HUD has issued new guidance on Assistance Animals in housing, repealing all prior policy guidance and relying more on the “trained service animal” standard under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). This eliminates the prior presumption that requests for untrained [...]
A handwritten note creates a feeling that digital communication just can’t replicate. It shows someone that you paused your day, thought about them personally, and took the time to put pen to paper. That kind of effort stands out now because it’s become so uncommon. People don’t usually save emails or screenshots of text messages, but they [...]
Texas routinely ranks #1 in the nation for new Manufactured Housing shipped, and over 15,000 new and 3000 used units were titled in 2025 alone, according to the Texas Manufactured Housing Association.
Manufactured housing is definitely a contributor to the Texas housing market—but it [...]
The Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR), required by Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac as part of their loan underwriting guidelines, has received a much-needed overhaul, utilizing the Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6. The last major update to the Appraisal Report/UAD was about 15 years [...]
When one of the parties needs more Option time than originally anticipated, the parties can mutually agree to an extension of the Option Period. Read more about the Termination Option [...]
The contract forms promulgated by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) have a somewhat peculiar provision called the Option Period. You may have heard the term “option contract” before, but options in real estate contracts are typically concerned with the [...]
In the olden days, property transactions were governed by “buyer beware” and the seller had no duty to disclose known conditions. In the 1990s, however, both Texas and Oklahoma legislatures realized that sellers should have a legal duty to disclose known defects. While buyers do still bear [...]
Absolutely! The Seller's (or Landlord's) disclosure of lead-based paint hazards is required by federal law - and brokers are also required to ensure compliance. Sellers (Landlords) must disclose known hazards or reports to Buyers (Tenants), who must [...]
Why is my spouse (or ex-spouse) being required to sign documents when they aren’t on the loan or title?
Short answer: In Texas, the primary factor is homestead law, secondary to community property laws. If the property is (or could be) the couple’s homestead, both spouses must consent to sell or mortgage it. Title insurers and lenders build [...]
Escrow is the process of placing funds in trust with a third party until all conditions are met. The Escrow Agent for our TREC contracts is the neutral third party holding trust funds, conducting the closing, and making disbursements after the closing and funding. This could be a [...]
