Buy Your Home With a Houston Real Estate Buyers Agent
I’m Kevan Pewitt, a REALTOR® and Texas real estate broker licensed since 1989. As your Houston real estate buyers agent, I’ll help you find the right property, negotiate the terms, and close with confidence across Greater Houston, Cypress, and Katy.
What does a Houston real estate buyer’s agent do?
A Houston real estate buyer’s agent is a licensed real estate agent who represents the buyer, not the seller, in a home purchase. The real estate buyer’s agent finds homes that fit the buyer’s needs, runs comparable-sales analysis to set a fair offer price, writes and negotiates the offer, and manages the option period, inspection, financing, title, and closing. In Texas, the buyer and the real estate buyer’s agent sign a written buyer representation agreement before the first showing, a requirement under the industry rules that took effect in August 2024, and that agreement sets how the real estate buyer’s agent is paid. Here’s which of the three buyer representation forms you’ll actually sign. Kevan Pewitt is a REALTOR® and Texas real estate broker licensed since 1989, and he works with every client directly across Greater Houston, Cypress, and Katy, with no call centers and no hand-offs.
Full MLS Access
I can show you any property listed on the Houston or Bryan–College Station MLS — no need to call multiple real estate agents from yard signs.
Experienced Negotiation
From your initial offer through inspection repairs and final closing, I represent your side at every step.
Trusted by Houston Buyers
5.0★ HAR Client Experience Rating · 229 Surveys
Read my reviews on HAR.com →
4.9★ on Google · 44 Reviews
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“Kevan was very knowledgeable and was able to competently answer all questions that I had. We mapped out a plan and executed. Really pleasant experience.”
Why Work With a Houston Real Estate Buyers Agent?
A Houston real estate buyers agent represents you. The seller’s real estate agent on any property is legally working for the seller’s interests under Texas Real Estate Commission rules, so when you have your own real estate agent, you have someone in your corner during one of the largest financial decisions of your life.
I’ll help you find properties that actually fit your needs, write competitive offers, guide you through the inspection and option period, coordinate with title companies and lenders, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks before closing.
How your real estate buyer’s agent is paid in 2026. Since the 2024 National Association of REALTORS settlement, my compensation is negotiated up front and put in writing in your buyer representation agreement before we tour the first home. There is no standard rate — not one set by law and not one set by any association — so we agree on the number in advance. It can be paid three ways: the seller offers it in the listing, you request it as a seller concession in your offer, or you pay it at closing. I’ve never had a buyer client pay it themselves; it has been covered within the deal, through the seller’s offer or a negotiated concession. The only way you would pay it is by choosing a home where the seller won’t contribute. You’ll know where it stands before any purchase contract is executed, and whether to sign is always your decision. I’ll walk you through exactly how it works, and what is typical right now, at our first meeting. Here is the full detail on how a real estate buyer’s agent gets paid in Texas.
How I work as your Houston real estate buyer’s agent
When you hire me, you work with me from the first showing to the closing table. I’m a REALTOR® and licensed Texas real estate broker, and I don’t hand clients off to a junior team member. I grew up in the Houston area and have been licensed here since 1989, so the questions buyers ask about school zones, flood maps, HOAs, and MUD districts are ones I answer from experience. I’m a Certified Residential Specialist. I also hold a Texas Certified Residential Appraiser license, so I read comparable sales the way an appraiser does, which helps when we set your offer price in a specific neighborhood. I’m also an 11-year Five Star Professional real estate agent, as featured in Texas Monthly.
Choosing the right real estate agent comes down to things you can actually check: current license status, recent local experience in your price range and area, and verified client reviews. My guide on how to choose a real estate agent walks through what to look for.
Free Mobile App · Powered by the HAR MLS
Your Houston Home-Buying Toolkit, In One App
The Houston Prime Realty app gives you full Houston Association of REALTORS MLS access on your phone, the same live listing data I work from. It’s also where you’ll find my vetted lenders, inspectors, and contractors when you need them along the way.
Search & Save
- Live MLS listings across Houston, Cypress, Katy, and surrounding areas
- Save favorites and share them with me in one tap
- Instant alerts when new listings match your criteria
- Search by school zone, neighborhood, or draw your own area on the map
Connect With Trusted Pros
- Mortgage lenders for fast pre-approval letters
- Licensed home inspectors to schedule your option-period inspection
- Contractors for detailed follow-up inspections and post-purchase repairs
Scan with your phone camera
The Houston Home-Buying Process, in 4 Phases
Most financed buyers close within 30–45 days of an accepted offer, and cash buyers within 10–21 days. Here’s what to expect from start to keys-in-hand:
Phase 1 — Prepare (1–2 weeks)
- Hire a real estate buyers agent and sign a buyer representation agreement.
- Get a mortgage pre-approval letter from a lender (or pay cash and gather proof of funds).
- Define your search criteria — neighborhood, school district, square footage, must-haves vs. nice-to-haves.
Phase 2 — Search (varies)
- I’ll set you up with automated MLS alerts tuned to your criteria so new listings hit your inbox first.
- We tour homes together — in person or virtually — and narrow down to the right property.
- I provide comparable sales data so you understand fair market value before you write an offer.
