Every week I look at what’s actually for sale in the band where most DFW first-time buyers and move-up buyers shop: $300,000 to $500,000. Not the dream listings — the ones you can realistically write an offer on. Here’s this week’s snapshot and what the payment looks like.
The snapshot (week of Nov 10)
- Plenty to choose from. A metro-wide search of $300K–$500K listings on a DFW brokerage site runs to well over a thousand pages of results — call it 10,000+ homes in the band. That’s a buyer’s market by any definition we’ve had since 2019.
- Where the newest listings are landing: Dallas proper leads, with Rockwall, Euless, Mesquite, Garland, Azle, Fairview and Fort Worth all showing new inventory this week. The east and north-east suburbs (Garland, Mesquite, Rockwall) are where $350K still buys a 4-bedroom.
- What you get: mostly 3 bed / 2 bath, 1,150–2,650 sq ft, with the typical new listing around 2,000 sq ft and priced $325K–$490K. Two-car garage, 1990s–2010s build, a yard the dog approves of.
- Prices: DFW’s median sits right at $400,000 and the price index is slightly down year over year (Texas Real Estate Research Center via MetroTex). Sellers are negotiating; closing-cost help is back on the table.
The payment, three ways (today’s 7.30%)
Take a typical $400,000 listing in Garland or Euless.
| How you buy | Cash to close (approx.) | Principal & interest |
|---|---|---|
| 20% down, conventional | ~$80,000 + closing costs | $2,194 on a $320K loan |
| FHA 3.5% down (6.89% FHA rate) | ~$14,000 + closing costs | $2,632 on a $386K loan |
| 0% down + down payment assistance (primary residence) | ~$0–$3,000 | ~$2,742 on a $400K loan |
Taxes, insurance and mortgage insurance are on top for all three — budget $700–$1,000/month in most DFW suburbs for a home in this band.
Yes, the 0%-down payment is about $550 more per month than the 20%-down payment. It’s also $80,000 less cash. For most first-time buyers in DFW, that’s the difference between buying this winter and renting for five more years while they save it.
The fixer play in this band
The best value in $300K–$500K right now is the house that’s priced $30–60K under its neighbors because the kitchen is from 1998. Our 0% down + up to $70,000 renovation program (primary residence only) is built for exactly that listing:
- One loan, one closing: purchase + renovation
- Up to $70K for cosmetic and system work — kitchen, baths, flooring, roof, HVAC, paint — by a licensed, insured contractor
- Work starts within 30 days of closing, done within 9 months, funded in draws with a contingency
- The appraisal is on the after-repair value, so you’re building equity on day one
- Credit from 580; no first-time-buyer requirement
A $340,000 fixer plus $45,000 of renovation becomes a $385,000 loan on a home that appraises at $420K+ when the work is done. See the full program →
Investors: the same fixers are the flip pipeline. Our fix & flip and bridge loans are business-purpose, close in 3–5 days, 0–10% down. Different loan, different rules — investor programs here.
🎯 The Néstor Caussade Team can help
If you’re buying, building, flipping or refinancing anywhere in Dallas–Fort Worth or across Texas, this is what we do all day. DFW Mortgage Pros — The Néstor Caussade Team is DFW’s authority on construction loans, fix & flip and rehab lending for investors, and the go-to team for first-time buyers who want 0% down with up to $70K to renovate their own home. Thirteen years of closing the deals other lenders turn down, in English, Spanish and ASL. Free consultations on buying, investing, refinancing and lowering your rate — especially if you’ve been told no somewhere else.
Bottom line
- 10,000+ homes listed between $300K and $500K across DFW; median price ~$400K and flat-to-down
- Typical new listing: 3/2, ~2,000 sq ft, $325K–$490K; Garland, Mesquite, Rockwall, Euless, Fort Worth are active
- $400K home: ~$2,194/mo with 20% down vs ~$2,742/mo with 0% down — and $80K less cash
- The fixer priced under its neighbors + the renovation program = day-one equity
- Sellers are paying closing costs again; ask
See what you qualify for in 2 minutes — or text me at 817-697-4281 with a listing link and I’ll send you the real payment. Hablo español.
Rates and programs shown are examples, change without notice and are not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to credit approval. Listing counts are approximate and change daily. NMLS #1538512 · NXT Mortgage, a division of NEXA Mortgage, LLC, NMLS #1660690. Equal Housing Opportunity.
