Existing homes: investigate the operating history
Review the condition and remaining life of the roof, foundation, drainage, structure, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other relevant systems. Check seller disclosures, prior repairs and claims, permits when applicable, survey and easement matters, insurance availability, association documents, and specialists appropriate to the property.
- Search available permit information by address.
- Reconcile visible improvements with permits and documentation.
- Obtain an insurance quote and ask about property claims history.
- Budget for near-term repairs and owner maintenance.
New construction: define the promised product and process
Read the actual contract, plans, specifications, options, allowances, substitutions, incentives, completion terms, inspection access, walk-through process, warranty, and dispute provisions. Builder sales materials are not a substitute for the executed documents.
Frisco’s residential-permit page covers new-home permits, and its inspection page describes required municipal inspections and field documents. Municipal code inspections do not answer every private condition or contract question a buyer may have.
Use current forms and public records
TREC’s current contracts page lists separate forms for resale, completed new construction, incomplete new construction, and condominium resale. Form versions and effective dates change, so link to the current registry rather than embedding an old form number in evergreen copy.
Use Frisco’s permit and inspection gateways for process and available records. Confirm flood and insurance questions through official maps and the insurer.
Compare the full decision
- Cash required before, at, and after closing
- Taxes, insurance, HOA or PID obligations, utilities, and maintenance
- Inspection rights and specialist needs
- Repair, completion, possession, and rate-lock timing
- Warranty scope and owner responsibilities
- Surrounding construction, access, and future-phase uncertainty
Sources and verification links
Use these links to verify current information directly. Recheck time-sensitive details when a particular address or decision is under consideration.