Tip: Download the free Houston Prime Realty app to search live MLS listings on your phone, save favorites, and share them with me in one tap.
Phase 3 — Offer & Inspection (1–2 weeks)
- I prepare and submit your offer, then negotiate price and terms with the seller’s real estate agent.
- Your accepted offer goes to the title company; your earnest money is held in escrow.
- You order a property inspection during the option period. If the house is from the 1950s through the 1980s, my guide to buying an older home in Houston and reading the inspection report walks through which findings are normal for the age, which to negotiate, and which to walk from.
- I negotiate any repair requests or credits based on inspection findings.
Phase 4 — Close (2–4 weeks)
- Title company researches title history and prepares title insurance.
- Your lender processes the mortgage, orders the appraisal, and clears underwriting.
- The title company orders the property survey.
- You select a homeowner’s insurance policy.
- Closing happens at the title company office. You sign documents and bring funds.
- You take possession and move in.
Who I Help
First-Time Homebuyers
Buying your first home in Houston comes with a lot of unfamiliar terms — option period, earnest money, escrow, MUDs, HOAs. I’ll walk you through every step and connect you with lenders who specialize in first-time buyer programs, including FHA and down payment assistance options.
Relocation Buyers
Moving to Houston for work? I help corporate transfers and out-of-state buyers narrow down neighborhoods that match commute, schools, and lifestyle, often before they ever set foot in Texas. Popular relocation destinations include Cypress communities like Bridgeland, Towne Lake, and Coles Crossing; Katy areas like Cinco Ranch, Cross Creek Ranch, and Grand Lakes; The Woodlands and Spring; and the Bryan–College Station market for Texas A&M employees and families. We can do virtual tours and coordinate trips efficiently when you fly in.
New Construction Buyers
The salesperson in a builder’s model home works for the builder, not you. When you bring your own real estate buyer’s agent, my compensation is agreed up front in writing, and in my own new-construction closings the builder has paid it, the same way a seller can on a resale home. You will know where it stands before you sign a builder contract. You get an advocate during contract negotiations, construction walkthroughs, and final closing, and most builders welcome it. There’s more in do you need your own real estate agent for new construction.
Veterans & VA Loan Buyers
Houston is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the country, and VA loans remain one of the strongest mortgage products available. I’ll connect you with VA-experienced lenders and write offers that are VA-friendly to sellers.
Quick Answers
For a full library of answers covering contracts, title, MUDs, HOAs, and Houston-specific terminology, see the full Buyer FAQ.
How much do I need for a down payment in Houston?
Down payment requirements in Houston vary by loan type:
- Conventional loans: 3%–20% down
- FHA loans: 3.5% down
- VA and USDA loans: 0% down for qualified buyers
- First-time buyer programs: as little as 3% down
I’ll connect you with lenders who can run the numbers for your specific situation.
What are typical closing costs in Texas?
Buyer closing costs in Texas typically total 2%–5% of the purchase price and include:
- Lender fees: 1%–1.5% of loan amount
- Title insurance: 0.5%–1% of purchase price
- Survey: $400–$600
- Appraisal: $500–$700
- Prepaid taxes and insurance: varies
In some negotiations, sellers contribute toward closing costs as part of the offer.
How long does it take to buy a home in Houston?
From accepted offer to closing typically takes 30–45 days for financed purchases and 10–21 days for cash purchases. The search phase varies — some buyers find the right home in two weeks, others take six months. I’ll help you move at the pace that’s right for you.
Do I still need a real estate buyer’s agent now that the rules have changed?
Yes, and arguably more than ever. A real estate buyer’s agent represents you during negotiation, inspections, and closing, and none of that protection changed with the new rules. What changed is that you now sign a written buyer representation agreement up front that spells out how your real estate buyer’s agent is paid, so the compensation conversation happens earlier and more openly. When you’re choosing a real estate agent, check their license, their recent experience in your area and price range, and their verified client reviews. You can read more in my guide on how to choose a real estate agent.
What areas does Kevan Pewitt serve as a Houston real estate buyers agent?
I represent home buyers across Houston from the Heights through Spring Branch to Cy-Fair, and throughout Cypress and Katy, working from my Houston Prime Realty office in northwest Houston (77095). I also serve Bryan–College Station as a secondary market, mostly for Texas A&M families and relocations.
Who pays the real estate buyer’s agent in Texas?
My compensation as your real estate buyer’s agent is negotiated and put in writing in your buyer representation agreement before we tour the first home; there is no standard rate set by law or by any association. It can be paid three ways: the seller offers it in the listing, you request it as a seller concession in your offer, or you pay it at closing. In my own practice, no buyer client has ever paid it themselves; it has been covered within the deal, and you will know where it stands before any contract is executed. Whether to sign is always your decision.
More questions? Read the full Houston Real Estate Buyer FAQ →
Ready to Get Started?
The first step is a quick conversation with your Houston real estate buyers agent — no pressure, no obligation. We’ll talk about what you’re looking for, your timeline, and how the process works.
Kevan Pewitt, REALTOR® & Broker · Houston Prime Realty
7058 Lakeview Haven Dr, Suite 108, Houston, TX 77095
Keep reading: buying a home in Houston · Texas contracts, offers & closing · mortgage & financing