Phase 1: Six Months Before Your Move

Tax Planning and Financial Preparation

California's tax treatment of departing residents is aggressive. The Franchise Tax Board presumes you remain a resident until you prove otherwise, and your home sale may trigger Form 593 withholding. See our California Exit Tax guide for the full treatment.

• 1 Interview at least two cross-state CPAs experienced in California-to-Texas relocations
• 2 Review your federal and California home-sale gain exposure (IRC Section 121 exclusion)
• 3 Determine whether the Section 121 exclusion applies if you have already moved and the California home sits vacant
• 4 Understand California's Form 593 real-estate withholding: 3 1/3% of the seller's share of the sales price, or an alternative gain-based calculation (detailed guide)
• 5 File Form 540NR (California Part-Year Resident/Nonresident Return) for the move year — retain complete records for the entire year, including post-move income
• 6 Begin a daily residency log documenting your physical location, work activities, and California-based activities (residency change guide)
• 7 Review the 546-day employment-related safe harbor (Cal. R&TC Section 17016) if applicable to your situation
• 8 Identify all California connections that will need updating: bank accounts, voter registration, driver license, vehicle registration, insurance, mailing addresses, professional relationships

School Enrollment Research

If you have school-age children, enrollment requirements vary by district and properties near a district boundary may be assigned to a different campus than expected. See our Schools and Education guide for full coverage and our Boerne ISD guide for California families.

• 1 Research Boerne ISD enrollment requirements: full-page utility bill (not cell phone), signed lease for renters, government-issued photo ID for parent, student birth certificate, immunization records (Source: boerneisd.net/enroll)
• 2 Research Comal ISD enrollment requirements: proof of residency dated within 30 days, immunization records, unofficial transcript, birth certificate, parent ID (Source: comalisd.org)
• 3 Request transcripts, report cards, special-education records, and course descriptions from California schools
• 4 Compare the student's immunization record with current Texas DSHS requirements — Texas requires Hepatitis A doses for K-12 and meningococcal for grades 7-12
• 5 Verify the assigned campus using the exact property address with the district — do not rely on ZIP code, MLS entry, or mailing address

Property Search Preparation

• 1 Determine whether your Texas purchase will depend on California sale proceeds. If so, discuss synchronized closing strategies with Bill Ross, whose network includes over 1,000 California agents for coordinated dual-close transactions.
• 2 Get pre-approved with a Texas lender — ask what has been verified, how long the letter is valid, and what must be reverified. See cross-state mortgage considerations.
• 3 Research target communities, school districts, tax rates, and insurance constraints. Browse our community profiles for Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, and surrounding Hill Country neighborhoods.
• 4 Review the Texas option period: a negotiated termination option (typically 5-10 days, but negotiable) with a nonrefundable option fee delivered to the escrow agent. Compare with California's contingency system in our 90-Day Relocation Timeline.
• 5 Review the TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale), Form 20-19, which governs most Texas residential purchases

Phase 2: Three to Four Months Before Your Move

California Home Sale

• 1 Select a listing agent experienced in cross-state transitions
• 2 Obtain a preliminary net sheet accounting for the 3 1/3% Form 593 withholding
• 3 Prepare the home for sale: address deferred maintenance, declutter, consider pre-inspection
• 4 Discuss pricing strategy based on market conditions, not tax exposure or Texas purchase budget
• 5 List the property and evaluate offers based on price, financing strength, contingencies, closing date, and rent-back requests

Texas Property Search

• 1 Tour properties and prepare to make an offer when the California sale and financing timetable support it. See city comparisons for detailed breakdowns of Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, and San Antonio.
• 2 Identify inspectors and determine availability — schedule property-specific inspections immediately after a Texas contract is executed and access is authorized
• 3 Obtain written homeowners-insurance quotes during the option period. Texas insurance costs differ significantly from California. See our cost of living analysis.
• 4 Check FEMA flood designation and obtain a separate flood quote when appropriate
• 5 Review title commitment: Schedule B exceptions (easements, restrictions, mineral reservations), Schedule C requirements (releases, payoffs, corrective documents)
• 6 Do not use the seller's current tax bill as your future tax estimate — estimate taxes using current rates, likely appraised value, and expected exemptions. Use our Property Tax Comparison guide for accurate modeling.

