Selling a home in Texas: the complete guide

What makes selling in Texas different

Selling a home follows the same broad arc everywhere — prep, price, list, market, show, negotiate, close — but Texas has its own rules that shape the deal. There’s no state income tax (and so no state capital gains tax). A title company, not an attorney, normally runs closing. Buyers usually negotiate a paid option period to inspect and back out. And the state mandates a written Seller’s Disclosure Notice for most homes.

The other thing worth knowing: you don’t have to pay a 6% commission to do it right. The two halves of a traditional commission are negotiable, and a flat-fee brokerage like Parcel handles the listing, marketing, and paperwork for a fraction of that — so more of your equity stays yours.

The 9 steps to sell your Texas home

1. 1

   Get your home ready

   Declutter, handle obvious repairs, deep clean, and boost curb appeal. In Texas heat, make sure HVAC is serviced and working — buyers notice. Professional photos matter more than almost anything else; they drive the clicks that drive showings.

2. 2

   Set the right price

   Price from real, recent comparable sales in your neighborhood — not a Zestimate. Overpricing is the most common reason a Texas listing sits. Parcel runs an AI pricing analysis on actual comps and gives you a recommended price and range before you go live.

3. 3

   Complete your Seller’s Disclosure

   Texas law requires most sellers to give buyers a written Seller’s Disclosure Notice describing the property’s known condition. Fill it out honestly and completely — it’s the single biggest source of post-closing disputes when done carelessly.

4. 4

   List on the MLS and market it

   The MLS is what syndicates your home to Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin, where buyers and their agents actually look. Pair it with real advertising. Parcel puts your listing on the MLS and runs professional ad campaigns across social and the major portals.

5. 5

   Show the home

   Most Texas showings are coordinated through ShowingTime with a lockbox. Decide whether you want to approve each showing or run "go and show," and set any blackout times. Keep it available — the more accessible, the faster it sells.

6. 6

   Review offers and negotiate

   Look at more than price: financing type, the option fee and period, earnest money, closing date, and any concessions or repairs requested. This is where a licensed broker earns their keep — on Broker-Backed plans, yours helps you counter and strategize.

7. 7

   Go under contract and clear the option period

   Texas buyers typically pay an option fee for an unrestricted right to terminate within a negotiated window (often 7–10 days). They’ll usually inspect during this period and may ask for repairs or a price adjustment. Earnest money goes to the title company.

8. 8

   Appraisal and financing

   If the buyer has a loan, the lender orders an appraisal. If it comes in low, you may renegotiate. Stay responsive to the title company and lender so deadlines in the contract don’t slip.

9. 9

   Close and get paid

   In Texas, a title company (not an attorney) almost always handles closing. You’ll sign, the buyer’s funds clear, the deed records, and your net proceeds are wired or issued — usually 30–45 days after going under contract.

Required disclosures in Texas

Getting these right protects you from disputes after closing. The big one is the Seller’s Disclosure Notice.

What it costs to sell

The largest cost in a traditional sale is commission — about 5–6% of the price, or roughly $18,000 on a $600,000 home, historically split between the listing and buyer sides. Since 2024, those commissions are more openly negotiable than ever.

Beyond commission, Texas sellers typically pay:

• The owner’s title insurance policy (customary for the seller in Texas, but negotiable)
• An escrow / closing fee from the title company
• Prorated property taxes up to the closing date
• HOA transfer fees or dues, if applicable
• Your remaining mortgage payoff, and any concessions you agree to

Parcel replaces the listing-side commission with a flat fee — plans start at $250 down, with the rest paid at closing — so you keep thousands more of your equity.

The contract and the option period

Most Texas resales use the TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract. A few terms drive the deal:

• Option fee & period — the buyer pays a small fee for the unrestricted right to terminate within a set number of days (commonly 7–10). They usually inspect during this window.
• Earnest money — a good-faith deposit held by the title company and applied to the buyer’s costs at closing.
• Closing date & possession — when the sale funds and when the buyer takes possession (sometimes a few days apart).

FSBO vs. a traditional agent vs. Parcel

For sale by owner saves on commission but leaves you to handle MLS access, marketing, disclosures, the contract, and negotiation yourself. A traditional agent handles all of it but costs around 3% on the listing side. Parcel sits in between by design: you get professional marketing, MLS syndication, disclosures handled, AI pricing, and a licensed Texas broker for negotiations on Broker-Backed plans — for a flat fee instead of a percentage.

Frequently asked questions