Buyer Programs
Your first home, simplified.
Selling Dallas homes in 14 days or less, with a marketing plan you see before you sign.
Buying your first home in Dallas is simpler when someone walks the whole process with you, numbers first. Garland has guided entry-level buyers through every step for 23 years, 12 of them in Dallas. From the first pre-approval call to the closing table, you get a clear plan, honest market data, and one agent who answers the phone.
Where first homes actually start in DFW
The typical working range Garland serves is $300K to $800K, and for first-time buyers the realistic entry points sit at the lower end of that band, mostly in Collin County's fast-growing towns.
Princeton, Collin County
Entry-level new construction around a $310K median, in America's fastest-growing city. Strong value and a builder bench Garland knows.
Carrollton, three counties
A family-friendly market near a $415K entry point at the Dallas, Denton, and Collin county line, with an easy commute to every job center.
Wylie, Collin County
Lakeside living near Lake Lavon with a $420K median and plenty of room to grow, popular with first-time buyers.
The 28/36 rule, in plain English
Lenders underwrite against two simple ratios. Keeping both inside the lines is what makes your loan easy to approve and your budget comfortable to live with.
28
28% or less of gross monthly income on housing costs.
36
36% or less of gross monthly income on total debt, housing included.
What that means for a $360K home
Around a $360K purchase with 10% down and typical DFW rates, monthly principal and interest land in the low $2,200s. Add taxes and insurance, and housing costs sit near $2,700 a month, which keeps a household earning roughly $115K or more a year inside the 28% line. Every situation differs, so Garland runs your real numbers on the first call.
The first-time buyer process, step by step
01
The money talk
Pre-approval with a vetted lender, plus a clear read on down payment, closing costs, and what monthly number fits your life.
02
The brief
Budget, must-haves, and the areas you want, written down. The search runs on this, not on scrolling.
03
Tours and offers
Focused showings, comparables on every candidate, and an offer with a strategy behind the price and terms.
04
Inspection to keys
Inspections, appraisal, and every document explained as it lands. You know what you are signing and why.
First time does not mean alone.
Bring your questions, your spreadsheets, and your worries. Garland has walked thousands of first-time buyers through this, and he texts back.
Always go with the Best!
Buying starts with a plan, not a portal.
Book a free 30-minute call and Garland will walk through your budget, the areas you are considering, and the current market data, then put together a written search brief. If a target does not make sense for your numbers, he tells you that straight.