Texas Ranks 3rd in Family-to-Family Property Transfer Surge
Share News:
In an already-tight housing market, more Texas families are literally keeping it in the family as parents increasingly choose to transfer their homes to their children instead of putting them on the market. In fact, a recent study ranked the Lone Star State third for family-to-family property transfers in 2025.
Deeds.com, an online resource dedicated to real estate deeds and property transfers, has identified a surge in the intra-family passing of homes from one generation to another. The company’s data indicates that such real estate deals are 68% above pre-2020 levels nationally, with as many as 25% of property transfers fitting the bill in some zip codes this year.
“What we’re seeing is the ‘Great Transfer’ of wealth in real time, but through real estate, not just inheritance accounts,” said Deeds.com property expert Shawn Shepherd, according to a press release. “Baby boomers own a huge share of the housing market, and they’re now choosing to transfer that wealth directly to family while they’re alive.”
In 2022, boomers comprised nearly 40% of homeowners in the United States. Market observers expect more houses to hit the market as the demographic ages out, so to speak, but that impact could be muted by family-to-family property transfers.
“This makes sense. If you’re 70 and your kid can’t afford to buy their first home, it feels better to help them now rather than wait for inheritance,” Shepherd said.
Younger first-time homebuyers have been having a rough go of it amid the nation’s housing shortage. While more builds are being delivered and officials from the local to the federal level are working to unencumber development, high mortgage rates and home valuations are still significant barriers to market entry for many.
“My advice is that younger buyers should talk to their parents or grandparents about early transfer options,” said Shepherd. “And for those without family property to inherit, don’t lose hope. Look in second-tier cities and consider cash-buying partners. There are still paths to ownership. You just have to get creative.”
There are plenty of tax implications to transferring real estate to a family member, so it’s best to consult with a professional to get the right guidance. Whether you’re gifting the property, putting it in a living trust, or just want your family member to avoid probate, remember that hundreds of thousands of dollars (millions in some lucky cases) is changing hands. Uncle Sam will certainly want his due.
