Austin & San Antonio 55+ Moving Checklist

30 Days Before Closing

1. Get three moving company quotes — Texas cross-state moves require a TXDMV-licensed mover; verify license before booking
2. Begin utility setup for your Texas home: City of Georgetown utilities (water, wastewater) or San Marcos utilities; Texas electric (deregulated market — shop rates at PowerToChoose.org for your zip code)
3. Get your Texas homeowners insurance policy bound before closing — lender requires proof of insurance at funding
4. Research and compare Medicare plans available in your new zip code at Medicare.gov — you may have a Special Enrollment Period after establishing residency in a new service area
5. Request medical records transfers from all current providers: primary care, specialists, pharmacy, dental, vision
6. Identify a primary care physician in the Austin or San Antonio metro and get on the new patient schedule — wait times are long, start early
7. Notify Social Security Administration of your upcoming address change (ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213)
8. Update your estate documents (will, POA, healthcare directive) to reflect Texas law — schedule with a Texas estate planning attorney for after the move

Moving Week

1. Forward mail from your prior address — USPS.com or in-person at your current post office; set up for 12 months
2. Change address with all financial institutions: banks, investment accounts, brokerage, pension administrator, Social Security
3. Register with the community association office immediately — amenity access fobs are issued at registration
4. Document any condition issues with your new home with time-stamped photos on move-in day — relevant for builder warranty claims and closing condition disputes
5. Confirm your Texas homeowners insurance policy is active and the deductible structure is what you expect (particularly the hail deductible percentage)
6. Locate the nearest emergency room, urgent care, and pharmacy to your new address before you need them

First 30 Days After Moving In

1. File Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district — Williamson CAD (Georgetown) or Hays CAD (San Marcos) — to establish homestead and over-65 exemptions and school tax freeze
2. Visit Texas DPS to update your driver's license to your new Texas address — required for homestead exemption; do this within 90 days
3. Register your vehicles with the Texas county tax assessor-collector and complete state vehicle inspection
4. Register to vote in Texas if desired — Williamson or Hays County Elections office or online at Texas Secretary of State
5. Attend the New Residents Welcome event at your community — typically monthly at Sun City Texas; ask Brookfield about Kissing Tree schedule
6. Join your first two or three clubs — choose based on genuine interest and regular schedule; show up consistently for 6 weeks before evaluating fit
7. Establish your primary care relationship and schedule first appointment in Texas
8. Confirm your prescription drug coverage in the new Medicare plan you selected; verify your medications are on the formulary at covered tiers

The One Thing Most Buyers Forget

The Texas homestead exemption and over-65 school tax freeze are not automatic — they require an active application. The most common and most costly mistake in the first year is failing to file Form 50-114 by April 30. Missing the deadline means paying full-rate property taxes for that entire year — a cost of $3,000–$5,000 for most buyers that cannot be recovered for the missed year (the two-year retroactive window covers prior years, not the current year after the April 30 deadline). File in your first 30 days. Do not wait.