County Investing Guide · Texas Tax Deed

Bexar County, Texas Tax Deed Investing Guide

Q: Do I have to pay in full on the day of the sale?

Yes — and you must pay within two hours

San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing cities in America — and Bexar County's constable tax deed sales offer investors access to a deep, diverse property market. This guide walks you through every step: how sales work, the redemption clock, unique military-area risks, and how to research every parcel before you bid.

2 yrs

Homestead Redemption Period

25%

Year-1 Redemption Penalty

50%

Year-2 Redemption Penalty

6 mo

Non-Homestead Redemption

Quick Answer

Bexar County conducts tax deed sales through the constable's office, typically held on the first Tuesday of each month at the Bexar County Courthouse. Texas is a redeemable deed state: homestead and agricultural properties have a two-year redemption window; all other properties have six months. Investors receive a deed at sale but must wait out the redemption period before the title fully clears. A critical Bexar-specific risk: properties near Joint Base San Antonio may carry Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections that can void a tax sale entirely.

Understanding the Bexar County Tax Sale Market

Bexar County covers over 1,200 square miles and is home to more than 2.1 million residents, making it the fourth most populous county in Texas and one of the fastest-growing in the nation. San Antonio's economy is anchored by military installations — Joint Base San Antonio encompasses Lackland Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Randolph Air Force Base — alongside healthcare, tourism, and a rapidly expanding tech sector.

For tax deed investors, this translates to a broad property inventory spanning inner-city infill lots, established suburban homes, rural acreage, and commercial parcels. The volume of delinquent properties hitting the constable's sale each month is significant, giving investors regular opportunities. However, the military presence introduces a layer of federal law that is essentially unique to Bexar County at this scale among Texas metro markets.

Market Snapshot

Bexar County routinely lists 300–600+ properties per monthly constable sale. Many are resolved through pre-sale payment by the owner, but the sheer volume means active investors see a wide range of property types, neighborhoods, and price points every single month.

How Tax Deed Sales Work in Bexar County

Texas law requires counties to sell tax-delinquent properties through a constable or sheriff's sale. Bexar County uses the constable system. Here is the process from start to finish:

Property Becomes Delinquent

Texas property taxes are due January 31. After February 1, penalties and interest begin accruing. If taxes remain unpaid, the taxing unit files suit in district court to obtain a judgment authorizing the sale.

Notice and Publication

A Notice of Constable's Sale is published in a local newspaper for at least three consecutive weeks before the sale date. The list is also posted at the Bexar County Courthouse and online through the county's delinquent tax attorney.

Pre-Sale Registration — Required, NOT Optional

Two filings are required before sale day. (1) File a notarized Written Statement Regarding Delinquent Taxes (Tex. Tax Code §34.015) with the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector — $10 fee, valid 90 days, allow at least 10 business days for processing. (2) Register in person with the Bexar County Sheriff Civil Division at 200 N. Comal, San Antonio, Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, the week before the sale. Registration is not accepted on sale day. Bidders without both documents will be turned away.

Sale Day — First Tuesday of the Month

Sales are held on the first Tuesday of each month (excluding legal holidays) at the Bexar County Courthouse, 100 Dolorosa Street, San Antonio. Bidding typically begins at 10:00 AM on the courthouse steps or in the designated sale area.

Bidding and Payment — 2-Hour Window

Bidding is open and competitive. The opening bid (minimum) is set at the total amount of taxes, penalties, interest, and attorney fees owed. Payment must be made by cashier's check or money order for the exact amount within two hours of winning the bid — bring blank cashier's checks made out to the Bexar County Sheriff. Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted. Failure to pay results in a one-year ban from future Bexar sales. Note: post-judgment property taxes (the current tax year, plus any taxes that accrued after the judgment was entered) survive the sale and become the buyer's obligation — budget for them on top of your bid.

Deed Issuance

After payment, the constable issues a Sheriff's/Constable's Deed. This deed is recorded in the Bexar County Clerk's office. The deed transfers title to the investor, subject to the redemption period and any surviving interests.

Redemption Period Runs

The former owner has the right to redeem the property by paying the investor the purchase price plus the applicable penalty (25% in year one, 50% in year two for homesteads; 25% for non-homesteads within six months). Once the period expires without redemption, the investor's title becomes final.

Redemption Period Rules — The Critical Timeline

Texas's redeemable deed structure is the most important concept for Bexar County investors to understand. The redemption period depends entirely on property classification:

Property Type	Redemption Period	Penalty — Year 1	Penalty — Year 2
Homestead (primary residence)	2 years	25%	50%
Agricultural / Timber (1-d-1)	2 years	25%	50%
All other property	6 months	25%	N/A

What the penalty means for you

If you purchase a homestead for $40,000 and the owner redeems in month 13 (year two), they must pay you $40,000 × 1.50 = $60,000. Your $20,000 gain is your entire return regardless of what improvements you made. You cannot recover renovation costs beyond this formula.

