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and a wise person will include property taxes when comparing the costs and benefits of renting vs buying. I have friends who were surprised when the tax bill came and it was a lot higher than the 1% or so they paid in another state. Better for our Hoosier friend to know in advance.

I don't know what taxes are like where you're from but you might be surprised how high Texas taxes are. The mortgage payments on a $200k house might be $12k to $15k per year, with property taxes adding another $4k to $6k per year, especially in the suburbs. Half that is usually ISD taxes in the suburbs and you said you don't have children yet, so you could be paying $20k in school taxes before your first child starts school.

Make sure you budget for that and don't be afraid to ask about taxes when a real estate agent shows you houses.