Paige Martin advises first-time homebuyers to start early and build a team of trusted professionals to save time and money.
HOUSTON — Buying your first home can be one of the most exciting — and overwhelming — moments in life. With housing prices climbing and hidden costs lurking beneath the surface, experts say preparation is more important than ever.
In Houston, real estate veteran Paige Martin has helped countless first-time buyers navigate the market. She says starting early is key.
“You begin the conversation with when do you actually need to move? Is your lease up in six months? Is it up in 12 months? Is it up in two months? And then you start backing out the time frame from there to decide when you need to put your team together,” Martin said.
That “team” includes more than just a Realtor. Martin recommends interviewing multiple agents to find the right fit and assembling a group of trusted professionals to guide you through the process, including a lender and insurance agent.
Will Green, who closed on his first home in February, initially focused on the basics: high ceilings and a large backyard.
“My big thing is I wanted a two-story living room… a tall ceiling. And then my fiancée wanted a big yard,” he said.
But Green quickly realized there was much more to consider.
“Actually going through and figuring out what interest rate would you be able to get… whether or not you’re in a floodplain or not really can drive the overall bottom line cost of what you’re going to be paying month to month that isn’t covered in Zillow necessarily,” Green said.
Martin also emphasized understanding the full scope of monthly mortgage costs — including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.
“For the first time ever in my career, the insurance and the taxes piece of that payment is more than your principal and interest,” Martin said. “So shopping that, understanding what those costs are — it matters.”
According to Martin, property taxes in Texas have increased roughly 15% over the last two years, and insurance premiums have surged 40% since 2023.
The bottom line for new buyers? Do your homework and lean on experts.
“With the right insurance agent, the right lender, and the right real estate agent, you will find that you most likely save money, you save time, and you have a built-in insurance policy in those trusted advisors,” Martin said.