Texas Property Records
Title Search | Lien Search | Deed Search | Homestead Verification | Chain of Title
U.S. Title Records provides professional Texas property records search and title examination for all 254 counties, the most of any state in the nation. Our abstractor network has direct access to County Clerk recording systems, Central Appraisal District (CAD) databases, and court judgment dockets across every Texas recording jurisdiction. Constitutional unlimited homestead exemption. Vendor's lien. Community property state. Non-judicial foreclosure in approximately 21 days. No state income tax. Mineral rights may be severed from surface rights. No cap on annual assessment increases. Reports from $29.
Texas Property Records Search and Professional Title Examination for All 254 Counties
Texas has more counties than any other state in the nation (254), and the Texas homestead exemption under Article XVI, Section 50 of the Texas Constitution is the most aggressively protective in the United States. The Texas homestead is unlimited in value for rural property (up to 200 acres for a family, 100 acres for a single adult) and unlimited in value for urban property (up to 10 acres). Only a narrow category of liens can attach to a Texas homestead: purchase money liens, property tax liens, home improvement liens (with strict contractual requirements under Texas Property Code 41.001), home equity loans (with constitutional protections under Article XVI, Section 50(a)(6)), and federal tax liens. A judgment creditor cannot force the sale of a Texas homestead regardless of the amount of equity. This is the strongest homestead protection in the nation, surpassing even Florida's unlimited exemption because Texas extends unlimited value protection to both urban and rural homesteads.
Texas uses a Central Appraisal District (CAD) system rather than a County Assessor. Each county has an independent Central Appraisal District that determines property values for all taxing jurisdictions within the county (county, city, school district, special districts). The CAD appraises property at 100% of market value each year. Unlike California's Proposition 13 (2% annual cap) or Florida's Save Our Homes (3% cap), Texas has no cap on annual assessment increases for non-homesteaded property. Homesteaded property receives a 10% annual cap on appraised value increases under Tax Code 23.23, but this cap does not apply to new construction or to properties without homestead exemption. A property that appreciates 30% in one year will be appraised at the full 30% increase if it is not homesteaded. Our Property Detail Report ($29) includes CAD appraised value, exemption status, and taxing jurisdiction breakdown.
Texas is a community property state where the vendor's lien creates a unique title encumbrance. Under Texas Property Code 5.021, a vendor's lien is automatically implied on every sale of real property unless expressly waived. The seller retains a vendor's lien for any unpaid portion of the purchase price. Additionally, under Family Code 3.002, property acquired during marriage is presumed community property. Both spouses must join in any conveyance of homestead property. Our abstractors search the County Clerk's recording system, the CAD database, and court judgment dockets across all 254 counties. Reports include volume and page references and Texas Property Code citations.
Constitutional Homestead: Unlimited Value, Limited Liens
Article XVI, Section 50 of the Texas Constitution restricts which liens can attach to a homestead. Only purchase money, property tax, home improvement (with statutory contract requirements), home equity (with constitutional protections), and federal tax liens may encumber a homestead. A judgment creditor with a $500,000 judgment cannot force the sale of a Texas homestead with $2,000,000 in equity. Our $195 report verifies homestead status and identifies which liens are enforceable against the homestead.
Vendor's Lien: The Automatic Encumbrance
Under Texas Property Code 5.021, every sale of real property creates an implied vendor's lien for any unpaid purchase price unless expressly waived by the seller in the deed. At closing, the vendor's lien is typically assigned to the lender as additional security (resulting in a "Deed of Trust and Vendor's Lien" instrument). If the vendor's lien was not properly assigned or released, it remains an encumbrance on the title. Our reports trace vendor's lien assignment and release status through the chain.
Mineral Rights: The Severed Estate
In Texas, mineral rights can be severed from surface rights and sold, leased, or conveyed independently. A property owner may own the surface but not the minerals underneath. A mineral estate owner has the right to access and extract minerals, including the right to use the surface to the extent reasonably necessary. A standard title search examines the surface estate. For mineral rights examination, an Expanded Title Search ($375) is recommended, particularly in the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, and Barnett Shale regions.
CAD System: No Assessment Cap for Non-Homestead
Texas Central Appraisal Districts appraise at 100% of market value annually. Homesteaded residential property has a 10% annual cap on appraised value increases (Tax Code 23.23). Non-homesteaded property (including investment, commercial, and vacant) has no cap. A rental property that appreciates 40% in one year will be appraised at the full 40% increase. With no state income tax, Texas relies heavily on property tax, resulting in effective rates of 1.6-2.5% depending on the taxing jurisdiction. Our $29 report includes CAD appraised value and taxing jurisdiction breakdown.
