Buy a home with confidence

Most purchases follow the same path: get pre-approved, sign a buyer representation agreement, tour homes, write an offer on a TREC-promulgated contract, deliver earnest money and the option fee, inspect during the option period, complete the appraisal and loan, review the title commitment and survey, then close and fund. Jamie walks you through each step.

For a negotiated option fee paid to the seller, the TREC contract gives you an unrestricted right to terminate for a set number of days. If you terminate, the option fee is generally not refunded; if you close, it is typically credited toward the purchase. Read the current contract on the TREC forms page.

Earnest money is a good-faith deposit, usually held by the title company and applied to your costs at closing. The option fee goes to the seller for the right to terminate during the option period. If you terminate within the option period under the contract terms, earnest money is generally returned; the option fee generally is not.

Yes, in most cases. Since August 2024, agents who participate in the MLS must have a written agreement with a buyer before touring a home together. The agreement spells out services, term and compensation, and the terms are negotiable. Jamie will explain it in plain English before you sign.

Both have closing costs, and nearly everything is negotiable in the contract. Buyers typically pay lender fees, prepaid items and their share of title and escrow charges; sellers often pay the owner's title policy and agreed-upon commissions. Your lender's Loan Estimate and the title company's settlement statement show the exact numbers.

Plan for the down payment (which can range from 0% on some VA and USDA loans to 3–20% on others), closing costs, the option fee and earnest money, inspections, an appraisal and moving costs, plus a cushion for repairs. A lender can give you a precise estimate for a specific price range.

Yes. State programs include those from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC), which offer loan and down-payment assistance options with income and price limits. Participating lenders can tell you whether you qualify.

Many rural and small-town areas west of Fort Worth may be eligible for USDA home loans, but eligibility depends on the exact address and your household income. Check any address on the USDA eligibility map and confirm with a USDA-approved lender.

VA loans can be used for a primary residence, and the Texas Veterans Land Board offers land loans, home loans and home improvement loans for eligible Texas veterans. Talk to a lender experienced with VA and VLB programs about rates, limits and land requirements.

Order a septic inspection and a water-well inspection plus a water-quality test, ask for permits and maintenance records, and confirm your lender's requirements. Aerobic systems usually need ongoing maintenance contracts. See Jamie's well and septic buying guide.

Look up the address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, review the seller's disclosure and any elevation certificate, and get an insurance quote during your option period. Properties outside mapped flood zones can still flood, so ask about flood coverage either way.

District lines don't follow city limits, so confirm by address with the school district or appraisal district. Ratings are on TXschools.gov; each community guide lists the 2026 TEA ratings for local districts.

Texas has no state property tax; counties, cities, school districts and special districts each set a rate. For a residence homestead, school districts must exempt $140,000 of value, plus an additional $60,000 for owners 65 or older or disabled (Texas Comptroller). Apply with your county appraisal district; the general deadline is before May 1.

"Ag exemption" usually means open-space agricultural valuation, which taxes land on its productive value. You must keep qualifying use to keep it. If the land changes to a non-agricultural use, rollback taxes can be due for the previous three years (Texas Comptroller). Ask the appraisal district about its rules before you buy.

Not necessarily. In Texas, mineral rights are often severed from the surface and may have been sold or reserved by earlier owners. The title commitment and your contract determine what transfers. Ask the title company, and consider an attorney for larger tracts.

Options vary by address: fiber or cable in some towns, and fixed wireless, cellular or satellite in the country. Check any address on the FCC National Broadband Map and ask the seller what service they use.

New construction offers modern systems, builder warranties and sometimes incentives, but may mean smaller trees, HOA rules and special-district taxes. Existing homes often offer larger lots and established neighborhoods. Jamie can represent you with builders too; bring her to the first visit.

Often, yes. Options include a sale contingency, a bridge loan, using savings or equity, or a seller leaseback. Each has trade-offs in price, timing and risk. Jamie and your lender can map out the safest sequence for your situation.