Selling a Home in Murphy, TX

Collin County offices for a Murphy sale

Murphy is a Collin County city of about 21,109 people, per the Census Bureau's 2024 estimate, and it sits entirely inside Collin County. So the county side of a sale is simple. The Collin Central Appraisal District values the house and keeps its exemption record; protests are filed with the Collin Appraisal Review Board, which also hears them. The district's entity table lists the Collin County Tax Office as the collector for Murphy City. Your school district and any other taxing units appear on your own statement. The tax assessor-collector mails statements in October, with January 31 as the date to pay without penalty. Deeds and releases are recorded by the Collin County Clerk in McKinney.

The city side has more moving parts.

Shutting off Murphy water: the Monday-to-Thursday rule

The City of Murphy supplies water, sewer and sanitation itself, and its Utility Account Services page is specific about closing an account:

• Use the Account Change Form. The city does not take verbal requests; every account change must be in writing.
• Disconnects are processed Monday through Thursday only. None are done on Fridays, weekends or city holidays, and technicians can start as early as 7:30 a.m.
• The meter is turned off and locked. If you plan to clean the house, the city suggests setting the disconnect for the day after.
• Include a forwarding address. The deposit is applied to the final bill, and if money is left over, a refund check comes in the mail with that bill.

Put those rules on a calendar next to your closing date. A Friday closing with the shutoff requested for that day will not happen on that day.

Which repairs need a Murphy permit

If you plan to fix a few things before selling, the city's permit page draws a useful line. Cosmetic work such as painting, wallpaper, flooring, cabinets and trim does not need a permit, and neither does replacing plumbing fixtures. Bigger items do: re-roofing, foundation repairs, water heaters, windows, shower pans, fences, sewer and water line replacement, HVAC units, patios and remodels or additions. The page notes its list is not complete and sends project questions to the Customer Service Center at 972-468-4100.

The rule has teeth. Murphy's Code Compliance division lists doing work without a permit as a common violation. If a past roof or water heater went in without one, ask the city how to handle it before a buyer's inspector asks you. If you would rather not take on repairs at all, read about selling a house that needs repairs.

Code violations that show up during a move

A few items on Murphy's list of common code violations tend to catch people in the middle of a move:

• Signs. Illegal placement of signs, real estate signs among them, along with garage sale and directional signs.
• Trash timing. Setting residential trash out too early for the collection time, and leaving old furniture, appliances or other debris in view.
• Yard and fences. Grass and weeds taller than 10 inches, and fences that are falling down, out of plumb or propped up with braces instead of new posts.
• Vehicles. Inoperable vehicles on the lot, or a boat, trailer or RV parked on a residential lot.

The division says its aim is voluntary compliance through education. Reports go through the Murphy Connect portal, and the Code Compliance Coordinator is at 206 N. Murphy Rd., 972-468-4055.

Inherited Murphy homes and probate

When a Murphy house passes to children after a parent dies, the estate usually has to go through probate before anyone can sign a deed. Texas sets venue in the county where the person who died lived (Estates Code 33.001). For a parent who lived in Murphy, that points to the Collin County Probate Court; its probate FAQ says an attorney is required in every case where someone must be approved to administer the estate. A parent who had moved to assisted living in another county may have a different venue, so confirm it with a probate attorney.

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas helps qualifying Collin County residents with wills and estates and other civil matters; its McKinney office takes applications at 972-542-9405. Our inherited house guide covers the selling side, and when heirs get paid answers a question families ask early.

Selling to Cash Home Advisors

Sell the house as-is, with no repairs first. We pay all closing costs, and we can close in 7–14 days. Se habla español.

Read how it works, see our page on selling to downsize, or get an offer on your Murphy home.

Local offices for this area

• Collin Central Appraisal District
• Collin County Tax Assessor-Collector: Property Taxes
• Collin County Clerk: Land Recordings
• City of Murphy Utility Account Services
• City of Murphy Code Compliance
• City of Murphy: When a Permit Is Required

ZIP codes we buy in: 75094