How Texas code enforcement escalates

It usually begins with a complaint and a notice, often mailed to whatever address the appraisal district has on file — which is why absentee and inherited-property owners frequently learn about a case late. From there it can move to citations and administrative hearings, then to a substandard-structure finding, and in the worst cases to a demolition order with the cost assessed against the property as a lien.

The charges are cumulative and they attach to the property, not just to the owner. A vacant house with a year of unmowed lots and boarded windows can carry a meaningful municipal balance before anyone opens the mail.

What we buy with open cases

  • Houses with active nuisance, weeds, or junk-vehicle citations
  • Boarded and secured vacant structures
  • Homes with a substandard-structure finding or a pending hearing
  • Properties with unpermitted additions, garage conversions, or carports
  • Houses with a demolition order already entered
  • Fire-damaged structures that were never repaired or demolished

Open permits and unpermitted work

Unpermitted work is its own category. A garage converted to a bedroom, a patio enclosed, or a room added without a permit does not always trigger a code case, but it does affect what can be financed, insured, and appraised — which is a large part of why these houses do not sell conventionally.

We do not ask sellers to permit, inspect, or legalize prior work before closing. Tell us what was done and roughly when, and we will account for it.

Why disclosing early protects you

Recorded municipal liens show up in the title search, and so does a demolition order. If we know about them, they are simply part of the offer. If we do not, the commitment comes back with a requirement nobody planned for and the closing date moves.

Texas requires a seller's disclosure notice for most residential resales, and selling as-is does not remove the duty to disclose defects you actually know about. Being straightforward here is both the legally safer path and the faster one.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell a house with code violations in Texas?

Yes. Open cases do not block a sale, and recorded liens are paid from the closing proceeds.

Do I have to fix the violations first?

No. We buy the property in its current condition, including with citations and orders outstanding.

What if the city has issued a demolition order?

We still buy these. Send us the case number and any order, because it will appear in the title search and needs to be priced in.

Do you buy houses with unpermitted additions?

Yes. Garage conversions, enclosed patios, and additions without permits are common and do not have to be legalized before closing.

Will the fines follow me after the sale?

Recorded liens against the property are addressed at closing. Personal citations issued to you are a separate matter — worth asking the city or an attorney about your specific case.

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.