Buying a home in Tarrytown: what to know before you finance
In Tarrytown, the first financing question is usually whether your loan amount is above the conforming limit. Above it, you’re in jumbo territory, with its own down payment, reserve and documentation rules. Many buyers also weigh a teardown or major rebuild, which changes the loan again. Settle the loan size and the plan for the house before you write an offer.
Tarrytown is an established west-central Austin neighborhood in ZIP code 78703. This page covers the housing you’ll see, what each type means for a loan, price context, taxes, and the programs that fit, from jumbo and asset depletion to interest-only. For citywide context, see our Austin mortgage broker page.
Homes in Tarrytown: housing types and what each means for your loan
Established single-family homes. Much of Tarrytown is older single-family housing on mature lots. Appraisers often have fewer close comparable sales at higher price points, so appraisal timing and value support get more attention than in a typical subdivision. Inspections on older homes regularly turn up foundation, drainage, roof and electrical items.
Teardowns and rebuilds. Some buyers purchase an older house for the lot and plan to rebuild. Lenders treat that very differently from buying to live in the existing house:
- If you’ll live in the home while planning, a standard purchase loan works, and you refinance or pay off later.
- If you’ll demolish soon after closing, the value is mostly land. Many purchase lenders won’t finance that; a construction loan or a bridge loan may fit better. We’ll refer construction-to-permanent financing where that’s the better path.
Remodels. If the plan is a big renovation instead of a rebuild, a rehab loan can fold the work into one loan, subject to program limits.
Condos and townhomes. A smaller share of Tarrytown housing; each needs a project review like any Austin condo.
Land and lot rules. Tarrytown lots are inside the City of Austin, so City zoning and site rules apply to additions and new construction. Austin’s HOME amendments, in effect since February 5, 2024, allow up to three units on lots zoned SF-1, SF-2 or SF-3, subject to City standards. Deed restrictions can be stricter than City code, so read them before you plan a rebuild.
Austin and Travis County prices (September 2026)
ZIP-level medians for 78703 aren’t in the public Unlock MLS release, so the table shows the published citywide and countywide figures. Ask your agent for an MLS pull on 78703.
| Market | Median sale price | Change vs. Sept 2025 | Closed sales | Months of inventory | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Austin | $570,958 | +4.2% | 777 | 5.4 | September 2026 |
| Travis County | $497,400 | +2.6% | 1,031 | 5.8 | September 2026 |
| Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metro | $421,000 | +1.4% | 2,223 | 5.4 | September 2026 |
Source: Unlock MLS, September 2026 Central Texas Housing Report (released Oct 13, 2026). Metro-wide, homes closed at an average of 92.7% of their original list price in September 2026.
The 2026 conforming limit and when you need a jumbo loan
FHFA set the 2026 baseline conforming loan limit for a one-unit home at $832,750. Travis County is not a high-cost area, so its 2026 limits are the baseline: $832,750 for one unit, $1,066,250 for two, $1,288,800 for three and $1,601,750 for four. If your loan amount is above the county limit, it’s a jumbo loan. See our jumbo loan page for how jumbo financing works in Austin.
Property taxes and HOA dues in Tarrytown
Tarrytown homes are typically taxed by the City of Austin, Travis County, Austin ISD, Austin Community College and Central Health. Confirm the exact taxing units and current appraised value on the Travis Central Appraisal District record for the address. The City of Austin’s adopted rate for fiscal 2026–27 is $0.579948 per $100 of taxable value; the other entities add to that.
On higher-priced homes, property taxes are a big part of the payment, and jumbo lenders count them in your debt-to-income ratio and reserves. Two notes:
- After a rebuild, the new home is reappraised on its improvements, so taxes can rise a lot from the teardown’s bill.
- Homestead exemption. File after closing if it’s your home; see the Texas Comptroller’s exemptions page.
If the home is in a condo or a project with an association, get the dues and any assessments in writing.
Loan options that fit Tarrytown
Agency loans (when the loan is under the conforming limit)
Some Tarrytown buyers put enough down to stay under the conforming limit, and condos and smaller homes can fall under it too. For those loans:
No lender fees on agency loans (conventional, FHA, VA). Third-party costs may apply.
- Conventional loans
- VA loans for eligible veterans and service members
- FHA loans, within FHA’s county limits
Jumbo, non-QM and investment options
These are the loans Tarrytown buyers ask about most. Terms vary by lender.
