Real estate agents in Austin

Austin Energy estimates an ECAD audit at about $200 to $300 for a typical single-family home of 1,800 square feet or less, done by a RESNET or BPI professional. One audit counts for 10 years, and taking part in a qualifying Austin Energy program with at least $500 in rebates is an alternative. The option period it is timed against comes from the TREC resale contract, where the buyer pays an option fee for an unrestricted right to terminate within a negotiated number of days.

Austin lot rules buyers ask agents about

• Trees. Removing a tree of 19 inches or more needs a city permit, and Heritage trees of 24 inches or more, such as oaks and pecans, need a variance. Buyers planning an addition should know what stands in the yard.
• Floodplain. Austin prohibits new buildings in the 25-year floodplain and restricts them in the 100-year floodplain, with slabs at least 2 feet above the flood elevation. Ask the Floodplain Office (512-974-2843) about a specific lot.
• Termites. A termite report for the sale must be on TDA's official form from a licensed inspector; see pest control in Austin.

Anyone acting as a broker or sales agent in Texas needs a TREC license. Type the agent's name into TREC's License Holder Lookup before you sign: the result gives license status, any discipline, completed education and, for a sales agent, the sponsoring broker, who answers for that agent's brokerage work. A sales agent needs 180 classroom hours and an exam; a broker needs four years of active experience within the prior 60 months.

Austin agent paperwork rules from 2026

A Texas agent working for an Austin homebuyer now needs a signed written agreement before showing a home (the rule took effect January 1, 2026), and it must state the broker's pay and that compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. A broker may instead show a home under a non-exclusive showing agreement of no more than 14 days. At the first substantive talk about a property you should get the Information About Brokerage Services notice, now form IABS 1-2, effective January 1, 2026. TREC's resale contract, form 20-19, took effect July 1, 2026.

Commissions are whatever you and the broker agree on, since TREC doesn't regulate fees. A complaint about a license holder must be filed in writing through TREC's REALM Portal within four years. The Texas real estate guide covers fees and contracts in detail.

Most Austin homes are appraised by the Travis Central Appraisal District, which mails a Notice of Appraised Value each spring when market value rises by at least $1,000. The protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice is mailed, whichever is later, under Tax Code 41.44. Homes in the parts of Austin in Williamson or Hays County go to those counties' appraisal districts. Under Tax Code amendments effective November 4, 2025, school districts must give a $140,000 residence homestead exemption, plus $60,000 more for homeowners 65 or older or disabled. Apply at the appraisal district, generally before May 1, and confirm the current amounts with it.

Texas is a non-disclosure state, so sale prices aren't reported to appraisal districts; ask an agent for comparable sales. For a statewide yardstick, the Texas Real Estate Research Center put the July 2026 median sales price at $339,000, unchanged from a year earlier. Ask an agent for Austin figures and where they come from. Tax and contract rules change and have exceptions, so confirm with a licensed Texas real estate broker or tax adviser.

For the move itself, see movers in Austin, the Austin hub for city services, and real estate agents in Kyle to the south.