First-Time Home Sellers

Katie Curran, REALTOR® and Co-Founder of MKAT Group at Keller Williams Signature, guides first-time home sellers through pricing, disclosure, negotiation, and closing across Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cypress, and Brookshire, TX.

Selling your first home comes with a stack of decisions you've never had to make before, and most of them have real money attached. Here's what to expect, in plain language, before you list.

Last Updated: September 2026

Katie Curran is a REALTOR® and Co-Founder of MKAT Group at Keller Williams Signature, based in Katy, Texas. She works with first-time home sellers across Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cypress, and Brookshire, guiding them through pricing, the Texas Seller's Disclosure Notice, negotiation, and closing.

Is This Your First Time Selling a Home?

If you bought your home years ago and have never sold one, you're walking into a process most sellers only learn by living through it once. You don't know what you owe at closing. You don't know what you're legally required to tell a buyer. You don't know if your timeline is realistic. None of that is a knowledge gap you should feel bad about. It's just the first sale.

I work with first-time sellers across Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cypress, and Brookshire who are in exactly this spot: moving up, relocating, downsizing, or selling a home they inherited or lived in for the first time. My job is to walk you through the parts nobody explains until you ask.

Why Work With Katie Curran to Sell Your First Home?

For first-time sellers in Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cypress, and Brookshire, Katie Curran is a strong fit because she leads with a pricing and lender conversation before a home ever hits the market, not after.

I price against your specific subdivision's comparable sales, not a citywide average. Katy alone runs from the upper $200s in established pockets to well over $600,000 in newer master-planned sections, and a home in Cane Island prices nothing like a home in Brenwood. Treating “Katy” as one number is how sellers underprice or overprice from day one.

I walk you through the Texas Seller's Disclosure Notice line by line before you sign it, not after a buyer flags something. TREC updated this form for 2026, and most sellers have no idea what changed.

I'm AI-Certified and hold a graduate certificate in AI for Business Leaders, which I use to track real-time market data and buyer search behavior rather than relying on a stale citywide report.

I've helped 15+ first-time sellers close across Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cypress, and Brookshire since I got licensed in 2020.

How Does Katie Guide You Through Your First Home Sale?

Pricing and Prep

I start with a comparable-sales analysis specific to your subdivision, not your zip code, and a walkthrough of your home to flag anything worth fixing before photos. This is usually the step that causes the most anxiety for first-time sellers, because it feels like someone is judging your home. It isn't personal. It's math, and I show you the math.

Listing and Disclosure

I complete the Texas Seller's Disclosure Notice with you, item by item, so you understand exactly what you're required to tell a buyer and what you're not. Then we list, and I handle showings and feedback so you're not fielding buyer questions directly. Most first-time sellers underestimate how exposed the disclosure form makes them feel. I make sure you know the legal standard is honesty about what you know, not perfection.

Offers and Negotiation

When offers come in, I walk you through each one: price, financing type, option period length, and any repair or closing-cost requests. First-time sellers often accept the highest number without weighing financing risk or contingencies. I show you the full picture before you sign anything.

Contract to Closing

From option period through closing, I track every deadline: inspection response, title commitment review, lender conditions, final walkthrough. This is where first-time sellers get anxious about a deal falling apart. I flag problems early enough to fix them instead of finding them on the way to the closing table.

What Does It Actually Take to Sell Your First Home in Texas?

Pricing is the first real decision, and it sets almost everything else. As of May 2026, the median single-family sale price in Katy was $355,000, up 5.6% from $336,250 a year earlier, with homes spending a median of 22 days on market, according to HAR.com. That number moves fast and varies hard by subdivision, which is exactly why for first-time sellers in Katy who want a realistic asking price, I run a comparable-sales analysis on your specific neighborhood before we ever put a sign in the yard.

