Buying a home involves more people than just you and the seller. Between financing, negotiating, inspecting, insuring, and closing, a home purchase typically brings together five or six different professionals, each with a specific job. Knowing who’s actually on your home buying team, and what each person does, makes the whole process far less confusing.
Here’s who belongs on that team, and when to bring each one in.
Your Mortgage Lender or Mortgage Planner
Your lender determines what you can borrow, walks you through loan options, and gets your financing to the closing table. This is usually the first person to bring in, ideally before you start touring homes, since your real budget shapes everything that follows. A mortgage planner takes this a step further, looking at your full financial picture and long-term goals before recommending a loan structure, not just processing whichever program closes fastest.
Should You Talk to a Lender First? →
Your Real Estate Agent (Realtor)
Your agent represents your interests throughout the search, the offer, and the negotiation. A good Realtor knows the local market, helps you avoid overpaying, and guides you through everything from the initial offer to the final walkthrough. In Texas, some professionals, including our own Shea Patton, hold both a mortgage license and a Realtor license, which can offer a genuinely useful, unified perspective on how the financing and the transaction fit together.
Understanding Who’s On Your Homebuying Team – Freddie Mac
The Title Company and Escrow Officer
These two roles are often confused, but they’re different jobs. The title company researches the property’s title to confirm it’s free of liens or ownership disputes, and issues title insurance protecting you and your lender. The escrow officer acts as a neutral third party, holding funds and paperwork until every condition from both the buyer and seller side has been met, then makes sure the sale is properly recorded with the county. In Texas, the title company typically also handles the closing itself.
The Home Inspector
A home inspector examines the property’s condition, systems, and structure, and produces a report flagging anything from minor repairs to major concerns. This step usually happens after your offer is accepted, and it’s one of your best opportunities to catch problems before they become your problem.
The Appraiser
An appraiser, hired independently through your lender, determines the home’s market value to confirm it supports the loan amount. Because this is done independently, you generally can’t choose who performs it, and that’s intentional. It keeps the valuation objective and separate from anyone with a financial interest in the sale.
Your Homeowners Insurance Agent
Lenders require proof of homeowners insurance before closing, so this is worth arranging early rather than scrambling for a policy in the final week. Shopping this ahead of time also gives you room to compare coverage and pricing instead of taking whatever’s fastest to bind.
The Surveyor (Texas-Specific)
Texas transactions commonly include a property survey confirming boundary lines, easements, and any encroachments. Depending on the situation, an existing survey may be usable, or a new one may be required. Your title company or lender can tell you which applies to your purchase.
A Real Estate Attorney (Optional in Texas)
Texas doesn’t require an attorney to close a home purchase, title companies handle that role here. But an attorney can be genuinely valuable in more complex situations: a purchase involving a business entity, an estate, or a divorce settlement where the property is part of a larger legal picture.
Mortgage Planner’s Perspective
The strongest home purchases happen when this team is assembled early and working from the same information, not brought in one at a time as problems come up. Your lender and your Realtor, in particular, should be coordinating from the very start, since financing and the transaction itself are more connected than most buyers realize.
NEXT STEP
Ready to see what fits your financial goals? Whether you’re just beginning to explore homeownership or you’re ready to get pre-approved, we’re here to help you build a mortgage plan that fits your life.
Download the Homebuyer’s Planning Guide →
Or schedule a mortgage planning consultation to start assembling your team.
RELATED ARTICLES
What Is Mortgage Planning and Why Does It Matter?
Should You Talk to a Lender First?
Mortgage Planning Timeline: 6 Months Before You Buy a Home
What Documents Do You Need for a Mortgage Pre-Approval?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Roles and Responsibilities
Q: Do I need a real estate attorney to buy a house in Texas?
A: No. Texas closings are typically handled by a title company rather than an attorney. An attorney can still be valuable in more complex situations, such as a purchase involving an estate, a business entity, or a divorce settlement.
Q: Who chooses the appraiser?
A: Your lender orders the appraisal independently, and you generally can’t select who performs it. This keeps the valuation objective and separate from anyone with a financial stake in the transaction.
Q: What’s the difference between the title company and the escrow officer?
A: The title company researches and insures the property’s title. The escrow officer acts as a neutral party holding funds and documents until every condition of the sale is met. In Texas, the title company often handles both roles.
Building Your Team
Q: Can my mortgage lender and my Realtor be the same person?
A: In some cases, yes. Some professionals hold both a mortgage license and a Realtor license, offering a combined perspective on financing and the transaction. This isn’t required, but it can be a genuine advantage when it’s available.
Q: When should I bring my home buying team together?
A: Start with your lender before you begin house hunting, since your real budget shapes everything else. Your Realtor typically comes in next, followed by the inspector, appraiser, insurance agent, and title company as you move through the transaction.
Q: Do I need a survey every time I buy a home in Texas?
A: Not always. Depending on the property and the transaction, an existing survey may be usable, or a new one may be required. Your title company or lender can confirm which applies to your purchase.
Texas Mortgage Plan – 50+ years of combined mortgage experience, serving homeowners and homebuyers across Flower Mound and the DFW Metroplex. Elizabeth Rose, NMLS 252686, CDLP® Certified Divorce Lending Professional | Shea Patton, Mortgage Advisor, NMLS #251397, Licensed Realtor. Texas Mortgage Plan is a d/b/a of Legacy Mortgage, NMLS #1759275 | Equal Housing Lender
