If I was buying a home in Grapevine • Colleyville • Southlake in 2026, I would not start by touring houses. I’d start by getting the strategy right. Here are the 5 things I’d do first: 1. Get fully pre-approved (not just pre-qualified). You want underwriting confidence before you fall in love with a home. 2. Build my budget around taxes, not just the home price. Property taxes in Texas can change your payment more than people expect. 3. Pick the school zones before picking the house. Schools dri