Texas Title Search Report Options
Professional examination covering all 254 counties at the same pricing
Property Detail Report ($29)
Texas property ownership verification and CAD data.
- Current vested owner and tenancy type
- CAD appraised value and exemption status
- Homestead exemption verification
- Open deeds of trust and vendor's liens
- Property characteristics and lot size
- Tax payment status across all taxing jurisdictions
- Most recent sale date and consideration
Full Owner Lien Report ($195)
Comprehensive Texas property AND owner lien search.
- Everything in the $29 report
- All County Clerk liens (deeds of trust, vendor's liens, mechanic liens, lis pendens)
- Abstract of judgment search (Property Code 52)
- TX Comptroller tax lien search
- IRS federal tax lien search
- UCC financing statement search
- Federal bankruptcy records
- Homestead lien enforceability analysis
- Free foreclosure status check
Expanded Title Search ($375)
The most comprehensive Texas deed search and examination.
- Everything in the $195 report
- Complete chain of conveyance with vesting instruments
- Easement and restrictive covenant research
- Legal description verification
- Mineral rights ownership examination
- Volume and page for every instrument
Additional: Deed Copy $45 | Title Search by Name $75/$535 | Lien Report $95 | Chain of Title $275 | Full schedule of fees
Texas Property Records by County
Direct County Clerk access for every Texas county
Harris County (Houston)
Largest TX county. Highest volume for deeds of trust, vendor's liens, and mechanic liens. Active foreclosure auction market. Flood zone concerns post-Harvey. Reports from $29.
Dallas County
Second largest metro. County Clerk provides online recording index. Active investor market. HOA assessment liens in master-planned communities. $195 recommended.
Tarrant County (Fort Worth)
DFW metro west anchor. Heavy new construction with mechanic lien risk under Property Code 53. Mineral rights activity in Barnett Shale. $375 Expanded for mineral examination.
Bexar County (San Antonio)
Military market (Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, Randolph). VA loan activity. Community property verification for military families. $195 recommended.
Travis County (Austin)
State capital. Fastest appreciation in TX. No assessment cap on non-homesteaded property means investment property taxes can spike dramatically year over year. Seller financing active.
Collin County (Plano/McKinney)
DFW growth corridor. Heavy Mello-Roos equivalent (PID, Public Improvement District) assessments in newer developments. MUD (Municipal Utility District) taxes. $195 minimum for any purchase.
Denton County
DFW north anchor. Among fastest growing TX counties. MUD tax districts add $0.50-$1.50 per $100 on top of base rates. New construction mechanic lien risk. Probate and estate transactions increasing.
All 254 Counties
Same pricing from Harris (Houston) to Loving (smallest, population under 100). County Clerk and CAD for every county. Search by address or by name. BBB A+ since 2009.
Four Texas-Specific Risks That Require Professional Title Examination
1. The vendor's lien is automatic and may not have been properly released. Under Texas Property Code 5.021, every sale creates an implied vendor's lien for unpaid purchase price. At closing, the vendor's lien is typically assigned to the lender. After payoff, the vendor's lien must be released separately from the deed of trust release. If the vendor's lien was not assigned, released, or waived, it remains an active encumbrance on title. On older properties, unreleased vendor's liens from decades ago can cloud the title. Our $195 report traces vendor's lien assignment and release through the complete chain.
2. Mineral rights may have been severed decades ago without any indication on the surface deed. Texas allows mineral rights to be severed from surface rights. A property owner may own a home on land where the mineral estate was severed and sold 50 years ago. The mineral estate owner has the legal right to access and extract minerals, including the right to use the surface. In the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, and Barnett Shale regions, severed mineral rights can be more valuable than the surface estate. A standard title search examines the surface chain. An Expanded Title Search ($375) examines mineral rights history.
3. MUD and PID taxes can add $2,000-$6,000+ per year on top of already-high base rates. Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and Public Improvement Districts (PIDs) levy additional taxes and assessments on properties within their boundaries, primarily in newer suburban developments in Houston, DFW, Austin, and San Antonio. These taxes are NOT included in the base county/city/school tax rate. A property in a MUD with a $1.25/$100 MUD tax rate on top of a $2.00/$100 base rate has an effective rate of $3.25/$100 (3.25%). On a $400,000 home: $13,000 per year in total property taxes. Our $29 report identifies MUD/PID status and taxing jurisdiction breakdown.
