Periodically, counties and other entities must take action to get tax-delinquent properties back on the rolls—a sensible fiscal strategy but also one that helps encourage redevelopment of buildings, homes, and land within communities.
The reasons for delinquencies are varied, as The Texas Spur learned in conversations in 2020 with the county judge, the tax assessor-collector, and the chief appraiser.
Sometimes owners fall on hard times and can’t pay the bill; sometimes an owner moves and can’t be located; sometimes an owner dies, and the estate may remain in dispute for some time.
Ultimately, though, it’s in everyone’s interest to ensure that properties are maintained and used suitably, and contribute to the local tax base.
On December 5, Dickens County plans to auction 19 parcels in the City of Spur and one in the City of Dickens. These parcels have been identified and described in a public notice that has run in this newspaper for the required three
For those interested in bidding—or simply in watching and learning— a bit more homework is needed.
Glance over the notice, and you’ll see that the legal descriptions are just that, the notations of lot, block, and tract number according to the plat maps (or in some cases, a survey number or a reference to a certain page of the deed record books found in the county courthouse).
Using the online Property Search tools found at http://dickenscad.org, you can usually identify a street address for a particular property—but the process isn’t always obvious.
Here’s our strategy.
In the website’s main Search Results field, enter the parcel ID number from the listed property in the sale notice. (In this week’s notice, it’ll be the last number in the paragraph, and it begins with an “R”; leave off that letter in your search.) Allow time for results to load. Be aware that some browsers work better with the website than others.
This will yield several data fields, including the current property owner and, most times, a street address. The street address might be incomplete, though; click on it, and you’ll be taken to the online map; if it doesn’t load immediately, pull down the Show Map tab and choose Google Maps or the Interactive Map.
The Interactive Map will show an approximate property boundary, a very useful feature; and it’ll show other details in the info box as you hover over. You can zoom in or out, and see neighboring properties.
With that information in hand, you’ll be able to do a windshield tour of the property, or call the Dickens County Appraisal District for more information.
Also helpful on the Interactive Map is the search box for entering other properties by number without having to consult the other database first.
Parcels will be offered for sale at the posted time and place, generally by outcry bidding. Some parcels attract multiple, competitive bids; prepare your strategy and limits in advance. You’ll need to pay in cash or certified funds that same day.
It’s also possible that the owners will have paid the outstanding taxes, and the parcel will be removed from the sale, even right up until the last minute—or there are other reasons a particular parcel might be removed from the list.
The purchaser is responsible for filing the deed. Purchasers have the right of possession during the redemption period (two years for homestead property and property appraised as agricultural land.; 180 days for all other property) but should be mindful of the right-of-redemption provision in Texas law.
The Texas State Law Library online (https:// guides.sll.texas.gov/foreclosure/ after-the-sale) provides more information about foreclosure, seizure, sale, and other matters.
For Dickens County questions, call the Dickens County Tax Assessor-Collector, (806) 623-5216 or the Dickens County Appraisal District, (806) 623-5258. Title searches and document filings are conducted in the office of the County Clerk, (806) 623-5258.
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