Healthcare and Insurance

• 1 Confirm whether employer, Marketplace, Medicare Advantage, or other coverage will serve the new Texas address. See our Healthcare guide for Hill Country provider options.
• 2 Compare networks, prescriptions, specialists, and effective dates before canceling existing coverage
• 3 Refill critical prescriptions and obtain copies of medical records
• 4 Identify new primary, specialty, dental, behavioral-health, and veterinary providers

Phase 3: One to Two Months Before Your Move

Closing Coordination

The dual-close is the most critical operational challenge in a cross-state move. One delay on either side creates a cascade of temporary housing, storage, and bridge-financing costs. Bill Ross's direct agent network exists specifically for this coordination. See the 90-Day Relocation Timeline for detailed closing logistics.

• 1 Confirm the funding, recording, possession, and disbursement sequence with the California escrow holder and Texas title company
• 2 Build a three-to-five-business-day buffer between California close and Texas close
• 3 Create a written contingency plan in case California proceeds are delayed
• 4 Verify wiring instructions by phone using a previously confirmed number — never trust emailed wiring instructions. Wire fraud is the #1 closing-day risk in cross-state transactions.
• 5 Before making the Texas offer, determine whether the purchase is contingent on the California sale and whether the TREC Addendum for Sale of Other Property by Buyer applies

Moving Logistics

Cross-country moves require significant advance planning. See our Moving Logistics guide and Interstate Playbook for detailed carrier selection and coordination strategies.

• 1 Obtain written estimates from several interstate movers — confirm USDOT number, operating status, insurance, and whether the company is a carrier or broker
• 2 Choose valuation protection deliberately: Full Value Protection vs. Released Value (60 cents per pound per article)
• 3 Reserve the mover as early as practical after dates are dependable
• 4 Carry identification, closing documents, medication, medical equipment, jewelry, irreplaceable records, computers, and essential materials with you — do not place in the moving truck
• 5 Arrange electricity, water, gas or propane, internet, security, trash, and rural services to begin no later than the possession date. Many Hill Country properties use wells, propane, and septic — see our Water and Infrastructure guide for setup timelines and provider contacts.
• 6 File a change of address with USPS at least two weeks before the move

Document Preparation

• 1 Gather original purchase closing statement, capital-improvement invoices, depreciation schedules, and selling-expense documents
• 2 Retain Form 593 documentation and proof of California withholding (Real Estate Withholding guide)
• 3 Obtain final California utility bills, school records, vehicle registration documents, and pet vaccination records

Phase 4: Moving Week

California Side

• 1 Complete move-out and any remaining seller-side escrow requirements
• 2 Transfer possession as required by the California contract
• 3 Retain the final settlement statement, Form 593 documentation, and proof of withholding

Texas Side

• 1 Confirm funding and contractual possession before accepting keys
• 2 Receive keys only when authorized
• 3 Retain the final settlement statement and obtain the recorded deed when available

Phase 5: Immediately After Arriving

Establishing Texas Residency

Texas does not have a formal "residency registration" process. You establish residency through actions: obtaining a driver license, registering vehicles, registering to vote, and filing homestead exemptions. See our Texas Residency Checklist for the full step-by-step.

• 1 After acquiring and occupying the property as your principal residence, apply for the Texas residence-homestead exemption (Form 50-114) with the county appraisal district
• 2 The $140,000 school-district exemption reduces your taxable value; the 10% appraisal cap takes effect January 1 of the tax year following the year you qualify. File as soon as possible — the exemption is not automatic.
• 3 Within 30 days: obtain compliant Texas vehicle insurance, complete any required inspection, and register the vehicle through the county tax assessor-collector
• 4 Within 90 days: apply for the Texas driver license at DPS with identity, citizenship/lawful presence, Social Security number, Texas residency documents, vehicle registration, and insurance evidence
• 5 Complete district enrollment before the student's first day of attendance. See our School Enrollment Calendar Trap article for timing pitfalls.
• 6 Establish healthcare providers and update employer, banks, insurers, voter registration, and other records. See our Settling In guide for the full transition checklist.

California Cleanup

• 1 Cancel or forward California voter registration
• 2 Update California bank account addresses or close accounts
• 3 Notify California professional licensing boards
• 4 Update any remaining California mailing addresses

Phase 6: Next Tax-Filing Season

• 1 Prepare and file the move-year Form 540NR with Schedule CA (540NR). See our California Exit Tax guide for filing walkthroughs.
• 2 Report the residency change and applicable California-source income correctly
• 3 Claim any verified Form 593 withholding credit
• 4 Provide the tax professional with complete full-year income records, residency log, closing statements, Form 593, basis records, and moving documentation. See our California Home Equity to Texas Wealth article for capital gains planning.

Key Contacts and Resources

These official sources contain the current rules and forms referenced throughout this checklist. Bookmark them and verify any requirement that affects your timeline.