4. Non-judicial foreclosure in Texas takes approximately 21 days. Under Texas Property Code 51.002, the trustee must mail notice to the borrower at least 21 days before the foreclosure sale date. Sales occur on the first Tuesday of each month at the county courthouse. No statutory right of redemption for non-judicial foreclosures (except for property tax sales, which have a 2-year redemption for homestead and agricultural). This is among the fastest foreclosure processes in the nation. For auction due diligence, a $195 report identifies all surviving encumbrances before you bid.
Texas Property Records Search and Title Examination
Texas property records are maintained by the County Clerk in each of the state's 254 counties. Under Texas Property Code 11.001, all instruments affecting title to real property must be recorded in the county where the property is located. Texas is a race-notice recording state under Property Code 13.001. The County Clerk records deeds, deeds of trust, vendor's liens, releases, mechanic liens (Property Code 53), lis pendens (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 12.007), abstracts of judgment (Property Code 52), and federal tax liens. The Central Appraisal District (CAD) maintains a separate database with appraised values, exemptions, and taxing jurisdiction information.
Seven characteristics distinguish Texas property records: (1) 254 counties (most nationally), (2) constitutional unlimited homestead exemption with limited lien categories (Article XVI, Section 50), (3) automatic vendor's lien on every sale unless waived (Property Code 5.021), (4) mineral rights may be severed from surface rights (creating split estates), (5) non-judicial foreclosure in approximately 21 days (Property Code 51.002), (6) community property state (Family Code 3.002) with spousal joinder required on homestead, and (7) CAD appraisal at 100% of market value with no cap on non-homesteaded property. For free Texas property searches, most CAD websites provide free property lookups, and many County Clerks provide online recording indexes.
How Texas Property Records Search Works
From address submission to professional title report across any of 254 counties
Enter the TX Address
Provide the address through the order portal. We identify the county, County Clerk, and CAD. Property ID also accepted.
Select Report Scope
$29 Property Detail to $375 Expanded. $195 recommended for any TX purchase. $375 for mineral rights examination.
Multi-Source Examination
County Clerk recording index, CAD appraisal records, court judgment dockets, TX Comptroller, Secretary of State UCC filings, and federal bankruptcy. Vendor's lien tracking included.
Report Compiled
Findings assembled with volume/page recording references, CAD appraised value, MUD/PID identification, homestead lien analysis, and TX Property Code citations.
PDF Delivered
Report emailed in PDF format. Email office@ustitlerecords.com with questions. Asset investigation through U.S. Asset Records.
No Subscription Required
One property, one fee. No login, no recurring charges. Same pricing for every one of Texas's 254 counties. BBB A+ since 2009.
Texas Property Records Questions
Authoritative answers regarding Texas real property records, title search, lien search, and homestead
How Do I Search Texas Property Records Online?
Most Texas CAD websites provide free property lookups by address, name, or property ID. Many County Clerks provide online recording indexes. Free searches cover one source and miss court judgments, state tax liens, UCC filings, bankruptcy, and vendor's lien chain analysis. For professional multi-source examination, submit the address to U.S. Title Records. All 254 counties. Reports from $29.
Search TX Records →What Is the Texas Homestead Exemption?
Constitutional protection under Article XVI, Section 50. Unlimited in value. Rural: up to 200 acres (family) or 100 acres (single). Urban: up to 10 acres. Only purchase money, property tax, home improvement (with statutory contracts), home equity (with constitutional protections), and federal tax liens can encumber a Texas homestead. A $500,000 judgment cannot force sale of a Texas homestead with $2,000,000 in equity. Strongest nationally. Our $195 report verifies homestead status and lien enforceability.
Full Owner Lien Report →What Is a Vendor's Lien?
Under Property Code 5.021, every sale of Texas real property creates an automatic implied vendor's lien for unpaid purchase price. At closing, the vendor's lien is typically assigned to the lender. After payoff, it must be separately released. Unreleased vendor's liens from decades ago can cloud title. Our Chain of Title ($275) and Expanded ($375) trace vendor's lien assignment and release through the complete chain.
Chain of Title →How Does Texas Foreclosure Work?
