How to Search for Dallas Property Records

Dallas property records contain a wealth of valuable information, and they are public records that anyone can access. You can find deeds, liens, mortgages, owner information, taxes, values, foreclosures, building permits, and more. You can find Dallas property records in a variety of places. Some of the best resources to start with are as follows.

Dallas County Court Clerk

The Dallas County Clerk is the custodian for all property records. It's like the town hall and court all in one. The office has a website where you can easily search for court cases that involve property. Bankruptcies, liens, property disputes, and divorce cases often involve property. When using the Dallas court's search portal, you must first create a free account and fill out a registration form. Then, you can perform unlimited searches. You may have to pay a small fee to download pages. You can also visit them in person at 600 Commerce Street, B-1, Dallas, TX 75202, and request copies of deeds or other property documents.

Dallas Central Appraisal District

The Dallas Central Appraisal District is another government office that stores property appraisal/assessment information. You can easily search for a property by owner name, account, address, or business. You can even try finding the property using a map. Finding property values is easy using this search tool.

Dallas County Property Tax Assessor-Collector

The Dallas County Property Tax Assessor-Collector maintains property tax records, liens, notices of foreclosure, and property auctions. You can search their website for information about property taxes and pay them online.

Everyone who owns property in Dallas must pay taxes on it. Dallas property taxes fund local government offices, law enforcement, emergency services, fire departments, schools, and city water and sewer services. Dallas has 4,000 local entities that benefit from property taxes. Dallas is considered the sixth-highest property tax city in the U.S. However, compared with the rest of Texas, they have some of the lowest taxes.

Assessments

Dallas is spread over four different counties, and Collin County, Dallas Central, Denton Central, and Rockwall Central appraisal districts perform property assessments. Tax officials perform assessments once a year, and new bills are issued every October. You can pay your Dallas property taxes online, by phone (877) 253-0150, mail, or in person. If you need to appeal the valuation of your property, you can do so by contacting the Dallas Comptroller's Office.

Appraisals

Dallas property appraisals are the same as assessments; the terms are used interchangeably. However, in cases of new construction, commercial buildings, or unusual structures, the tax authority may enlist the help of a certified appraiser to value the property. The courts, estate planners, and lenders also use appraisals (various methods) to determine property values.

Tax Rates

Dallas property tax rates are considered high, with a median tax rate of 1.60% of the assessed value, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 0.99%. Other areas of Texas are even higher, for example:

• El Paso 2.13%
• Fort Worth 1.86%
• San Antonio 1.85%
• Arlington 1.75%
• Austin 1.53%
• Houston 1.48%

Dallas property tax rates have increased 41% over the past five years. As a result, property values have increased due to higher assessments.

Exemptions

To help homeowners save on property tax bills, the city of Dallas offers some exemptions to qualified individuals. The available exemptions in Dallas include:

• Residence Homestead Exemption
• Age 65 or Older Homestead Exemption
• Surviving Spouse of Person Who Received the 65 or Older or Disabled Person Exemption
• Disabled Person Homestead Exemption
• Surviving Spouse of a Person Who Received the Disability Exemption
• Residence Homestead Exemption for Disabled Veterans with 100% Disability
• Donated Residence Homestead of a Partially Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran who qualified for Donated Residence Homestead
• Surviving Spouse of Member of Armed Forces Killed in Action
• Disabled Veteran or Survivors of a Disabled Veteran
• Tax Deferral for 65 or Older or Disabled Homeowner
• Charitable Exemption
• Religious Exemption

To learn more about each exemption or to apply, visit the Dallas Central Appraisal District website.

The City of Dallas Building Inspection Office handles issuing permits and performing inspections for all construction work that requires one. The website was designed for contractors and residential owners. Any new construction and most types of renovation or demolition need permits. You can use the website to register for an account and apply online. You will need to submit supporting documentation and pay the fee. Some of the types of permits available in Dallas include:

• Building (commercial new construction/multi-family new construction/residential new construction).
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Mechanical
• Signs
• Fire and Fire Sprinkler
• Electrical
• Excavation
• Fence
• Swimming Pool
• Security System
• Demotion

City officials will need to inspect the work throughout the construction project to ensure that it complies with local building and safety codes. Call the city's Automated Inspection Line at 214-670-5313 to schedule an inspection.

Dallas, Texas, has 1.303 million residents and 572,194 housing units. The city is in the grips of a dire housing shortage. The types of housing units available in Dallas include single-family homes, Dallas-style homes, townhomes, condominiums, modular homes, mobile homes, and affordable housing (Section 8 apartments/public housing) for low-income families. The occupancy rate in Dallas is 92.6%. Due to demand, Dallas has seen a considerable uptick in rental housing since 1970. The median price for a single-family home in Dallas is $306,276, which is down about 0.5% from previous years. However, where in Dallas you live dictates the price. For example:

• Uptown (75201) $655,000
• Greenway Park (75209) $1.1 million
• Las Colinas (75039) $750,000
• Old East Dallas (75204) $567,000
• Lower Greenville (75206) $787,000
• Oak Lawn (75219) $514,300
• Medical District (75235) $454,000
• Lakewood (75214) $1.52 million

The average house in Dallas stays on the market for 61 days. The median price for a townhome in Dallas is $399,000, and condos go for $290,000. An average of 4,681 homes are sold in Dallas every month.