You found the house.

You wrote the offer.

You negotiated back and forth.

And then you get the call:

“They accepted your offer!”

Exciting? Absolutely.

But this is also usually the moment a buyer asks me:

“Okay…what happens now?”

A lot.

Don’t worry—you’re not expected to know all of it.

Once a Texas real estate contract becomes effective, deadlines, inspections, deposits, financing, title work, insurance, an appraisal, and quite a few moving pieces happen behind the scenes.

Here’s a simple look at what typically happens between “We got the house!” and “Here are your keys.”

Step 1: Your Contract Becomes Effective

Getting an offer verbally accepted isn’t quite the finish line.

The contract becomes effective when the parties reach a final agreement, sign the contract as required, and communicate acceptance.

The contract’s effective date matters because many deadlines in your transaction are calculated from it.

From this point forward, I keep a very close eye on the calendar.

Because in real estate, a deadline isn’t really a suggestion.

Step 2: Earnest Money and the Option Fee Are Delivered

One of the first things we’ll do is deliver the money required under your contract to the escrow agent.

These are commonly:

Earnest money

and

Option fee

They aren’t the same thing.

Earnest money is a deposit made under the contract as part of the buyer’s obligations.

The option fee gives the buyer the unrestricted right to terminate during the negotiated option period when the contract includes that right.

Under the current Texas resale contract, you generally must deliver these funds to the escrow agent within three days after the effective date, subject to the contract’s deadline provisions.

I don’t like waiting until the last minute.

Let’s get it handled.

Step 3: Schedule the Home Inspection

If your contract includes an option period, this is where things move quickly.

I'll usually tell you:

Let's get the inspection scheduled ASAP.

Why?

Because I don't want to use five days of a seven-day option period just waiting for someone to inspect the house.

The general home inspection may lead us to recommend additional evaluations.

Depending on the property, that might include:

• Foundation

• HVAC

• Plumbing

• Electrical

• Roof

• Pool

• Septic system

• Well

• Termites or other wood-destroying insects

And if you're buying acreage or a lake property, our due-diligence list may look very different from one for a condo in Dallas.

Step 4: Review the Inspection Without Panicking

Then the inspection report arrives.

It's 63 pages long.

There are red marks everywhere.

And suddenly you're wondering why you ever wanted to own a house. 😂

This is normal.

An inspection report documents what the inspector observes. Even a well-maintained home can produce a long report.

We'll look at the big picture.

I usually want to know:

Is there a safety issue?

Is something not functioning properly?

Could something be expensive to repair?

Could it affect insurance or financing?

Do we need another professional to evaluate it?

Then we'll decide what matters and what doesn't.

Step 5: Decide Whether to Negotiate Repairs

After the inspection, you generally have a few possible paths depending on your contract.

You may decide the house is fine and move forward.

You may ask the seller to make certain repairs.

You may negotiate another solution.

Or, if you're still within a valid option period, you may decide the property isn't right for you and exercise your contractual termination right.

Here's something important:

The seller doesn't automatically have to repair everything the inspector finds.

Repairs are a negotiation.

We want to focus on what truly matters, not treat an inspection report like a home-improvement wish list.

Step 6: Your Lender Keeps Working

While we're dealing with inspections and the option period, your lender is working on the financing side.

This is where I need buyers to remember something very important:

Please don't make any major financial changes without talking to your lender.

This is not the time to:

• Finance a new car

• Open a furniture-store credit card.

• Run up credit-card balances.

• Change jobs without discussing it

• Move large amounts of money around without documentation.

• Make a large unexplained cash deposit.

• Co-sign a loan for someone.

You may be excited about your new house and ready to order the sofa.

Wait.

The sofa will still be there after closing.

Step 7: The Appraisal

If you're financing the purchase, your lender will generally order an appraisal.

An appraisal differs from a home inspection.

The inspection assesses the property's condition.

The appraisal helps the lender evaluate the property's value for the loan.

If the property appraises at or above the necessary value, great.

If it doesn't, we review the contract and determine what options are available.

Depending on the financing and contract terms, that could involve negotiating with the seller, challenging the appraisal when appropriate, adjusting financing, bringing additional funds, or exercising a contractual right if one applies.

This is another reason your offer wording matters long before appraisal day.

Step 8: Title Work Begins

The title company does a lot behind the scenes.

Among other things, title professionals research the property's title and identify matters that may affect ownership.

You'll receive a title commitment along with documents referenced as exceptions when applicable.