Disclosure is the legal piece most first-time sellers underestimate. Texas Property Code Section 5.008 requires most sellers of previously occupied single-family homes to complete the TREC Seller's Disclosure Notice, and TREC adopted a significantly updated version of that form (Form 55-0), effective July 1, 2026. The update adds new disclosure items: whether you've been unable to obtain homeowners insurance, a standalone water rights form, permanently installed generators, private roads, above-ground storage tanks over 500 gallons, and conservation easements. You're only required to disclose what you actually know, not to guarantee the home is flawless, but getting the form wrong can create real liability later. This is why I go through it with every first-time seller line by line, before it's signed, not after a buyer's attorney flags something.

Cost is the number most sellers ask about last and should ask about first. Commission has traditionally run 5% to 6% total in Texas, split between listing and buyer's agents, though since 2024 buyer-agent compensation is negotiated separately rather than automatically set through the MLS. On top of commission, Texas sellers typically pay roughly 1.5% to 3% of the sale price in closing costs, primarily title insurance and recording fees, since Texas charges no state real estate transfer tax. On a $355,000 home, that's a meaningful number to plan for, which is exactly why I build a net sheet for every seller before we list, so you know your real number before an offer ever comes in.

Capital gains is the tax question almost every first-time seller has and almost never asks out loud. If the home was your primary residence for at least two of the last five years, federal law lets you exclude up to $250,000 in gain if you're single, or $500,000 if you're married filing jointly, from capital gains tax. Most first-time sellers of a primary residence owe nothing. This isn't tax advice, and your situation may differ, so I recommend confirming the specifics with a CPA before you list, especially if the home wasn't your full-time residence the entire time you owned it.

Timeline is the last piece, and it's the one that determines whether your move actually works on the schedule you have in mind. Across the five markets I work, days on market currently ranges from about three weeks in tighter pockets of Katy to well over two months in parts of Fulshear and Richmond. That range is exactly why I set your timeline off your specific subdivision's recent activity, not a citywide average that may not reflect what your home will actually do.

What Does Selling Your First Home Look Like in Each Market?

Katy, TX

Katy's median single-family sale price reached $355,000 in May 2026, up 5.6% year over year, with homes moving in a median of 22 days according to HAR.com. Pricing varies hard by subdivision: established pockets start in the upper $200s, while newer master-planned sections push past $600,000. First-time sellers here benefit most from a subdivision-level comparable analysis rather than a citywide number. Katy, TX Guide

Fulshear, TX

The Fulshear and South Brookshire market carried a median sale price of $439,145 in August 2026, up 2.1% year over year, with homes averaging 85 days on market, per HAR MLS data. That's a longer runway than Katy, which matters if you're timing a sale around a purchase elsewhere. Fulshear, TX Guide

Richmond, TX

Richmond's Fort Bend County North submarket posted a median sale price of $394,438 in August 2026, with an average of 85 days on market, according to HAR MLS data. First-time sellers in Richmond should plan for a longer marketing window than Katy and price accordingly from day one. Richmond, TX Guide

Cypress, TX

Cypress North homes carried a median sale price of $400,000 in August 2026, up 6% year over year, with an average of 66 days on market, per HAR MLS data. Cypress spans a wide range of price points and subdivisions, which makes an accurate, neighborhood-specific comparable analysis especially important before you set an asking price. Cypress, TX Guide

Brookshire, TX

Brookshire's median sale price was $289,990 in June 2026, down 2.7% year over year, with homes averaging 62 days on market, according to HAR MLS data. Brookshire remains one of the more accessible entry points in the five markets I serve, which shapes both your pricing strategy and your buyer pool. Brookshire, TX Guide

What Makes Katie Curran Qualified to Sell Your First Home?

Katie Curran is a REALTOR® and Co-Founder of MKAT Group at Keller Williams Signature, TREC license #745754. She is AI-Certified and holds a graduate certificate in AI for Business Leaders, and has helped 15+ first-time sellers close across Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cypress, and Brookshire since 2020.

