About This Brokerage

East Texas Preferred Properties, LLC is headquartered on South Martin Street in Kilgore — a city of approximately 15,000 that sits at the heart of the historic East Texas Oil Field, still among the largest oil fields ever discovered in the United States. With 33 active agents spread across the East Texas oil belt, this is the directory’s largest Texas operation and one of its most diversified in terms of property types served.

Led by Broker/Owner Jessica Holmes alongside Greg Holmes and Tyler Broker Holly Fitzgerald, the firm covers a wide geographic footprint stretching from Kilgore through Tyler, Henderson, Gilmer, and Bullard. The team’s notable project work includes the restoration of historic downtown commercial properties — including the 1926 Wade Building — which reflects the firm’s investment in the region’s cultural and economic fabric beyond standard residential transactions.

The brokerage’s website at etxpp.com serves as the primary digital hub for listings and agent contacts across all five market areas.

The East Texas Oil Belt Real Estate Market

The Kilgore–Tyler–Henderson corridor of East Texas occupies a distinctive economic and real estate niche. The legacy of the East Texas Oil Field — discovered in 1930 and still producing — shapes the region’s property landscape in ways that don’t exist in most American markets: severed mineral estates, active and dormant oil and gas leases, surface use agreements, and the infrastructure of an oil economy all intersect with residential and commercial real estate transactions here.

Beyond the oil economy, the East Texas market is characterized by affordability that stands in sharp contrast to the Dallas–Fort Worth and Austin metros. Median home prices in Gregg County remain significantly below statewide averages, making the region an attractive destination for first-time buyers, retirees, and investors seeking income properties at price points that remain viable in higher interest rate environments.

The Piney Woods landscape of East Texas — forested terrain, red clay soils, and a humid climate — creates specific property considerations that differ from the rest of Texas: pier-and-beam construction is common in older housing stock, timber and mineral rights are often severed from surface ownership, and the humid climate increases maintenance requirements compared to drier Central and West Texas markets.

What to Know Before Buying in the East Texas Oil Belt

Mineral rights research is standard practice. The legacy of the East Texas Oil Field means that mineral estates on many properties have been severed from surface ownership for decades — often through multiple generations of inheritance. Understanding what mineral rights, if any, convey with a surface purchase, and whether any active or dormant oil and gas leases exist on the property, is a routine part of East Texas title research. A title search in this region typically includes a mineral chain of title review that wouldn’t be standard elsewhere.

USDA loan eligibility is worth checking. Many East Texas locations qualify for USDA Rural Development loan programs, which offer 100% financing for eligible buyers in qualifying rural areas. Verifying a specific address’s USDA eligibility before shortlisting properties can significantly change the financing landscape for qualifying buyers.

Historic commercial properties carry regulatory complexity. The firm’s work on projects like the 1926 Wade Building reflects the presence of a significant stock of historic downtown commercial real estate in the region. Buyers targeting historic commercial properties should understand applicable preservation guidelines, tax credit opportunities (federal Historic Tax Credits can cover 20% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures), and the extended timelines typical of historic renovation projects.

Timber rights may be a separate estate. In the Piney Woods region, timber rights are occasionally severed separately from both mineral and surface ownership. Properties with significant timber stands should include timber rights verification in due diligence.

Markets Served

The firm’s five primary markets each have distinct characters. Kilgore is the historic oil field hub — a small city with strong local identity, affordable residential inventory, and active commercial activity. Tyler is the largest city in the region and serves as East Texas’s commercial and medical center, with a broader residential market and higher price points. Henderson is the Rusk County seat with a mix of residential and agricultural land transactions. Gilmer is a small Upshur County community with a tight-knit local market. Bullard, southwest of Tyler in Smith County, has seen growth as a Tyler suburb with newer residential development.