106Average Price per Sq Ft11Homes For Sale
A vibrant shopping district in the heart of Laredo
Laredo’s Los Amores sits a stone’s throw from the U.S./Mexico Border and the Rio Grande. While it may not share as much of the spotlight as its downtown neighbor 2 miles away, this quaint community comes alive with a vibrant shopping district that defines its cultural and economic landscape. Drawing people from all over Texas, the neighborhood’s San Bernardo Shopping District is lined with locally owned shops and businesses selling authentic and unique goods made from artisans in Mexico. “San Bernardo Avenue is known for its Mexican crafts. You can find everything from traditional and contemporary dresses, lots of clothing, artwork and pots,” says Ana Reyna Arzate, Marketing Coordinator for Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Whatever you can imagine, you can find on this avenue. It's next to 35, so it’s easy to get to, it’s very walkable, and there’s space for bicycles as well.”. Arzate has lived in Laredo for over 20 years and lives in the Del Mar community, east of the neighborhood. Beyond its shopping mecca, Los Amores boasts some of the most affordable homes in Laredo. With its convenient proximity to Highway 83 and Interstate 35, residents can easily access all of South Texas. “it’s a very friendly area; everybody comes and says they love the people of Laredo,” Arzate says. “We bring people from all parts of Mexico and the U.S. We are a real community.”
Authentic Mexican shopping district without crossing the border
There’s a reason poet Frank Maynard wrote and Johnny Cash later sang about the now iconic song, “The Streets of Laredo.” San Bernardo is Laredo’s original main street, boasting the largest collection of imported merchandise from Mexico, spanning 40 city blocks. The district is home to over 40 shops, restaurants and boutiques, all locally owned. “Prices are as low as $10 to more high-end for Mexican artisan products,” Arzate says. Residents will find everything from clay chimineas used for cooking or patio decoration to jewelry, religious artwork, hand-made furniture and Talavera pottery. Mexican Mercado is one neighborhood shop that captures attention with its colorful and eye-popping décor. The shop offers baskets, pottery and other authentically made Mexican items. Blue Goat Imports is another well-known spot along the bustling shopping district. Brightly colored giant metal pigs, dinosaurs, hippos and other handcrafted metal artwork spill from inside the shop, decorating the entire entrance outside. Candy shop Dulceria Laredo, Aria’s Hat Shop and furniture store Vegas Interiors Mejicanos can also be found in this district. “My favorites are Basket and Pottery Alley, which sells plates and decorations,” she says. “Charro Mexican Imports is also good’ they sell interiors and clay pots.”
The district provides more than shopping – residents will find a variety of authentic taquerias, including local Laredo chain Tacos Mais, Tacos Palenque San Bernardo and Taqueria Coyulta, a popular neighborhood joint where locals rave about the breakfast tacos and tortas. “Taco Palenque is one of our gems,” Arzate says. “They started their business in Laredo and have expanded into Texas and Mexico. It’s good Mexican fast food, and they’re known for their piratas.” A tradition of the restaurant and in all taquerias in South Texas, piratas are tacos made with flour tortillas stuffed with fajitas, refried beans and cheddar cheese. “I also like Tacos Ravi, but we have food trucks, Tex-Mex food, hamburgers and Clementine’s Kitchen. They’re delicious.” Cuban restaurant Comida Caribeña and Charlie’s Corona Bar and Grill, an unfussy watering hole good for T-bone steaks and Tex-Mex dishes, are also popular spots along the shopping corridor. Beyond the district, residents have a selection of diverse dining in all directions. Locally owned spot Raul’s BBQ is the go-to restaurant for barbacoa, served in tacos or by the pound. For a treat, El Mejor Pan Bakery satisfies customers with sweetbreads, conchas and pastries. Family-owned markets are sprinkled throughout Los Amores for essential items. La Fronteriza Meat Market offers a variety of fresh cuts and produce. Lowe’s Market provides snacks, basics, and hot food items, and locals can get fresh tortillas and tamales from Tortilleria La Fe. For a bigger selection, Sam’s Club, Walmart and H -E-B are all 1 mile north. Residents can scour antiques at Timeless Treasures, pick up second-hand clothes, toys and shoes at Texas Thrift Store on San Bernadino Avenue or head 2 miles south to downtown Laredo to peruse big box retailers, boutiques and other stores at the Streets of Laredo Urban Mall.
