Sell My Home

Most Texas sellers spend roughly 6% to 10% of the sale price, and most of that is agent commission. Sellers also customarily pay for the buyer's owner's title policy in Texas, plus prorated property taxes, any HOA transfer fees and whatever repair credits or concessions get negotiated. Texas has no transfer tax and commissions are negotiable, so ask for a net sheet showing what you'd walk away with before you list.

Usually not on your primary home. If you've owned it and lived in it for at least two of the last five years, you can generally exclude up to $250,000 of profit, or $500,000 if you're married filing jointly. Texas has no state income tax, so there's no state tax on the gain either. A tax professional can confirm how it applies to you.

It depends on price, property condition, market conditions and the neighborhood, since those decide how long the home sits on the market. Once you accept an offer, closing usually takes 30 to 45 days with a financed buyer and can be faster with cash. Pricing it right from day one matters most, because a listing gets the most attention in its first couple of weeks.

Fix what a buyer's inspector or lender will flag, like roof leaks, electrical or plumbing problems and anything that affects safety, and handle inexpensive cosmetic items like paint, lighting and landscaping. Big remodels right before a sale rarely return what they cost. With my construction and investment background, I'll walk the house with you and tell you what to fix and what to skip.

Yes. Most Texas sellers of a single-family home must give the buyer a Seller's Disclosure Notice covering known defects, past repairs, flooding and other conditions, before the contract is signed. Disclose what you know honestly, since hiding a known problem can lead to legal trouble after closing. For my clients, sellers complete a guided form fill through Seller Shield, with the option for legal protection, helping you fill it out accurately and avoiding confusion. But the best way to avoid surprises is a pre-listing inspection, usually about $500, which gives you an exact list of what's needed and more leverage when an offer comes in.

No, it's negotiable. Since 2024, a buyer's agent's pay is set in the buyer's own agreement, and sellers decide whether to offer to cover it. Many sellers still offer some or all of it because buyers would need to come up with the additional amount for commission in cash and rarely have that available. We'll take different scenarios into account, along with your bottom line, when deciding pricing and reviewing offers.

Yes. The title company pays off your mortgage at closing from the sale proceeds, and you receive what's left after the payoff and selling costs. If you think you owe close to or more than the home would sell for, talk with me and your lender early about your options before listing.

It depends on your equity and cash. Selling first gives you an exact budget and avoids two house payments, but may mean a temporary move or a short leaseback. Buying first works best with enough cash or a bridge loan, and an offer that depends on selling your current home is harder to get accepted, so we'll map out which order fits your numbers.

I start with recent closed sales of similar homes nearby, adjust for size, condition, updates and lot, then check it against what's active and pending right now. Because Texas doesn't make sale prices public, those closed prices come from the MLS, not from Zillow or the appraisal district. The goal is a price that draws strong interest early, when a new listing gets the most attention.

Every listing gets a plan built around the home and the buyers most likely to want it. That starts with professional photography and full MLS syndication, so the home shows up on Zillow, Realtor.com and hundreds of other sites, then adds targeted paid ads on Google and social media, video content, open houses and neighborhood mailers where they fit. Each week, I'll send you a report on how the listing and marketing are performing, along with any adjustments I recommend, so the marketing keeps working well past the first weekend.