Frequently Asked Questions

The Yost Team is led by Marla Yost, REALTOR® with Keller Williams Lonestar DFW. Marla founded the team in 2010 and has spent 16+ years helping DFW families move from "looking" to "living" — hundreds of families served across Mansfield, Arlington, and the Metroplex.

We're based in Mansfield and serve the whole DFW Metroplex — Mansfield, Arlington, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Burleson, Crowley, Kennedale, Midlothian, and the communities around them. If you're in the DFW area, we can help.

Call (817) 382-9791, text (817) 223-6399, or email marla@theyostteam.com. You can also send a message here — and if you request a home valuation, it comes back within 24 hours.

Our search page covers every home on the MLS — filter by city, price, beds, and size. Want just the homes we've listed ourselves? Those live on Our Listings.

Most buyers put 3–20% of the purchase price down, and first-time programs can require less. Aim for a credit score of 620 or higher for the best options. The fastest way to know your real number is lender pre-approval — usually a 1–3 day process.

Typical rhythm: 1–3 days for pre-approval, 1–8 weeks of shopping, 1–3 days to put an offer together, then 2–3 weeks under contract for inspection and appraisal. Every file is different, but knowing the pace keeps the ride smooth.

620+ opens strong conventional options, and some loan programs flex below that. The move that matters most: talk to a lender early. A pre-approval letter tells you exactly what you can afford — and shows sellers you're a serious buyer.

School district, property taxes, HOA fees, commute, and future resale value. A beautiful house in the wrong spot is still the wrong house — we help you balance the wish list against the needs list so the numbers work for years, not months.

Constantly — it's some of our favorite work. You get our first-time buyer checklist and plain-English explanations of every step, so nothing feels like a black box. See what recent first-time buyers say on our reviews page.

The honest answer moves with the market — the free way to find out is our home valuation. Marla prepares a complimentary CMA tailored to your property, typically within 24 hours. No pressure, no obligation.

Right, from day one. We analyze recent sales of comparable homes, neighborhood trends, current market conditions, and your home's unique features. Overpricing costs more than it earns — homes priced 10% above market typically sit about 3x longer.

The high-return list: fresh neutral paint, deep cleaning, visible repairs, serviced HVAC, and curb appeal — pressure-washed walkways, tidy landscaping, a clean front door. Small money, big first impressions. Every client gets our full prep checklist before we ever schedule photos.

Pricing, preparation, and marketing decide speed — when those align, homes can move in days. One recent client's home sold in under two weeks, above asking price. We won't invent a guarantee; we run the strategy that makes fast possible.

May 15 — or 30 days after your appraisal notice was mailed, whichever is later. Miss it and you wait a full year for your next real chance, which is why that envelope deserves to be opened, not filed.

Market value is what the appraisal district believes your home would sell for on January 1. Appraised (taxable) value is what you're actually taxed on — after exemptions and value caps. Lowering the taxable number is how you lower the bill.

On your primary residence it reduces the taxable value for school district taxes — the biggest chunk of your bill — and caps appraised-value increases at 10% per year. It's completely free to file, you only file once, and it carries forward. Bought last year and haven't filed? Do it now.

Usually worth a serious look. Strong grounds: your value jumped compared to similar homes nearby, your notice contains wrong details (an extra bathroom or a pool you don't have), or recent comparable sales in your neighborhood support a lower number. You don't need to be an expert — you need evidence: sales data, photos, and a clear explanation.

Both Tarrant CAD (TAD) and Johnson CAD (JCAD) accept protest filings online and publish the sales data you can use as evidence. Your notice names your county right at the top. Already past the deadline? Get organized for spring — and ask your county about late corrections for clerical errors or incorrect exemptions. More detail in our property tax guide.