Leaving Washington. Landing in Texas.
Why families are making the move
Every family's reasons are their own, but Washington families tell us the same story: the direction of state government, gun laws that tighten every session, schools that stopped answering to parents, and cities that no longer feel like home. Texas offers the same no-income-tax deal Washington advertises — without the capital gains tax, the estate tax, or the politics. Here's the honest math.
The money: you keep the no-income-tax status, and shed the rest
| Washington | Texas | |
| State income tax | None | None |
| Capital gains tax | 7% on gains over ~$270k, 9.9% over $1M | None |
| Estate tax | Yes, starts at ~$2.19M, rates up to 20% | None |
| Combined sales tax (avg.) | ~9.5% (Seattle ~10.25%) | ~8.2% |
| Avg. property tax rate | ~0.75% to 0.87% | ~1.6% |
| Median home price (2026) | Seattle ~$830k, Spokane ~$420k | ~$342k |
Freedom on paper: the laws that actually differ
Second Amendment
- Texas: constitutional carry since 2021. Most adults 21 and older can carry without a permit. No magazine limits, no "assault weapons" ban, no red-flag law, and no waiting period.
- Washington: a 10-round magazine limit, a 2023 ban on the sale of many semiautomatic rifles, a 10-day waiting period with a required safety-training certificate, and a permit-to-purchase requirement that takes effect May 1, 2027. Washington's direction on gun policy is one of the most-cited reasons our Texas-bound clients give.
Homeschooling and school choice
- Texas: one of the least-regulated homeschool states in America. No registration, no teacher certification, no mandatory testing. Texas also launched the Education Freedom Accounts program (SB 2, 2025), starting the 2026-27 school year, providing roughly $10,400 per student for private school tuition and approved expenses, with up to $30,000 for students with disabilities.
- Washington: more regulated. Parents generally file an annual declaration of intent, meet a qualification requirement, and administer yearly standardized testing or an approved assessment.
Schools
Texas public schools are locally governed by elected boards that answer to parents, and the DFW metro alone holds eight of the state's top twenty districts — Coppell, Frisco, Allen, and Southlake among them. Homeschooling is essentially unregulated, and a deep network of charter, classical, and church-based options gives families real choices. Washington families consistently tell us the biggest change isn't any single policy — it's that the district actually listens.
Where to land: a quick tour for Washington families
For a wider look at the state, including schools, the economy, and day to day life, see our Move to Texas overview.
Dallas-Fort Worth
The #1 destination for corporate relocations in America and the most common landing spot for our Washington clients — especially tech families, since major Seattle employers have large DFW campuses. Southlake, Coppell, Frisco, Prosper, and Allen offer major North Texas relocation options with master-planned neighborhoods; Coppell, Frisco, and Allen ISDs are TEA A-rated for 2025–26. Expect $400k–$700k for the top suburbs — a fraction of Seattle-metro prices.
Houston metro
The value play: Katy, The Woodlands, Cypress, and Pearland offer top-tier districts at $340k–$450k. More house, more land, and a faster path to mortgage-free — many Washington families sell in Seattle, buy in Houston, and retire the mortgage on day one.
San Antonio and the Hill Country
New Braunfels, Boerne, and the Hill Country towns draw families who want small-town Texas culture, land, and a slower pace within reach of a major city. For Washingtonians leaving the density of Puget Sound, this is the biggest lifestyle change on the menu — and for many, the whole point.
A note on Austin
Beautiful city, booming economy — but politically and culturally, central Austin will feel familiar to anyone leaving Seattle. Many of our clients prefer its suburbs (Georgetown, Leander, Liberty Hill) or skip it entirely. Your agent will tell you the truth about neighborhoods, not just sell you a house.
What surprises Washingtonians (so nothing surprises you)
- Property tax bills arrive bigger than expected. Texas rates run roughly double Washington's, so budget for the rate difference before you fall in love with a bigger house.
- Summer is a real adjustment coming from the Pacific Northwest. Stretches of 100 degrees are normal, and air conditioning is life infrastructure, not a luxury.
