Selling a house in Alvarado

The county building on Baugh Street

Alvarado is a Johnson County city; the Census Bureau's 2024 estimate put it at about 7,312 residents. Johnson County keeps a building in town, the Alvarado Sub-Courthouse at 206 North Baugh Street, and two of the offices a seller may need work there.

• Taxes in town. The Johnson County Tax Office lists the Alvarado sub-courthouse as one of its three locations, with the main office in Cleburne and another in Burleson; all three share (817) 558-0122 and keep weekday hours of 8:00 to 4:45.
• The local justice court. Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 sits in the same building, at (817) 558-0111 ext. 2550. Its page says it hears landlord and tenant disputes, links a page on evictions, lockouts and repair or remedy, and notes the office is closed Friday through Sunday.
• Values and owner names. Those come from the Central Appraisal District of Johnson County at 109 N. Main St. in Cleburne, (817) 648-3000.
• The deed. The Johnson County Clerk records it in Room B15 of the Historic Courthouse in Cleburne, and its recording page lists a second location at the Burleson Sub-Courthouse, 247 Elk Dr. (817-202-2968 ext. 2554).

What the city exempts

The Johnson County Tax Office's 2026 rates and exemptions page lists what the City of Alvarado takes off a homestead's taxable value:

• a general homestead exemption of 1%, or not less than $5,000;
• a $15,000 local option exemption for owners 65 or older, and $15,000 for disabled owners;
• a tax freeze marked "Yes" for both groups;
• a disabled veteran exemption in the $5,000 to $12,000 range.

Alvarado ISD, on the same page, shows the $140,000 homestead and $60,000 over-65 school exemptions with a freeze, and a separate "Hill College - Alvarado ISD" row appears as well. The tax office FAQ says exemption applications go to the appraisal district, and the district decides whether you qualify.

Tax questions that come up near a sale

The Johnson County tax office FAQ answers several questions that come up when a sale is near.

• Who changes the name and address. The appraisal district decides ownership for tax purposes, so a new owner's information is corrected there. The FAQ adds that the tax office must mail bills to the address the appraisal district provides, so a change of mailing address goes to the district in writing.
• No bill is not a defense. The FAQ says state law makes the tax, penalty and interest valid whether or not a bill was sent or received.
• A protest still pending. If your hearing has not happened by the delinquency date, the FAQ points to Tax Code § 42.08: generally a payment meeting the Code's requirements must be made before that date, or you may lose the right to continue the protest or appeal.
• Installments for qualifying owners. Owners with an over-65, disabled or disabled veteran exemption can pay current homestead taxes in four parts. After the first quarter, payments are due by March 31, May 31 and July 31, and the FAQ lists a 6% penalty plus 1% interest per month on a missed installment.

Foreclosure, tenants and estates

A posted foreclosure. Property Code § 51.002 requires at least 21 days' notice before a first-Tuesday trustee's sale. For an Alvarado house the auction happens in Cleburne, on the steps outside the west doors of the Historic Courthouse, according to the clerk's foreclosure sales page, which also says the clerk is not involved in the sale itself. Our page on selling before a foreclosure explains the options.

A tenant. An eviction suit goes to the justice court for the precinct where the property sits (Property Code § 24.004). Use the precinct locator map on the Precinct 3 page to confirm your address is in that precinct before filing on Baugh Street.

An estate. Probate is opened in the county where the person who died lived (Estates Code § 33.001). For an Alvarado resident, that is Johnson County, even if the house being sold is somewhere else. Read about how long an executor has to sell.

Selling to Cash Home Advisors

You can sell your Alvarado house as-is, without making repairs. We pay all closing costs, and we can close in 7–14 days. Start with how it works or tell us about the house.

Local offices for this area

• Central Appraisal District of Johnson County
• Johnson County Tax Office: Locations and Hours
• Johnson County Tax Office: Rates and Exemptions
• Johnson County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
• Johnson County Clerk: Land Records

ZIP codes we buy in: 76009