Boraak Guides
Real estate, minus the headache
Straight answers about buying, renting and selling in Dallas–Fort Worth, and the Texas rules nobody explains at the closing table. Written by humans, checked against official sources, and seasoned with just enough jokes to keep you awake.
Guías en españolالأدلة بالعربية
Buying
- 8 min readBuying Your First Home in Dallas–Fort Worth: A No-Panic GuideFirst home in DFW? The steps in order, from budget to keys, plus the Texas terms that confuse everyone (option period, earnest money, title company).
- 6 min readOption Period, Earnest Money and the Seller's Disclosure: Texas Contract Terms in Plain EnglishWhat the Texas option period is, how much earnest money is normal, and when you can cancel and get your deposit back. No legalese, promise.
- 6 min readRent or Buy in Dallas–Fort Worth? An Honest Way to DecideShould you rent or buy in DFW? A simple, honest way to compare, including the Texas costs renters never see and the ones buyers forget.
- 7 min readChoosing a DFW Suburb: A Friendly Field GuideFrisco, McKinney, Plano, Allen, Arlington, Fort Worth suburbs and more: how to pick the right Dallas–Fort Worth area for your commute, schools and budget.
- 6 min readBuying New Construction in DFW: Incentives, Inspections and Your Own AdvocateThinking about a brand-new home in Dallas–Fort Worth? What builder incentives really mean, why you still need inspections, and who works for whom.
Selling
Renting
- 6 min readLease Takeovers in Texas: How to Hand Off (or Grab) a Lease the Right WayMoving before your lease ends? How lease takeovers and subleases work in Texas, why you need the landlord's written consent, and how to protect both tenants.
- 7 min readRenting in Dallas–Fort Worth: From Tour to Getting Your Deposit BackA friendly DFW renter's guide: what landlords check, reading a Texas lease, move-in photos, repairs, and the 30-day security deposit rule.
Texas taxes
- 7 min readTexas Property Taxes, Explained Without the HeadacheWhy Texas property taxes are high, who sets them, when they're due (January 31), and the three legal ways to pay less. Plain English, DFW examples.
- 6 min readThe Texas Homestead Exemption: The Easiest Money You'll Save All YearThe Texas homestead exemption takes $140,000 off your home's value for school taxes (2026), more if you're 65+ or disabled. Who qualifies and how to file.
- 7 min readHow to Protest Your Property Tax Appraisal in Texas (May 15 Is Your Friend)A step-by-step guide to protesting your Texas property appraisal: the deadline, the evidence that works, and what happens at the hearing.
Takeovers & deals
- 8 min readBehind on Your Mortgage in Texas? Your Pre-Foreclosure Options, CalmlyHow foreclosure works in Texas (it can move fast), your options before the sale date, how to avoid scams, and where to get free, honest help.
- 6 min readBuying a Pre-Foreclosure Home in DFW: Deals, Risks and Good MannersHow to buy a pre-foreclosure home in Dallas–Fort Worth: working with a seller on a deadline, checking the numbers, title issues, and being a decent human.
- 8 min readMortgage Takeovers: How to Take Over a Seller's Low Rate (FHA, VA, USDA)How assumable mortgages work in Texas: which loans can be assumed, how you qualify, the cash gap to cover, fees, and what sellers should know about VA entitlement.
- 7 min readSubject-To and Wraparound Deals in Texas: Read This Before You Shake HandsWhat 'subject-to' and wraparound (wrap) deals are, why Texas regulates them closely, the due-on-sale risk, and the protections buyers and sellers should insist on.
- 7 min readWin-Win Property Deals: Use Land or a Home in Exchange for WorkCaretaking, garden sharing, land prep, sweat equity and storage: how Win-Win (Share and Care) deals work, what to put in writing, and who they're great for.
Land
- 6 min readThe Texas Ag Valuation (1-d-1): How Landowners Legally Cut Property TaxesTexas land used for qualifying agriculture can be taxed on its productivity value, not market value. The rules (like 5 of the last 7 years), in plain English.
- 8 min readBuying Land in Texas: What to Check Before You Fall in Love with AcreageUtilities, access, easements, flood zones, surveys, water, restrictions and the ag valuation: a practical checklist for buying land in North Texas.
Investing
- 7 min readLeasing Commercial Space in DFW: Office, Retail and Warehouse BasicsTriple net vs gross leases, CAM charges, how commercial rent is quoted, and what to negotiate when leasing office, retail or warehouse space in DFW.
- 8 min readYour First DFW Rental Property: The Numbers to Check Before You BuyCash flow, cap rate, cash-on-cash return and the Texas costs that sink rental deals (hello, property taxes). A calm, numbers-first guide for new investors.
These guides are general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws and numbers change; for your own situation, talk to a Texas real estate attorney, a tax professional or a HUD-approved housing counselor. Got a question we should answer? Check the FAQ.