Moving to Dallas: The Order of Steps From First Call to Keys

Where should I start if I'm moving to Dallas?

Start with two calls: one to a lender and one to a Realtor who knows Dallas. The lender tells you what you can borrow and what documents a new job requires. The Realtor turns your job address and budget into a short list of areas worth seeing.

Here is the order that works for most people:

1. Pin down the work address and your move date, and note whether your employer pays relocation costs and by what date.
2. Get preapproved, and ask the lender what it needs if your job is new.
3. Decide whether you will rent first or buy now.
4. Shortlist two or three areas by commute, housing type and school district.
5. Preview homes by video and photos for two to three weeks.
6. Make one focused trip to see the strongest candidates and drive your commute.
7. Make an offer, inspect, and close in person or remotely.

Should I rent first before buying in Dallas?

Rent first if any of the big questions is still open: where you will work long term, whether you want a city house or a suburb, or which school district you want. Renting for a lease term lets you learn the city and drive the roads before you commit.

Buy now if the job is settled, you know the area you want, and you are ready to stay for years. Buying right away saves a second move and lets you start building equity sooner.

How do I choose an area in Dallas if I've never lived there?

Choose by facts you can check, in this order: commute, budget, house type, school district and taxes. Reputation and online rankings tell you little about whether a street fits your day.

1. Draw a commute limit around your workplace, using the drive at the hour you would really leave.
2. Within that limit, see what your budget buys: an older house close in, or a newer, larger one farther out.
3. Pick the house type you want. Close-in Dallas has older homes on smaller lots with alleys and mature trees. The northern suburbs have more newer construction and larger floor plans.
4. Look up the school district for each address you like in the district's own boundary tool, since lines do not follow neighborhood names.
5. Compare tax rates by address. DCAD and the county tax office show which taxing units apply.

Then visit at different times. A street that is quiet at noon can carry cut-through traffic at 5 p.m., and a home near a stadium, rail line or highway sounds different on a weekend. I would rather you hear that from me before you fly in than discover it after closing.

How early should I look for a house before relocating?

Start looking in earnest about two to four months before your move date. That leaves time to preview homes, make a trip, negotiate and close, and a typical financed purchase still needs several weeks from contract to closing.

Begin learning earlier if you like, but use that time for areas, commutes and budgets rather than specific houses. A home you love six months out will almost certainly be sold before you can buy it.

Can I buy a house in Texas before starting my new job?

Often you can. Many lenders accept a signed offer letter showing salary and start date, and some will close before your first day. Others want a first pay stub before funding. The rules differ by lender and loan program, so ask your lender in writing what it needs.

Have these ready: the signed offer letter, recent pay stubs and W-2s from your current job, bank statements, and an explanation of any gap between jobs.

How many trips to Dallas do I need before buying?

One focused trip is often enough, and some buyers buy with none. The trip works when the groundwork is done first: preapproval in hand, areas narrowed, and a shortlist already previewed by video.

Plan the trip like this: day one for the shortlist, day two for second looks, the commute drive and a walk around the streets at different times. If a house fits, write the offer before you fly home. A second trip for the final walkthrough is optional when a remote closing is allowed.

Should I sell my old house before moving to Dallas?

Sell first if you need the equity for your down payment or cannot carry two mortgages. Buy first if you can qualify for both payments, or have cash or a bridge plan, and want a single move.

Buyers coming from California and other states often combine the two: list the old home, shop here, and use one of these to cover the gap:

• A contingent offer, using the Texas Real Estate Commission's Addendum for Sale of Other Property by Buyer.
• A leaseback on your old home, so you stay there a short time after it closes.
• A short-term rental in Dallas between closings.

Ask a CPA about taxes on the sale you are leaving behind. The sell and buy page explains how to line up two closings.

Can a realtor connect me with a lender, inspectors and movers?

Yes. A good Realtor keeps names of lenders, inspectors, foundation engineers, insurance agents and movers that past clients have used. Dave Perry-Miller's OnePoint connects the agent, mortgage, insurance and title in one process if you want one place to start.

You choose every provider and pay them directly. Compare at least two lenders and ask each inspector what their report covers. See costs and financing for the money side.