The Lone Star State is an excellent place for buying an investment property. With no state income tax and major cities such as Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, real estate investors and homebuyers are in for treat when buying a home in Texas. As with real estate investing in any other state, there are specific laws and issues one must be aware of. So, if you’re wondering “What do I need to buy a house in Texas?”, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the requirements to buy a house in Texas as well as the steps to buying a home in Texas.
Related: Why Texas Real Estate Has Always Been Sexy for Investors
Assess Your Finances and Do Your Research
The most basic of the requirements to buy a house in Texas, before even looking for homes for sale in Texas, is to do your research. Considering your finances is the first step to take in the home buying process in Texas. Review your credit score by obtaining a credit report, and consider how much you can afford.
This step is vital for anyone, regardless if you are a veteran real estate investor or a first-time home buyer in Texas. However, since experienced investors are more familiar with the process, we will focus on the tips for a first-time home buyer in Texas.
- Key Points of Research for a First-time Home Buyer in Texas
First-time buyers are obviously concerned with finances, such as with the minimum credit score for home and any available down payment assistance in Texas. The minimum credit score for home can vary, even within the same state, but generally, a score of 620 or more is considered good. The typical real estate investing down payment is 20%. Luckily though, many programs that reduce the minimum credit score for home and offer down payment assistance in Texas exist. Chief among them is the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ (TDHCA) My First Texas Home Program. This program is one of many of the FHA’s grants in Texas, all of which offer down payment assistance. The down payments can be reduced to as little as 3.5-3%. These low down payments, mortgage payments, and overall financing requirements make buying a home in Texas much more feasible and easier for many investors.
Find a Real Estate Agent
The next one of the requirements to buy a house in Texas is an important one: finding a real estate agent. While Texas is one of the states that does not make it mandatory for an investor to hire a real estate agent, having the help of a real estate agent minimizes error in other requirements to buy a house in Texas, especially the legal ones.
Real estate agents are an important step in the home buying process in Texas, so be sure to pick the best one for your purposes and goals. Referrals of real estate agents is a great way to learn about agents. You should also visit the Texas Real Estate Commission website to search for agents.
Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Next up on the requirements to buy a house in Texas is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Getting the mortgage pre-approval is necessary before making an offer after searching for investment properties for sale. Be sure to learn about the lender’s requirements. If you are a first-timer buyer in Texas, take advantage of the programs mentioned previously.
Start the Property Search
Once you’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage, the hunt for investment properties for sale begins. Ask yourself “What do I need to buy a house?” and list what you want from a property.
You can find properties by scouring your desired area or searching for local advertisements. Or, better yet, you could search for investment properties for sale online, as 90% of real estate investors do. If you want to quickly and efficiently look for homes for sale in Texas, use Mashvisor! Mashvisor allows you to customize your search based on any of your desired metrics and standards. Click here to begin your search for investment properties in Texas!
Make a Written Offer
Once you’ve decided on a certain property, you’ve moved on to the next of the requirements to buy a house in Texas: making an offer. In Texas, offers to purchase property must be written. This is one of the requirements to buy a house in Texas that a real estate agent can significantly help investors with. The agent will review the contingencies and terms of the offer and any other associated legal aspects.
Have the Property Inspected and Appraised
The next of the requirements to buy a house in Texas includes two real estate professionals: inspectors and appraisers. Whenever you are buying a home in Texas, these two professionals must be involved. An inspector assesses the standards of the property, while an appraiser determines the property’s value.
Related: Why You Should You Get a Home Inspection Before Investing in Property
Determine Escrow and Close the Deal
The following steps of buying a house in Texas are near the end of the buying an investment property process. A legal advisor, who can be the agent, helps to determine escrow of the deal. Once escrow is agreed upon, the closing of the deal begins.
There you have it, these are the requirements to buy a house in Texas. While some detailed specifics can be different, these are the general steps to buying a house in Texas. Be sure to take your time with the process, especially if you are a first-timer. Never agree to anything in the deal until you are fully comfortable with it.
Related: Do Not Fall for These Pitfalls When Buying an Investment Property
For more on the requirements to buy a house in Texas, as well as more answers to “What do I need to buy a house?”, visit the Mashvisor blog. To begin your search of buying an investment property and starting real estate investing, start your trial with Mashvisor!