Currently Texas law does not permit the sale of tax lien certificates in Bexar County. Texas law authorizes the sale of tax deed properties at the Bexar County tax deed sale auction on the first Tuesday of each month.
Bexar County Texas relies on the revenue generated from real estate property taxes to fund daily services. Unpaid real estate taxes creates a serious cash-flow problem for Bexar County.
The sale of tax deed properties at the Bexar County tax deed sale auction generates the revenue Bexar County needs to continue to fund important government services like police protection, public schooling, and emergency medical services.
When you buy Bexar County tax deed properties you are helping the community. The money you pay to purchase these tax deed properties generates the much needed revenue Bexar County needs to pay for essential public services.
In Bexar County Texas real estate property tax bills are mailed during the months of October and November are due January 31 the following year and are delinquent after February 1st of the year following the year in which the tax was imposed.
Beginning July 1 the Bexar County Tax Office will commence collection on all tax delinquent real estate. The Bexar County tax deed sale is the means by which Bexar County recovers the funds they need to continue to fund local services.
Approximately 20 days prior to the date of the Bexar County tax deed sale the Bexar County tax collector will publish a notice of sale in a newspaper of general circulation.
The Bexar County tax collector is instructed by Texas law to post the notice in writing in three public places throughout the county and one of the notices must be posted at the door of the Bexar County courthouse.
The Bexar County tax sale list will include the following:
You can obtain a copy of the Bexar County tax sale list from the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector. In addition, a digital copy of the tax sale list may also be available for immediate download on the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector's website.
Contact the Bexar County Texas Tax Assessor-Collector for instructions on obtaining the Bexar County Texas tax sale list.
Texas law requires that tax-delinquent properties be advertised three times prior to the auction in a newspaper published in the county where the property is located. In Bexar County, that publication is:
The Daily Commercial Recorder
P.O. Box 2171
San Antonio, Texas 78297
Phone: (210) 250-2327
http://www.primetimenewspapers.com/dcr/
Anyone wishing to bid must register preceeding the Bexar County tax deed sale. Contact the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector for registration instructions and requirements. Generally, there is no charge for registration.
Important: Bidder's Certificates are required to purchase property at the Bexar County tax deed sale. At least 24 hours prior to the sale, all certificates must be purchased.
To obtain a Bidder's Certificate, you may come in person or mail a $10.00 check/money order to the Bexar County Tax Office:
Bexar County Tax Office
Att: Special Inventory Department
233 N. Pecos la Trinidad
San Antonio, Texas 78207
Phone: (210) 335-2251
http://www.bexar.org/tax/
Make checks payable to: Bexar County Tax Assessor Collector. Please include your name, phone number, and address.
Important: In counties with a population of 250,000 or more and in less populated counties that have adopted the provisions of Chapter 34 Section 34.015
In such counties, purchasers at tax sales must present to the sheriff or constable conducting the sale a written statement issued to the purchaser by the county tax assessor-collector stating that the purchaser owes no delinquent property taxes to the county and that there are no known or reported delinquent taxes owed by the purchaser to any school district or city with territory in the county. State law further prohibits the sheriff or constable in such counties from delivering a tax deed to any purchaser who fails to present to the officer the required written statement issued by the county tax assessor-collector.
Contact the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office to obtain a printable request form that you must complete, have notarized, and present to the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector, along with a payment of the statutory fee of $10.00.
Contact the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office for instructions on obtaining a permanent bidder's registration card with bidder number prior to the Bexar County tax deed sale. You can also obtain temporary bidder cards valid only for the day of Bexar County tax deed sale auction the morning of the tax deed sale.
Upon successfully meeting the registration requirements the Bexar County Texas Tax Assessor-Collector's Office will assign a bidders number to identify each bidder when purchasing tax deed properties from Bexar County.
The Bexar County Texas tax sale is held the first Tuesday of each month at:
Bexar County Courthouse
100 Dolorosa
San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 335-2011
Registration of bidders begins at 8:30 a.m. Sales must be held from 10AM to 4PM. Each of the Constables conducts sales of properties in their precinct and the sales are most often held simultaneously.
Generally, the minimum bid amount for tax delinquent properties offered for sale at the regular Bexar County tax deed sale include delinquent property taxes, penalties, interest, costs, and other claims for which the foreclosure warrant was issued.
Tax delinquent properties may not be sold for an amount that is less than the lesser of the market value of the property as specified in the warrant or the total amount of taxes, penalties, interest, costs, and other claims for which the warrant was issued.
Currently, the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector utilizes a Premium Bid Method to auction tax delinquent properties.
Premium Bid Method: In a public oral bid tax sale where Bexar County Texas is utilizing the Premium Bid Method the winning bidder at the Bexar County Texas tax sale is the bidder who pays the largest amount in excess of the total amount of taxes, penalties, interest, costs, and other claims for which the foreclosure warrant was issued. The excess amount shall be credited to the county general fund.