Non-judicial under Property Code 51.002. Trustee mails notice 21 days before sale. First Tuesday of month at county courthouse. No post-sale redemption for non-judicial foreclosures (2-year redemption for property tax sales on homestead/agricultural). Among the fastest nationally. For auction due diligence, a $195 report identifies all surviving encumbrances.
Auction Buyer Guide →Are Mineral Rights Included in a Texas Title Search?
A standard title search examines the surface estate. Mineral rights may have been severed decades ago. In the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, and Barnett Shale regions, mineral rights can be more valuable than the surface. An Expanded Title Search ($375) examines mineral rights history. Email office@ustitlerecords.com for mineral-specific inquiries.
Expanded Title Search →How Much Does a Texas Title Search Cost?
Property Detail $29, Deed Copy $45, Name Search $75/$535, Lien Report $95, Full Owner Lien $195, Chain of Title $275, Expanded $375. Same pricing all 254 Texas counties. Full schedule of fees.
Schedule of Fees →Texas Property Records FAQ
What is the difference between a CAD and a County Assessor?
Texas uses Central Appraisal Districts (CADs) instead of County Assessors. The CAD is an independent entity that appraises property for ALL taxing jurisdictions within the county (county, city, school district, hospital district, MUD, PID, etc.). In most other states, the County Assessor performs this function. The CAD appraises at 100% of market value. Each taxing jurisdiction then applies its own tax rate to the appraised value. Our $29 report includes CAD appraised value and full taxing jurisdiction breakdown.
What is a MUD tax in Texas?
A Municipal Utility District (MUD) is a special-purpose district that provides water, sewer, drainage, and other utility services to a defined area. MUDs levy their own property tax (typically $0.50 to $1.50 per $100 of assessed value) on top of county, city, and school taxes. Common in newer suburban developments around Houston, DFW, Austin, and San Antonio. Similar in concept to California's Mello-Roos but structured as a taxing district rather than a special assessment. Our reports identify MUD jurisdiction and tax rate.
Can a judgment creditor force sale of a Texas homestead?
No. Under Article XVI, Section 50 of the Texas Constitution, only purchase money liens, property tax liens, home improvement liens (with specific contractual requirements under Property Code 41.001), home equity loans (with constitutional protections), and federal tax liens can encumber a Texas homestead. A general judgment creditor cannot force the sale regardless of the amount owed or the equity in the property. Judgment liens in Texas attach only to non-exempt property (Property Code 52). Our $195 report identifies which liens are enforceable against the homestead.
How do I find the owner of a Texas property?
A Property Detail Report ($29) provides the vested owner. CAD websites provide free online owner lookups in all 254 counties. For all TX properties by a person, a Title Search by Name ($75 per county / $535 statewide) covers all 254 counties. See our property owner search guide.
Is Texas a community property state?
Yes. Under Family Code 3.002, property acquired during marriage is presumed community property. Both spouses must join in any conveyance of homestead property. A deed signed by only one spouse on homestead property is voidable, similar to Florida's spousal joinder requirement. Community property characterization can be changed by premarital or marital agreements. Our $195 report identifies vesting type and community property indicators.
What are Texas mechanic lien deadlines?
Under Property Code 53, a contractor must file a mechanic lien affidavit with the County Clerk. Deadlines vary by claimant type. Homeowner contracts require specific statutory language or the lien may be unenforceable. Subcontractors and suppliers must send statutory notices. Priority relates to inception of the original contract. Residential mechanic liens have additional protections for homeowners. A $195 report identifies all mechanic liens and their enforceability.
What is the property tax redemption period for Texas tax sales?
For property tax foreclosure sales, the former owner has a right of redemption: 2 years for homestead and agricultural property, 180 days for all other property (Tax Code 34.21). During the redemption period, the former owner can redeem by paying the purchase price plus 25% premium (or 50% premium if redeemed after 1 year on homestead/agricultural). This is different from non-judicial deed of trust foreclosure, which has no post-sale redemption. A $195 report identifies the foreclosure type and applicable redemption period.
What do I need to order a Texas property records report?
Only the property address. Submit through the order portal. Property ID or legal description also accepted. We identify the county, County Clerk, and CAD. No account, subscription, or commitment. One fee per property. PDF via email. Same pricing for all 254 Texas counties. BBB A+ since 2009.
Search Texas Property Records
Professional Texas title search and deed examination for any property in all 254 counties. County Clerk records, homestead verification, vendor's lien tracking, mineral rights research, and comprehensive lien examination. Reports from $29.