Chances are… it looks a little different than today's numbers.
$85K.
$120K.
Maybe even under $60K depending on when you bought.

Fast forward to now, and the market has changed - prices, rates, competition… all of it.

But here's what hasn't changed:
Smart buyers still win when they have a plan.

That's where Texas Best Home Loans comes in.
We're not just here to "get you a loan". We help you understand your options, structure your financing the right way, and move with confidence in a market that can feel anything but simple.

Whether it's your first home, your next home, or you're just trying to make a smarter move with what you have - having the right team matters.

So let's hear it…
What did you pay for your very first home?



Braxton Sherrill
Braxton@TXBestHomeLoans.com
TXBestHomeLoans.com

18

$88,000. I negotiated it down from $89,900 . . .

$122k for a starter house in Fort Worth in 2000. Until recently, it was still worth about that.

$68k for a 2 bedroom townhouse near the Astrodome in Houston
"Low interest" first time home buyer bond money at 8%.
1988

$120k, new build, Tomball TX, 2005 age 25. No downpayment and rolled closing costs into the loan!

Owned it for ~7 years, paid it down to about $80k. Used that $40k for downpayment in 2012 on current home.

Sure seemed easy compared to a 20-something today. Not sure what the answer is. That tomball home is $300k today. Not sure if a 25 year old engineer salary is 2.5x what it was in 2005.

excluding the 1 bd 1.5 ba condo in CS...

2009
1300 sq ft 3bd/2ba/2garage -- 15 yr loan $129,000 w/ 20% down
refi to a 10 yr loan in 2011 w lower rate
Sold in 2017 with 20 months remaining for $169,900

About $122,500 in 1992 - in The Woodlands (4BR, 2.5 bath - about 2600 ft2). I think the home was roughly 2 years old when we bought it. Put 5% down and had an 8.25% interest 30 yr mortgage. Sold it in 2003 for around $175k. Homes in that neighborhood today are going for $525k-$600k.

Ranger1743 said:

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Boomers: 14 blueberries and a firm handshake.
Gen X: $60,000 at an 18% interest rate (immediately refinanced to 9%).
Millennials: $450,000, 1.5 hour commute.
Zoomers: "What's a house?"

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This is funny.

But I'm Gen X (tail end) and first home was $168K in 2008. 5.25%

$57,500 for a small starter home, though new, in The Woodlands. Mortgage rate was 17.25% but with a buy-down mortgage. I think the first year rate was 14.25%, then 15.25% in the second year. Sometime in the second year, before it went to 16.25%, we refinanced it at 12.75% fixed. Thought I had hit a home run, lol.

2007, 110k 3/2 in College station, FHA @ 6.5%

Paid $185k for 1970 2100sqft ranch in 2010, Spring Branch area of Houston. Needed lots of remodeling. Still had quite a few of the original finishes. Similar houses (remodeled) are selling for about $450-$500k in the neighborhood today.

Paid 99500 for a 2500 sqft, two story, 4 bedroom house in Champion Forest in 1988 I believe. Interest at 11.8% and was tickled to get that. Built the second house in 2000 in Glennloch Farms at 4300 sqft, two story, 5 bedrooms, extra rooms, paying 250000. Paid that off in 2014 I believe. Have been told I could get $550000 if I wanted to sell today. Pool, cul d' sac, etc.

2012, new build in Sheridan, Wyoming. $202.5k at 3.75% VA loan.

$180k in 2011
Sold it in 2024 for $300k

550K in 2020.

565k in 2014. Townhome itl Houston.

$212k back in 1998 at age 27.. 3 BR 2 BA, 2 half baths with a finished basement. 1 acre lot.

Ex-wife and I were DINKs. Double income, no kids. I had the downpayment from money my grandfather left me. I cannot remember the interest rate but it was pretty good back then.

I am mid Gen X
Townhouse for $202k in 2002.

$225k in 2006, sold for several multiples of that in 2016. Just checked and Harris County says it's worth $1.3m now.

I'll play. Dallas. $400K in 2007. Sold it for $500k in 2015.

It's now on rolls for $1.2M. LOL.

First home was $325K, ex wife still has it and in 14 years it has only gone up $100K per zillow.

MY first home was $195K in 2017, sold it for $550K in 2021.

$72,500 in '91 in Cedar Park. New build. Think the interest rate was 7.5%. 1500 sq ft starter home. Worked great for about 7 years. Moved up to a 2500 sq ft house on 2 acres for, looking back on it, a steal. Been in this house ever since (and not moving anytime soon).

$88K with an 11.2% fixed 30 year mortgage in 1985.
Sold in 1998 for 98k.
Yeah, Boomers had it sooo good.

$190k in 2013, sold last week for $435k

$125k on a 2x2 in Dallas (75229). Locked in at 7.375. Loan officer congratulated me on getting such a great rate.

$137K in 2010 for a 2000 sqft 3/2 in Longview that was a bank repo. They dropped the price $20K after another contract fell through and I put it under contract that day. Barely made the deadline for the first time homebuyers tax credit. Lived there for 13 years and then sold it for more than twice what I paid for it. Under contract in 48 hours full asking price with no concessions. RE was crazy in 2023. Bought a lake house before it hit the market for a little more and never looked back.