Realtors in Houston

City codes govern how Houston land is subdivided and developed but not how it's used. Many neighborhoods rely on deed restrictions instead, and the City Legal Department can sue to enforce certain ones covering use, setbacks, lot and structure size, orientation and some fences. The deed restriction hotline is 832-393-6333, though city attorneys can't give individuals legal advice.

Houston flood maps for buyers

Harris County Flood Control District's Flood Education Mapping Tool shows FEMA floodplains by address, but it isn't the effective flood map; look up the official one at msc.fema.gov. Any construction in Houston's 100-year or 500-year floodplain or floodway needs a floodplain development permit from the city, which matters if you plan to add on.

The seller of a single-dwelling home must give you a written Seller's Disclosure Notice on or before the contract's effective date. If you sign without one, you may terminate for any reason within seven days after receiving it. A termite report on TDA's form covers visible areas only.

Anyone acting as a real estate broker or sales agent in Texas needs a TREC license. A sales agent must work under a sponsoring broker, who is responsible for the agent's work. Search the agent's name in TREC's License Holder Lookup to see an active license, any disciplinary action and the broker who sponsors them.

At your first substantive conversation about a property, the agent must give you the Information About Brokerage Services notice; the current form is IABS 1-2, effective January 1, 2026. Agents also provide TREC's Consumer Protection Notice, version CN 1-5 since September 1, 2023. Texas agents must put a client's interests above all others, including their own.

Complaints go to TREC in writing through its REALM Portal within four years and can't be anonymous. Its Recovery Trust Account can pay court judgments against license holders who can't pay, up to $125,000 per transaction.

Commissions are set by your agreement with each professional, and TREC doesn't regulate them. Since January 1, 2026, an agent working for a buyer must sign a written agreement before showing a home, stating the broker's pay and that compensation isn't set by law and is fully negotiable. A broker can instead show you a home under a non-exclusive showing agreement of no more than 14 days.

Most resale offers use TREC's One to Four Family Residential Contract, form 20-19, effective July 1, 2026. You deliver earnest money and the option fee to the escrow agent within 3 days of the effective date. If you terminate during the option period, the option fee isn't refunded but the earnest money is. Confirm contract terms with your broker or a Texas real estate lawyer before you sign.

Texas appraisal districts describe the state as non-disclosure: sale prices aren't reported to them. Statewide, the median sales price was $339,000 in July 2026, per the Texas Real Estate Research Center. The full Texas buying and selling guide is on the Texas real estate guide.

Texas has no state property tax; local governments set rates, and the Harris Central Appraisal District values Houston property as of January 1. Apply for your homestead exemption with HCAD, generally before May 1. Under Tax Code amendments effective November 4, 2025, school districts must give a $140,000 residence homestead exemption, plus $60,000 more for owners 65 or older or disabled; confirm the amounts that apply to your home with HCAD.

Protest a value through HCAD's iFile by May 15 or 30 days after the notice, whichever is later, and pay bills, generally by January 31, to avoid penalties. Confirm how these apply to your purchase with a licensed Texas real estate broker or tax adviser.

Plan the move with movers in Houston, and order a termite inspection through pest control in Houston. In Fort Bend County, see realtors in Sugar Land. The Houston local guide covers utilities and permits.