Mineral Rights and Old Oil Wells: What Texas Homebuyers Should Check
A Texas Tribune report on a leaking plugged well in a San Antonio subdivision is a reminder to look below the surface. Here is how Texas buyers can check mineral…
Title Insurance in Texas: What Homebuyers Should Know Before Closing
Washington is debating title insurance for refinances, but Texas buyers still need the basics. Here is how owner's and loan policies differ, why Texas premiums are the same at every…
Home Inspection and the Option Period in Texas: A Buyer’s Timeline
Buyers have more room to negotiate this fall, and in Texas that leverage gets used during the option period. Here is a day-by-day plan for the fee, the home inspection,…
Wire Fraud When Buying a Home in Texas: How to Protect Your Closing Funds
Scammers are using look-alike emails and cloned voices to steal Texas buyers' earnest money and cash to close. Here is how to verify every wire with your title company, from…
Flood Insurance When Buying a Home in Texas: What to Know Before December 11
FEMA now sells flood insurance online, and the program can write new policies only through December 11 unless Congress acts. Here is when Texas buyers need flood insurance, what the…
How to Remove PMI on a Conventional Loan in Texas
Fannie Mae now lets servicers reach out to homeowners who may be able to drop mortgage insurance, and Texas prices are mixed this fall. Here are the four ways to…
Buying a New Construction Home in Texas: Builder Incentives and What to Check
Builders are cutting prices and offering incentives this fall. Here is how to compare a builder's package, your right to shop for a mortgage, what Texas new home contracts say…
What Closing Costs Include and How to Lower Them in Texas
What do closing costs include, and what is different in Texas? A plain-English look at the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, title insurance and survey in Texas, prepaids and escrow,…
VA Loans for Texas Veterans: A Plain-English Guide
A plain-English look at VA-backed loans for Texas veterans: who may qualify, the Certificate of Eligibility, the funding fee, VA appraisals, and Texas programs like VLB home loans and disabled-veteran…
Refinancing in Texas: When It Makes Sense (or Not)
Refinancing can fit some goals and cost more in other cases. We explain common reasons, how to think about break-even and closing costs, the Texas home equity rules, and when…