Free Houston real estate guides
Plain-English guides for buying, selling and relocating in Houston, written by the agents at Keller Williams Memorial. Free to download.
Houston is a big, varied market, and the right answer to almost any real estate question depends on where you are looking and what you need. These guides pull together what our agents explain to clients every week: how to budget and get pre-approved, how to price and prepare a home, how to compare neighborhoods, how to think about flood risk and storm season, and what to ask before you hire an agent.
Every guide is free. Pick one, tell us where to send it, and use it at your own pace. When you would like a person to talk it through, a Memorial agent is a call away.
Texas Seller’s Disclosure Notice Checklist for Houston Home Sellers
A free checklist for Houston sellers: the records to gather, the flood and insurance questions to prepare for, and how to complete the Texas Seller’s Disclosure…
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Houston Mortgage Pre-Approval Checklist for Buyers: Documents, Lenders and Questions
A free pre-approval checklist for Houston buyers: documents to gather, a lender comparison worksheet, rate lock questions and ways to keep your loan on track.
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Houston Property Tax and Homestead Checklist for New Homeowners
A free checklist for new Houston-area homeowners: taxing units, the $140,000 school homestead exemption, filing deadlines and what to confirm before and after closing.
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Houston Option Period Checklist for Buyers: What to Do Before Your Deadline
A free day-by-day checklist for the Texas option period: contract dates, inspections, research, repair requests and the questions to ask your agent.
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Houston Suburb Comparison Worksheet: Katy, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Cypress and Pearland
A free worksheet to compare Houston suburbs side by side: priorities, HAR market snapshots, commute and school checks, flood and cost questions, and a visit checklist.
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Houston Rental Property Investor’s Guide: Evaluating, Financing and Managing Your First Rental
A free guide for first-time Houston landlords: set your strategy, run the numbers, understand financing, choose a location, evaluate the property and learn Texas landlord basics.
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The Houston Home Seller’s Guide: From First Conversation to Closing Day
A free step-by-step guide for Houston sellers: pricing, preparing your home, Texas paperwork, comparing offers, the option period, a net proceeds worksheet and closing day.
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Build Your Houston Closing Team: Who Does What, and When
A free guide to the lender, title company, inspector, insurer and other professionals in a Houston transaction, with a plain-English timeline and questions to ask.
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Buying Houston Property from Abroad: A Step-by-Step Checklist
A free checklist for international buyers: goals, financing questions, Houston-specific risks, contract timing, remote closing and what to do after you own.
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Houston Commercial Real Estate Checklist: Questions for Owners, Investors and Tenants
A free checklist for leasing, buying, investing in or selling commercial property in Houston, with lease basics, due diligence steps and a timeline worksheet.
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Houston First-Time Home Buyer Guide
A free, plain-English checklist for first-time buyers in Houston: budget, pre-approval, flood and insurance questions, and what to ask before an offer.
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Questions to Ask Before You List Your Houston Home
Seven questions to ask every listing agent you interview, what a strong answer sounds like, and what should give you pause. Free for Houston sellers.
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Houston Relocation Planner: Scouting Trip Checklist and Move Timeline
A free planner for moving to Houston: a move timeline, a scouting-trip checklist, a neighborhood comparison worksheet and the Texas new-resident to-do list.
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Houston Flood Risk Guide for Home Buyers
A free checklist for researching flood risk before you buy in Houston: what to ask, what to request and what to look at on the street…
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Houston Hurricane Preparedness Guide for Homeowners
A free storm-season checklist for Houston homeowners: supplies, documents, insurance review, home prep and a plan for evacuating or sheltering in place.
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Memorial Area Neighborhood Guide: Inside and Outside Beltway 8
A free guide to comparing neighborhoods in Houston's Memorial area: lot size, home age, commute, restrictions and services, inside and outside Beltway 8.
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Houston Luxury Neighborhoods Guide: How to Compare High-End Areas
A free guide to comparing Houston's high-end neighborhoods and high-rises: land, architecture, privacy, restrictions, elevation and the right questions.
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Our in-depth guides to buying, selling, relocating and the luxury and commercial markets are free to read, no sign-up needed.
The Houston home buyer’s guide: what to know before you start looking
From budget and pre-approval to option periods and closing day, a plain-English guide to buying a home in Houston.
The Houston home seller’s guide: from first conversation to closing day
How to prepare, price, market and close the sale of your Houston home, with the Texas details that matter along the way.
Relocating to Houston: a practical guide to your move
What to expect from daily life, how to narrow down where to live, and the Texas to-do list for newcomers.
Understanding the Houston luxury market: a guide for buyers and sellers
What luxury means in Houston, where it lives, what moves the market, and how to buy or sell at the high end with confidence.
Understanding the Houston commercial real estate market: a guide for owners, investors and tenants
Property types, major submarkets, lease basics and due diligence, explained in plain English for anyone buying, leasing or investing in Houston commercial space.
Questions about our guides
Are the guides really free?
Yes. Every guide is free. We ask for your name and email so we can send it to you and offer help if you would like it.
Do I have to work with an agent to get a guide?
No. Requesting a guide does not commit you to anything, and you are never required to work with Keller Williams Memorial.
Are the guides specific to Houston?
Yes. They cover Houston and the surrounding area, including local issues that generic advice skips: flood risk, hurricane season, municipal utility districts, property taxes and deed restrictions.
How current is the information?
The guides are general information, and markets change. Before you make a decision, ask a Memorial agent for current numbers for your neighborhood and price range.
Is this legal, tax or financial advice?
No. The guides are general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Talk with your agent and the appropriate professionals about your situation.
What if I would rather talk to someone?
Call us at 713.461.9393 or request a consultation and a Memorial agent will reach out personally.
Let's find what's next for you.
Buying, selling, relocating or investing? Tell us a little about your plans and a Memorial advisor will reach out personally.