Moving to Texas? A Newcomer's Mortgage Playbook
Thousands of families relocate to Texas every month, and most of them discover the same handful of surprises — some pleasant, some expensive. If you are moving to DFW from another state, here is the playbook that smooths the landing.
The tax trade every newcomer must re-budget
Texas has no state income tax — that is the pleasant surprise. The bill arrives instead through property taxes, which commonly run 1.8 to 2.5 percent of assessed value per year around DFW, well above what buyers from many states are used to. A house that looks cheaper than back home can carry a monthly payment closer than the list prices suggest.
Always compare full monthly payments — principal, interest, taxes, and insurance — between your old market and this one, never just the sticker prices. And once you close on your primary residence, file your free homestead exemption immediately.
Compare payments, not prices. Texas property taxes rearrange the math for every out-of-state buyer.
Buying with a brand-new Texas job
Good news for relocators: you do not need two years at a Texas employer to get a mortgage. An offer letter with a start date, or recent pay stubs from the new job, generally satisfies underwriting when you are continuing in the same line of work. Many buyers close before their first local paycheck arrives.
Selling a home behind you? Options include closing on the sale first, making a contingent offer, or using a bridge loan against your old home's equity to buy here before you sell there. Each has a cost and a timeline; the right one depends on your market back home.
An offer letter can carry your approval. Do not wait two years to buy — you likely do not have to.
Texas quirks worth knowing before you offer
Texas closings run through title companies rather than attorneys, and the option period — a short, paid window to inspect and walk away — is a Texas-specific feature that protects buyers. Homestead protections here are among the strongest in the country, which shapes everything from home equity lending to creditor protection.
Two practical notes: foundation issues get discussed a lot in North Texas because of the clay soil, so a good inspection matters, and homeowners insurance runs higher than in mild-weather states thanks to hail. Quote insurance early so it does not surprise your escrow.
Learn the option period, respect the clay soil, and quote insurance before you fall in love with a house.
We have walked hundreds of relocating families through this exact transition, and we are happy to be your first call in Texas. Reach Steve Barton at 214.673.1319 or visit corecommunitymortgage.com — even if you are still months out, a fifteen-minute conversation now prevents surprises later.
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