Travis County, Texas

Redeemable Deed1,363,767 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 deed. Travis County tax foreclosure sales are conducted online through RealAuction; Constable's Deed issues (not a warranty deed). Dual registration required: RealAuction + Travis County Tax Office bidder registration ($10).

Auction logistics

Format

Online

Frequency

First Tuesday of each month (property lists typically online ~15 days before sale; published in the Austin Chronicle ~21 days before)

Platform

RealAuction — Travis County (RealForeclose) ↗

Deposit rules

Register on Travis RealAuction and separately submit Tax Office Bidder Registration + $10 fee at least five business days before the sale (approved registrations valid one year). You must register with BOTH. Anyone owing back taxes in Travis County is ineligible. Payment/deposit mechanics follow RealAuction platform rules — complete platform training/FAQs before bidding.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

HOA/POA liens can survive a Texas tax sale if the association recorded its lien and was not properly joined/notified in the foreclosure suit. Federal tax liens survive. Constable's Deed clears tax liens for years in the lawsuit only — other liens and post-judgment taxes may remain. Research before bidding.

Quiet title

Not legally mandatory, but title companies generally require a completed suit to quiet title before insuring, because of statutory redemption rights and possible un-joined lienholders.

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

Travis County Tax Office ↗

Clerk of court

Travis County Clerk (recording / real property records) ↗

Property appraiser

Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) ↗

GIS / parcel map

TCAD Property Search / Map ↗

Areas trending up

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

East Austin

Continued infill and job access to downtown/tech corridors keep demand elevated despite higher price points

Manor / Del Valle edge

Eastern Travis County growth corridor with relatively more new-housing supply and school-driven demand

Pflugerville

North-corridor employment adjacency and inventory absorption versus softer outer exurbs