If a bid sufficient to pay the total amount of taxes, penalties, interest, costs, and other claims for which the warrant was issued is not received, the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector making the sale may offer the property to a person for less than the minimum bid amount. If the property is offered to a person then the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector making the sale shall reopen the bidding at the amount of that person's bid and bid off the property to the highest bidder.
If the minimum bid is not met then the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector shall bid off the property to Bexar County Texas.
In Bexar County, payment is due on or before the close of the Bexar County tax sale auction. Payment must be by cash or cashier's check. Failure on the part of the successful bidder to consummate the sale on or before the close of the tax sale auction shall result in the forfeiture of the deposit and all rights he or she may have with respect to that property.
In 1993 the Texas Constitution was amended to create a 'split' redemption period for certain types of properties. As a result, Texas has a redemption policy that creates a 2-year redemption period for properties used as the residence homestead of the owner or that was land designated for agricultural use when the suit or the application for the warrant was filed. Properties that do not have a homestead or agricultural use exemption that existed at the time the tax suit was filed have a redemption period which lasts 6 months.
For tax-delinquent properties classified as nonhomestead or nonagricultural use when the suit or the application for the warrant was filed there is a penalty of 25% if redeemed anytime before the expiration of the 6 months from the date on which the purchaser's deed is filed for record.
For tax-delinquent properties classified as homestead or agricultural use when the suit or the application for the warrant was filed there is a penalty of 25% if redeemed on or before the first anniversary of the date on which the purchaser's deed is filed for record or 50 percent of the aggregate total if the property is redeemed during the second year of the redemption period.
Texas law instructs the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector to prepare a tax deed to the purchaser at the tax deed sale auction, to any other person whom the purchaser may specify, or to Bexar County if the property was "struck-off." Once the tax deed has been issued, the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector will file the deed for recording with the Bexar County Clerk. Finally, as soon as practicable the Bexar County Clerk must file, record and return the deed to the purchaser.
According to Texas the deed vests good and perfect title in the purchaser or the purchaser's assigns to the interest owned by the defendant in the property subject to the foreclosure, including the defendant's right to the use and possession of the property, subject only to the defendant's right of redemption.
Tax delinquent property that was offered for sale at the Bexar County tax sale auction but was not sold is either withdrawn from the sale or "struck off" to Bexar County. Which means that Bexar County has taken possession and is the legal owner of the property. Bexar County may later offer for resale "struck-off" property at any time by public or private sale.
The sale of "struck-off" or tax resale properties may be handled one of the following ways:
Public Resales: are public tax sales where the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector auctions "struck-off" tax sale resale properties to the highest bidder.
Private Resales: are private sales where they consider written offers to purchase "struck-off" tax sale resale properties on a case by case basis as those offers are received.
Contact either the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office or the law firm charged with representing Bexar County for instructions on obtaining a copy of the list of "struck-off" or tax resale properties.
While it is possible to obtain an attractive profit rate of 25% to 50% or real estate for a fraction of its market value with Bexar County tax sale properties it is important to keep in mind it is also possible to incur a substantial loss. Buyer beware, Bexar County auctions all types of properties at the Bexar County tax sale auction including residential, retail, agricultural, condemned, waste, vacant, industrial and the like.
As with all investments, there is always an element of risk. Even though the tax sale process is written into Texas law, and is regulated by Texas law, there is a chance of losing part or all of your investment. You must always try to get the best education and practice safe investing, no matter which investment vehicle you choose.
The City Planning and Zoning Department (for properties within a city boundary) where the property is located and the Bexar County Department of Planning and Community Development (for properties not within a city boundary) can help you determine what use you can make of a tax sale property before you purchase it.
Examine the Bexar County Recorder's records for any recorded easements on a property. The Bexar County Recorder can help you determine what liens (if any) may be associated with the property.
You can determine the general geographic location of tax sale properties by using the Bexar County Assessor plat maps which are available from the Bexar County Assessor's Office.
Property purchased at the Bexar County tax sale may be subject to liens for demolition, mowing, or maintenance fees due to the City or Property Owners Association where the property is located.
Below you will find a collection of the latest user questions and comments relating to the sale of tax lien certificates and tax deed properties in Bexar County Texas.
The following is a list of cities and towns located in Bexar County Texas. Tax Deeds (Hybrid) for properties located in the following cities are sold at the Bexar County Texas tax sale.
The following is a list of counties located in the state of Texas. Tax Deeds (Hybrid) for properties located in the following counties are sold at Texas county tax sales.
Learn more about each county's individual tax sale process by clicking on the name of the county for which you are interested from the list below: