Estate Cleanouts and Selling a House in Texas A house packed with a lifetime of belongings is a common situation and rarely the one people plan for. It usually arrives with a death in the family, a move to assisted living, or a long decline nobody wanted to confront. The first thing worth saying is that the contents do not have to be resolved before you decide what to do with the property. Sellers routinely delay for months, paying taxes, insurance and utilities on an em
Foundation Repair and Selling a House in North Texas
Foundation Repair and Selling a House in North Texas Foundation movement is close to a regional condition across North Texas. The expansive clay soils under much of Dallas, Fort Worth and the surrounding suburbs swell when wet and shrink when dry, and slab foundations move with them. Buyers here know this, which cuts both ways. Because it is common, a foundation issue is not automatically a deal breaker in this market. What buyers react badly to is uncertainty. A documen
HOA Assessments, Liens and Foreclosure in Texas A homeowners association in Texas has more authority than most owners realize. Unpaid assessments are not merely a billing dispute, and in some circumstances an association can foreclose on the lien securing them. The authority comes from the recorded declaration, the document filed in the county property records that created the subdivision's covenants. When you bought, you took title subject to it. That declaration typica
Selling a Texas House That Is Full of Belongings A house packed with a lifetime of belongings is a common situation and rarely the one people plan for. It usually arrives with a death in the family, a move to assisted living, or a long decline nobody wanted to confront. The first thing worth saying is that the contents do not have to be resolved before you decide what to do with the property. Sellers routinely delay for months, paying taxes, insurance and utilities on an
Selling a Texas House With Delinquent Property Taxes Texas has no state income tax and funds local government substantially through property tax, which makes the property tax lien unusually powerful here. If you are behind, the position is serious, but it is also more workable than most people assume. The lien attaches automatically on January 1 each year for that year's taxes. It is not something the county has to file to create. Taxes are generally due by January 31, a
Selling a Texas House With Code Violations or City Liens
Code Enforcement, Liens and Selling a House in Texas Code enforcement problems tend to accumulate quietly. A citation for tall grass or an inoperable vehicle feels minor, and it usually is, right up until the city abates the condition itself and charges the cost against the property. That is the mechanism worth understanding. When a municipality mows a lot, boards a structure, or clears debris after an owner has failed to comply, it can assess the cost and, on filin
Code Enforcement, Liens and Selling a House in Texas
What Municipal Liens Do to a Texas Home Sale Code enforcement problems tend to accumulate quietly. A citation for tall grass or an inoperable vehicle feels minor, and it usually is, right up until the city abates the condition itself and charges the cost against the property. That is the mechanism worth understanding. When a municipality mows a lot, boards a structure, or clears debris after an owner has failed to comply, it can assess the cost and, on filing, create a l
Fire or Storm Damage and Selling a House in Texas Hail, wind and fire claims are routine in Texas, and an open claim complicates a sale in ways that are manageable if you understand who is owed what. The central question is who receives the claim proceeds. If there is a mortgage, the lender is typically named on the policy and the check is usually issued jointly. Lenders commonly hold the funds and release them in stages as repairs are completed and inspected. This is wh