New DFW Homeowner? 5 Things to Do Between Thanksgiving and January 31

November 10, 2026 · @Brent — Your first holiday season in a new home is busy enough. But between Thanksgiving and the end of January, a few things land on every new DFW homeowner at once: the first property tax bill, the homestead exemption, the first hard freeze and the year-end paperwork.

None of it takes long. Here’s what to do, and when.

1. Find Your Property Tax Bill (Even If You Have Escrow)

Texas property tax bills go out in the fall and are due January 31. On February 1, unpaid taxes become delinquent and start adding penalty and interest. In Tarrant County you can also pay half by November 30 and the rest by June 30.

If your mortgage has an escrow account, your lender pays the bill. Look at it anyway. Check that the owner name and any exemptions are right, and keep a copy for your taxes.

Bought new construction? Homes are valued as of January 1. If your house wasn’t finished then, this year’s bill may cover mostly the lot. Next year’s bill will include the house, so ask your lender how your escrow payment will change. For how Texas taxes work, see Texas Property Taxes Explained.

2. File Your Homestead Exemption

This is the one most new owners miss. The homestead exemption takes $140,000 off your home’s taxable value for school taxes, plus another $60,000 if you’re 65 or older or have a disability. At a school tax rate of $1.00 per $100 of value, $140,000 is worth about $1,400 a year. Your district’s rate is on your tax bill.

• When: once you own the home and live in it as your main home. If the previous owner already had a homestead exemption this year, file after January 1 for next year. If not (a new build, for example), you can file now.
• Deadline: usually April 30.
• Cost: free. File with your county appraisal district, online in most DFW counties. Your Texas driver’s license or ID needs to show the new address.

Companies that mail “homestead filing” offers for a fee are charging for a free form.

3. Get Ready for the First Hard Freeze

North Texas freezes don’t last long, but they come fast, and many DFW homes have pipes in exterior walls and attics. Do this before the first forecast in the 20s:

• Find your main water shut-off and make sure it turns.
• Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor faucets.
• Wrap exposed pipes, and insulate the sprinkler backflow preventer in the yard.
• On freezing nights, drip faucets on outside walls and open the cabinet doors under those sinks.
• Turn off the sprinkler system or set it to rain mode until spring.

4. Check Your HOA’s Holiday Rules

Many DFW neighborhoods have an HOA, and many HOAs set when holiday decorations can go up and when they have to come down. Some limit what can be attached to the roof, gutters or brick. Read the rules before the ladder comes out, so your first letter from the HOA isn’t about your lights.

5. Gather Your Year-End Paperwork

If you itemize, the mortgage interest you pay in 2026 counts on your 2026 return, and points paid to buy your main home can generally be deducted in full the year you pay them, if you meet the IRS’s conditions.

Your lender will send Form 1098 by January 31. Keep your closing disclosure with it: it shows the points, prepaid interest and property taxes paid at closing, which your CPA will want.

Every situation is different. Ask your CPA what applies to you.

The Dates on One Page

Dates are for Tarrant County homeowners. Dallas, Denton, Collin and other counties follow the same January 31 deadline; check your county tax office for its payment options.

Coming Up in the Spring

Your appraisal notice usually arrives in April, and the deadline to protest is usually May 15. If the value looks high, here’s how to protest your Tarrant County appraisal.