Buying a home in Houston.
From your first budget to the day you get keys — what happens, in order, in a Texas home purchase.
1. Know your numbers.
Start with the monthly payment you're comfortable with, not the highest price a lender will approve. Your payment usually includes principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and any HOA dues, MUD taxes, or mortgage insurance. In much of the Houston area, taxes and insurance are a large share of the payment, so get real estimates for each home you consider.
Plan for cash beyond the down payment: earnest money, an option fee, inspections, an appraisal, closing costs, and a cushion for moving and repairs. See our Mortgage & Affordability guide for how those pieces fit together.
2. Get pre-approved.
A pre-approval letter shows sellers a lender has reviewed your income, assets, and credit. Compare Loan Estimates from more than one lender of your choice — the CFPB's Buying a House tools explain how. MAC does not require you to use any particular lender.
3. Choose your agent.
Texas license holders give you the TREC Information About Brokerage Services notice, which explains how representation works. Before we tour homes together, you'll sign a written buyer representation agreement that spells out the services we provide and how we are paid. Its terms are negotiable, and we'll walk you through every line.
4. Search and tour.
Narrow your search by commute, budget, home style, and must-haves. Our neighborhood guides compare prices, school ratings, and drive times with cited sources. When you tour, look past the staging: check the roof, windows, drainage, and signs of past water.
5. Make an offer.
Most Texas resale purchases use the TREC-promulgated One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale). Your offer covers price, financing, earnest money (held by the title company), the option fee and number of option days, the closing date, and any seller-paid costs or repairs. We'll prepare a pricing view from recent comparable sales before you decide.
6. The option period.
For a negotiated option fee, Texas contracts let you add an option period: a set number of days when you can end the contract for any reason. Use it for a professional inspection and any specialist checks (foundation, roof, sewer, pool). Read the Seller's Disclosure Notice carefully, including its flood questions, and check the FEMA flood map. If repairs are needed, this is when you negotiate.
7. Appraisal, title and survey.
If you're financing, the lender orders an appraisal. The title company issues a title commitment, and you may receive a survey and HOA documents to review. Read them and ask questions — each one has its own deadline in the contract.
8. Closing day and after.
You'll do a final walk-through, sign at the title company (or a remote option if it offers one), and get keys once the loan funds. After you move in, apply for the residence homestead exemption with your county appraisal district; the Texas Comptroller explains exemptions.
General information for Texas home buyers and sellers, not legal, tax or lending advice. Talk with the appropriate professional about your situation.
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Buyer questions, answered.
How do I find a realtor in Houston?
Look for a licensed agent who knows the parts of Houston you're considering, and confirm their license with the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). Talk with a couple of agents, ask how they'll keep you updated and help you compete for a home, and ask how they're paid. MAC is a Houston team brokered by eXp Realty, and our agents train with Coach J every weekday morning. Call 832-303-3630 or contact MAC to talk through your search.
Do I have to sign an agreement with an agent before touring homes?
Yes. Since August 2024, after the NAR settlement, agents who use the MLS have signed a written agreement with buyers before touring homes, and since January 1, 2026, Texas law requires a written agreement before an agent shows you any home. It states the services you'll get, when it ends and how the broker is paid. Broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable, and we'll walk you through every line before you sign.
What is the option period in a Texas home purchase?
For an option fee you negotiate with the seller, the standard Texas contract gives you a set number of days to end the contract for any reason. Most buyers use that time for a professional inspection and any specialist checks, then negotiate repairs or a credit. If you end the contract within the option period, your earnest money is generally refunded, but the option fee usually is not.
How do I check whether a Houston-area home is in a flood zone?
Look up the address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, review Harris County Flood Control District resources for homes in Harris County, read the Seller's Disclosure Notice (it includes flood questions in Texas), and ask about the home's flood history. Get a flood insurance quote too, even if the home is outside a mapped flood zone.
Why do property taxes and monthly costs vary so much between homes?
The total property tax rate depends on the address: county, city, school district, and any MUD (municipal utility district) or other special district. Many neighborhoods also have HOA dues. Ask for the tax rate, HOA dues and insurance estimates on every home you consider, and apply for a residence homestead exemption with your county appraisal district after you move in.
Do I need a new survey when I buy a home?
Not always. The Texas resale contract lets the parties agree that the seller provides an existing survey with an affidavit that nothing has changed, or that a new survey is ordered. Your lender or title company may have its own requirements. We'll help you decide what to ask for in your offer and who pays for it.