How payoffs work
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
The creditor or tax office named on the current notice confirms its balance and instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims, then uses the confirmed payoff information in the closing figures. Your mortgage, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate from the closing costs we pay.
Records that can help
A tax bill or notice, lender or creditor payoff statement, mortgage information, deed, parcel information, or court or sale notice can help show which account or record is involved. The creditor or tax office confirms its current balance; the title company checks the property records for the sale.
You can call with the address before you have everything. If you have a notice or payoff statement, we can talk through what it says and which office or creditor it names.
If the payoff is the problem
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
What happens next
1. Talk through the house
Tell us the Big Spring address and what you know about the lien, tax account, or notice. Start with what you have; you do not need to resolve the payoff before calling.
2. Review the written offer and terms
We discuss the house as it stands and provide a written offer and terms before you commit. Read the price, responsibilities, payoff treatment, and closing terms before deciding whether to proceed.
3. The title company checks sale details
If you choose to proceed, the title company reviews ownership and recorded claims. The creditor or tax office confirms current payoff information and instructions used in the closing paperwork.
4. Review the closing figures and close
The closing figures show the sale price, payoffs, taxes, fees, and amount remaining after those items. The sale closes through a title company.
Howard County records, tax sales, and Texas transfer tax
Big Spring's reference point is in Howard County; the property address and records determine which county office applies.
Howard County Tax Assessor / Collector
Use the County tax office for property-tax account and tax-office questions. It can direct you to the information for the current account; the title company and responsible taxing office confirm the figures and payoff instructions for a sale.
Howard County Clerk
The County Clerk provides county-records routing and recording information. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the specific sale.
Howard Central Appraisal District
The appraisal district is a separate office for appraisal-district contact and property-search information; it is distinct from the County Clerk and County Tax Assessor / Collector.
A property-tax sale is not a mortgage foreclosure
A property-tax sale and a lender's mortgage foreclosure are separate processes with different notices and dates. Use the current tax notice and the tax office or court named there for a property-tax matter; mortgage-foreclosure dates do not set a tax-sale deadline. For the lender process, see the Big Spring mortgage-foreclosure page.
Texas transfer tax and deed recording
Texas has no state, county, or city real-estate transfer tax on a sale that conveys full ownership of real property. The deed is signed before a notary and recorded with the county clerk. Recording fees are charged by the page, not the sale price, and can be higher if the deed leaves out the buyer's mailing address.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
Texas Constitution, Article VIII, Section 29 →Texas Legislative Council transfer-tax analysis →Howard County Clerk recording information →
Compare possible net proceeds
Use the Big Spring home-sale net proceeds calculator with your own estimates for the house, mortgage, lien or tax payoff, repairs, and closing costs. The calculator is an estimate, not an offer for a specific property.
Questions and contact
Big Spring property-liens and back-taxes questions
Can I sell my Big Spring house with back taxes or liens before paying them?
When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. The creditor or tax office confirms current amounts and payoff instructions, and the title company reviews the records for the sale. You can call with the address before you have every document.
Who checks the lien or back-tax payoff?
The creditor or tax office named on a notice confirms its current balance and payoff instructions. The title company reviews ownership and recorded claims and works the confirmed information into the closing figures.
What records help when I call about a lien or tax bill?
A property address, parcel information, tax bill or notice, creditor payoff statement, mortgage information, deed, or court or sale notice can help. Start with what you have; you can call before every record is together.
Is a property-tax sale the same as mortgage foreclosure?
No. A property-tax sale and a lender mortgage foreclosure are separate processes with different notices and dates. Use the current tax notice and the tax office or court named there for a property-tax matter. The Big Spring foreclosure page covers the mortgage-foreclosure process.
Does Texas charge a real-estate transfer tax when I sell?
Texas has no state, county, or city real-estate transfer tax on a sale that conveys full ownership of real property. The deed still has to be notarized and recorded with the county clerk, and recording fees are separate. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs; your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
What if the payoff is more than my house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
What happens after I contact you?
We talk about the house and what you know, then provide a written offer and terms before you commit. If you choose to proceed, the title company checks ownership and payoff details and handles the closing paperwork.
Call 888-274-5006 or use the cash-offer form to talk through the address and what you know.