Smith County, Texas

Redeemable Deed249,091 residentsLive auctions →

County research last verified 2026-07. Office holders, platforms, and deposit rules change — re-confirm anything time-sensitive.

Sale typestate default

Redeemable Deed

Redemption periodstate default

2 years for homestead/ag/mineral properties; 6 months for all other property

Investor returnstate default

25% penalty in year one, 50% in year two (homestead/ag); 25% flat for the 6-month category

Governing statutestate default

Texas Tax Code Title 1, Subtitle E, Ch. 34

Notes

Redeemable tax deed — Smith County does not sell tax lien certificates. Delinquent tax foreclosure sales moved fully online (RealAuction) from March 2023; first Tuesday monthly at 10:00 a.m. Sheriff’s Civil Division and LGBS/Perdue firms post lists (Tyler Morning Telegraph legals + courthouse postings). Sheriff’s deed issues after sale (processing often within ~90 days). Statutory owner redemption 6 months–2 years with 25%/50% premiums depending on year and property type.

Auction logistics

Format

Online

Frequency

First Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. CT

Platform

RealAuction — Smith County Sheriff Tax Foreclosure Sales ↗

Deposit rules

Obtain Bidder Certificate / written statement of no taxes due from Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector (Tax Code §34.015; $10; notarized form; good 90 days). Register on smith.texas.sheriffsaleauctions.com at least five business days before auction. Payment due by 4:00 p.m. CT sale day by cashier’s check or money order (no credit cards); deposit applied first. Confirm current platform deposit/wire rules on RealAuction.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

HOA/POA and federal tax liens can survive Texas tax sales if not properly joined. Post-judgment taxes may be due from buyer. All sales final subject to statutory redemption rights.

Quiet title

Commonly required by title insurers after redemption window before marketable title insurance.

Deal maths for Texas

Assessment ratio: 1× of market value
Typical quiet title: $1,800–$5,000 · 5 mo
Recording and transfer: $400

Texas requires appraisal at 100% of market value as of Jan 1 (Tex. Tax Code § 23.01).

Offices and records

Tax collector

Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector ↗

903-590-2900

Clerk of court

Smith County Clerk (real property records) ↗

Property appraiser

Smith County Appraisal District (Smith CAD) ↗

GIS / parcel map

Smith CAD property search / GIS ↗

Areas trending up

Directional read from dated market analysis — not a guarantee, and not a substitute for your own comps.

South Tyler / Broadway corridor

Retail and medical employment density supporting multifamily and starter-home liquidity into 2026

North Tyler / Loop 323 edge

Suburban expansion and school-driven demand with relative value versus core historic Tyler

Lindale / I-20 corridor

North-county growth and logistics access attracting entry-level investors versus rural outer tracts