How to Search for Austin Property Records

Property records are public; anyone can search for them and make legal copies. Austin property records are specific to the property within the city. Some of the information you will find is the property owner's name and address, property value, taxes, assessments, building permits, and more. You can find these records in a variety of ways, usually through government offices. Try these below:

Travis County Clerk

The Travis County Clerk is the entity responsible for maintaining and recording property records like liens, mortgages, deeds, foreclosures, etc. You can search for real property records using their website or visit the office in person at 5501 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751. This office does charge a fee for paper copies. You may be able to search online for free.

Travis Central Appraisal District

The Travel Central Appraisal District is the office in charge of property assessments, values, and taxes. They maintain a vast database of information containing the property address, owner(s) names, property value, and tax information. You can search this database using the property address, owner's name, account number, or doing business as (DBA) name.

Travis County District Clerk's Office

Some property records pertain to court cases and are filed, maintained, and may be accessed through the Travis County District Clerk's Office. The county offers a free search tool for copies of property and case-related records. You can find bankruptcies, liens, foreclosures, property probate, divorce settlements containing property, and other property-related cases.

The Travis County Tax Office is the government agency responsible for collecting property taxes. These taxes pay for the city's schools, parks and recreation, road maintenance, fire departments, police, and emergency services. Austin's property taxes are very high, comprising 19.8% of a homeowner's monthly housing bill. The rise in property taxes is due to population increase and a higher demand for city services.

Assessments

More than 3,700 government entities use property taxes as their primary source of funding. Every year, the Travis County Appraisal District assesses all property to determine values and set tax rates. The bills go out on January 1. If you disagree with the property value, May 15th is the deadline to file an appeal. Homes whose value has increased by $1,000 will be re-assessed each year. You can initiate a protest by mailing in your notice with supportive paperwork showing the error. You can drop off your paperwork at the office located at 850 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752.

Appraisals

Where tax officials use assessments, others use appraisals to determine the value of property. Most often, appraisals are used by lenders who must ensure the home's value supports the mortgage loan. A certified appraiser will use an approved method of comparing similar home sales in the local area to determine the property's value. Others, like estate planners and probate courts, also use appraisers.

Tax Rates

Austin's average property tax rate is 44.58% per $100 taxable value. Austin property taxes are considered high when compared to other cities within Texas and other states across the U.S.

• Austin 0.4458
• Cedar Park 0.3700
• Rollingwood 0.1917
• Briarcliff 0.068
• Smithville 0.9676
• Burnet County 0.354
• Hays 0.8960

Exemptions

Property taxes are rising steadily every year. Homeowners need a way to save, and the city of Austin offers some exemptions to help cut the cost of property taxes. Some available exemptions for qualified individuals include:

• General Residence Homestead Exemption
• Person 65 or Older Exemption
• Disabled Person Exemption
• 100 Percent Disabled Veteran Exemption
• Donated Residence of a Partially Disabled Veteran
• Surviving Spouse of an Armed Services Member Killed in Action Exemption
• Surviving Spouse of a First Responder Killed in the Line of Duty Exemption

You can apply for any of these exemptions by downloading the proper forms, sending them in by mail, dropping them off at the Travis Central Appraisal District, or applying online.

The Austin Development Services Department is the government office that helps property owners, contractors, and business owners comply with local building codes and safety. Before building new construction, demolishing a building, or renovating, you need to obtain a building permit. You can use their website to learn more about the rules and apply online using their Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) portal. The Permitting and Development Center is located at 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704. Some of the types of available permits include:

• Boat Dock
• Demolition
• Building Permit
• Electrical (various types)
• Fence
• Interior Remodeling Permit
• Mechanical
• Plumbing (multiple types)
• Pool
• Relocation
• Retaining Wall
• Solar Shingles

Throughout any construction project, the Development Services Department conducts periodic inspections to ensure that the work complies with local building codes and keeps people safe. You can use the AB+C portal to schedule an inspection for your job. Use this link to learn more about inspections.

The city of Austin, Texas, has a population of 979,882 people and a whopping 90,000 housing units, which is more than most cities of its size. Austin covers five counties. The majority of those units are rental units. Austin has an abundance of affordable housing (60,000 units). However, the city is about 215,077 short of its need. Austin has a variety of housing unit types, including single-family homes, townhouses, condos, university housing, and affordable housing. Most homes follow the Spanish Colonial, Victorian, or Ranch style. The median home price in Austin, Texas, is 624,000 but varies by where you live. Some examples include:

• Austin Metro Area (78760) $435,000
• Downtown Austin (78710) $712,400
• West Oak Hill (78735) $614,200
• Bluff Springs (78744) $442,200
• North Austin (78727) $480,000

Austin homes stay on the market for roughly 88 days before being sold. Due to the high price of homes, Austin's real estate market is not very competitive.