How to Search for El Paso Property Records

You can learn so much from El Paso property records because they contain extensive information on property, like ownership history, property values, taxes, foreclosures, liens, bankruptcies, deeds, zoning, amenities, and even map coordinates. Property records are public, and anyone has the legal right to access them. The trick is knowing where to look for the things you need. Use the resources below to search for El Paso property records.

County of El Paso Public Records

The County of El Paso Public Records office is the central repository for all public records like property records, property tax records, birth and death indexes, jail records, marriage, divorce, and more. You can search via instrument #, owner name (on the deed), subdivision, style, lot, book number, page number, block, and dates filed. You can also visit the office in person to get records. They are located at:

County Courthouse

500 E. San Antonio

El Paso, Texas 79901

El Paso Appraisal District

The El Paso Appraisal District has set up a portal where the public can search for property records. You can search by owner name, address, property ID, or GeoID. However, the district does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.

El Paso County Assessor

The El Paso County Assessor is the government office that is responsible for "discovering, listing, classifying, and valuing all property in the county in accordance with state laws". This office has a search feature where you can find a specific tax bill within the county. They have information about property values, taxes, and liens.

El Paso County Courts

The El Paso County Courts have a search tool for information on various cases, such as liens, bankruptcies, foreclosures, property disputes, probate courts, and divorces. Any case that involves property might be of interest to you.

El Paso property taxes pay for city services like road maintenance, fire, police, medical, schools, parks, and transportation. The City of El Paso Tax Office has a helpful website where you can pay your taxes online and learn more about the tax process and how to get information. Your options for paying your El Paso property taxes include:

• Credit/Debit Card
• E-Check
• Phone
• Mail
• In-Person

Assessments

The El Paso County Assessment Office is the entity responsible for performing annual property assessments to value all the property within the county for tax purposes. They have search tools on their website where you can look up values, taxes, and other details about a particular lot. If you disagree with the assessed value, you can file a "Notice of Protest" with the El Paso Central Appraisal District.

Appraisals

Appraisals are also used to value property. The courts, lenders, and estate planners use them. They use various methods but usually determine the fair market value of property. When an assessment officer cannot accurately value a property (commercial or odd structure), they may call on an appraiser to help.

Tax Rates

El Paso has some of the highest property taxes in Texas. The average effective property tax rate in El Paso is 1.48% of the property's assessed value, which is lower than Texas's median rate of 1.67% and higher than the national average of 0.99%. Tax rates in El Paso vary, though. For example, some zip codes in the city are:

• 79901 1.70%
• 79902 1.53%
• 79903 1.48%
• 79905 1.48%

El Paso's rate is lower than some parts of Texas, such as:

• El Paso County 1.48%
• Tarrant County 1.82%
• Hidalgo County 1.82%
• Mitchell County 1.80%
• Denton County 1.78%

Exemptions

The city of El Paso offers property tax exemptions to help some property owners in specific situations reduce their tax liability. The Texas Comptroller has more information about each exemption on its website. The available exemptions in El Paso include:

• Residence Homestead
• Inherited Residence Homestead
• Age 65 or Older or Disabled Persons
• Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses of Disabled Veterans
• Surviving Spouses of First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty
• Solar and Wind-Powered Energy Device
• Charitable Organizations and Businesses

You can download the application forms from this same resource.

The city of El Paso Planning & Inspections Department is the place to go for building permits. They have set up an in-person location where you can go to take care of everything; it's called the "City of El Paso's One-Stop Shop". You can also create an account on the main website and apply here. According to this department, "A permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure within the City of El Paso's jurisdiction". The general types of building permits available are:

• Demolition
• Building Permit
• Subdivision
• Miscellaneous

They also have specialty permits for mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work, like fences, sheds, and pools.

For the work to be legal, it must be inspected throughout the process. The building inspector will ensure that the work complies with all local building and safety codes. You can schedule your inspections by calling (915) 212-0104.

El Paso is America's 22nd most populous city, with 678,958 residents. The city has a total of 326,167 housing units. Over 63% of them are owner-occupied, with a median value of $167,300. El Paso has a variety of different housing types, including single-family homes, apartments, high-rise towers, site homes, multi-family developments, and duplexes. Anyone who earns 80% less than the median area income is eligible for the voucher program to help them find affordable housing. The average price of an El Paso home is $223,000–$255,000, depending on the source, however, where you live matters though. For example:

• Upper Mesa Hills (79912) $542,000
• Mission Hills (79902) $399,000
• Morningside Heights (79930) $185,000
• Paseos del Sol (79928) $300,000
• Kern Place (79902) $509,000
• Mountain View (79904) $175,400

The real estate market in El Paso is somewhat competitive. Sellers receive an average of three offers before deciding, and houses stay on the market for about 45 days.

The median sale price per square foot in El Paso is $153