Selling a House in Wilmer, TX

When Wilmer treats a house as vacant

Wilmer's code has a whole article on empty buildings. Article 3.06, Vacant Building Registration, defines a vacant building as one, whatever its condition, that is not occupied by its owner, lessees or other invitees. An owner of a vacant building must obtain and keep a current certificate of registration, but only when every building on the lot is vacant.

The code lists defenses that matter to a seller. Registration is not needed when the building:

• was occupied at some point in the last 30 days;
• is being marketed and advertised for sale or lease and was occupied within the last 120 days;
• is being renovated, repaired or demolished with all necessary permits and was occupied within the last 120 days;
• was occupied when a fire, flood or storm that was not the owner's doing left it unable to be occupied, and no more than 120 days have passed.

So a house that went on the market soon after the last person moved out may be covered by a defense for a while. Once a house has been empty for more than 120 days, listed or not, the defenses tied to recent occupancy no longer fit and a certificate may be required.

What the vacant building certificate requires

The application in section 3.06.002 is detailed. It asks for every owner and every mortgagee or lienholder, the last date the building was occupied, a sketch or diagram of the building and premises, a vacant building plan, proof of insurance and documentary evidence that the property taxes owed have been paid. A post office box is not accepted as the address of the owner or the emergency contact. Other parts of the article add:

• liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 that names the city as an additional insured (section 3.06.006);
• an emergency contact who can arrive at the property within one hour of being contacted by a city employee about an emergency (section 3.06.004);
• fees in amounts set by the city council, paid with the first application and with each renewal (section 3.06.003);
• a fine of up to $500 per violation, or up to $2,000 for rules on fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, with each day counted as a separate offense (section 3.06.012).

For a sale, two lines stand out. A certificate is not transferable to a new owner, and it expires when ownership of the building changes. The building official must also be told in writing within seven days of any material change in the application information, including a change of ownership. If the house is still vacant after the sale and the rule applies, the buyer would need a certificate of its own.

Your water deposit and final bill

Article 13.03 of the city code covers water and sewer service. Section 13.03.004 says a customer pays the required deposits when applying for service, and the city holds them, without interest, until service is terminated. Any unpaid balance is deducted from the deposit and the rest is refunded. The same section says a delinquent notice goes out on the sixteenth of the month, and if payment is not received by the twenty-fifth, the city may disconnect service until all charges are paid. Water and garbage collection can both be discontinued for nonpayment. If you are moving out before closing, ask City Hall how to end service so the final bill and the deposit refund reach you.

Dallas County offices for a Wilmer address

The Census Bureau counted 6,774 Wilmer residents in its 2024 estimate and lists Dallas County as the city's only county. That means one set of county offices:

• The Dallas Central Appraisal District appraises property for the 61 local governing bodies in the county and links its uFILE online protest system. Under Tax Code section 41.44, a written protest is filed with the appraisal review board, which hears it (Tax Code ch. 41).
• The Dallas County Tax Office lists Wilmer among the cities whose property taxes it collects under contract. Ask it for a payoff figure if a bill is past due.
• The County Clerk's Recording Division records deeds and releases of lien at 500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, in downtown Dallas. The clerk also offers a free property fraud alert sign-up.

Behind on the mortgage

A Texas trustee sale is held on the first Tuesday of the month after a notice posted at least 21 days earlier (Property Code section 51.002). Dallas County's foreclosure notice page sorts notices by city and month, and sales take place on the north side of the George Allen Courts Building, facing 600 Commerce Street. The county's Home Loan Counseling Center, a HUD-approved agency, offers foreclosure counseling in English and Spanish at (214) 819-6060. Our page on selling before a foreclosure sale explains the steps.

Selling to Cash Home Advisors

If the house is empty and needs work, you can sell it as-is, without making repairs. We pay all closing costs and we can close in 7–14 days. Use the form to tell us about the property, or read how it works and our post on selling a vacant house.

Local offices for this area

• Dallas Central Appraisal District
• Dallas County Tax Office (jurisdictions it collects for)
• Dallas County Clerk, Recording Division
• Wilmer Code: Vacant Building Registration (Art. 3.06)
• Wilmer Code: Water and Sewer (Art. 13.03)
• Dallas County Home Loan Counseling Center (HUD-approved)

ZIP codes we buy in: 75146, 75172