Allen Markel, REALTOR® · Texas Premier Realty

Exclusive premium data · free with registration

Exclusive data, free with registration

Short answer

Exclusive Data is the gold badge you see across this site. It marks research we gather, load and keep current ourselves from our MLS data, with five-plus years of history, and from public records, rather than embedding someone else's widget. It is free with a free registration. Each tool below has its own page explaining what you get, how it works and what it cannot tell you.

Which research tool do you need?

Pick a tool to see what it does, where its data comes from and how it can help whether you are buying or selling.

What does the gold badge mean?

It means the data underneath is ours to stand behind. We gather it, load it and keep it current from our MLS database, which holds five-plus years of listing and sales history, and from public records. It is a claim about the data, never a verdict about a home, a school or a neighborhood.

Every page above says where its numbers come from, what they are good for and what they cannot tell you.

Free with registration

Why is it free, and what does registration unlock?

I built these tools because a better-informed client makes a better deal, so there is no charge. Registration is free and takes a moment. It unlocks the parts MLS rules limit to registered visitors, such as sold prices, listing history and our single-number home value estimate.

Why do we ask you to register?

Some of what we share, like recent sold prices, a home’s sales and listing history, and our home value estimate, comes from or is built on data from the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR) MLS. MLS rules let us share that information only with registered visitors. Allen is a REALTOR® licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), and he follows those rules because he values his license and your trust. Registration is free.

What else do people ask?

What does the gold Exclusive Data badge mean?
It is a claim about the data underneath, never a verdict about a home or a place. We gather it, load it and keep it current ourselves, and every page names its sources.
Is any of this really free?
Yes. There is no charge for the tools. A free registration unlocks the parts that MLS rules limit to registered visitors, such as sold prices, listing history and our single-number home value estimate.
Are these numbers an appraisal or advice?
No. They are information, built from comparable sales and public records, with the limits stated on each page. For a precise number on your own home, ask me for a personal market analysis.
Can I ask a question about what I see?
Yes. Every page has an Ask Allen link, and you can call or text me at (832) 709-2540.

Ask Allen about exclusive data

Have a question about exclusive data? Browse the short answers other buyers and sellers have asked, or send me your own. I read every question myself.

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Want help reading the numbers?

Schedule time with Allen Call (832) 709-2540

Written by Allen Markel, REALTOR®, Texas Premier Realty, TREC #0658294. Last updated September 25, 2026. Next review December 2026.

Questions about Texas real estate

  • What is an option period in Texas and how long should mine be?

    In Texas the option period is something the buyer pays for. Under Paragraph 5 of the TREC resale contract, the buyer pays an option fee in addition to the earnest money, and both are due within three days after the effective date of the contract. In exchange the seller grants the buyer the unrestricted right to terminate within a negotiated number of days. Both the length and the fee are negotiated. If the buyer terminates in time, the seller keeps the option fee and the buyer gets the earnest money back. If the buyer closes, both the earnest money and the option fee are credited to the sales price. It is the window for inspections and for negotiating repairs.

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  • How long does it take to close on a house in Texas?

    The closing date in a Texas contract is a negotiated date, not a fixed rule. Paragraph 9A of the TREC resale contract says closing is on or before the date written in the contract, or within 7 days after any title objections are cured or waived, whichever is later. For a loan, federal rules require the lender to make sure you receive the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. Title work, the option period, the appraisal and the loan all have to fit inside the date you and the seller choose.

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  • Do I need an attorney to buy or sell a house in Texas?

    No. An attorney is not required to buy or sell a home in Texas. Texas real estate agents use contract forms promulgated by the Texas Real Estate Commission, and the title company acts as escrow agent and issues title insurance. But agents cannot give legal advice: Paragraph 23 of the TREC contract says so and tells you to read it carefully and consult an attorney before signing. If your situation needs a lawyer, such as an estate, a divorce or a title problem, your REALTOR will tell you to get one.

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  • What does a title company do and who picks it?

    A Texas title company is a neutral party. It does not work for the buyer, the seller or either agent; it searches title, issues the title insurance, holds the earnest money, closes the sale and delivers what the contract says. Who picks it is negotiable when the offer is written. In Texas, typically whoever pays for the title policy chooses the title company, and the seller customarily pays. There are exceptions, and we handle those one at a time if they arise in your transaction. I recommend my clients pay it so they choose, because what matters is the escrow officer, not the name on the door. The premium is set by the state, so every company charges the same.

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  • Does a buyer's agent cost me money now that the rules changed?

    The rule change did not create a new cost; it changed when the conversation happens. Texas law now requires a written agreement with a buyer's agent before touring a home, stating the compensation and disclosing that it is negotiable, and offers of compensation can no longer appear in the MLS. So buyer-agent pay is negotiated openly, often with the seller at the time the offer is made. The buyer has always been responsible for their own agent, and the money has usually been collected from the seller side at closing where possible. Because the listing agent works for the seller, a buyer who wants their own representation hires an agent by signing a written buyer's representation agreement.

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  • What is a MUD and how much does it add to my tax bill?

    A MUD, or municipal utility district, is a special taxing district that provides water, sewer, drainage or flood-control facilities and pays for them with bonds repaid from taxes on the property in the district. Its tax rate is added to your county, school and other rates. In Texas, a seller of property in such a district must give the buyer a written notice before the contract is signed. Each $0.10 of district rate per $100 adds $100 a year for every $100,000 of taxable value.

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  • Is now a good time to buy a house in Houston?

    It is the right time when you are able, ready and willing, and the exception is a stay of only one or two years. No market number decides it for you. What the data can show is the current picture. In our closed-sale data for the 90 days through September 25, 2026, the median sold price in Harris County was $319,990, with a median of 27 days on the market. Look at price trend, time on market, your budget and your timeline together.

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  • What is the Texas homestead exemption and how much does it save?

    The residence homestead exemption removes part of your home's value from taxation. Under Texas Tax Code Sec. 11.13 as published, school districts must exempt $140,000 of the appraised value of an adult's residence homestead, with an additional $60,000 for owners 65 or older and certain others. Other taxing units may add their own. At Cypress-Fairbanks ISD's 2025 rate of $1.0669 per $100, the $140,000 school exemption alone is worth about $1,494 a year. You must apply with the county appraisal district.

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  • Should I sell my house before I buy the next one in Texas?

    It depends on your risk tolerance and your financing, and there are three common paths. Sell first and rent back or lease temporarily; buy first and make the purchase contingent on selling, using TREC's Addendum for Sale of Other Property by Buyer (Form 10-6); or use equity in your current home, which Texas limits to 80 percent of its fair market value and which cannot close until at least the 12th day after your application or the lender's notice. Get lender and attorney input on any equity loan before you rely on it.

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