Realtors in Georgetown

In the Downtown and Old Town historic overlay districts, exterior changes, new buildings, fences and demolition can require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Officer or HARC. If you plan to change an older house, ask before you buy. A Heritage Tree, one of 13 listed species at 26 inches or more in diameter, needs city approval to remove or prune, which matters if you want to build in a shaded yard.

Outside city limits, Georgetown building permits still apply when the city provides the property's water, wastewater or electricity. And the city issues no certificate of occupancy for homes; the passed building final inspection serves as one, so ask the seller for final inspection records on additions.

Georgetown properties are appraised by the Williamson Central Appraisal District, 625 FM 1460 (512-930-3787), and taxes are collected by the county Tax Assessor-Collector, 1848 Texas Trail (512-943-1601). Apply for a homestead exemption at the appraisal district, generally before May 1. School districts must give a $140,000 homestead exemption, effective November 4, 2025. You can protest an appraisal by May 15 or 30 days after the notice arrives, whichever is later. Confirm the exemption with the appraisal district and your own situation with a licensed tax adviser.

Texas appraisal districts describe the state as non-disclosure, so sale prices are not reported to them. Your agent's comparable sales are the main price evidence.

TREC's most frequently used contract is the One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale), form 20-19, effective July 1, 2026. The buyer pays an option fee for the right to end the deal within a negotiated number of days; end it in time and the earnest money comes back, though the option fee does not. The seller must hand over a written Seller's Disclosure Notice on or before the effective date, which is where to look for notes on additions and permits.

A TREC license is required to act as a broker or sales agent, and a sales agent must work under a licensed broker who is responsible for the agent's work. TREC's License Holder Lookup shows license status, discipline, education and the sponsoring broker. Every license holder owes clients a fiduciary duty: your interests come above all others, including the agent's own.

Since January 1, 2026, a buyer's agent must sign a written agreement with you before showing a home, stating the broker's pay and that it is fully negotiable. TREC doesn't set commissions, and it can't force a broker to release you from a buyer agreement, so read the term and termination clauses. Complaints go in writing through TREC's REALM Portal within four years. Confirm contract questions with a licensed broker or real estate attorney.

Before closing, order termite and pest checks through Georgetown pest control companies. See the Georgetown hub, compare Round Rock agents, and read the Texas real estate guide.