Renting vs. Buying in Austin in 2026: Where Break-Even Lands
Austin rents have fallen while ownership costs stay high. Here are the real monthly numbers at the $435,000 median and…
Read article
First Time Home Buyer
25 articles
Buying a Home in Austin With Student Loans: 2026 Lender Math
Student loans do not have to block an Austin home purchase. Walk through one buyer's 2026 numbers and see how…
Read article
Austin Is a Top-25 City for First-Time Buyers: What That Misses
WalletHub ranked Austin a top-25 large city for first-time buyers in 2026. The ranking misses the payment math, property taxes,…
Read article
Buying a Home With Your Parents in Austin: How Co-Borrowing Works
Adding a parent to your mortgage can turn a declined file into an approval. How co-borrowing works in Austin, whose…
Read article
HomeReady vs. Conventional 97 in Austin: Two Ways to Put 3% Down
Two conventional programs let Austin buyers put 3% down, but they fit different situations. Compare HomeReady and Conventional 97 on…
Read article
Gift Money for a Down Payment: 7 Mistakes Austin Buyers Make
Family gift money can cover part or all of an Austin down payment. These seven documentation and timing mistakes are…
Read article
Austin Mortgage Pre-Approval Checklist: What to Have Ready
A practical mortgage pre-approval checklist for Austin buyers: the documents lenders want, credit prep, budget math at current rates, and…
Read article
House Hacking Myths Austin Buyers Should Stop Believing
You do not need an investor loan or 25 percent down to buy a duplex in Austin. Six house hacking…
Read article
TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes: DPA for Austin Teachers and Nurses
TSAHC's Homes for Texas Heroes program covers up to 5% of your loan amount for down payment and closing costs.…
Read article
What First-Time Austin Buyers Get Wrong Before the First Tour
The most expensive first-time buyer mistakes in Austin happen before the first tour. The pre-approval, debt, and budget missteps that…
Read article
The 20% Down Payment Myth in Austin: What You Actually Need
You do not need 20% down to buy in Austin. Conventional starts at 3%, FHA at 3.5%, VA at 0%.…
Read article
Buying a Home With Your Parents: How Co-Borrowers Work in Austin
Adding a parent to your mortgage can unlock a bigger approval, with real tradeoffs. How non-occupant co-borrowers, co-signers, and gifts…
Read article
TSAHC Home Sweet Texas Home: Down Payment Help for Austin Buyers
The TSAHC Home Sweet Texas Home Loan Program provides a 3% to 5% down payment grant for qualifying Austin buyers.…
Read article
A First-Time Buyer Checklist for Austin in 2026
A step-by-step first-time buyer checklist for Austin in 2026, covering credit, down payment, pre-approval, offer strategy, and the path from…
Read article
Renting vs. Buying in Austin in 2026: Running the Numbers
Should you rent or buy in Austin in 2026? We run the actual numbers on a $475,000 home purchase versus…
Read article
Conventional 97 Loan in Texas: The 3% Down Option Buyers Miss
The Conventional 97 lets qualified Texas buyers purchase a home with just 3% down. Here's what it costs, who it's…
Read article
Gift Funds for Your Texas Down Payment: What Lenders Require
A 2024 National Association of Realtors survey found that more than a quarter of first-time homebuyers received financial help from…
Read article
Down Payment Realities at Every Price Tier in Travis County
According to the Texas Real Estate Research Center, the median home price in the Austin-Round Rock metro area hovered near…
Read article
Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualification in Austin: The Real Difference
Austin sellers and listing agents treat pre-qualification and pre-approval very differently. Here is what each one actually means and why…
Read article