North Texas Relocation Decision Planner
This planner helps you organize your research and questions before you move, so the decisions get clearer instead of louder. Use it side by side with the relocation checklist: the checklist tells you what to do in order, while this planner gives you blank worksheets to compare cities, estimate monthly ownership cost, research taxes and schools, and write down the questions to ask on a tour and in your consultation. It is designed to print or save as a PDF, so your notes travel with you. Theresa De La Rosa, Founder and Real Estate Broker of Covenant Heritage Realty, built it as a starting point: every number below is one you verify for the exact property with the right source. The North Texas area guide links this planner to every city, community, school, tax and moving guide on the site.
Last reviewed: September 17, 2026. Educational only, not tax, legal or lending advice.
Print it, save it, work it with a pencil.
Open each worksheet, fill in the blanks with what you already know, and mark the questions you still need answered. Leave nothing to memory.
Follow each section’s links to the deeper guide for that topic, then bring the verified answers back to your worksheet.
Bring the completed planner to a consultation so your questions are asked and answered before you commit to anything.
To save as a PDF: choose Print from your browser, then select “Save as PDF” as the destination. The planner pairs with the relocation checklist, which covers the actual moving steps in order.
Stuck on a specific question while you work? The North Texas Real Estate Answer Center matches your exact question to the guide that answers it.
City-Comparison Worksheet
Compare the cities on your shortlist on the factors that actually decide your move: commute, monthly ownership cost, taxes, schools, new-construction versus resale, and amenities. There are no rankings here: write down what you verify for each city, then decide on facts.
Full city guides
Read the North Texas Relocation Guide for the full six-city comparison and local research resources.
| Factor to compare | Argyle | Northlake | Denton | Flower Mound | Justin | Hickory Creek |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commute time to work | ||||||
| Estimated monthly ownership cost | ||||||
| Property tax rate to verify | ||||||
| School research notes | ||||||
| New-construction vs resale options | ||||||
| Amenities that matter to you |
Prompt ideas for each row: commute time to work and to DFW airport, estimated total monthly cost, the property tax rate you verify for an exact property, which schools serve that address, whether the community leans new construction or resale, and the amenities you would actually use. Slide the table sideways on a phone to reach all six city columns; the “Factor to compare” column stays put.
Commute and Travel Considerations
Commute time is personal and it changes with your exact address, the time of day and what roads are open that week. Map your own commute before you fall in love with a floor plan, and record the routes here.
Map your own commute (fill in your notes)
Test each route at the times you would actually drive it, and check the current road projects on your corridor. These infrastructure updates are a helpful starting point:
Estimated Monthly Ownership-Cost Worksheet
The sticker price is not the monthly cost. Work through each line below for a single property, then repeat for the next. The deeper property-tax and ownership-cost guide explains how to verify the numbers that vary by property.
Important
The figures below are estimates you build yourself. Verify current numbers with your lender, the applicable tax authorities and the HOA or special-district documents for the exact property. Theresa De La Rosa and Covenant Heritage Realty are not providing tax, legal or lending advice.
Property: ______________ Monthly estimate: ______________
For a new-construction home, remember that the tax bill can rise once the completed home is appraised, and some communities carry HOA, PID or MUD assessments in addition to property taxes. The ownership-cost guide walks each line.
Property-Tax Research Checklist
Property taxes in North Texas are set by several taxing jurisdictions, and they vary by the exact property. Work through this objective checklist so you know what you are signing up for before you offer.
Deeper guide
North Texas Property Taxes and Ownership Costs-
Confirm the tax authority for the exact address.
Identify the county appraisal district and every taxing entity that applies to the property, not a countywide average.
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Check which exemptions you may qualify for.
Texas offers residence-homestead, age-65-or-older, disabled-person, qualifying disabled-veteran and certain surviving-spouse exemptions, each with its own eligibility and filing requirements. Verify your eligibility with the applicable appraisal district and current Texas requirements.
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Verify with the appraisal district, not a neighbor.
Look up the property record and prior-year values with the applicable appraisal district to understand what the bill has been and how the property is classified.
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Review HOA, PID and MUD disclosures for the property.
Some communities carry special-district assessments or public improvement districts in addition to property taxes. Read the HOA and special-district disclosures for the exact homesite before you commit.
School-District Research
Which district and campus serve a home is set by the exact address and the district’s current attendance boundaries. Do your own research with official sources, and verify for the property before you commit. This planner does not rank schools and does not promise attendance.
Official tools
North Texas School Districts GuideGuided prompts for your own research
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Verify attendance zones for the exact address.
Use the official district boundary or enrollment tool for the exact property, not the neighborhood or a nearby mailing address.
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Use official district and school data.
Confirm the assigned campuses and enrollment process directly with the applicable district, and check the school’s official site for programs and registration requirements.
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Confirm assignments can change.
Boundaries and feeder patterns shift as neighborhoods grow. Re-verify the assigned schools for the exact address before you close, not just when you first shortlist the area.
Theresa does not provide school-placement advice and this planner does not target or rank any group. Verify every school detail with official sources for the exact property.
New-Construction Questions
Take these questions to every builder and model home you tour. Write down the answers so you can compare builders and communities on the same terms.
- 1
What exactly is included in the base price?
Ask what the quoted price includes and what is a paid upgrade, so you compare apples to apples across builders.
- 2
What are the lot premiums, and which lots are available?
Premiums vary by location, view and size. Get the full price for the specific homesite you like.
- 3
What incentives or credits are offered, and what are the strings?
Builder incentives often tie to using the builder’s lender. Compare the full cost with your own financing. Buyer representation and compensation are negotiable and must be documented in writing, and builder-paid compensation is not guaranteed.