- Jumbo loans for loan amounts above the conforming limit.
- Bank statement jumbo for self-employed buyers whose tax returns understate income.
- Asset depletion for retirees and buyers with large balances who’d rather not show traditional income.
- Interest-only loans for buyers who want lower required payments for a set period.
- Construction and bridge financing for rebuilds and buy-before-you-sell moves.
- Foreign national programs for buyers who live outside the U.S.
- DSCR loans if you’re buying a rental.
See them all on our non-QM loans page.
How CapFi shops more than 50 wholesale lenders for Tarrytown buyers
Jumbo and non-QM lenders differ more than agency lenders do: reserves, how they treat assets and RSUs, appraisal requirements and maximum loan size all vary. That’s where a broker helps.
- Size the loan. We compare your price and down payment with the county’s 2026 conforming limit so you know whether you’re agency or jumbo.
- Plan for the house. Live in it, remodel it or rebuild it: each points to a different loan.
- Shop. We compare programs across more than 50 wholesale lenders and show the options side by side. Any rate we quote comes with its APR.
- Appraisal and close. We pick lenders comfortable with higher-value appraisals and manage conditions through closing.
Tarrytown home loan FAQs
Do most Tarrytown homes need a jumbo loan?
Many homes there sell above the 2026 one-unit conforming limit of $832,750 in Travis County, which means a jumbo loan. Below that, a conventional loan may work. When the loan amount exceeds the 2026 conforming limit for Travis County, it becomes a jumbo loan with its own down payment, reserve and credit guidelines. CapFi shops jumbo pricing across more than 50 wholesale lenders, and any rate quoted is shown with its APR.
Can I finance a Tarrytown teardown?
Yes, but usually not with a standard purchase loan if you plan to demolish right away, because the value is mostly land. A construction loan or a bridge loan often fits better. If you’ll live in the existing house first, a regular purchase loan works and you refinance when you build.
Can I buy in Tarrytown using savings instead of income?
Yes, with an asset depletion loan. The lender converts eligible cash, brokerage and retirement balances into qualifying income over a set number of months. It suits retirees and buyers with large balances but irregular pay. CapFi compares asset depletion terms across more than 50 wholesale lenders, and terms vary by lender.
Are interest-only loans available for Tarrytown homes?
Yes. Some non-QM and jumbo lenders offer interest-only periods, during which the required payment covers interest only and doesn’t reduce principal. After the period ends, the payment rises. They suit buyers with strong assets or variable income. Terms vary by lender, and any rate is shown with its APR.
How do property taxes affect a Tarrytown jumbo loan?
At higher values, property taxes are a large part of the monthly payment, and jumbo lenders count them in your debt-to-income ratio and reserve requirement. Check the Travis Central Appraisal District record for the address, and remember a rebuilt home is reappraised on its new improvements.
Can a self-employed buyer get a jumbo loan in Tarrytown?
Yes. If your tax returns support the income, a standard jumbo loan may work. If write-offs lower your taxable income, a bank statement jumbo qualifies you on deposits instead. Down payment and reserve requirements vary by lender, so CapFi compares options across more than 50 wholesale lenders.
More Austin neighborhoods
Back to our Austin mortgage broker page.
Talk with a broker who knows Austin
Call or text (512) 593-1336, Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM, or stop by our office at 2617 Willow St, Unit 1, Austin, TX 78702. You’ll talk with me or my partner Clay Wilson, not a call center. Rated 4.9 on Google (79 reviews). Request a quote.
CapFi Lending LLC, NMLS 1692019 · Dustin Edwards, NMLS 577050 · Clay Wilson, NMLS 1849979 · NMLS Consumer Access · Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting and property eligibility. Program terms vary by lender and can change.
Sources (checked Oct 23, 2026)
- https://www.fhfa.gov/data/conforming-loan-limit (2026 county limits; Travis County = baseline, checked Oct 23, 2026)
- https://www.fhfa.gov/news/news-release/fhfa-announces-conforming-loan-limit-values-for-2026 (2026 baseline $832,750; high-cost ceiling $1,249,125)
- https://www.unlockmls.com/news/september-2026-central-texas-housing-report
- https://www.austintexas.gov/development-services/home-amendments
- https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=435381 (HOME Part I effective Feb 5, 2024)
- https://traviscad.org/
- https://www.austintexas.gov/budget-excellence/tax-rates
- https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/exemptions/