The mail problem

Texas appraisal districts send notices of appraised value in the spring, and the protest window is short. Tax offices bill in October. Cities send code citations to the owner of record. All of it goes to the address the appraisal district has, and if you moved, changed a management company, or inherited the property, that address may be years out of date.

The result is familiar: an owner who is two years behind on taxes, or has an accruing municipal charge, and had no idea. None of it prevents a sale — it is paid from the closing proceeds — but it is better found now than in the title search.

Condition drifts

Nobody notices a roof leak, a slab leak, or a failed HVAC in a property they never enter. The February 2021 freeze demonstrated how fast that can go wrong: pipes burst in unoccupied and poorly managed properties across Texas and in some cases went undiscovered for weeks.

Property managers vary, and a house that has not been walked by anyone who cares in a year is usually worse than the last report suggested. That is not a reason to fly in and find out. We will look at it, and we will tell you what we find.

Who owns Texas property at a distance

  • Heirs who inherited a house in a state they have never lived in
  • Military households who bought during an assignment at Fort Cavazos, Joint Base San Antonio, or Fort Bliss and kept it as a rental
  • Investors who bought sight-unseen during a growth cycle
  • Former residents who relocated for work and never sold
  • Divorced owners where neither party lives in the property
  • Owners of a lot or acreage bought years ago and never built on

Selling it without travelling

The title company handles everything: the search, the commitment, the payoffs, the settlement statement, and recording with the county clerk. Your part is signing a deed and a few related documents before a notary wherever you live, or by remote online notarization, and providing wire instructions.

A power of attorney can sometimes be used, but the title company has to approve the form in advance — do not sign one and assume it will be accepted. Texas has no state income tax, so there is no state capital gains tax on the sale, though federal rules and your own state's may apply.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to travel to Texas to sell?

No. The title company arranges signing before a notary where you live, or a remote online notarization, and wires your proceeds.

I have not seen the property in years. Is that a problem?

No. We will look at it and tell you what we find rather than expecting you to know.

There may be unpaid taxes or citations I do not know about. What then?

They will surface in the title search and be paid from the closing proceeds.

My property manager says it needs work. Do I have to do it?

No. We buy in current condition, including with deferred repairs and turnover work outstanding.

Can I sell with the tenant in place?

Yes. The lease and security deposit transfer at closing, so no eviction is needed.

This page is general information about selling property in Texas, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Laws change and every situation is different, so talk with a qualified Texas professional about yours.