Start with a price built from recent MLS sales, since Texas public records do not show sale prices. Then prepare the house, complete the state seller's disclosure, and choose a listing date that fits buyers' timelines, including the Highland Park ISD calendar. Marketing should reach local move-up buyers and buyers relocating from other states.
Selling here has a few features that set it apart from much of Dallas. Both towns are served by Highland Park ISD, many buyers are weighing land value as much as the house, and the two towns run their own permit offices. Here is how we approach each step.
How do I price a home when sale prices are not public?
Texas does not require sale prices to be disclosed in public records, so you will not find a reliable sold price on the appraisal district site. Pricing comes from three places:
- A comparative market analysis. Your agent pulls recent closed sales of similar homes from MLS and adjusts for lot size, condition, age and street.
- Lot value. In both towns, older homes are often bought for the land. If yours could be a teardown candidate, the analysis should include recent lot sales and land value. Our guide on whether to renovate or tear down in Highland Park and University Park explains how buyers think about that.
- A professional appraisal, if you want an independent opinion before listing.
The appraisal district's market value is a tax figure, not a list price. It can be well above or below what a buyer will pay. For a current view of your home, request a free home valuation.
What should I do to prepare the house?
Preparation pays off most when it removes reasons for a buyer to hesitate. Common steps:
- Repair obvious issues such as roof leaks, failed fixtures, drainage problems and deferred maintenance.
- Consider a pre-listing inspection, so surprises surface before a buyer's inspector finds them.
- Close out old permits. University Park says a project is not legally complete until it passes final inspection (City of University Park, Frequently Asked Questions). Highland Park requires permits for work ranging from remodels and fences to sprinklers. Gather permit records and final inspections for past work, because buyers and their agents often ask.
- Stage and photograph carefully. Our post on repairs and staging worth doing before you sell covers where to spend and where to hold back.
What disclosures does a Texas seller have to make?
Sellers of previously occupied single-family homes must give buyers a written disclosure of the property's condition under Section 5.008 of the Texas Property Code. The Texas Real Estate Commission publishes the Seller's Disclosure Notice (form 55-1) for that purpose, and the current version took effect May 28, 2026 (Texas Real Estate Commission). Fill it out carefully and honestly. Questions about what you must disclose belong with a real estate attorney.
When is the best time to list?
There is no single best month, but the school calendar shapes many family buyers' plans. Highland Park ISD's approved 2026 to 2027 calendar starts classes on August 17, 2026, puts spring break at March 15 to 19, 2027, and ends the final grading period on May 21, 2027 (Highland Park ISD, 2026 to 2027 District Calendar).
Families who want to move between school years generally need to close before classes start in August, which usually means shopping in spring. If your buyer pool is likely to include families, working backward from those dates is a sensible way to plan. If your home suits buyers without school-age children, timing is more flexible.
Other timing points to consider:
- When your own next home will be ready. Our guide to selling while buying another home covers bridge options.
- Your homestead exemption and tax proration at closing, which a CPA or title company can explain.
- Any planned work that needs permits, since both towns limit construction to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
How should a home here be marketed?
Buyers for Highland Park and University Park homes come from nearby neighborhoods, from elsewhere in North Texas, and from other states. A strong plan typically includes:
- Professional photography, video and floor plans
- Accurate MLS data, including lot dimensions and the Highland Park ISD campus confirmed with the district
- Marketing that reaches relocating buyers, including through The Agency's global network of offices
- Clear showing instructions and a plan for broker and buyer feedback
- A disciplined review of activity in the first weeks, with price adjustments if the market says so
Our post on how to choose a listing agent in Dallas lists questions to ask any agent you interview, and our sell your home page explains how we list.
How can The Agency Dallas help in Highland Park or University Park?
The Agency Dallas lists and sells homes in Highland Park and University Park, and represents the buyers who move into them. Start with a home valuation: share the address, your timing and any recent updates, and we will prepare a pricing view based on recent MLS sales. Learn more on our University Park page or our Highland Park page, or call (469) 839-6020. We follow up within one business day. The Agency Dallas also helps sellers in University Park reach relocating buyers through The Agency's network of offices.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find what my neighbor's house sold for?
Not in public records. Texas is a non-disclosure state, so sale prices are not required to be reported publicly, and the appraisal district's value is a tax estimate. Agents with MLS access can pull recent closed sales of comparable homes. A comparative market analysis or a professional appraisal is the reliable way to estimate value.
Is my older home worth more as a teardown?
Sometimes. In both towns, some buyers purchase older homes for the lot and build new. Whether your home is worth more to a renovator or a builder depends on its condition, lot size, zoning district and street. A pricing analysis should compare recent sales of similar homes with recent lot sales before you choose a list price.
Do I need a seller's disclosure in Texas?
Yes, for most previously occupied single-family homes. Section 5.008 of the Texas Property Code requires a written disclosure of the property's condition, and the Texas Real Estate Commission publishes form 55-1 for it. Some sales are exempt. If you are unsure whether an exemption applies or how to answer a question, consult a real estate attorney.
When does the Highland Park ISD school year start?
The district's approved calendar starts the 2026 to 2027 school year on August 17, 2026, with spring break March 15 to 19, 2027, and the final grading period ending May 21, 2027. Sellers expecting family buyers often plan listing dates around those milestones. Confirm dates on the district's website, since calendars can be amended.
Do I need permits to make repairs before I sell?
Often. Highland Park requires permits for a wide range of work, including repairs, fences and sprinklers. University Park requires permits for most remodeling and additions but not for painting or wallpaper. Check with the town before you start, and keep final inspection records, because buyers and their agents frequently ask for them.
Sources
- Texas Real Estate Commission, Seller's Disclosure Notice (form 55-1); Texas Property Code Section 5.008
- Highland Park ISD, 2026 to 2027 District Calendar (approved February 18, 2026)
- City of University Park, Frequently Asked Questions (permits and construction hours)
- Town of Highland Park, Building Inspection (permits and construction hours)
Verified October 2026.
