Buying your first home in Austin
Plain answers on the Texas contract, the two deposits and what your budget buys, before you're asked to sign anything.
What a first purchase actually involves
Buying your first home is a lot of new vocabulary at once: pre-approval, option period, earnest money, title commitment, homestead exemption. None of it is complicated once someone explains it, but it can feel that way when you're hearing it all in the same week as your first offer.
I'd rather you learn it before you need it. I've worked with several first-time buyers in the past year, and the ones who felt calm at closing were the ones who understood each step before they reached it.
Ask a first-time buyer question
How I help first-time buyers
- Start with the budget, not the listings. I'll connect you with a local lender I trust, so you know what you can comfortably spend before you fall for a house. See getting ready.
- Ask about down payment help. Texas has state programs, through the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, that can help with a down payment for buyers who qualify. Your lender can tell you whether you do.
- Learn the contract first. The option fee, the earnest money and the deadlines in the Texas contract, explained before you're asked to sign. See what to know first.
- Look at what matters. On tours I'll point out what photos hide, like an aging roof or a lot that slopes toward the house.
What you get
- My buyer guides and buyer video series, so you can learn at your own pace.
- A consultation where no question is too basic.
- A light one-day agreement for our first day out.
- What to do after closing, including filing your Texas homestead exemption, which lowers the property taxes on your main home.
First homes across the neighborhoods I serve
The more affordable starting points in my area are often condos and townhomes near the Domain and the established neighborhoods north of 183:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need for a down payment?
It depends on the loan. Some loan types allow small down payments, and Texas has state programs that can help buyers who qualify. A lender can give you real numbers for your situation.
What's the difference between the option fee and earnest money?
The option fee buys you the right to end the contract for any reason during the option period. Earnest money is held at the title company and is what you put at risk if you back out the wrong way. Both are credited back at closing.
What is a homestead exemption?
A Texas property tax exemption on your main home. You apply with your county appraisal district after you buy, and it lowers the taxable value of your home.
First-Time Buyers by neighborhood
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Ready to make your move with James Brinkman?