Dallas-Fort Worth Real Estate FAQ

Seychelle Van Poole Engelhard · Van Poole Properties Group at Keller Williams Realty · Dallas-Fort Worth, TX · Draft, October 2, 2026

Straight answers to the questions we hear every week from buyers and sellers across Dallas-Fort Worth. Van Poole Properties Group at Keller Williams Realty · 972-608-0777 · 18333 Preston Road #100, Dallas, TX 75252 · TX license 0522221 · vanpooleproperties.com

Buyer

Should I buy a house in Dallas-Fort Worth now or wait for mortgage rates to drop?

Buy when the house and the monthly payment work for you, because nobody can tell you when rates will fall. The 30-year fixed averaged 7.28% as of October 1, 2026, up from 6.34% a year ago (per Freddie Mac PMMS). The upside of a slower market is room to negotiate: buyers in Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Southlake are paying about 97% of list price (per Redfin, August 2026). Get your real payment from a lender first, then make the call with numbers instead of headlines.

How do I win an offer on a house in Plano or Frisco?

You win with a clean offer at a price the comps can back up, made fast. Every buyer on our team gets two full-time agents: one in the field finding and touring homes, one researching the numbers and negotiating. So you see the right house early and walk in knowing what it should sell for. Bring a lender pre-approval, keep your option period short, and leave out the asks you can live without. A strong offer is mostly homework done before the house hits your inbox.

Can I buy a home in Dallas-Fort Worth if I’m relocating from out of state?

Yes, you can buy a Dallas-Fort Worth home from out of state, and our team does it all the time. Relocation buyers get video walkthroughs of the homes on their list, so you can narrow it down before you book a flight. We’re your eyes and ears on the ground: what the street sounds like, what the photos left out, and how long the drive to the office really takes at 8 a.m. Texas closings run through a title company, so ask yours early about signing from out of state and line the dates up with your move.

Do I need my own agent to buy new construction in Frisco, Prosper, or McKinney?

Yes, because the friendly person in the model home works for the builder, and their job is the builder’s price and terms. We work for you: we compare the community against resale homes nearby, go through the builder’s contract with you, and push on upgrades, lot premiums, and incentives. Builder and new-construction representation is a regular part of our business across DFW. Bring us to your very first model visit, since some builders won’t work with your agent if you registered on your own.

Seller

How long does it take to sell a house in Dallas-Fort Worth right now?

Most homes in our core markets spend about four to eight weeks on the market. Median days on market in August 2026 was 27 in Southlake, 37 in Plano, 49 in McKinney, 50 in Dallas, and 57 in Frisco (per Redfin). Closing comes after that, on the timeline in your contract. The homes that beat those numbers were prepped and priced to the comps before they went live, and the ones that sit usually skipped a step.

What should I do to get my Dallas home ready to sell?

Start with staging and photos, because buyers decide from their phones before they ever see your front door. We help you stage, then send our photographer and architectural videographer. We’ve run the same listing system since 2006, and it’s built to get buyers competing. That competition gives you choices, like picking your closing date or staying in the house a little longer after it sells. We also connect you with our own inspectors and vendors, so the to-do list gets done fast.

How should I price my house in Frisco or McKinney?

Price it where the recent comparable sales say it will sell. Hope is not a pricing strategy. Over the three months ending August 2026, Frisco’s median sale price was down 6.0% from a year earlier and McKinney’s was down 4.4%, and buyers in both cities paid about 97% of list (per Redfin). So the number your neighbor got last year may not hold today. We pull the actual sales near you and adjust for size, condition, and updates. Call 972-608-0777 or email sey@vanpoole.com and we’ll run yours.

Market

Are home prices dropping in Dallas-Fort Worth?

Yes, slightly, in most of the Dallas-Fort Worth markets we track. Over the three months ending August 2026, median sale prices were down 6.0% year over year in Frisco, 4.4% in McKinney, and 2.6% in Southlake, and essentially flat in Dallas. Plano was the exception, up 0.9% (per Redfin). Call it a cooldown. Homes are still selling, with buyers paying about 97% of list price. If you’re buying, you have more room on price and terms. If you’re selling, get the price right on day one.

What does a home cost in Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Southlake right now?

Median sale prices over the three months ending August 2026 were $509,663 in McKinney, $519,656 in Plano, $655,066 in Frisco, and $1,349,607 in Southlake, with the city of Dallas at $448,703 (per Redfin). A median hides a lot. Inside one city you can find townhomes, older ranch houses, and brand-new builds at very different prices. Tell us your budget and the commute you can live with, and we’ll show you where your money goes furthest.

Is Dallas-Fort Worth a buyer’s market or a seller’s market in 2026?

Most of DFW is leaning toward buyers right now. Buyers are paying about 97% of list price across Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Southlake, and median prices are down from a year ago everywhere on that list except Plano (per Redfin, August 2026). Mortgage rates averaged 7.28% as of October 1, 2026 (per Freddie Mac PMMS). Southlake is the one to watch: homes there sold in a median 27 days. The market changes street by street, so judge any house by its own comps.

Process

Can I sell my house and buy my next one at the same time in Dallas-Fort Worth?

Yes, you can sell and buy at the same time in DFW, and it’s the move most of our clients are making. It’s two hard jobs at once, and only one of them comes with bubble wrap. While we prep and market your current home, we’re already touring homes with you for the next one, then we negotiate both contracts so the dates line up. Talk to your lender early about how the equity in your current home affects the next purchase. We make a complicated process feel easy, and this is the process our team is built around.

What is the option period when buying a house in Texas?

The option period is a set number of days after your contract is signed when you can back out for any reason, in exchange for an option fee paid to the seller. Buyers use it for inspections, repair negotiations, and a second look. The number of days and the fee are both negotiated, and in a competitive situation a shorter option period can make your offer stronger. Your contract spells out exactly how it works, and a real estate attorney can answer legal questions about your specific deal.

Why can’t I find what my neighbor’s house sold for in Texas?

Texas doesn’t require sale prices to be reported to the public, so appraisal district records and home-value websites are working from estimates. The actual sale prices live in the MLS, which agents can access. That’s why an online estimate can miss in either direction. When we price a home, we pull the real recent sales nearby and adjust for size, condition, updates, and lot, the way an appraiser would. Want to know what yours would actually bring? Call 972-608-0777 or email sey@vanpoole.com.