⚠ Do Not Improve a Property in Redemption — Texas law does not allow investors to recover the cost of improvements made during the redemption period if the owner redeems. Never spend significant money on a property until the redemption period has fully expired.

The SCRA Risk — Bexar County's Most Unique Hazard

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is a federal law that protects active-duty military members from certain civil actions, including tax sales. If a property owner is on active military duty at the time of the sale — or was in the period leading up to it — the sale may be voidable under federal law. A federal court can set aside the constable's deed.

With three major military installations in Bexar County, the proportion of property owners who are active-duty service members is substantially higher here than in virtually any other Texas county. This risk is not hypothetical — it has affected investors before.

⚠ SCRA Search Is Non-Negotiable in Bexar County — Before bidding on any property, run the owner's name through the Department of Defense SCRA website (scra.dmdc.osd.mil) to verify active-duty status. LienScout Pro flags this risk in our research reports. An SCRA-protected sale can be voided even after you've held the property for years.

Due Diligence Priorities for Bexar County

Thorough research before the sale is what separates profitable investments from costly mistakes. Here is what to investigate for every Bexar County property:

Title & Ownership Issues

Run SCRA check on all owners of record
Search for bankruptcy filings (federal automatic stay)
Check for IRS federal tax liens (survive the sale)
Verify chain of title at Bexar County Clerk
Look for multiple owner names / heir property issues

Property Condition

Drive the property before bidding — no exceptions
Check City of San Antonio code enforcement records — LienScout pulls open 311 cases (zoning violations, building-without-permit, dangerous premises, certificate-of-occupancy issues) directly from the city's ArcGIS feed and attaches them to each Bexar parcel
Look for demolition orders or dangerous structure notices
Review FEMA flood map (many areas near Leon Creek, Salado Creek)
Verify utilities are available (especially for rural parcels)

Legal Encumbrances

HOA dues and special assessments (may survive)
Environmental liens (gas stations, dry cleaners)
Mechanic's liens
Easements affecting use or access
Deed restrictions in older neighborhoods

Value & Marketability

Pull comp sales within 0.5 miles, last 12 months
Check Bexar Appraisal District (bcad.org) for assessed value
Verify legal access / road frontage for rural lots
Confirm zoning and permitted use
Research any pending rezoning or development plans

Key Resources and Contacts

Resource	Details
Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector	bexar.org/tax · (210) 335-2251
Bexar Appraisal District	bcad.org · (210) 242-2432
Bexar County Clerk	bexar.org/clerk · deed/lien records
Delinquent Tax Attorney (county)	Listed on bexar.org tax sale notices
SCRA Active Duty Verification	scra.dmdc.osd.mil (free)
City Code Enforcement	sanantonio.gov/DSD
FEMA Flood Maps	msc.fema.gov

Frequently Asked Questions — Bexar County Tax Deeds

Do I have to pay in full on the day of the sale?

Yes — and you must pay within two hours of winning the bid. Bring cashier's checks or money orders made out to the Bexar County Sheriff for the exact amount (cash and personal checks are not accepted). Winning bidders who cannot pay forfeit their bid and are barred from future Bexar sales for one year. You also need a notarized Written Statement Regarding Delinquent Taxes (Tex. Tax Code §34.015, $10, valid 90 days) on file with the Tax Assessor-Collector and pre-sale registration with the Sheriff Civil Division at 200 N. Comal — both are required, neither can be done on sale day.

Can the previous owner still live in the home during the redemption period?

Yes. During the redemption period, the former owner retains the right to occupy the property. You cannot legally remove them until the redemption period expires and you pursue a formal eviction if they remain. Factor this into your plans when bidding on occupied residential properties.

What happens if no one bids on a property?

If a property receives no bids at or above the minimum, it is "struck off" to the taxing unit. The property then becomes available for negotiated sale directly through the county or city — sometimes at a significant discount. LienScout Pro tracks struck-off inventory as well as auction results.

Does a constable's deed clear all liens?

A Texas constable's deed extinguishes most junior liens, including mortgages and judgment liens. However, it does NOT wipe out IRS federal tax liens (if the IRS had proper notice), HOA super-liens in some circumstances, or environmental liens. Always search for these specifically.

How do I find the sale list before auction day?

The constable's sale list is published in a local newspaper and posted at the courthouse. The county's delinquent tax attorney (typically linebarger.com or perduebrandon.com for Bexar County accounts) also publishes lists online. LienScout Pro aggregates and enriches this data so you can research properties weeks in advance.

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