Currently Texas law does not permit the sale of tax lien certificates in Webb County. Texas law authorizes the sale of tax deed properties at the Webb County tax deed sale auction on the first Tuesday of each month.
Webb 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 Webb County.
The sale of tax deed properties at the Webb County tax deed sale auction generates the revenue Webb County needs to continue to fund important government services like police protection, public schooling, and emergency medical services.
When you buy Webb County tax deed properties you are helping the community. The money you pay to purchase these tax deed properties generates the much needed revenue Webb County needs to pay for essential public services.
In Webb 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 Webb County Tax Office will commence collection on all tax delinquent real estate. The Webb County tax deed sale is the means by which Webb County recovers the funds they need to continue to fund local services.
Approximately 20 days prior to the date of the Webb County tax deed sale the Webb County tax collector will publish a notice of sale in a newspaper of general circulation.
The Webb 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 Webb County courthouse.
The Webb County tax sale list will include the following:
You can obtain a copy of the Webb County tax sale list from the Webb County Tax Assessor-Collector. In addition, a digital copy of the tax sale list may also be available for immediate download on the Webb County Tax Assessor-Collector's website.
Contact the Webb County Texas Tax Assessor-Collector for instructions on obtaining the Webb 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 Webb County, that publication is:
Laredo Morning Times
111 Esperanza Dr
Laredo, Texas 78041
Phone: (956) 728-2511
http://lmtonline.com/
Anyone wishing to bid must register preceeding the Webb County tax deed sale. Contact the Webb 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 Webb 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 Webb County Tax Office:
Webb County Tax Office
Att: Special Inventory Department
1110 Washington St, Ste 202
Laredo, Texas 78040
Phone: (956) 523-4150
http://www.webbcountytx.gov/
Make checks payable to: Webb County Tax Assessor Collector. Please include your name, phone number, and address. For additional information email propertytax [at] vanzandtcounty.org; or call (903) 567-6511
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 Webb County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office to obtain a printable request form that you must complete, have notarized, and present to the Webb County Tax Assessor-Collector, along with a payment of the statutory fee of $10.00.
Contact the Webb County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office for instructions on obtaining a permanent bidder's registration card with bidder number prior to the Webb County tax deed sale. You can also obtain temporary bidder cards valid only for the day of Webb County tax deed sale auction the morning of the tax deed sale.
Upon successfully meeting the registration requirements the Webb County Texas Tax Assessor-Collector's Office will assign a bidders number to identify each bidder when purchasing tax deed properties from Webb County.
The Webb County Texas tax sale is held the first Tuesday of each month at:
Webb County Courthouse
1110 Victoria Street
Laredo, TX, 78040
(956) 523-4266
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 Webb 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 Webb 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 Webb County Texas is utilizing the Premium Bid Method the winning bidder at the Webb 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 Webb 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 Webb 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 Webb County Tax Assessor-Collector shall bid off the property to Webb County Texas.
In Webb County, payment is due on or before the close of the Webb 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 Webb 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 Webb County if the property was "struck-off." Once the tax deed has been issued, the Webb County Tax Assessor-Collector will file the deed for recording with the Webb County Clerk. Finally, as soon as practicable the Webb 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 Webb County tax sale auction but was not sold is either withdrawn from the sale or "struck off" to Webb County. Which means that Webb County has taken possession and is the legal owner of the property. Webb 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 Webb 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 Webb County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office or the law firm charged with representing Webb 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 Webb County tax sale properties it is important to keep in mind it is also possible to incur a substantial loss. Buyer beware, Webb County auctions all types of properties at the Webb 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 Webb 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 Webb County Recorder's records for any recorded easements on a property. The Webb 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 Webb County Assessor plat maps which are available from the Webb County Assessor's Office.
Property purchased at the Webb 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 Webb County Texas.
The following is a list of cities and towns located in Webb County Texas. Tax Deeds (Hybrid) for properties located in the following cities are sold at the Webb County Texas tax sale.
Town/City: | Population: |
---|---|
Aguilares, TX | 733 |
Bruni, TX | 573 |
El Cenizo, TX | 43,841 |
Laredo, TX | 190,832 |
Mirando City, TX | 733 |
Oilton, TX | 434 |
Ojuelas, TX | 733 |
Rio Bravo, TX | 34,687 |
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: