Short answer: To sell a house in Texas, you'll typically need a Seller's Disclosure Notice, your existing survey (and possibly a T-47 affidavit), your mortgage payoff information, HOA and MUD information if they apply, and a lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978. Gathering …

Short answer: Staging helps buyers picture themselves in your home, and it can help you sell faster and for more. In the National Association of REALTORS^® 2025 staging report, 49% of sellers' agents said staging reduced time on the market, and 29% said it increased offers by 1% …

Short answer: Online home value tools are a good starting point, but they can be off by thousands of dollars. Zillow reports its Zestimate's median error is about 2% for homes on the market but about 7% for homes that aren't listed. On a $350,000 Houston home, 7% …

Short answer: In Houston, spring, especially April through June, is usually the best time to sell. More buyers are shopping, homes look their best and families want to move before the new school year. The slowest time is typically late November through January, around the holidays. But …

Short answer: There's no set commission in Houston or anywhere else. Every fee is negotiable. A 2026 national agent survey found the average total commission in Texas is about 5.6%: roughly 2.75% for the listing agent and 2.9% for the buyer's agent. Since 2024, sellers decide separately whether …

Short answer: Selling a $400,000 home in Houston typically costs about $23,000 to $30,000, or roughly 5.5% to 7.5% of the sale price. Real estate commissions are the biggest piece, followed by the owner's title policy, closing fees and any repairs or concessions you agree to. You'll also …

Short answer: The 2-out-of-5-year rule lets you avoid federal capital gains tax on up to $250,000 of profit ($500,000 if married filing jointly) when you sell your home. To qualify, you must have owned the home and lived in it as your main residence for at least 24 months …

Short answer: Texas has no state income tax, so there's no Texas capital gains tax on a home sale. You may owe federal capital gains tax, but most homeowners don't. If the home was your main residence for at least 2 of the last 5 years, you can …

Short answer: Houston home prices are flat, not crashing. The Greater Houston median single-family price was $325,000 in September 2026, essentially unchanged from $325,990 a year earlier, while the average price was up 0.7%. Some areas are dipping and others are still rising. What's really changed is that …

Short answer: It can be a good time to sell in Houston, if you price it right and prepare the home well. Prices are holding steady (the median was $325,000 in September 2026, essentially unchanged from a year earlier), but sales have slowed and buyers have more choices …