What part of Texas is the cheapest to buy a house?

The cheapest parts of Texas to buy a house are generally in smaller cities and rural areas, with Wichita Falls, El Paso, Abilene, Harlingen, Brownsville, and Lubbock frequently cited for median home prices well under the state average, alongside more remote counties like Crockett. These areas offer significantly lower costs compared to major hubs like Austin or Dallas, often featuring strong community vibes, lower overall living expenses, and unique local attractions.

Where is the cheapest place in Texas to buy a house?

The cheapest places to buy a house in Texas are generally smaller cities with lower living costs, with Wichita Falls often topping lists for its low median home prices (around $150k-$220k) and costs below the national average, followed by Brownsville, Harlingen, Amarillo, Lubbock, and El Paso, offering budget-friendly housing with unique community flavors. These areas provide a good mix of affordability, local amenities, and economic opportunities, especially for those looking outside major metropolitan areas. 

What town in Texas has the lowest cost of living?

While it changes, Wichita Falls and Harlingen are consistently ranked among the cheapest Texas towns, often topping lists due to very low housing costs, well below the national average for living expenses, alongside other affordable spots like Brownsville, Amarillo, and El Paso, offering budget-friendly living with good community vibes, though specific "cheapest" depends on your priorities like housing vs. groceries. 

How much do I need to make to buy a $300k house in Texas?

To afford a $300,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $75,000 to $95,000 (your annual salary), depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions.

What city in Texas has no property taxes?

The City of Stafford holds the unique distinction of being the largest city in Texas to abolish city property taxes. This includes both commercial and residential properties. In addition to a lack of city property taxes, the State of Texas has no state property taxes.

Texas is about to get cheap.

At what age do you no longer pay property taxes in Texas?

To qualify for the age 65 or older residence homestead exemption, the individual must be age 65 or older, have an ownership interest in the property and live in the home as his or her principal residence.

How much is $70,000 a year after taxes in Texas?

If you make $70,000 a year living in the region of Texas, United States of America, you will be taxed $13,523. That means that your net pay will be $56,477 per year, or $4,706 per month.

What is the 2% rule in Texas?

Texas 50(a)(6)

The 2% rule says that a homeowner or their spouse can't be required to pay more than 2% of the principal on the new loan in closing costs, excluding exceptions for the following: Discount points (also referred to as mortgage points) to buy down the interest rate. Appraisal fees. Costs for a land survey.

How much of a house can I afford if I make $70,000 a year?

With a $70,000 salary, you can generally afford a house between $210,000 and $350,000, but your actual budget depends heavily on your credit score, existing debts, down payment, and current mortgage rates, with lenders often following the 28/36 rule (housing costs under 28% of gross income, total debt under 36%). A good starting point is keeping your total monthly housing payment (PITI) under $1,633, but a lower Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio and larger down payment increase your buying power. 

What is the best home loan for first timers?

Let FHA help you (FHA loan programs offer lower downpayments and are a good option for first-time homebuyers!)

What is the #1 safest city in Texas?

Flower Mound

As the name suggests, Flower Mound is the safest city in Texas, not only because of its extremely low crime rate but also because of its beautification. It has a 12.5-acre flower mound in the center, easily accessible from the whole town. In addition, the crime rate is 73% less than the estate average.

What is the #1 city to move to in Texas?

A new study ranks Allen, Frisco and Plano as the top three Texas cities to move to. Seven of the top 10 cities are in DFW; Leander, Sugar Land, and League City round out the statewide list. Major cities like Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin rank low due to safety and affordability issues.

What is the cheapest place to retire in Texas?

For the cheapest places to retire in Texas, focus on South Texas and the Panhandle, with Brownsville, McAllen, Wichita Falls, and El Paso often topping lists for low cost of living, affordable housing, warm climates, and good healthcare access, especially considering Texas's tax advantages for retirees. Look for specific affordable 55+ communities in areas like the Rio Grande Valley (Alamo, Harlingen) for even lower housing costs. 

What is the cheapest safest place to live in Texas?

