Buying · Selling · Mortgages · Houston-Area Life
The Houston Real Estate Blog — Straight Answers From a Local Broker
This is the Houston Prime Realty blog: plain-English guides to buying, selling, financing, and living in the Houston area — every word written by me, Kevan Pewitt, a REALTOR® and Texas real estate broker, licensed since 1989. Every post comes from real transactions in Houston, Cypress, Katy, Spring, and Tomball, and my weekend roundups and mortgage-rate report refresh every Friday. If we haven’t met, here’s a little about me and how I work.
Fresh Every Friday
Five posts I update every week — current mortgage rates and what’s happening around my core markets this weekend:
Latest Guides
My newest posts on the questions Houston-area buyers and sellers actually ask me.
The Questions to Ask Before You Sign With Any Real Estate Agent
Texas now puts the paperwork before the first showing, so you're choosing who represents you earlier than buyers used to. Here are the questions…
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What $400K to $450K Buys in Katy, TX Right Now (July 2026)
What does $400,000 to $450,000 buy in Katy, TX right now? Newer west-side builds vs. established neighborhoods — and the tax-rate gap that can…
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The Texas Buyer Representation Agreement: Which of the Three Forms You’ll Actually Sign
Texas law now requires a written agreement before an agent shows you a home. Two of the three forms make you a client —…
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Turning 65 in Texas: How the Over-65 Exemption and School Tax Ceiling Cut Your Property Tax Bill
Turning 65 does two separate things to your property taxes — a second exemption and a freeze on your school taxes. Here's the unit-by-unit…
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What Is a Homestead Exemption in Texas — and How Much Does It Actually Save You?
A Texas homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of your primary residence. Here's what it's worth on a real Houston-area home, the 10% cap…
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Houston’s Flood Disclosure Questions, Mapped
Eight checkboxes, two completely different questions. Here's what floodway, flood pool, Zone AE and the FEMA/SBA line on the Texas Seller's Disclosure actually mean…
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What Houston Home Buyers Should Know About the 2026 Texas Contract Changes
The Texas purchase contract changed July 1. Here's what TREC form 20-19 means for Houston buyers — Paragraph 12 compensation, holiday deadlines, water rights,…
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Should You Buy Down Your Mortgage Rate? Points vs. 2-1 Buydowns in Houston
Two very different things get called "buying down your rate." Here's how discount points and 2-1 buydowns work in Houston in 2026 — and…
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What $500K to $600K Buys in Cypress, TX Right Now (July 2026)
What does $500,000 to $600,000 buy in Cypress, TX right now? Here's what move-up buyers get — new-build incentives vs. established homes, the market…
Read the Guide »Browse by Topic
Every post lives in one of six topic hubs. Pick the one that matches where you are:
Buying a Home
Pre-approval through closing day: inspections, option periods, and what each step really costs.
Selling a Home
Pricing, prep, marketing, and negotiating so you don’t leave money on the table.
Mortgage & Financing
Current rates, loan types, and how lenders actually decide what you can borrow.
Contracts, Offers & Closing
Earnest money, option fees, contingencies, and the Texas contract paperwork, explained.
Foreclosures & Distressed Sales
How foreclosures, short sales, and REO homes work in Texas, and what to check before you offer.
Houston Neighborhoods & Community
Weekend events, local news, and what everyday life looks like around greater Houston.
Looking for a specific place instead of a topic? My neighborhood and community guides cover the taxes, MUDs, schools, and fees most pages skip.
Have a Question a Blog Post Can’t Answer?
Some questions need a conversation, not an article — your specific home, your timeline, your numbers. Call or send me a note and I’ll give you a straight answer. No pressure, no obligation.
Kevan Pewitt, REALTOR® & Broker · Houston Prime Realty
7058 Lakeview Haven Dr, Suite 108, Houston, TX 77095