Can You Buy a House in North Dallas Before You Move to Texas?

"We don't move until spring. Do we really have to fly in to buy a house?"

No. You can buy a home in North Dallas before you live in Texas. Touring by live video, signing the contract electronically, and, if your lender and title company allow it, closing with a Texas online notary while you sit in another state are all possible.

What you can't do from 1,000 miles away is skip the homework on the PAYMENT.

How do you buy a house in Texas from out of state?

1. Get pre-approved first. Talk with a licensed lender before you tour. A pre-approval is subject to lender approval and qualification, and it tells you what you may be able to borrow, not what you should spend.
2. Tour by live video, not listing photos. Ask for the backyard, the ceilings, the view from the street, and the noise at 5 p.m.
3. Protect yourself with the option period. In Texas, the option period is a negotiated number of calendar days after the contract is signed when you can end the contract for any reason. Written notice is due by 5 p.m. local time on the last day (Texas Real Estate Research Center, "Option Period Basics," 2022). Schedule your general inspection and a foundation inspection inside that window.
4. Ask early about a remote closing. A Texas online notary uses two-way audio and video. The notary must be in Texas, but "the signing party (or principal) may be located anywhere" (Texas Secretary of State, accessed October 28, 2026). Your lender and title company decide whether your closing can use it, so ask in week one.

Here's the part I want my relocating buyers to understand: the paperwork is the EASY part.

What can't you see on a video tour?

The tax rate. The MUD. The drive at 7:40 a.m. The soil under the slab.

• Property taxes. Your bill depends on the city, the county, the independent school district (ISD), and sometimes a municipal utility district (MUD) or public improvement district (PID). Two homes at the same price in Frisco and Celina can carry very different payments. Pull the rates for the exact address from Collin Central Appraisal District (CAD) or Denton CAD. And never assume you'll pay what the seller pays. They may hold exemptions or a capped value you won't inherit.
• The commute. Map the Dallas North Tollway (DNT), US-380 and SH-121 (Sam Rayburn Tollway) at rush hour, not on a Sunday. A McKinney address and a Little Elm address may look close on a map and feel nothing alike at 7:40 a.m.
• The foundation. North Texas has expansive clay soil that moves with moisture. A video tour won't show you that. A foundation inspection may.
• The rate. 💰 Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) put the 30-year fixed average at 7.32% and the 15-year at 6.68% for the week of October 22, 2026 (Freddie Mac PMMS). Averages only. Your rate may differ, subject to lender approval and qualification.

🚨 One warning: don't walk into a model home alone, even on FaceTime. The builder's rep works for the builder, and preferred-lender incentives may cost more over the loan than they save. Compare total loan cost.

I had a client move from North Carolina. They pulled up in the Uhaul on closing day for the first look/final walkthrough after only seeing via FaceTime. As we walk through the home the husband asked "whats all over the walls?". I was so confused. Turns out they don't have the same orange peel texture in North Carolina that we do hear in Texas. I looked at him and said "Is that a deal breaker for you?" as we were scheduled to close in less than an hour... Not that I'd have much without to offer lol. 

Quick answers

Can I close on a Texas house without being there?
Possibly. Texas allows online notarization with the signer anywhere. Your lender and title company decide if your closing can use it.

How long is the option period in Texas?
There's no set length. It's negotiated, counted in calendar days, and ends at 5 p.m. local time on the last day.

Do I get the option fee back if I walk away?
No. It's non-refundable. If you close, it's credited toward the price.

My take

Buying before you move isn't right for everyone. If you've never driven the commute, haven't picked a school district, or your start date could still change, renting for a few months first may be the smarter move. That costs me a sale. It might save you a mistake.

If you're ready, the distance isn't the problem. Skipping the math is.

You can tour a house on FaceTime. You can't FaceTime a TAX BILL. 🏡

📲 DM me "RELOCATING" on Instagram @JenniferKirkRealtor, or call 214-592-7605.

Jennifer Kirk, REALTOR® · Real Broker, LLC · Equal Housing Opportunity. I'm not a lender or financial advisor. Talk with a licensed lender about your situation.

Sources

• Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey (week of October 22, 2026), accessed October 28, 2026
• Texas Secretary of State, Online Notary Public Educational Information, accessed October 28, 2026
• Texas Real Estate Research Center, "Option Period Basics" (2022), accessed October 28, 2026