Beginning January 1, 2026, Texas law requires a real estate license holder working with a prospective residential buyer to enter into a written agreement before showing a home or, if no home will be shown, before presenting an offer. The agreement must explain the services, its end date, whether it is exclusive, whether the license holder represents the buyer, and how broker compensation is determined. A limited non-representation, showing-only agreement is also permitted, but the license holder cannot give the buyer advice or perform other brokerage services under that arrangement.

An option period is a negotiated time in the contract when the buyer typically has an unrestricted right to terminate in exchange for an option fee. Buyers commonly use it for inspections, further investigation, and negotiating repairs, but the signed contract controls the rights and deadlines. Under TREC contracts, days are calendar days beginning the day after the effective date. Delivery of the option fee has a separate deadline, so buyers should follow their agent's and title company's instructions immediately.

Not safely. The current bill may reflect exemptions, a capped appraised value, and a combination of taxing entities that may not apply to the buyer. Smith County Appraisal District states that a recently purchased home qualifying for a homestead exemption for the first year is not eligible for the prior owner's capped value. Buyers can use the district's tax estimator as a starting point and ask their lender or title professional for a property-specific estimate.

Possibly. The City of Tyler says National Register designation alone imposes no restrictions, but certain exterior work or demolition involving a designated historic landmark or a structure in a local or national historic district requires a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit. Buyers should confirm the property's exact designation in the Property Search Viewer and ask the Planning Department before assuming a planned renovation is allowed.

The City of Tyler's GIS page links to its Permits Dashboard and Inspections Dashboard, and eTRAKiT shows permit status. Buyers can search the correct address and ask Building Inspections about gaps or older records. If a property is outside Tyler city limits, records may be held by another authority. Permit data does not replace seller disclosures, invoices, warranties, or an independent property inspection.

Maybe, but lot size alone does not answer the question. City zoning, setbacks, easements, utility locations, drainage, deed restrictions, association rules, and required permits can control what may be built and where. Buyers should verify the exact plan with the City of Tyler's Planning and Building Inspections departments and review recorded private restrictions before purchasing.

In many sales, yes. The Texas Real Estate Commission says the disclosure form is required for sellers of previously occupied single-family residences and contains information required by Section 5.008 of the Texas Property Code; exceptions apply. Selling as is concerns the property's condition under the contract but does not automatically eliminate a statutory disclosure requirement. Sellers should complete the current form accurately and ask their agent or attorney whether an exemption applies.