Finding the perfect balance of cheap and safe in Texas often points to smaller cities or suburbs, with places like Fair Oaks Ranch, Trophy Club, and Flower Mound offering top safety, while Wichita Falls, Amarillo, Brownsville, and Lubbock consistently rank high for affordability due to low housing costs, though you'll need to check specific crime stats for each area as safety can vary. Suburbs in the DFW area like Allen, Frisco, and Plano also blend good schools, safety, and value, while places like Killeen and Harlingen offer low rents. 

What part of Texas is the best to move to?

Good places to live in Texas offer a mix of vibrant culture (Austin, San Antonio), strong economies (DFW, Houston), affordability (Amarillo, Brownsville), safety (Flower Mound, El Paso), or smaller-town feel (Mullin), catering to different priorities like outdoor life, job markets, or lower costs, with overall lower living expenses than many states. 

Is it cheaper to live in TX or OK?

Overall cost of living in Dallas, TX is 21.6% higher than in Oklahoma City, OK. The average listing price for a home in Dallas, TX is $468,187, which is 43.7% higher than Oklahoma City, OK. The average cost of groceries in Dallas, TX is 3.5% higher than Oklahoma City, OK.

What income do you need for a $400,000 mortgage?

To afford a $400k mortgage, you generally need an annual income between $100,000 to $130,000+, depending heavily on your down payment, interest rate, and existing debts, with lenders often using the 28/36 rule (housing costs < 28% of gross income, total debt < 36%). A larger down payment (like 20%) lowers your required income to around $100k, while no down payment could push it over $120k, with current rates and taxes influencing the exact figure. 

How much can you borrow on a mortgage?

How much you can borrow for a mortgage depends on your income, debts, credit, and down payment, but lenders often use the 28/36 Rule: housing costs (PITI) under 28% of gross monthly income, and total debt under 36%. A rough estimate is 3-5x your annual income, or sometimes up to 4.5x, but calculators using your specific income, debts (student loans, car loans, credit cards), and estimated property taxes/insurance provide a clearer picture. Getting a mortgage pre-approval gives the most accurate lender-backed figure. 

How much can I afford for rent?

Monthly Rent You Can Afford

We know 25% might seem like a low number to you. After all, there are plenty of people who spend a lot more than that on their housing costs—and some so-called “financial gurus” even teach that it's okay to spend 30% of your take-home pay on rent. (They call that the “30% rule.”)

Can my girlfriend take half my house in Texas?

Community Property Laws in Texas

Texas is one of nine states that is a community property jurisdiction. In general, this means that any property acquired by a couple during their marriage (with a few exceptions) is equally owned by both spouses.

What is the monthly payment on a $50,000 home equity loan?

A $50,000 home equity loan payment varies greatly by interest rate and term, but expect payments from around $325-$450 for interest-only HELOCs during draw periods, to $480-$630 for principal & interest fixed loans, depending on if it's a 10-year, 15-year, or longer term with rates from ~7-10%. For example, a 15-year loan at 8.1% could be about $480/month, while a 10-year loan at 8.21% might be around $612/month (principal & interest). 

How much do I need to make to buy a $400,000 house in Texas?

Most buyers need to earn $100,000 to $135,000 per year to afford a $400,000 home. This assumes average interest rates, a standard loan term, and a modest down payment. Your actual income needs may vary based on your debt, credit score, and monthly expenses.

What is a livable salary in Texas?

A livable salary in Texas varies greatly by location and family size, but generally, a single adult needs around $45,000-$90,000+ annually to cover basic needs, with higher figures for bigger cities like Dallas or Austin, while a family of four might need over $100,000, highlighting significant cost differences between rural and urban areas. For example, basic living in Dallas requires about $22/hour for one adult, whereas a more comfortable life in Austin or San Antonio could demand $75k-$87k+ for one person. 

How do you avoid the 22% tax bracket?

How to lower taxable income and avoid a higher tax bracket

1. Contribute more to retirement accounts.
2. Push asset sales to next year.
3. Batch itemized deductions.
4. Sell losing investments.
5. Choose tax-efficient investments.

How much is $25 an hour annually in Texas?

As of Dec 29, 2025, the average annual pay for a 25 An Hour in Texas is $28,931 a year.