Moving to Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo offers something that's getting harder to find in many growing Texas cities: room to breathe, relatively affordable housing, manageable commutes and a strong sense of community. It's large enough to have the shopping, restaurants, healthcare and everyday conveniences you need, while still feeling accessible and yes, friendly!

Affordable housing is one of the big draws. You’ll find affordable housing in a variety of locations within our city, each with its own unique features. No matter your preference, there’s something for everyone.

You'll also want to learn the geography before choosing a home. Amarillo provides established neighborhoods with mature trees and character to newer developments, luxury properties, homes with acreage and new construction. Nearby Canyon and Bushland offer additional options for buyers who want a smaller-community or more rural feel.

And yes, the wind is real. 😄 Amarillo sits on the High Plains, and our climate includes low humidity, four distinct seasons, big temperature swings and plenty of wind.

But we also get those West Texas sunrises and sunsets that are awfully hard to beat.

One of Amarillo's biggest attractions is the opportunity to get more home for your money than in many larger Texas metropolitan areas.

Current market prices will differ from historical Census figures, of course, so I prefer to give relocating buyers current MLS data in their actual price range rather than relying on a broad internet average.

There is another part of affordability that's easy to overlook: the purchase price isn't the entire cost of owning a home.

Texas property taxes, homeowners insurance and particularly wind/hail coverage and deductibles need to be considered when calculating your monthly payment. That's especially important in the Panhandle.

So rather than asking only, "How much house can I afford?" I encourage buyers to ask:

"What monthly cost am I comfortable with?"

Then we work backward from there.

This is one of my favorite conversations with relocation buyers because they're close geographically but have very different personalities.

Amarillo gives you more neighborhoods, shopping, restaurants, healthcare, employers and housing choices. You can choose established central neighborhoods, newer southwest developments, luxury communities, new construction, or properties toward the edges of town with more room.

Canyon is considerably smaller—its 2025 estimated population is about 16,500—and has more of a small-town/college-town atmosphere. It's home to West Texas A&M University and is close enough to Amarillo that many people regularly travel between the two communities.

And then there's Palo Duro Canyon practically in Canyon's backyard, which is a pretty spectacular perk. ❤️

One important note for homebuyers: don't assume the city in the mailing address tells you the school district. Parts of the Amarillo area are served by different districts, so school assignments should always be verified for the specific property address rather than assumed based on the neighborhood.

This is where Amarillo gets interesting because there really isn't one typical Amarillo neighborhood.

You can find historic character, established neighborhoods with mature landscaping, golf-course communities, newer developments, luxury homes, entry-level homes, new construction, large lots and acreage—sometimes within a relatively short drive of each other.

For example, buyers may explore established areas such as Wolflin, Puckett or Sleepy Hollow, newer southwest Amarillo communities such as The Colonies, Greenways or Heritage Hill, or look beyond Amarillo toward Canyon and Bushland for a different setting.

Rather than publishing a generic "Best Neighborhoods in Amarillo" list, I prefer helping buyers compare neighborhoods based on what matters to them.

Do you want newer construction or established character? A small yard or some land? Easy access to work? Room for a shop? Neighborhood amenities? A certain style of home?

That's where local knowledge becomes much more useful than a statistic.

Buying a home in the Texas Panhandle has some very specific considerations.

Our climate is semi-arid with relatively low humidity, and Amarillo experiences significant wind, seasonal temperature swings, snow and warm-season thunderstorms that can bring hail and damaging winds. City climate information reports average annual snowfall can be around 17 inches and notes that rapid temperature changes aren't unusual.

That means I pay particular attention to things such as:

• Roof age and condition
• Previous hail or storm damage
• Windows, fencing and exterior condition
• HVAC performance
• Drainage around the property
• Homeowners insurance availability and cost
• Wind/hail deductibles

A standard home inspection is important, but depending on the property I may also recommend additional evaluations—roof, sewer scope, well/septic, water testing, engineering or other specialty inspections.

And I've dealt with enough unusual inspection situations to know that we investigate first and panic later. 😉

I strongly encourage relocation buyers to obtain a homeowners-insurance quote early in the transaction, rather than discovering late in the process that the roof, deductible or premium changes the economics of the purchase.

Absolutely. I help relocation buyers do this.

Buying from another city or state requires more communication and a few extra systems, but you don't necessarily have to make repeated trips to Amarillo to purchase confidently.

We can begin with a video consultation to talk through your budget, priorities and timeline. From there, I can help you learn the different areas, set up a targeted property search and tour potential homes virtually when necessary.

For serious contenders, I can provide live video walkthroughs rather than simply sending listing photos. I want you to see the things photographs conveniently leave out—the street, neighboring properties, layout, condition, views, traffic and those little details that are difficult to understand from 1,000 miles away.

Once you're under contract, I will help coordinate the local pieces of the transaction—inspections, specialty evaluations, repair negotiations, appraisal and communication with the lender and title company.

I've personally relocated multiple times, so I understand that you're not simply buying a house from a distance. You're moving your life.

My job is to help make Amarillo feel a little less unfamiliar before you ever arrive.

The short answer? Your home is worth what today's market says it's worth—not what Zillow says, your neighbor says, or what you need to walk away with. And, much to everyone’s surprise, sales prices are often set by buyers…how much is a buyer willing to pay for your home? We discuss this and more when we sit down together.

Online estimates are a starting point, but they don't know that you replaced the roof, remodeled the kitchen, added a shop, have an incredible lot—or that the house down the street needed $40,000 worth of work.

When I prepare a home-value analysis, I look at recent comparable sales, current competition, neighborhood, current home condition, updates, square footage, lot, amenities and current buyer demand.

Amarillo's median sale price was around $251,000 in September 2026, but a citywide median tells us very little about what your house is worth.

That's why I prefer a personalized home-value review over an automated estimate.

Love your home? Let's find out what it's worth. ❤️

Very.

A buyer starts forming an opinion before they ever walk through the front door.

And today, that first impression often happens even earlier—in the listing photos on their phone.

Freshly edged grass, trimmed shrubs, clean windows, fresh mulch, seasonal color, a clean porch and an inviting front door can completely change how a home feels without costing a fortune.

I tell my sellers:

We want buyers to fall a little bit in love before they ever turn the key.

That's what curb appeal does.

And when the whole neighborhood takes pride in its homes? Even better.

Love your home. Love your neighborhood. Love Where You Live.

Some repairs? Probably. Every repair? Probably not.

There's a difference between preparing a house to sell well and trying to make a house perfect.

Before listing, I pay particular attention to things buyers—or their inspectors—are likely to notice: roof concerns, leaks, damaged trim, plumbing issues, HVAC problems, broken fixtures, peeling paint, obvious deferred maintenance and safety items.

But I don't want you automatically spending thousands of dollars fixing everything you've ever put on the honey-do list.

Sometimes we repair it.

Sometimes we price with it in mind.

Sometimes we disclose it and let the buyer handle it.

And sometimes I walk in and say:

"Please put your checkbook away." 😂

The strategy depends on the house, your timeline, your budget and the buyers you're trying to attract.