Selling a Watauga House That Sits Empty or Rented

Watauga's vacant property registration

In Watauga, an empty house comes with paperwork of its own. Article III of Chapter 26 of the Watauga Code of Ordinances sets up a vacant property registration program, and it applies to any residence or structure that has been vacant for more than 90 days, except buildings owned by a government agency.

What the article asks of an owner:

1. Register within 90 days of the structure becoming vacant. Registration means filing a registration form, a vacant structure maintenance plan and the registration fee with the director (the public works director or a designee).
2. Renew every year on or before October 31, for as long as the structure stays vacant, until it is occupied again or ownership is transferred.
3. Report changes to the information on file within ten days. A new owner of a vacant structure must update the registration.
4. Keep it up. Registered properties must be kept free of weeds, dry brush, trash, junk, building materials and piled-up newspapers and flyers, on top of the city's general property rules.

The fee amounts are set by city council resolution, not printed in the article, so ask the city for the current figure. The article also lists exceptions to the fee, granted on the owner's written request. Two fit a seller: a vacant house that is actively marketed for sale or lease for less than 12 months by a licensed broker or an owner who advertises it regularly, and one that is under a contract for sale or lease for less than 12 months. Others cover a house with an issued permit for remodeling or repair, or one under active construction at least three business days a week. When the director finds a structure vacant, one way the code allows the notice to go out is by mail to the owner's address in Tarrant Appraisal District records, so keep that mailing address current after you move.

Appraisal, tax and deed offices for Watauga

The Census Bureau's 2024 estimate puts Watauga at 23,120 residents, all of them in Tarrant County (Census population estimates). Every Watauga address therefore deals with the same three county offices.

• The Tarrant Appraisal District sets the appraised value. Its property search works by address, owner name, account number or legal description, and the county tax office points out there is no fee to apply for exemptions through the district.
• The City of Watauga appears on the rate list of taxing units that the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector collects for. The same list carries a separate unit named Watauga PID (Park Vista). If that line shows on your statement, include it when you ask the tax office for a payoff.
• Deeds are filed with the Tarrant County Clerk, which charges $20 for the first page and $4 for each page after that.

Selling a Watauga rental: tenants and eviction court

If your Watauga house is rented out, decide early whether the buyer will take over with the tenant in place or whether the tenant needs to move out first, and read the lease with a Texas real estate attorney. If it comes to an eviction, Texas law sets two ground rules in Property Code chapter 24:

• Venue. Section 24.0041 says an eviction suit must be filed in the justice precinct where the property is located.
• Notice to vacate. Section 24.005 requires a landlord to give a tenant who defaults or stays past the rental term at least three days' written notice to vacate before filing, unless a written lease or agreement sets a shorter or longer period.

Tarrant County has eight justice of the peace courts, and the county's justice courts page lists each one with its address and a "What is my precinct" lookup, so check which court covers your Watauga address before filing. Those courts hear civil cases up to $20,000. The Precinct 6 page notes that the Tarrant County Sheriff and Constable fee for serving civil and eviction citations is $90 per defendant (JP Precinct 6). Landlords and tenants who need advice can contact the Fort Worth office of Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, which offers legal help for people who qualify. Our post on the risks of a vacant rental covers the gap between a tenant leaving and a sale.

Selling your Watauga house to Cash Home Advisors

You can sell your Watauga house to us as-is without making repairs. We can close in 7–14 days, and we pay all closing costs. Read how it works, look over our vacant house checklist, or request an offer.

Local offices for this area

• Watauga Code of Ordinances, Chapter 26, Article III (vacant property registration)
• Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector: property tax
• Tarrant County Clerk: real estate records
• Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts

ZIP codes we buy in: 76148