Dallas County Public Works
Tax Foreclosure Resale FAQs
Administration Building . 411 Elm Street, 4th Floor . Dallas, Texas 75202

These frequently asked questions are provided for general information purposes only and are specific to tax foreclosure resales conducted by Dallas County. It is the sole responsibility of the reader to ascertain all information necessary to be an informed purchaser.


WHERE DO I GET INFORMATION ON THE SHERIFF'S SALE?


Your best sources of information are:
(a) The law firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP which provides a list of tax sales FAQs and tax sale property listings online at www.publicans.com.


(b) The Dallas County Sheriff's Department which conducts the sale can be reached at telephone number 214-653-3500.


(c) The Daily Commercial Record which publishes sale notices online at www.dailycommercialrecord.com.


HOW DOES DALLAS COUNTY DISPOSE OF TAX FORECLOSED PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN STRUCK-OFF TO DALLAS COUNTY?
Properties that are struck-off to Dallas County, as Trustee, are posted on Dallas County's website at www.dallascounty.org via the link "Real Estate For Sale by Dallas County" and offered for resale.

All properties will be sold in compliance with Dallas County "Tax Foreclosure Resale Policy" and Section 34.05 of Texas Property Tax Code. Dallas County's Policy and the "Offer and Purchase Agreement" are available for viewing online.


DOES DALLAS COUNTY MAINTAIN A MAILING LIST OF INTERESTED PURCHASERS?


No.


WHEN AND WHERE ARE DALLAS COUNTY'S TAX RESALES ADVERTISED?


"Tax Foreclosed Properties For Sale by Dallas County" may be viewed online. Notices of sealed bids will be published in the Classified Section of the Dallas Morning News on two consecutive Mondays beginning two weeks prior to the opening date.


HOW IS YOUR INFORMATION POSTED ONLINE AS "TAX FORECLOSED PROPERTIES FOR SALE BY DALLAS COUNTY" HELPFUL TO ME?

The information contained in the property listing may assist in your research of the property. We do not guarantee the accuracy of the information in the listing. Sources to verify information include:

(a) Sheriff's Deed contains the cause number which can be used to find the case file at the Dallas County District Clerk, Records Department. Copies of the Sheriff's Deeds can be purchased from the Dallas County Clerk’s Office on the 2nd floor of the Records Building at 509 Main Street, Dallas, TX, 75202 or viewed on-line at www.dallascounty.org/department/countyclerk/cclerk_ index.html. (Telephone No. 214-653-7099)

(b) A case file containing the judgment and other documents associated with the foreclosure of the property can be purchased from, or viewed at the Dallas County District Clerk, Records Department in the basement of the George Allen Courts Building at 600 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202, Telephone No. 214-653-6011. Advance notification may be required.

(c) Dallas Central Appraisal District, www.dallascad.org.

IF I AM THE SUCCESSFUL PURCHASER WHAT TAXES WILL BE PAID FROM MY OFFER/BID AMOUNT?

The Texas Property Tax Code authorizes the priority in which the resale proceeds are to be disbursed. Depending on the amount of your bid/offer, in some circumstances only the judgment tax years are paid; in other circumstances both the judgment tax years and the post judgment tax years are paid.

WHAT ARE POST JUDGMENT TAXES?

Post judgment taxes are taxes, penalties and interest that accrue against a property subsequent to the entry of the judgment and up to the date of the tax foreclosure sale (Sheriff’s Sale).

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF POST JUDGMENT TAXES, PENALTIES AND INTEREST DUE ON A PROPERTY?

To determine the amount of post judgment taxes, penalties and interest you will need to determine the tax years included in the judgment and the date of the tax foreclosure sale (Sheriff’s Sale).

Once you determine the post judgment tax years and date of Sheriff's Sale, you may go the Dallas County Tax Office webpage at www.dallascounty.org/applications/english/proptax_app/tax_intro.html and view the "Taxes Due Detail by Year and Jurisdiction" for the property. You may also contact the Dallas County Tax Office at 214-653-7811.

DOES THE DALLAS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR/COLLECTOR COLLECT TAXES FOR ALL TAXING ENTITIES LOCATED IN DALLAS COUNTY?

No. It is the purchaser's responsibility to determine who collects the taxes for the taxing entity and to contact those individual tax offices. For additional information regarding Dallas County taxes, you may view the information at www.dallascounty.org/department/tax/taxoffice_home.html or call 214-653-7811.


WILL I BE ABLE TO GET TITLE INSURANCE ON PROPERTY I PURCHASE AT A TAX RESALE?


Underwriting practices vary from one company to the next with regards to tax sale property. You may explore that matter with a title company or fee attorney office of your choice prior to any tax sale purchase.


ARE THERE ANY OUTSTANDING MORTGAGES, LIENS OR OTHER ENCUMBRANCES ON THESE RESALE PROPERTIES?

It is the sole responsibility of the purchaser to ascertain this information. It is strongly suggested you do a thorough investigation, including your own title search and engage an attorney to examine all papers on file in the court in the underlying foreclosure suit to determine what, if any, additional encumbrances are against the property.

ARE THESE PROPERTIES PAST THEIR REDEMPTION PERIOD? HOW LONG IS THE REDEMPTION PERIOD OF TIME THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER CAN REDEEM THE PROPERTIES?

The conveyance shall be made subject to any remaining right of redemption at the time of sale. You should seek your own legal counsel if you are unsure of the applicable redemption period.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT ZONING, BUILDING RESTRICTIONS, CODE RESTRICTIONS, ETC. THAT WOULD RESTRICT BUILDING OR USE FOR A PROPERTY?

The uses that are allowed on a particular property are governed by the regulations for the zoning district in which the property is located and other general regulations. In order to find out the zoning and or building restrictions of a property and how the use of a property is regulated, you would contact the city wherein the property is located. It is the sole responsibility of the purchaser to ascertain this information; therefore, we strongly suggest purchaser perform a thorough investigation to determine what, if any, restrictions, may affect the property.


WHAT TYPE OF CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT WILL DALLAS COUNTY EXECUTE TO THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER/PURCHASER?


The successful bidder/purchaser on a property will be issued a Quitclaim Deed.


DOES DALLAS COUNTY OFFER A FINANCING PROGRAM?


No.


WHAT IF I SUBMIT A BID OR OFFER TO PURCHASE PROPERTY AT A RESALE CONDUCTED BY DALLAS COUNTY AND LATER CHANGE MY MIND? MAY I CANCEL THE SALE AND RECEIVE A REFUND OF MY BID/PURCHASE DEPOSIT?


If a bidder/purchaser is unable or refuses to timely pay the balance due, complete the purchase transaction on the property and accept a Quitclaim Deed for any reason whatsoever, except through default of County, the contract shall be terminated at County's sole discretion and bidder's/purchaser's entire deposit shall be forfeited to County for administrative costs attributable to the sale. Once a Quitclaim Deed is issued, the sale is considered as final and not subject to rescission due to the purchaser's mistake or dissatisfaction with regards to the property.


WHAT HAPPENS IF A PROPERTY IS ADVERTISED FOR RESALE, BUT NO BIDS ARE RECEIVED?


If no bids are received on a property it remains in county's inventory and will be available for sale via private offers or it may be re-advertised for sale via a sealed bid procedure at a later date.

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