Finance & Home Buying
finance
💰 Finance & Home Buying
Property Research (Active as of March 2026)
- Target: Kyle, TX — ~$394,900 listing · $115/month HOA
- Hays County property tax rate: ~2.1–2.15% (notably high)
- Mortgage rate used in analysis: 6.75% (30-year fixed)
- Homestead Exemption: file after closing to reduce taxable value
Down Payment Scenarios Modeled
| Down % | Down $ |
|---|
| 3% | ~$11,847 |
| 5% | ~$19,745 |
| 10% | ~$39,490 (primary scenario) |
| 20% | ~$78,980 (no PMI) |
First-Time Buyer Programs (Texas)
- TDHCA — Texas Dept of Housing & Community Affairs
- TSAHC — Texas State Affordable Housing Corp
- ⚠️ Combined household income may exceed program caps — verify eligibility
Suburban Comparison (Austin Area)
Priorities: commute to The Domain · school quality for Teddy · photography opportunities for Mindy
| City | School District | TEA Rating | Notes |
|---|
| Cedar Park | Leander ISD | 88/100 ⭐ | Best overall fit — lower I-35 exposure, strong schools |
| Round Rock | Round Rock ISD | 87/100 | Best value alternative |
| Kyle (current) | Hays CISD | Lower | High southbound I-35 commute to Domain; lower school rankings |
| Leander | Leander ISD | 88/100 | Similar to Cedar Park |
| Pflugerville | Pflugerville ISD | — | Budget-friendly |
Insurance Notes
- GEICO: Primary driver must accurately reflect actual usage — misrepresenting is fraud ("fronting")
- Correct setup: Kaleb primary on his car; Mindy primary on her car; both listed secondary on each other's
- Texas insurers may assign the higher-risk driver to the more expensive vehicle regardless of stated primaries
Last updated: 2026-03-31