Sell Your Arlington House As-Is

Arlington's vacant house registration

Arlington has a rule many sellers do not know about until a letter arrives. Under the city's vacant structure registration chapter, the owner of a building that has been empty for more than 180 days must register it with the city, file a vacant structure maintenance plan and pay an annual registration fee set by City Council resolution. After the first filing, the registration is renewed on or before October 31 every year until someone moves in or the house changes hands, and a new owner of a still-vacant house has to update the registration.

The chapter also lists three exceptions to the fee that an owner can ask for in writing: a vacant house that is being actively marketed for sale or lease for less than 12 months, one that is under a contract for sale or lease for less than 12 months, and one with a city building permit issued for remodel or repair. Each offense carries a fine of up to $500, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.

Houses in worse shape can land with the city's Dangerous and Substandard Structures team in Code Compliance. That page lists a DSS administrative fee of $375 plus the contractor's fee for each abatement, meaning work the city has done on the property. If you inherited an empty house in Arlington or moved out months ago, check for a registration notice or an open case before you set a closing date. Our vacant house checklist covers the rest of the upkeep.

One county, three offices

Arlington sits entirely in Tarrant County, according to the Census Bureau, which estimated the city's population at 403,672 in 2024 (city and town population totals). That makes the county paperwork simpler than in cities that straddle a county line: one appraisal district, one tax office and one county clerk.

• Value and exemptions: the Tarrant Appraisal District appraises every Arlington parcel, accepts homestead exemption filings and is where you file a value protest. TAD's property search works by address, owner name, account number or legal description.
• Tax bills: the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector. Its list of entities it collects for, with 2026 rates, includes the City of Arlington and Arlington ISD. If a bill is delinquent, the office notes that each city, county or school entity uses its own collection attorney.
• Deeds and liens: the Tarrant County Clerk's real estate records, where Arlington deeds are recorded.

City services to settle before you move

Closing the water account

Arlington Water Utilities will take a final reading and close your account when the address is an active account, you give a definite end date within 30 calendar days, and you provide a forwarding address for the final statement and deposit refund. You can ask through your online account or by calling 817-275-5931 during business hours, and the change happens on the business day after the request.

If you would rather repair than sell

The city's Housing Rehabilitation program pays 100% of eligible repairs up to $24,500 for owners who live in the home, inside Arlington city limits, with household income at or below 80% of area median income. Applicants must be current on property taxes, insurance and the mortgage. Covered work includes electrical, heating and plumbing, roofs, porches, windows, doors and foundations. A separate emergency repair grant goes up to $10,000 per three-year period. The office number is 817-276-6707. If repairs would let you stay, call that office first.

Foreclosure, probate and tenants in Arlington

Foreclosure. Arlington homes go to auction in Fort Worth, not Arlington. Tarrant County's foreclosure sales are held on the first Tuesday of the month at the base of the steps on the west side of the courthouse at 100 West Weatherford Street. Under Property Code 51.002, the notice has to be filed with the county clerk and posted at least 21 days before the sale, and a homeowner must first get at least 20 days to cure the default. The clerk lets the public read notices on the county's official records search, but questions about a particular sale go to the lender. A HUD-approved counselor can help you talk to your servicer: Housing Opportunities of Fort Worth counsels residents of Tarrant and nearby counties, and HUD's counselor search lists more. Our post on stopping foreclosure in DFW lays out the timeline.

Probate. Estates filed in Tarrant County go to its two statutory probate courts, Probate Court No. 1 and No. 2. A probate attorney can explain what the court must approve before an heir or executor signs a deed.

Tenants. Property Code 24.0041 requires an eviction to be filed in the justice precinct where the property is located. Tarrant County has eight justice courts, and the Precinct 2 court sits in downtown Arlington; it reports more than 15,000 filings a year, including evictions. Use the county's justice precincts map to confirm which court covers your street. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas offers free civil legal help to people who qualify.

Selling to Cash Home Advisors

You can sell as-is, without making repairs, whether the house is vacant, rented or part of an estate. We can close in 7–14 days and we pay all closing costs. Se habla español.

Read how it works, look over our notes on selling a vacant house, or tell us about your Arlington house.

Local offices for this area

• Tarrant Appraisal District
• Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector: property tax
• Tarrant County Clerk: real estate records
• City of Arlington: Dangerous and Substandard Structures
• Arlington Water Utilities: my water account
• City of Arlington: Housing Rehabilitation

ZIP codes we buy in: 76001, 76002, 76005, 76006, 76010, 76011, 76012, 76013, 76014, 76015, 76016, 76017, 76018