Your Guide to Buying
Your First Home
in Central Texas
Expert guidance, honest advice, and a trusted advocate by your side — from first showing to closing day and beyond.
Meet Tina Mallach
Tina Mallach is the Broker/Owner of Mallach & Company Real Estate, a boutique brokerage serving buyers and sellers throughout Central Texas — including Austin, Leander, Cedar Park, Liberty Hill, Georgetown, Round Rock, and the surrounding Hill Country.
A proud resident of Crystal Falls in Leander, Tina brings deep local knowledge and genuine passion for helping people find their place in the communities she calls home. With years of experience navigating the Central Texas market, she has built a reputation for strategic negotiation, concierge-level service, and an unwavering commitment to her clients' best interests.
Tina founded Mallach & Company on the belief that real estate should feel personal — not transactional. Her boutique approach means you get expert guidance, honest advice, and a trusted advocate by your side from the first showing to the closing table and beyond.
Including Austin, Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Round Rock, and the surrounding Hill Country region.
8 Steps to Your New Home
Buying a home doesn't have to feel overwhelming. Here's exactly what to expect — from your first conversation with a lender to the moment you hold your keys.
A Lender Tina Recommends
Getting pre-approved is the very first step in your home buying journey — and who you work with matters. Tina has personally worked alongside Chris Czernek on many transactions and trusts him to treat her clients with the same care and professionalism she does.
"I only refer people I trust completely. Chris is someone I know will take great care of you — he's responsive, honest, and genuinely invested in helping you succeed."
First-Time Buyer Specialist
Chris walks first-time buyers through every step of the loan process — from understanding your credit score to explaining the difference between loan types — with patience and clarity.
Fast Pre-Approvals
In a competitive market, speed matters. Chris works quickly to get you a pre-approval letter so you can make strong, confident offers the moment you find the right home.
Transparent Communication
No surprises. Chris keeps you informed throughout the entire loan process, from application to clear-to-close, so you always know exactly where things stand.
Loan Program Expertise
From conventional and FHA to VA and USDA loans, Chris helps you identify the program that best fits your financial situation and homeownership goals.
Mortgage Calculator
Get a quick estimate of your monthly payment. Adjust the sliders to explore different scenarios — then connect with Chris to get your official pre-approval.
This is an estimate only. Actual payments will vary based on taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and final loan terms. Contact Chris for an accurate quote.
Smart Home Search Tips
In Central Texas, the market moves fast. These strategies will help you search smarter, evaluate homes more effectively, and make confident decisions.
Location First
You can renovate a kitchen, but you can't move a neighborhood. Prioritize location — proximity to work, schools, amenities, and the feel of the community matter more than any single feature inside the home.
Needs vs. Wants
Before you tour a single home, write down your non-negotiables separately from your wish list. This keeps emotion from overriding logic when you're standing in a beautiful kitchen that's 20 minutes too far from work.
Research School Districts
Even if you don't have children, school district quality significantly impacts resale value. In Central Texas, districts like Leander ISD, Georgetown ISD, and Round Rock ISD are highly sought after.
Look Beyond Staging
Sellers stage homes to look their best. Train your eye to look at the bones — ceiling height, natural light, layout flow, storage, and the condition of major systems like HVAC, roof, and foundation.
Act Quickly
In Central Texas, well-priced homes in desirable areas can receive multiple offers within days. If you love it, don't wait. Tina will help you move decisively without making a hasty decision.
Trust Your Agent
Tina has seen hundreds of homes and knows what's fairly priced, what's overpriced, and what red flags to watch for. Lean on her expertise — that's exactly what she's there for.
Mortgage Dos & Don'ts
Once you're under contract, your financial behavior matters more than ever. Lenders verify your finances right up to closing day. Here's what to do — and what to absolutely avoid.
- Continue making all current payments on time
- Stay at your current job and maintain income stability
- Keep all existing accounts open and in good standing
- Call your lender if you have any questions
- Respond promptly to all lender requests for documents
- Keep records of all large deposits into your accounts
- Continue saving for closing costs and reserves
- Make any large purchases (cars, furniture, appliances)
- Apply for new credit cards or loans
- Close any existing credit accounts
- Change jobs or become self-employed
- Make large cash deposits without documentation
- Co-sign a loan for anyone else
- Change banks or move money between accounts
- Make payments late on any existing accounts
Common Buyer Myths — Busted
First-time buyers often come in with misconceptions that can hold them back. Let's clear the air.