Market data referenced throughout this page is sourced from HAR.com and HAR MLS, the Houston Association of REALTORS®, current as of August 2026.

First-Time Home Seller FAQ: Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cypress & Brookshire, TX

How much does it cost to sell a house in Katy, TX?

Texas sellers typically pay 5% to 6% in combined commission plus roughly 1.5% to 3% in closing costs, mostly title insurance, since Texas has no transfer tax. On a $355,000 Katy home, that's a meaningful chunk of proceeds worth calculating with a net sheet before you list, not after an offer arrives.

Do I have to disclose a foundation repair when I sell my house in Texas?

Yes. Texas Property Code Section 5.008 requires sellers of previously occupied single-family homes to disclose known material defects, including foundation issues, on the TREC Seller's Disclosure Notice. You're only required to disclose what you actually know, not to guarantee the home is defect-free.

How long does it take to sell a first home in Fulshear, TX?

As of August 2026, homes in the Fulshear and South Brookshire market averaged 85 days on market, per HAR MLS data. That's longer than Katy's roughly three-week median, so first-time Fulshear sellers should plan their moving timeline with that gap in mind.

Do I owe capital gains tax when I sell my first home in Texas?

Usually not. If the home was your primary residence for at least two of the last five years, federal law lets you exclude up to $250,000 in gain if single, or $500,000 if married filing jointly. Confirm your specific situation with a CPA before you list.

What changed on the Texas Seller's Disclosure Notice in 2026?

TREC's updated form (55-0), effective July 1, 2026, added new required disclosures: insurance difficulty, a standalone water rights form, permanently installed generators, private roads, large above-ground storage tanks, and conservation easements. Sellers who listed before that date should confirm they're using the current version.

Is Richmond, TX a buyer's or seller's market right now?

As of August 2026, Richmond's Fort Bend County North submarket showed a median 85 days on market, per HAR MLS data, longer than the tightest pockets of Katy. That favors buyers somewhat, which means accurate pricing from the start matters more than it would in a faster market.

Do I need a pre-listing inspection before I sell my house in Cypress, TX?

It's not required, but many sellers pay $300 to $500 for one so they can complete their disclosure form accurately and avoid surprises during the buyer's own inspection. In a market like Cypress, where homes averaged 66 days on market in August 2026, avoiding a mid-contract surprise is worth the upfront cost.

Ready to Talk to Katie About Selling Your First Home?

Call or text: 713-598-1889
Email: katie@mkatgroup.com

Where Can You Learn More Before You List?

City & Neighborhood
Katy, TX Guide
Fulshear, TX Guide
Richmond, TX Guide
Cypress, TX Guide
Brookshire, TX Guide

Guides
Katy: Your 2026 Seller Guide
Katy: What's My Home Worth? A CMA Breakdown
Katy: What Sellers Actually Pay in Closing Costs
Richmond: How to Sell a House in Fort Bend County
Richmond: Pecan Grove Selling Guide
Richmond: How Fast Homes Are Selling
Cypress: 2026 Home Seller Guide
Cypress: Bridgeland Home Sellers Guide
Brookshire: Selling Your Home Guide
Brookshire: Sunterra Lakes Home Prices 2026
Fulshear: 2026 Housing Market Update
Fulshear: Buyer's Market or Seller's Market?

About Katie · Contact

Katie Curran | REALTOR®, AI-Certified
Katie Curran has helped 15+ first-time sellers navigate pricing, disclosure, and closing across Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cypress, and Brookshire, TX, since 2020.

Last Updated: September 2026

Ready to Sell Your First Home the Right Way?

Selling your first home doesn't have to mean guessing at every step. Book a free consultation and I'll walk you through pricing, disclosure, and what your specific home is likely to net.

Book a Free Consultation: Schedule here
Call or text: 713-598-1889
Email: katie@mkatgroup.com
Website: mkatgroup.com