Fire or Storm Damage and Selling a House in Texas Hail, wind and fire claims are routine in Texas, and an open claim complicates a sale in ways that are manageable if you understand who is owed what. The central question is who receives the claim proceeds. If there is a mortgage, the lender is typically named on the policy and the check is usually issued jointly. Lenders commonly hold the funds and release them in stages as repairs are completed and inspected. This is wh
Selling a Texas House With an Open Insurance Claim
Fire or Storm Damage and Selling a House in Texas Hail, wind and fire claims are routine in Texas, and an open claim complicates a sale in ways that are manageable if you understand who is owed what. The central question is who receives the claim proceeds. If there is a mortgage, the lender is typically named on the policy and the check is usually issued jointly. Lenders commonly hold the funds and release them in stages as repairs are completed and inspected. This is wh
Selling a Texas House With Code Violations or City Liens
Code Enforcement, Liens and Selling a House in Texas Code enforcement problems tend to accumulate quietly. A citation for tall grass or an inoperable vehicle feels minor, and it usually is, right up until the city abates the condition itself and charges the cost against the property. That is the mechanism worth understanding. When a municipality mows a lot, boards a structure, or clears debris after an owner has failed to comply, it can assess the cost and, on filing, cr
Selling a Texas House With a Reverse Mortgage A reverse mortgage lets an older homeowner draw against equity without monthly payments. The loan is not forgiven; it becomes due when a maturity event occurs, and that is usually the point at which the family first has to understand it. Maturity events are defined in the loan documents and typically include the death of the last surviving borrower, the borrower permanently leaving the home, or a breach of the obligation to k
What Clay Soil Does to Dallas and Fort Worth Foundations
Foundation Repair and Selling a House in North Texas Foundation movement is close to a regional condition across North Texas. The expansive clay soils under much of Dallas, Fort Worth and the surrounding suburbs swell when wet and shrink when dry, and slab foundations move with them. Buyers here know this, which cuts both ways. Because it is common, a foundation issue is not automatically a deal breaker in this market. What buyers react badly to is uncertainty. A documen
Can You Sell a Rental in Texas With a Tenant in Place
Selling a Texas House With a Tenant Still Living In It You can sell a house in Texas with a tenant living in it. What you cannot do is sell it as though the tenant is not there. The lease is an obligation that travels with the property, and understanding that early saves a great deal of friction. A lease survives the sale. When the property changes hands the new owner steps into the landlord's position and takes the lease as written, for whatever term remains. A buyer wh
Selling a Texas House With an Open Insurance Claim
Fire or Storm Damage and Selling a House in Texas Hail, wind and fire claims are routine in Texas, and an open claim complicates a sale in ways that are manageable if you understand who is owed what. The central question is who receives the claim proceeds. If there is a mortgage, the lender is typically named on the policy and the check is usually issued jointly. Lenders commonly hold the funds and release them in stages as repairs are completed and inspected. This is wh
What Happens When Texas Property Taxes Go Unpaid Texas has no state income tax and funds local government substantially through property tax, which makes the property tax lien unusually powerful here. If you are behind, the position is serious, but it is also more workable than most people assume. The lien attaches automatically on January 1 each year for that year's taxes. It is not something the county has to file to create. Taxes are generally due by January 31,