Tommye McCeig's Blogs

How Texas Property Taxes Work When Buying a Home

Property taxes are a big part of owning a home in Texas, and they can be confusing. Two homes with similar prices can have very different property taxes depending on where they're located, which school district they're in, whether there are additional taxing districts and what exemptions apply. And

What Is PMI? A First-Time Buyer Guide

If you're buying a home and aren't putting 20% down, you may hear your lender start talking about mortgage insurance. Then you may hear PMI. Or MIP. Yes, those names are ridiculously similar. And no, you don't need to memorize all of this. What you do need to understand is that mortgage insurance ca

Home Appraisal vs Inspection: Key Differences

The easiest way to think about it is this: an appraisal is primarily about value, while an inspection is about condition. Your lender typically orders the appraisal to get an independent opinion of the home's market value. The appraiser looks at the property and comparable sales to determine whether

Home Inspection Checklist for Buyers

There’s no such thing as a perfect house. Even a brand-new home is going to have things that show up on an inspection. The purpose of a home inspection isn’t to find a house with nothing wrong with it. It’s to understand what you’re buying, identify the things that really matter, and get more inform