How narrow should a buy box be?

Narrow enough that someone can apply it without asking you a follow-up question, and wide enough that real inventory exists inside it. If nothing has matched in months, the ranges are probably fighting each other.

Does submitting a buy box mean TKC will send me properties?

No. Submitting a buy box tells TKC what fits you. Whether an opportunity ever matches depends on what is actually available and on verification.

How to Build a Real Estate Buy Box

A buy box is a written filter. The tighter it is, the fewer irrelevant properties reach you — and the faster a real fit gets recognised.

Updated 2026-09-05

What a buy box actually is

A buy box is the written description of the property you will actually purchase, stated precisely enough that someone else can apply it without calling you. Most investors carry it in their head, which is why they receive a stream of properties that waste everyone's time.

Written down, it does two jobs: it filters out what you would decline anyway, and it lets a disposition desk recognise your name the moment something matches.

The eight fields that matter most

Geography — counties, cities and ZIP codes, not "Texas".
Asset type — single family, small multifamily, land, mobile, small commercial.
Purchase price range — the number you fund, not the retail value.
ARV range — the resale band you underwrite to.
Rehab tolerance — maximum scope in dollars and in complexity (cosmetic, full gut, foundation, fire).
Occupancy — vacant, tenant-occupied, owner-occupied, squatter or unknown.
Exit strategy — flip, hold, BRRRR, seller finance, wholetail, land development.
Closing capability — days to close, earnest money, and how funds are verified.

Write your deal killers down too

Deal killers save more time than criteria do. Flood zone, septic, foundation movement, HOA restrictions, active tenancy, rural water, mobile homes on land, tax suit properties — if any of those are automatic passes for you, say so once and never discuss it again.

Keep it current

A buy box written in a different rate environment is not a buy box. Revisit price bands, rehab tolerance and closing speed when your capital source changes. You can resubmit your criteria at any time and TKC will treat the newest submission as authoritative.

Common questions

How narrow should a buy box be?: Narrow enough that someone can apply it without asking you a follow-up question, and wide enough that real inventory exists inside it. If nothing has matched in months, the ranges are probably fighting each other.
Does submitting a buy box mean TKC will send me properties?: No. Submitting a buy box tells TKC what fits you. Whether an opportunity ever matches depends on what is actually available and on verification.

Submit your buy box

More for Buyers & Investors

What TKC Needs Before Sending an OpportunityEvery buyer who submits through this website starts as unverified. Verification is a short, practical conversation — not a credit check.Investor Due Diligence ChecklistThe items below are the ones that most often turn a good-looking Texas deal into a dead one. Work them early, not the day before closing.ARV, Rehab and Acquisition Criteria ExplainedMost disagreements about price are actually disagreements about ARV or scope. Separate the three numbers and the conversation gets short.Proof of Funds and Closing ReadinessClosing readiness is a documented ability to fund on a date. Everything else is intent.How TKC Matches Buyer CriteriaMatching is a filter chain, not a blast list. Fewer, more relevant conversations is the entire point.

Educational information only. Nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice, and nothing here promises a buyer, a closing, a joint venture, a project or compensation.