Those documents matter.

They can reveal things such as:

• Easements

• Restrictions

• Covenants

• HOA-related documents

• Other matters affecting the property

If you're buying acreage or lakefront property, I pay particularly close attention here.

The gorgeous workshop, dock, fence or shed you're looking at doesn't automatically mean you're allowed to build another one just like it.

Read the restrictions before you make plans for the property.

Step 9: Review the Survey

Depending on the transaction, an existing survey may be acceptable, or you may need a new one.

A survey can show important information about the property, including boundaries, improvements, easements, and possible encroachments.

Don't toss it into the giant pile of closing paperwork.

Look at it.

If something doesn't make sense, ask.

This is especially important with acreage, fences, outbuildings, waterfront property, and older homes.

Step 10: Get Homeowners Insurance Lined Up Early

Please don't wait until three days before closing to shop for homeowners insurance.

Texas buyers increasingly need to pay attention to things like:

• Roof condition and age

• Prior claims

• Property location

• Flood exposure

• Coverage availability

• Deductibles

• Cost of coverage

Your lender will generally require acceptable homeowners insurance before closing.

And sometimes something discovered during an inspection—particularly a roof issue—can become an insurance issue.

That's why I like getting an insurance quote during the due diligence period whenever possible.

Step 11: The Loan Goes Through Underwriting

Your lender will continue collecting and verifying information.

You may receive requests for updated:

• Bank statements

• Pay stubs

• Tax documents

• Employment information

• Explanations of deposits or transfers

Don't panic if underwriting asks for something that feels ridiculously specific.

Send it promptly.

This is one part of the transaction where responding quickly can help keep everything moving toward closing.

Step 12: You'll Receive Your Closing Disclosure

For many financed purchases, federal rules require the lender to provide a Closing Disclosure before closing.

This document shows important final loan and closing information.

Review it carefully.

Look at your:

• Loan terms

• Interest rate

• Monthly payment

• Closing costs

• Cash needed to close

If something looks different from what you expected, ask your lender before closing day.

Step 13: Final Walk-Through

We're almost there!

Shortly before closing, we'll typically do a final walk-through of the property.

This is not another inspection.

We're primarily checking that:

• The property is still in the expected condition.

• Agreed-upon repairs have been addressed as required.

• Items that were supposed to remain are still there

• There hasn't been significant new damage.

• The seller has moved out when required by the contract.

This is our last look before you sign.

Step 14: Closing Day

Now comes the fun part.

You'll sign the closing documents and provide any required funds using the title company's verified instructions.

One very important warning:

Real estate wire fraud is real.

Never trust wiring instructions simply because they arrive in an email.

Always independently verify wiring instructions with the title company using a trusted phone number before sending money.

If you receive an email saying:

“We've changed our wiring instructions...”

Stop.

Call the title company.

Do not send anything until you've verified it.

Step 15: Funding—and THEN the Keys

Here's one little Texas detail buyers don't always know:

Signing your closing documents doesn't necessarily mean I can hand you the keys immediately.

The transaction generally needs to close and fund according to the contract and closing process.

Once funding is confirmed and possession is due under the contract...

THEN we celebrate.

Keys. Photos. Champagne. Happy tears.

And probably a trip to buy that sofa I told you not to finance three weeks ago. 😂

A Typical Texas Home-Buying Timeline

Every transaction is different, but the process often looks something like this:

Offer Accepted
↓
Contract Effective
↓
Earnest Money + Option Fee
↓
Inspection + Option Period
↓
Repair Negotiations
↓
Insurance + Financing
↓
Title + Survey Review
↓
Appraisal
↓
Underwriting
↓
Closing Disclosure
↓
Final Walk-Through
↓
Closing + Funding
↓
KEYS! 🔑

You Don't Have to Memorize Any of This

That's probably the most important thing I want buyers to know.

Buying a house involves a lot of paperwork and deadlines.

You don't need to become a Texas real estate contract expert to buy a home.

That's part of my job.

I'll tell you what happens next, remind you of deadlines, help you ask the right questions, and work with your lender, title company, inspector, and other professionals to keep everything moving.

Because when you finally hear:

“Your offer was accepted!”

I want you to be excited.

Not sitting at your kitchen table Googling:

“What happens after my offer is accepted in Texas?”

Although if that's how you found this article...

Hi. You came to the right place. 😊

Cheryl Blanton
Broker Associate
Christie's International Real Estate | @properties
Real estate with strategy, service with a heart.