Selling a house in Commerce, TX

Three Hunt County offices, one of them in town

Commerce has 9,800 residents in the Census Bureau's population estimates, and the whole city sits in Hunt County. The county's appraisal district, main tax office and clerk are in Greenville, but one piece comes to town: the Hunt County Tax Office runs a Commerce sub-station in the Chamber of Commerce office at 1114 Main St., open Wednesdays only (903-408-4001).

• Who bills you. The Comptroller's county directory lists the City of Commerce and Commerce ISD among the units whose taxes the Hunt County Tax Assessor-Collector collects. Paying by card carries a 2.15% convenience fee, per the tax office's site.
• Who values the house. The Hunt Appraisal District, 4801 King St. in Greenville (903-454-3510), appraises property countywide. To dispute a value, you generally file a written protest with the Appraisal Review Board by May 15 or 30 days after your notice is delivered, whichever is later (Tax Code 41.44).
• Who records the deed. The Hunt County Clerk, 2507 Lee St., 2nd floor, Greenville (903-408-4130), which also takes probate filings.

Water deposits and transfer forms

Commerce sets its utility rules out plainly on the deposits, fees and forms page: a $150.00 residential deposit, paid in cash or by credit card (with a 3% processing fee on cards; no checks are accepted for deposits), and a $30.00 application/connection fee. Water goes on the same day when the deposit arrives before 3:00 p.m. The page also carries a Transfer Utility Service form and a Disconnect Utility Service form, the two that fit a move. City Hall is at 1119 Alamo St. (903-886-1100).

The same page lists a $25.00 Annual Residential Life, Health and Safety Inspection for rental properties only, plus a Landlord Program Application and a Residential Occupancy Inspection Request Form. Those tie into the city's rental article, below.

Selling a Commerce rental

If the Commerce house is a rental, the city's rental rules are in Article XII of Chapter 22. Its purpose section, 22-371, describes a city policy that requires a certificate of occupancy and a life, health and safety inspection before water service can be connected or reconnected to any residential structure in the city. Under section 22-373, a new owner of a rental has ten business days after taking ownership to apply, and a certificate is good for 12 calendar months; properties that are owner-occupied or have a homestead exemption are exempt as it relates to rental properties. Section 22-375 sets a fine of up to $2,000 per offense, with each day a separate offense.

The ten-business-day deadline in section 22-373 falls on the new owner of a residential rental structure, so a buyer who keeps renting the house has to file the residential occupancy application in time.

Weeds, unsafe buildings and permit penalties

Chapter 38 covers overgrown and neglected lots. After a weeds notice, the owner has seven days to comply under section 38-30; the notice can go to the address on the appraisal district's records, or be published or posted when personal service fails. If the city does the work, section 38-32 lets it file a statement of expenses in the county's real property records, creating a lien at 10% interest that is inferior only to tax liens and street-improvement liens. For a dangerous building, section 38-106 says that if an ordered repair, removal or demolition is not done in time, the city may secure, remove or demolish the building and charge the owner, with a lien unless the property is a homestead, or the city council may assess a civil penalty of up to $2,000 a day.

Two other rules affect a fixer-upper. Section 22-2 gives anyone caught working without a required permit 24 hours to get one and charges double the regular fee. And the city's Neighborhood Empowerment Zone page says that for projects in the zone the city will waive or reduce permit fees, tap fees and other development charges, and that mowing or labor liens on the property can be forgiven after a qualified project is completed. The application has to be submitted before construction begins.

Foreclosure, probate and eviction

Mortgage foreclosures for Commerce homes are generally sold at the Hunt County courthouse in Greenville on the first Tuesday of the month, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., after at least 21 days' posted, filed and mailed notice (Property Code 51.002). The county's Trustee Sales page sets the spot at the base of the central stairway on the second floor, or the north steps outside when the building is closed.

Probate is filed where the deceased owner lived (Estates Code 33.001), which for a Hunt County resident means the County Clerk in Greenville. An eviction goes to the justice court for the precinct where the property is located (Property Code 24.004). One of the county's JP offices is on Main Street in Commerce, but the statute ties the case to the precinct where the property is located, not to the nearest office; the Justice of the Peace page links a precinct map to check.

Selling to Cash Home Advisors

Cash Home Advisors buys houses in Commerce as-is, so you can sell without making repairs. We pay all closing costs and can close in 7–14 days.

Use our get-offer form to start, or read how it works first. Landlords may find our post on the risks of a vacant rental useful, and owners holding a family house can read selling an inherited house in Texas.

Local offices for this area

• City of Commerce Utility Services
• Hunt County Tax Assessor-Collector (Commerce sub-station)
• Hunt Appraisal District
• Hunt County Clerk

ZIP codes we buy in: 75428