Texas property due diligence

Research Any Texas Property Before You Make an Offer

Wholesale Property TX is an independent educational site about researching Texas investment properties using public records. Before you sign a purchase contract on a discounted property, you can learn a great deal about ownership, taxes, liens and risk for free.

Independent educational site · Not a real estate broker · We do not buy, sell or list properties

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Free public records

Where Texas property information lives

Appraisal district (CAD)

Each Texas county has an appraisal district that lists the owner of record, appraised value, exemptions such as homestead, and property characteristics. Most have a free online search.

County clerk records

Deeds, deeds of trust, releases, liens and probate-related filings are recorded with the county clerk. Many counties offer online indexes.

Tax assessor-collector

Shows current and delinquent property taxes. Unpaid taxes become a lien and must be settled at closing.

FEMA flood maps

The FEMA Flood Map Service Center shows flood zones, which affect insurance cost and resale appeal across much of Texas.

Texas specifics

Costs that surprise out-of-state investors

Property taxes. Texas has no state income tax, and local property taxes are a major holding cost. Check the full tax rate (county, city, school district and special districts) rather than a single number.
MUDs and special districts. Many suburban subdivisions sit inside a municipal utility district with its own tax rate.
HOAs. Homeowners’ associations can place liens for unpaid dues and may have leasing restrictions that affect a rental plan.
Homestead exemptions. The current owner’s exemption does not transfer to an investor buyer, so the next tax bill can be higher.

Step by step

A simple pre-offer research routine

Confirm the owner of record on the appraisal district site matches the person you are talking to.
Search the county clerk index for open deeds of trust, liens, lis pendens or probate filings.
Check the tax office for delinquent taxes and the full tax rate.
Look up the flood zone and any MUD or HOA.
Pull recent sold comparables and estimate repairs.
Order a title commitment from a Texas title company once under contract.

Public records can be incomplete or out of date. A title commitment and professional advice remain essential.

Disclosure: Wholesale Property TX (wholesalepropertytx.com) is an independent, educational website. We are not a licensed real estate broker or agent, we do not buy, sell or list properties, and we do not guarantee any profit or outcome. Under Texas law, anyone marketing a property they only have under contract must disclose that they are selling their contract interest (equitable interest), not the property. Consult a licensed real estate professional or attorney about your situation. Full disclaimer.

Research Any Texas Property Before You Make an Offer

Get new Texas research guides

Where Texas property information lives

Appraisal district (CAD)

County clerk records

Tax assessor-collector

FEMA flood maps

Costs that surprise out-of-state investors

A simple pre-offer research routine

Texas guides and tools

Texas wholesale laws

Analyzing deals

Texas property tax calculator

All guides

New guides by email