Cottages under $200,000
Narrow grid streets are lined with stone cottages, mission-style houses, Mexican vernacular architecture and other homes with Spanish-style elements. Most homes were built in the early 1990s and range from around $124,000 for a three-bedroom home, approximately 1,200 square feet, to a little over $200,000 for a four-bedroom, around 2,500 square feet. Homes are also much more affordable than the median sale price for Laredo, which was $257,000 for a single-family home in June 2024. While sidewalks are scarce, residents enjoy spacious driveways, carports and fenced-in backyards. “The houses are nice; there is some new construction you can find and some nice developments in the area,” says Arzate. “And pretty much anywhere you live, you can get whenever you need to go in about 15 to 20 minutes. The downtown area is only a 10-minute drive.”
Pocket parks and a 22-acre greenbelt
Canizales Park offers pickleball courts, a playground and walking paths. Lafayette Street Park provides a splash park to cool down in the summers, trails and a playground. Zacate Creek and the 22-acre greenbelt that surrounds it sits to the east of Los Amores. Stretching 10 miles to the Rio Grande, residents can access multiple parks and trails here. “It’s a really nice linear park that connects the entire city,” says Jesus Najar, Architectural Programs Manager for Preservation Texas. “Las Palmas Trail is very popular and a spectacular site for bird watching.”
In April 2024, The City of Laredo and Webb County announced that they, along with the Outdoor Recreation Partnership Program, allocated $7.6 million to overhaul the Zacate Creek area to improve the community. “The city is working to redevelop the Zacate Creek Park area, so that will become a nice piece of infrastructure and green space,” Najar says.
The Zacate Creek District Corridor, as it will be called, will include new trails, an open-air visitor center and places to rent kayaks and bikes. An existing amphitheater will also be restored; additional bridges, bike repair stations, a community garden and picnic tables will be added.
Excellent extracurriculars at Los Amores schools
Laredo Independent School District serves the area, and local students can attend Santa Maria Elementary, Christen Middle School and Martin High School. The elementary school, which offers Special Olympics bowling and coding courses, earned a B-minus on Niche, and Christen Middle earned a C-minus. Earning a B-minus on Niche, Martin High offers cross-country and volleyball teams and a robotics club.
Sister Cities Festival draws over 20,000 attendees
Downtown Laredo also hosts events for the area, including the annual Jamboozie, a music festival held in March, and the Laredo International Sister Cities Festival, held every July. The three-day celebration transforms the Sames Auto Arena into an indoor Mercado with artisans from Mexico selling various hand-made jewelry, clothing, food and other items. “It’s very popular. We celebrated 20 years of the festival this past July,” says Arzate. “We have 200 booths operated by coming from Mexico and Latin America to sell their products. We have food and cultural entertainment from Mexico, and this year, we had 20,0000 people attend over the three days.” Its biggest and oldest, however, is the George Washington Birthday Celebration. One of the largest in the country, the festival has been a tradition for over 100 years and features over 25 events, two parades, an air show, a jalapeno festival and a two-week carnival. The celebration also features a debutante ball in full U.S. colonial garb.
Two miles from downtown Laredo
Interstate 35 is direct to the neighborhood's east, allowing convenient access to the rest of the region. Residents can reach downtown Laredo in 2 miles and Laredo International Airport in 6 miles. El Metro Transit provides public transportation for the area, and bus stops are up and down Santa Maria and San Bernardo Avenues.
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Attention investors! One-bedroom home available for sale as is. This property is fully fenced and includes a storage shed, offering great potential for renovation or rental income. Don’t miss this opportunity—contact us today for more details!
Fully Remodeled open concept 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment. Appliances included. Spacious apartment located on the 2nd floor and is ready to move in.
Fully Remodeled open concept 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment. Appliances included. Spacious apartment located on the 2nd floor and is ready to move in.
Fully Remodeled open concept 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment. Appliances included. Spacious apartment located on the 2nd floor and is ready to move in.
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
7,388
Median Age
32
Population Density
10 ppl/acre
Population under 18
31.6%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$32,959
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$44,880
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
45.1%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
6.1%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1.3%
% Population in Labor Force
55.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
19''
Average Winter Low Temperature
47°F
Average Summer High Temperature
101°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
50/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
73/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
