Moving to Fort Worth Checklist

The short answer: decide where you want to live, price the real monthly cost, test the commute, then handle the Texas paperwork on the clock. Texas gives new residents 30 days to register a vehicle and 90 days to switch to a Texas driver license. Everything else on this list is about making those decisions in a smart order.

Coming from somewhere specific? I've got pages for California, Dallas and everywhere else. Want the big picture first? Start with the Fort Worth relocation guide.

Before you start house hunting

  • Pick the kind of Fort Worth you want. Historic and walkable, brand-new and suburban, or more space. The relocation guide helps you sort that out.

  • Build the real monthly number. Mortgage, property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees, utilities and maintenance all count. Here's what each one looks like.

  • Talk to a lender, then set your own limit. What a lender approves you for isn't necessarily what you should spend.

  • Get a homeowners insurance quote before you fall in love with a house. Ask about roof age, deductible and wind and hail coverage.

  • Test your commute at the hours you'd actually drive it.

  • Decide whether to rent first. If you've never lived here, a year of renting is a reasonable way to learn the city.

Before you move

  • Check the school district for every address you're seriously considering. Which district a home belongs to depends on the address, so confirm it directly with the district.

  • Ask about utility history. When you're serious about a house, ask the seller or agent for past utility costs, since Fort Worth summers put the AC to work.

  • Line up your utilities. Electricity, water and sewer, trash, internet and gas if the home uses it.

  • Update your address with your employer, bank, insurers and anyone else who mails you things.

  • Get moving quotes early, especially if you're landing near the end of the month.

The Texas deadlines

  • Vehicle registration: 30 days. TxDMV says you have 30 days from the time you move here to register your vehicle. You'll need proof of insurance and, depending on your county, an emissions inspection. Details are on the TxDMV new-to-Texas page.

  • Driver license: 90 days. Texas DPS says new residents can drive on an out-of-state license for up to 90 days. For adults with a valid out-of-state license, the exams are generally waived, but check the DPS guide for your situation.

After you buy

  • File for the homestead exemption on the home you live in. Applications go through your county's appraisal district, which for most of Fort Worth is the Tarrant Appraisal District.

  • Know what the cap does. Once you've qualified, the Texas Comptroller says a homestead's appraised value may not increase more than 10 percent per year. The cap starts on January 1 of the tax year after you first qualify.

  • Keep your closing documents somewhere you can find them.

  • Go find your coffee shop. This one's not optional.

Moving checklist questions

How soon do I need to register my car in Texas?

TxDMV says you have 30 days from the time you move to Texas.

How long can I use my out-of-state license?

Texas DPS says up to 90 days after moving to Texas.

Do I have to buy a house right away?

No. Plenty of people rent first to learn the city. There's no prize for buying the fastest.

Where should I start looking for a home?

Start with the kind of life you want, then the neighborhood, then the house. My relocation guide walks through it.

Want a second brain on this?

Tell me where you're coming from, what you're looking for and when you're hoping to move. I'll point you to where I'd start. You can also grab the free relocation guide or book a time to talk.

Sources: Texas DMV, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Comptroller. Rules and deadlines can change, so confirm on the official pages before you act.