- Homeowner's insurance runs higher. Hail and wind risk price into premiums in much of the state.
- HOAs are common in master-planned communities. Read the rules before you buy acreage dreams in a planned neighborhood.
- You keep the no-income-tax status. Like Washington, Texas has no state income tax and no state return, and both states exempt groceries from sales tax.
- No estate tax in Texas is a meaningful difference. Washington's estate tax starts at about $2.19 million, so families with a home, a business, and retirement savings can cross that line more easily than they expect.
How to make the move without living it twice
The hard part of a Washington-to-Texas move isn't the buying — it's doing two transactions in two markets 2,000 miles apart on one timeline. That's exactly what we do. Conservative Move pairs you with a vetted, values-aligned listing agent in Washington and a buyer's agent in Texas, and we coordinate both ends as one move — timing, proceeds, movers at discounted rates, lender introductions (including VA loans), and community introductions when you land.
Already have a Washington agent you trust? Keep them — we'll handle the Texas side. Renting right now? We'll match you with a Texas buyer's agent only. The service is free to you; our agents pay us a referral fee only when your move succeeds.
Start your move today or call 800-277-5487.
Frequently asked questions
Both Washington and Texas have no income tax, so what do I actually save?
The wage-tax match hides three big differences: Washington taxes capital gains at 7–9.9% and has an estate tax starting around $2.19 million — Texas has neither — and the median Texas home costs roughly $342k versus $830k in Seattle. Texas property tax rates run higher (~1.6%), but on a home costing less than half as much, most families still come out far ahead. Run your specifics through our tax savings calculator →.
Is it really cheaper to live in Texas than Washington?
For most families, substantially. Housing is the driver — sell a Seattle-area home, buy comparable or better in Texas for a fraction of the price, and bank the difference. Sales tax is lower too (~8.2% vs. ~9.5%), and there's no capital gains or estate tax waiting down the road.
Which Texas city is best for conservative families?
Dallas–Fort Worth is our clients' most common choice — top-rated suburban districts, a huge job market, and deeply rooted conservative communities in Collin, Denton, and Tarrant counties. Houston's suburbs are the value play, and San Antonio and the Hill Country win for small-town culture and land. Your agent will match the neighborhood to your priorities.
Should I sell my Washington home before I buy in Texas?
It depends on your equity, financing, and timeline. Because our agents work both ends of your move together, you can plan the sequence deliberately instead of gambling on timing.
Can I use my own agent to sell my Washington home?
Yes. Many clients keep a trusted local agent for the sale and use Conservative Move for the Texas purchase. Use as much or as little of our network as you need — either way, the service costs you nothing.
How long does a Washington-to-Texas move usually take?
Most coordinated sell-and-buy moves complete in roughly two to four months from listing to keys. Your timeline drives the plan — we've handled everything from 30-day corporate relocations to year-long transitions.
An honest word before you go
No move is only upside. Texas has trade-offs of its own, and the right answer depends on your family, your budget, and your timeline. Our job is to give you the real picture and connect you with a trusted conservative agent on both ends, at no cost to you. We only earn when a partner agent closes your sale or purchase.
Sell in Washington. Buy in Texas.
One team coordinates both sides of your move so you never have to live it twice. Free to you, start to finish.
Get Started FreeOr call 800-277-5487First you sell. That is where the money is made.
Your Washington home is the down payment on your Texas one. How it is priced, marketed and negotiated decides how much of that equity you actually carry across the country — and it is the one part of this move most families leave to chance.
Conservative Move handles both ends as a single coordinated move: a vetted listing agent in Washington to sell for top dollar, and a conservative agent in Texas ready when you land. One team, timed together, and our referral service is always free to you.
From a family who made this move
★★★★★
“It has been a great adventure so far, and Conservative Move was one of the best parts of it. I have already referred them to one other person.”
Charles Jones · Google review · relocated to Texas
More Relocation Guides
More moves from Washington: Washington to Idaho
More ways to get to Texas: California to Texas • New York to Texas • New Jersey to Texas
Not sure where to land? See our ranking of the most conservative states in America or explore our full Texas relocation guide.
