Buyer's Guide

Before we start touring, talk it over at home and sort your list into must-haves and nice-to-haves:

Size: bedrooms, bathrooms, and a single-story or multi-level home

Layout: open concept or traditional, home office, room for play, exercise or guests

Age and style: new construction or an established neighborhood

Parking: garage size, room for an RV, or boat storage

Outdoor: pool, covered patio, yard size, waterfront or canal access

Location: commute, school district, and distance to the beach, base or work.

About your buyer agreement: Texas requires a written buyer representation agreement before we tour homes together. It spells out our services and how we’re paid. We’ll walk you through it in your first meeting.

Lenders approve you based on formulas. You know your own spending, so leave room for the costs of owning a home. On the coast, your monthly cost is more than principal and interest:

Property taxes

Homeowner’s insurance, plus windstorm insurance and possibly flood insurance

HOA dues, if the property has them

Maintenance, furnishings, landscaping and repairs

Get insurance quotes early, before you fall in love with a house. See Mortgage & Financing Information for loan types and closing costs, and How to Find the Right Mortgage Lender for the documents you’ll need.

In a standard Texas resale contract, you pay the seller a small option fee for a set number of days. During that window, you can inspect the home, get insurance quotes, and back out for any reason. Schedule your inspections right away, because the deadline is firm.

Do:

Tell your lender and us about any change of address, job or income.

Keep records of the source of any large or unusual deposit.

Bind homeowner’s and windstorm insurance before closing, plus flood insurance if required.

Schedule a termite (wood-destroying insect) inspection. VA loans and many lenders require one.

Confirm wiring instructions by calling your title company at a phone number you already know. Never use one from an email. Wire fraud schemes target buyers right before closing.

Don’t:

Open new credit cards or loans, including financing for furniture, appliances or a car.

Change jobs without talking to your lender first. Lenders recheck employment before closing.

Co-sign a loan for anyone.

Count on cash back at closing. Seller concessions can cover closing costs and prepaids, but they won't put money in your pocket.

Congratulations, you’re officially a homeowner! But our relationship doesn’t end here. Whether you need referrals for movers, contractors, or just a good place to grab lunch in your new neighborhood, PorchLight Realty is always just a call away.