Wondering what the steps are to buy a house in Lake Travis, Texas? The Lake Travis area has become increasingly popular with home buyers. If you want to find your dream home for the best possible price, it’s important to understand the steps involved in the buying process.

In this post, our Austin realtors at The Seely Group will discuss ten steps to buy a house in Lake Travis.

Key Takeaways

• The median sale price of homes for sale in Lake Travis was $777,000, which is 5.1% lower compared to the same time last year. 
• Lake Travis offers everything from single-family homes and multi-family housing developments to new construction and luxury homes. In particular, waterfront homes along the edge of Lake Travis are popular with home buyers. 
• A knowledgeable realtor who specializes in the Lake Travis housing market can match you with homes that meet your budget and preferences, including off-market homes that may not be publicly advertised.

What Are The Steps to Buy a House in Lake Travis? – 10 Steps

Understand the Local Market

In recent months, Lake Travis has been a strong buyer’s market. This means buyers have more leverage, homes tend to stay on the market longer, and final sales prices are lower. The median sale price of homes for sale was $777,000, which is 5.1% lower compared to the same time last year. 

The market also has 25.7% more homes for sale on the market compared to the previous year. In addition, 23.1% fewer homes were sold recently compared to previous months in 2024. 

Research Neighborhoods in Lake Travis

Lake Travis offers everything from single-family homes and multi-family housing developments to new construction and luxury homes. In particular, waterfront homes along the edge of Lake Travis are popular with home buyers. These homes come with private boat docks, beach access, and scenic views of the lake. 

Single-family homes, whether resale or brand new, are highly desirable because they’re usually located in neighborhoods with benefits like walking and biking trails, golf courses, swimming pools, and fitness centers.

Hire a Realtor who Specializes in the Lake Travis Area

A knowledgeable realtor who specializes in the Lake Travis housing market can match you with homes that meet your budget and preferences, including off-market homes that may not be publicly advertised.

They also have extensive knowledge of the local real estate market, allowing them to give you up-to-date housing market information. They can help you make more informed decisions by providing insights into neighborhoods, property values, the latest market trends, and comparable sales data.

Figure Out Your Finances

If you haven’t already, take some time to assess your finances. Determine how much you can put towards a down payment, closing costs, and monthly payments for your mortgage, property taxes, HOA fees, and other homeownership expenses.

Once you have a rough budget in mind, reach out to a lender to get pre-approval. Your realtor can help you find reputable lenders in your area.

Define Your Home Preferences and Needs

In addition to your finances, think about what kind of home you’re looking for and what kinds of neighborhoods match your ideal lifestyle. Consider factors like:

• Location
• Size of home
• Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
• Neighborhood amenities
• Proximity to schools, work, public transportation, and grocery stores

Start House-Hunting

Once you have pre-approval and know what type of home you want, you can start searching for available listings. 

Your realtor can help you search online, find open houses, and schedule showings. It can also be a good idea to explore neighborhoods in person to find homes for sale.

Make an Offer

Once you find a home you’re interested in, work with your realtor to draft and submit an offer. The offer should include the proposed purchase price, closing date, and contingencies.

Be prepared for the seller to make a counteroffer and negotiate on the price, contingencies, and other terms of the sale. Once an agreement is reached between both parties, you’ll sign a purchase agreement and head to the closing process.

Conduct an Inspection and Appraisal

Schedule a home inspection to assess the property and make sure it’s in the condition the seller says it’s in. If the inspection turns up any issues, you can use it to your advantage to negotiate repair costs or credits with the seller.

In addition, your mortgage lender will likely require an appraisal before issuing you the loan. This ensures that the home’s market value aligns with the asking price and loan amount. 

You’ll also need to do a title search to make sure there are no liens, encumbrances, or other legal issues with the property.

Finalize Your Mortgage

If everything is in order, you’ll work with your lender to complete the mortgage application process and finalize the terms of your loan. 

Make sure to purchase homeowners insurance to protect your investment. Your lender will likely require proof of insurance before closing.

Complete the Closing Process

On the final closing day, you and the seller will meet to review and sign the remaining paperwork and pay closing costs. As a buyer, you can expect the seller to pay the bulk of the closing costs. However, you’ll still end up paying between 2% and 5%. This includes fees for loan processing, title insurance, and other services.

Then, you’ll pay the seller the funds to purchase the home. At that point, ownership of the property will be officially transferred to you and you’ll receive your new keys.

Call Dallas and Amy Seely – We Can Help You Buy Your Dream Home in Lake Travis 

Working with a knowledgeable realtor can help streamline the buying process and ensure a successful home purchase. If you’re looking to buy a home in Lake Travis, consider working with Amy and Dallas Seely and our entire team at The Seely Group.

We help over 300 families in the Austin area every year and have been ranked in the 0.1% of realtors nationwide. With our expertise and unique buyer guarantees, we can ensure you find the home of your dreams in Lake Travis in no time.

To learn more about working with us to buy a home, call 512.943.2572 or send a message to [javascript protected email address]. You can also fill out the form on this page.

To Discuss Your Home Sale or Purchase, Call or Text Today and Start Packing!