Buying a Home in Austin & San Antonio:

Start by identifying your goals, budget, preferred locations, and approximate timeline, then talk with a real estate professional and mortgage professional about your options.

Your real estate agent can help you understand the buying process, narrow your search, evaluate properties, prepare an offer, and navigate the transaction through closing. Your mortgage professional can help you understand your financing options and determine a potential price range.

Starting these conversations early can make your home search more focused and help you prepare for the decisions ahead.

Texas law generally requires a written agreement before a real estate license holder working with a prospective residential buyer shows the buyer a home.

The agreement should explain important details about the relationship, including the services being provided, whether the broker represents you, the term of the agreement, and how the broker will be compensated.

Your JBGoodwin REALTOR® can explain the brokerage relationship and applicable agreements before you begin touring homes.

Getting pre-approved before seriously shopping for a home is generally a good idea because it can help you understand your potential buying power and prepare you to make an offer.

During pre-approval, a mortgage professional reviews financial information to determine the amount and type of financing for which you may qualify. Sellers may also request evidence of financing when considering an offer.

Getting pre-approved doesn't mean you have to spend the maximum amount available to you. Your budget should also account for the other costs of homeownership and your own financial priorities.

Learn About Mortgage Pre-Approval

How much home you can afford depends on your income, debts, available funds, mortgage terms, interest rate, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and other expenses.

A mortgage professional can help you estimate a potential price range based on your financial circumstances. When establishing your budget, consider the total monthly cost of owning the home rather than focusing only on the purchase price or mortgage payment.

No, you don't necessarily need a 20% down payment to buy a home. Depending on your qualifications and mortgage program, financing may be available with a much smaller down payment, and certain eligible buyers may qualify for zero-down financing.

Down-payment requirements vary by loan type and borrower. A qualified mortgage professional can help you compare financing options and understand the requirements and costs associated with each.

The amount of money you'll need depends on your down payment, loan program, closing costs, option fee, earnest money, inspections, and other transaction expenses.

Some of these funds may be due early in the transaction, while others are handled at closing. Your real estate agent and mortgage professional can help you identify the expenses you should anticipate so you can prepare before making an offer.

A Texas home buyer's closing costs can include lender charges, appraisal costs, title-related expenses, prepaid property taxes or insurance, and other transaction-specific expenses.

The actual amount varies based on the home, loan, contract, and transaction. Your lender will provide disclosures detailing your loan costs, and your real estate and closing professionals can help explain other expenses associated with the purchase.

There is no standard amount of time it takes to buy a home. Some buyers find the right property quickly, while others search for several weeks or months.

Once you're under contract, the transaction still needs time for steps such as financing, inspections, appraisal, title work, and closing. Your specific timeline will depend on the property, financing, contract terms, and other circumstances.

A buyer's real estate agent can help you identify properties, arrange showings, evaluate market information, prepare offers, negotiate, manage important deadlines, and navigate the transaction through closing.

A local agent can also help you compare neighborhoods, housing options, new construction, recent sales, and current market conditions so you can make informed decisions throughout your search.

When choosing a neighborhood, consider the factors that matter most to your daily life and long-term plans, such as location, commute, housing options, community amenities, parks, shopping, schools, property taxes, and access to major roads.

It can be helpful to explore several communities before narrowing your search. The Austin and San Antonio areas both include a wide variety of urban, suburban, small-town, and Hill Country options.

Explore Austin Area Communities

Explore San Antonio Area Communities

Neither new construction nor an existing home is automatically the better choice. The right option depends on your priorities, budget, location, desired features, and timeline.

New construction may offer newer systems, contemporary designs, builder warranties, and opportunities for customization. Existing homes may offer established neighborhoods, mature landscaping, distinctive architecture, or locations where new construction is limited.

Comparing both can help you determine which is the better fit for your particular home search.

Working with your own real estate agent can be helpful when purchasing a new construction home because the builder's sales representative represents the builder's interests in the transaction.

Your agent can help you understand the purchase process, evaluate comparable properties, review available options and incentives, and navigate the transaction.

If you're considering new construction, contact your agent before visiting or registering with a builder. Builder policies regarding real estate agent involvement can vary.

When you find a home you'd like to purchase, your real estate agent can help you evaluate the property and market information and prepare an offer.

An offer involves more than the price you're willing to pay. It may also include financing terms, earnest money, an option period, closing date, and other provisions.

The seller can accept your offer, reject it, or propose different terms.

How much you should offer depends on the asking price, recent comparable sales, current market conditions, competing buyer interest, the property's condition, your financing, and how strongly you want the home.

Your real estate agent can provide relevant market information and help you understand different offer strategies. The final decision about the price and terms you offer is yours.

Earnest money is an amount a buyer agrees to deposit with an escrow agent as part of the real estate contract.

The amount, delivery requirements, deadlines, and circumstances affecting the return or distribution of earnest money are governed by the purchase contract. Because these deadlines can be important, buyers should carefully follow the requirements of their specific contract.

An option period is a negotiated period during which a buyer who has satisfied the contract requirements for the termination option generally has an unrestricted right to terminate the contract.

Buyers often use the option period to have the property inspected, evaluate the home's condition, and determine whether they want to proceed with the purchase. The option period, option fee, and applicable deadlines are established by the contract.

Because contractual rights and deadlines matter, buyers should discuss their specific transaction with their real estate professional and seek legal advice when appropriate.

