About 30% of mortgage buyers used a gift or loan from family or friends, Zillow reported this week. Here is how FHA gift funds work under HUD rules: who can give, what the gift letter must say, how to document the transfer, what money cannot be a gift and how Texas buyers can keep the gift from delaying closing.
Mortgage rates just hit their highest level in nearly three years, and more Texas buyers are asking whether they can take over a seller’s FHA loan. Here is how an assumable FHA loan works under HUD rules: the credit review, occupancy, fees, the seller’s release, the equity gap and why subject-to deals are risky.
Texas REALTORS say many buyers this year were surprised by how much property taxes affected what they could afford. Here is how escrow works, why the seller’s tax bill is not your tax bill, and how the $140,000 school homestead exemption and the 10% homestead cap apply to new owners.
FHA will accept VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T for case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2027, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac aligned pricing across score models on October 1. Here is what is changing, what is not, and how Texas buyers can get their credit ready.
Texas REALTORS says buyers faced less competition in 2026, and rising borrowing costs make cash to close more important. Here is how seller concessions work, the FHA, VA and conventional limits, and how to ask for one in your offer.
Texas lawmakers held an Oct. 5 hearing on soaring home insurance premiums, and TDI is pushing discounts for stronger roofs. Here is what that means for buyers, how escrow works, and how to shop for coverage before you make an offer.
Texas buyers heading into fall are getting two things at once: more room to negotiate and more expensive borrowing. A Texas mortgage credit certificate (MCC) is one lesser-known tool that may help eligible first-time buyers offset part of that cost. In September 2026, the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) announced it is implementing a 2026 MCC … Read more
You may have noticed far fewer moving vans and for-sale signs in your area as Texas housing turnover sinks to a decade low, leaving the market effectively frozen. High mortgage rates, elevated prices, and economic uncertainty are keeping many homeowners glued to low-rate loans. At the same time, buyers hover on the sidelines, creating rare … Read more
Clear FHA bankruptcy timelines for U.S. borrowers: when 12 months or two years apply, what lenders look for, and exact documents to prepare.
Run the FHA self sufficiency math before you offer. See the 75% rent rule, expected appraisal fees, and three months of PITI reserves Texas lenders check.