Buying Your First Home in Austin

Buying your first home here is doable. It just helps to know how Texas does things before you start touring. I've helped a lot of first-time buyers across Austin, Round Rock, Kyle and everywhere in between. Here's what I walk everyone through.

Start with the payment, not the price

Talk to a lender before you look at a single listing. A pre-approval tells you what you can borrow. Your real budget is the monthly payment you're comfortable with. In Austin, property taxes and insurance can add a lot to that number, so ask your lender for a full payment estimate.

Down payment help is out there

You don't always need 20% down. Many loans start at 3% to 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans can be 0%. Texas programs through TSAHC and TDHCA offer grants and low-interest help, with income and price limits. Ask your lender which ones you qualify for.

Texas does it a little differently

  • Buyer agreement first. Texas law requires a signed buyer representation agreement before we tour. I'll go through it line by line.

  • The option period. For a small fee, you get a set number of days to inspect the home and back out for any reason. It's your safety net.

  • Earnest money. Usually about 1% of the price, held by the title company. You get it back if you cancel within the option period.

  • MUD and PID taxes. Many newer neighborhoods have extra districts on the tax bill. I'll flag them early so they're in your budget.

Want the full step-by-step? See The Austin Home Buyer Process.

After you close

File your homestead exemption with your county appraisal district (Travis, Williamson or Hays). It lowers your tax bill every year you live there. My Austin Homestead Exemption Guide walks you through it.

Ready to start?

Tell me your budget and commute, and I'll send you a short list to tour. No pressure, no commitment. Get in touch here, or catch up on the market in my weekly Austin updates.