No. There is not a general three-day or 72-hour cooling-off period that automatically allows a Texas home buyer to cancel an accepted real estate contract.

A buyer's ability to terminate depends on the terms of the contract and the circumstances. For example, a properly established termination option may give the buyer an unrestricted right to terminate during the negotiated option period.

Many buyers choose to have a professional home inspection because it can provide valuable information about the property's condition before the purchase is completed.

A home inspector evaluates accessible components and systems and reports observed conditions. An inspection isn't a pass-or-fail test, and no home is perfect. Its purpose is to give you more information about the property you're considering purchasing.

Buyers who choose to have a home inspected commonly schedule the inspection soon after the contract becomes effective, particularly when the contract includes an option period.

Scheduling promptly can provide time to review the inspector's findings and, when necessary, obtain additional evaluations from qualified professionals before applicable contractual deadlines.

If an inspection identifies concerns, your next steps depend on the findings, your contract, the timing, and the circumstances of the transaction.

Depending on the situation, you may choose to proceed with the purchase, seek additional information, request repairs or other considerations, or evaluate rights available under the contract.

Your real estate agent can help you navigate the transaction, while inspectors and other qualified professionals can advise you about the property's condition and potential repairs.

A home appraisal is an independent opinion of a property's value prepared by a licensed or certified appraiser. When you're financing a home purchase, your lender will commonly require an appraisal as part of the loan process.

An appraisal and a home inspection serve different purposes. An inspection focuses primarily on the condition of the property, while an appraisal focuses primarily on its value for the lending transaction.

A low appraisal can affect a financed purchase because the lender generally considers the appraised value when determining the loan amount.

What happens next depends on the financing, contract terms, and circumstances. The buyer and seller may have several possible paths forward, so your real estate agent and lender can help you understand the options that apply to your transaction.

After your offer is accepted and the contract becomes effective, the transaction moves toward closing.

Depending on the purchase, the process may include depositing earnest money and the option fee, inspections, financing, appraisal, title work, obtaining homeowners insurance, reviewing documents, satisfying contractual requirements, and completing a final walk-through.

Your real estate agent, lender, and title or closing professionals will help guide you through their respective parts of the process.

Title insurance protects against certain covered title problems that may affect ownership of the property. A title company also researches the property's title as part of the closing process.

There are different types of title insurance policies, including policies that protect owners and policies that protect lenders. Your title professional can explain the coverage, exceptions, and costs associated with the policies involved in your transaction.

A final walk-through gives the buyer an opportunity to view the home shortly before closing and confirm that the property is in the expected condition.

It may also allow the buyer to verify that agreed-upon items have been addressed when applicable. A final walk-through is different from a professional home inspection and is not intended to replace one.

Closing is the final stage of the home purchase, when required documents are completed and the transaction moves toward funding and transfer of ownership according to the contract.

Your lender and title or closing company will provide instructions regarding the documents, identification, funds, and other requirements you'll need to complete the transaction.

Your real estate agent can also help you understand what to expect as you approach closing.

Home prices, inventory, property types, taxes, commute considerations, and market conditions can vary significantly across the Austin area, so buyers should evaluate individual communities rather than treating Austin as a single housing market.

The region includes established Central Austin neighborhoods as well as growing communities throughout Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties and beyond.

A local real estate professional can help you compare recent sales, current listings, housing options, and community characteristics based on your priorities.

Explore Austin Homes and Communities

The San Antonio area offers a wide range of housing options, including established neighborhoods, master-planned communities, new construction, suburban areas, and nearby Hill Country communities.

Prices, property taxes, commute times, housing types, amenities, and market conditions can differ considerably across the region.

A local real estate professional can help you compare communities and understand current market activity in the areas you're considering.

Explore San Antonio Homes and Communities

If you're relocating to Austin or San Antonio, start by considering where you'll work, your preferred commute, budget, housing needs, lifestyle priorities, and the communities you want to explore.

JBGoodwin REALTORS® helps individuals and families relocating throughout Central and South Texas. Our Relocation Division can help you learn about the area, explore communities, connect with a local real estate professional, and coordinate your home search.

Learn About Relocating to Austin or San Antonio

Eligible military home buyers who work with JBGoodwin REALTORS® may qualify for a rebate through the U.S. Military on the Move® program.

The program is available to qualifying active-duty, retired, separated, and wounded service members. Eligible clients receive a rebate based on the real estate commission earned in the transaction, subject to program requirements and applicable terms.

Learn About U.S. Military on the Move®

Yes. If you're purchasing a home outside JBGoodwin's local service areas, our Relocation Division can help connect you with a real estate professional in your destination market.

JBGoodwin REALTORS® is a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, a global network of independent real estate companies with connections across the United States and around the world.

Learn About JBGoodwin Relocation Services

Yes, buying before selling may be possible, but whether it makes sense depends on your finances, financing options, current home equity, market conditions, and comfort with carrying two properties.

Other homeowners choose to sell first or coordinate the two transactions. Your real estate agent and mortgage professional can help you understand potential approaches based on your circumstances.

Coordinating a home sale and purchase requires careful planning around financing, contract dates, closing schedules, possession, and moving logistics.

There isn't one approach that works for everyone. Starting conversations with your real estate agent and lender early can help you identify potential timing issues and determine which strategy best fits your situation.

Read Our Home Seller Questions & Answers