- 4
What are the HOA, PID and MUD terms and fees?
Read the community’s HOA and special-district disclosures so the monthly cost and rules are clear before you sign.
- 5
What is the timeline to completion?
Ask for the estimated completion date, the closing process and what happens if the timeline slips.
- 6
How does the builder’s warranty process work?
Understand what is covered, for how long, and how you submit a warranty claim after move-in.
- 7
Verify school assignment and municipal jurisdiction for the homesite.
A mailing address can differ from the city limits, school district or builder marketing area. Confirm the exact homesite with the school-district guide and current city records.
Resale-Home Questions
For an existing home, the questions shift from what is included to what has been maintained and what you will inherit. Ask these on every resale tour and note the answers.
- 1
How old are the major systems?
Ask the age and service history of the roof, HVAC, water heater, electrical panel and plumbing, and note when each may need replacement.
- 2
What disclosures are provided?
Read the seller’s disclosure and ask about anything that is not listed: repairs, leaks, damage or known issues.
- 3
Plan the inspection and its scope.
Schedule a licensed home inspection within the option period and ask your inspector for the priority repairs, not just the long list.
- 4
What seller concessions or credits are possible?
Ask what the seller can contribute toward your closing costs or repairs, and get any agreement in writing.
- 5
What are the HOA rules and fees?
Read the HOA documents for monthly fees, special assessments, restrictions and any community obligations.
- 6
What recent updates are there, with documentation?
Ask for permits and receipts for major renovations or replacements so you know what was done, by whom and whether it was permitted.
Timeline for Selling and Buying
A simple sequential timeline for coordinating a sale and a purchase. Every transaction is different, so treat this as a starting shape and fill in your own dates. For the broader move around the sale and purchase, the NewBuildNTX pre-move timeline sequences the planning tasks across the whole move.
Timeline note
Timelines vary by transaction, market conditions and financing. No one can guarantee a sale price or closing date.
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1. Prepare your current home
Declutter, make strategic repairs and get a pricing strategy that protects equity. See the selling guide for how to position the home.
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2. List the home
Marketing, photography and pricing go live, and showings begin. Your list date sets the rhythm for the whole move.
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3. Review offers and negotiate
Compare offers on price, terms, financing and timing, and negotiate with a clear picture of your next purchase.
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4. Work contingencies and closing
Manage inspections, financing, appraisal and any contingencies, then close on both sides with overlap in mind. The buying guide covers the purchase side in parallel.
For the details that vary by city, open the selling guide for your current location:
VA and Military Relocation Considerations
Theresa is the wife of a U.S. Marine veteran and has helped many veteran households use VA benefits. These questions organize the VA and PCS pieces before the moving clock starts. Educational only: eligibility, entitlement and exemption details must be confirmed with the VA, a qualified lender and the applicable taxing authority.
- 1
Confirm VA eligibility and remaining entitlement.
Check eligibility and how much entitlement you have available with the VA and a VA-approved lender.
- 2
Ask about the VA funding fee.
The funding fee varies by loan type, down payment and whether you have used the benefit before. Some borrowers may be exempt; ask the lender for your exact figure.
- 3
Get lender approval and a pre-approval letter.
A VA-approved lender sets the loan amount you can use, so line up approval before touring or negotiating.
- 4
Plan for the VA appraisal.
A VA appraisal is required and checks both value and certain condition requirements. Ask your lender how long it takes so it fits your timeline.
- 5
Understand minimum property requirements (MPRs).
VA loans require the property to meet minimum property requirements for safety and soundness. Confirm the home can satisfy them before you commit.
- 6
Build timing around the move.
PCS and moving schedules add pressure. Start the VA and lender steps early so approval and appraisal finish before your dates lock in. Check the military guide for the full walkthrough.
Questions to Ask During a Consultation
Bring your completed planner to a consultation so you leave with a clear shortlist and a strategy, not a sales pitch.
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What buyer-broker services will I receive, and how is your compensation handled?
Ask what representation includes and how compensation is paid. Buyer representation and compensation are negotiable and must be documented in writing.
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If I buy new construction, will the builder pay your compensation?
Builder-paid compensation is not guaranteed. Ask how representation and compensation are documented for a new-construction purchase before you visit a builder or register online.
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How will you help me verify taxes, schools and ownership costs for the exact properties?
Ask how the broker will help you compare the property-level numbers on your worksheets, so nothing is left to a general impression.
Ready to work through your planner together?
Bring your completed planner and book a consultation with Theresa De La Rosa, Broker of Covenant Heritage Realty. You leave with a clear shortlist and next steps.
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Fill it in once, and your move gets clearer.
Pair the planner with the relocation checklist and the deeper city, tax and school guides. Then bring your notes to a consultation and leave with a clear shortlist, not a sales pitch.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Licensed in Texas (Broker, License #807294) and Florida (License #3102580). Covenant Heritage Realty, LLC. Theresa De La Rosa, Broker, REALTOR® | Covenant Heritage Realty, LLC | In DFW Living Group. This planner is educational and does not constitute tax, legal or lending advice. Figures and assignments must be verified with the applicable lender, tax authority, appraisal district, HOA or school district for the exact property.
This page was updated September 2026. Official sources and links were last checked in September 2026; rules, deadlines, boundaries and rates change, so confirm each item with the source for your exact situation.
Help Me Compare North Texas Communities
Tell In DFW Living Group a little about your move, and our team will help you compare North Texas communities that fit your budget, schools, commute and timeline. No pressure, just a clear plan.
- Guidance from the In DFW Living Group team, led by Theresa De La Rosa, Founder and Broker of Covenant Heritage Realty, LLC.
- Never a call or visit without your permission, and no pressure to book.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (940) 240-3800