"You need 20% down to buy a home"
Many loan programs allow as little as 3–5% down. FHA loans require just 3.5%. VA loans (for veterans) and USDA loans (for rural areas) can require zero down. Tina will connect you with lenders who specialize in first-time buyer programs.
"You should find a home before getting pre-approved"
In today's market, sellers often won't even consider an offer without a pre-approval letter. Getting pre-approved first also gives you a realistic budget and strengthens your negotiating position significantly.
"The listing agent will look out for your interests"
The listing agent represents the seller — their job is to get the best deal for the seller. As your buyer's agent, Tina's fiduciary duty is exclusively to you. Having your own representation costs you nothing and protects everything.
"A new construction home doesn't need an inspection"
New construction homes can have defects too. A third-party inspection is just as important on a brand-new home as on a resale. Builders have their own inspectors — you need yours.
"The asking price is the final price"
Everything in real estate is negotiable — price, closing costs, repairs, timeline, and more. Tina's negotiation expertise has saved her clients thousands of dollars and helped them win in competitive situations.
"You should wait for the 'perfect' market"
Trying to time the market is nearly impossible. The best time to buy is when you're financially ready and find a home that meets your needs. Waiting for perfect conditions often means missing great opportunities.
Inspections, Appraisals & Closing
These are the steps that protect your investment and ensure there are no surprises at the closing table.
Your Buyer Resource Kit
Everything you need to navigate the process with confidence — from decoding real estate jargon to checking off your moving day tasks.
A lender's written commitment to lend you a specific amount, based on a review of your credit, income, and assets.
A good-faith deposit (typically 1% of purchase price) submitted with your offer to show the seller you're serious.
A negotiated period (typically 5–10 days in Texas) during which you can back out of the contract for any reason.
A condition that must be met for the sale to proceed — common ones include financing, inspection, and appraisal contingencies.
Multiple Listing Service — the database where licensed agents list homes for sale. Tina has full access to set up custom searches for you.
Protects you and your lender against any claims or disputes over the ownership of your property.
A neutral third party (usually the title company) that holds funds and documents during the transaction until closing.
Homeowners Association — an organization that enforces community rules and collects fees for shared amenities and maintenance.
Private Mortgage Insurance — required when your down payment is less than 20%. It protects the lender, not you, and can be removed once you reach 20% equity.
An independent professional assessment of a home's market value, required by your lender before approving your loan.
When a seller has accepted an offer and both parties have signed the purchase agreement, but the sale has not yet closed.
A document provided 3 days before closing that outlines all final loan terms, monthly payments, and closing costs.
What Clients Are Saying
"Trust me when I say you won't regret your decision to use Mallach and Company! In what can be one of the scariest moments of your life, buying a home, Mallach and Company will be a great choice to help guide you through the process. Tina and Holly both stayed patient with our requests to see multiple houses and were flexible with schedules. They are a family business, so they recognize that your family matters when it comes to this decision."
"Trust me when I say you won't regret your decision to use Mallach and Company! In what can be one of the scariest moments of your life, buying a home, Mallach and Company will be a great choice to help guide you through the process. Tina and Holly both stayed patient with our requests to see multiple houses and were flexible with schedules. They are a family business, so they recognize that your family matters when it comes to this decision."
"Holly and Tina did a fantastic job helping me find and buy my first home. I can't thank them enough for their help. They are extremely responsive and have answers to all your questions!! Thanks again for making my first home buying experience the greatest!!"
"Tina Mallach and Holly Loff provided a trusted voice in a chaotic market, strategic negotiation techniques to prevent us from over-paying, and most of all, promises that were kept. From our first conversation to celebrating a closing in which our home appraised ABOVE our strategically negotiated closing price, Mallach & Company will be our agency the next time we buy or sell."
"We have bought and sold houses in Ohio, Houston, Austin, Leander, and Georgetown. Tina is the best realtor we've ever had. She sold our home, helped us find a new one, and had both closings, all in one month. Having Tina's expertise made this a fun experience! And, we have a new friend! Thank you so much, Tina. You are the very best!"
Let's Find Your Dream Home
Whether you're just starting to think about buying or you're ready to make a move, Tina is here to answer your questions, explain the process, and be your guide every step of the way. Reach out — there's no pressure, just honest conversation.
"I will always give you my honest opinion, even when it's not what you want to hear. My job isn't to sell you a house — it's to help you find the right one."