Houston County CAD – Property Search, Records & Appraisal District

by
Houston County, Texas Property Search and Tax Guide

Send the Correct Houston County Parcel Through Piney Woods Search, GIS, Special Valuation, Protest Evidence and the Right Tax Collector

Houston County appraisal records cover homes and businesses in Crockett, Grapeland, Lovelady, Kennard and Latexo, rural acreage, farms, timberland, wildlife property, beekeeping tracts, manufactured homes, minerals and business equipment.

This guide explains Houston CAD’s detailed property search, interactive parcel map, preliminary 2026 values, exemption and special-valuation forms, online protest system, split tax-collection workflow and County Clerk land records.

Critical local rule: Houston CAD collects taxes for several city and school accounts, while the Houston County Tax Office collects county, hospital, emergency-service and Elkhart ISD accounts. Check the taxing entity before paying.
Search Houston CAD Open Interactive GIS Open Official Forms Find the Correct Tax Office
Chief Appraiser Carey Minter
Houston CAD phone 936-544-9655
CAD address 1512-B E. Loop 304, Crockett
2026 value status Preliminary until certification

Critical Corrections to the Existing Houston County Page

Existing or Incomplete Detail Current Official Information Why It Matters
Every property-tax payment was routed to the County Tax Office Houston CAD directly collects taxes for Crockett, Lovelady, Kennard, Latexo and Grapeland school or city accounts listed by the district. A taxpayer sent to the wrong office may not clear the actual city or school balance.
Houston CAD was described only as the appraisal office Houston CAD performs appraisal duties and collections for its participating city and school taxing units. Owners need HCAD for some statements, payments, receipts and delinquent balances.
County Tax Office duties were described too broadly The County Tax Office lists Houston County, hospital districts, ESD No. 1, ESD No. 2 and Elkhart ISD among its collected entities. The collector depends on the entity, not merely the county where the parcel is located.
Search help focused on owner, address and account only Houston CAD supports owner, property and advanced searches using abstract, subdivision, lease, deed, volume, page, category, acreage, value and protest fields. Rural land, minerals, businesses and historical ownership often need more precise filters.
2026 values were not clearly identified as preliminary Houston CAD property records state that 2026 values are preliminary and may change before certification. A preliminary amount should not be presented as the final certified appraisal.
GIS was treated like a boundary source Houston CAD warns that displayed acreage and legal descriptions are for appraisal research and should be independently verified for legal use. A CAD parcel outline does not replace a deed, title report or professional survey.
Agricultural guidance lacked local intensity facts The district’s published guidance describes a general 10-acre minimum, five-of-seven-year history and local grazing or production standards. Ownership of rural acreage alone does not establish agricultural qualification.
Timberland was grouped with ordinary agricultural land Houston CAD publishes separate timber, restricted-use timber, wildlife and agricultural applications and guidance. Piney Woods timberland needs management, production and use-history evidence specific to forestry.
Beekeeping requirements were generic Houston CAD links local beekeeping guidance with an acreage-and-hive schedule, but the published PDF is dated December 2014. Owners should use it only as a starting point and confirm the current 2026 standard before filing.
No complete deed-search workflow The County Clerk provides an official online land-record system and separate recording contacts and filing hours. The CAD owner field does not reveal every deed, lien, release, easement or mineral reservation.
The old tax-payment workflow was incorrect. Do not send every Houston County tax question to one office. First identify the taxing unit, then use Houston CAD or the Houston County Tax Office as shown below.

Which Office Handles Your Houston County Property Task?

Houston County Appraisal District Property search, ownership maintenance, market value, exemptions, agricultural or timber appraisal, renditions, GIS and protests.
Houston CAD Collections Tax statements, payments, balances and receipts for the participating city and school entities identified by Houston CAD.
Houston County Tax Office County, hospital, emergency-service and Elkhart ISD tax accounts listed by the Tax Assessor-Collector.
Appraisal Review Board Formal hearings involving market value, unequal appraisal, exemptions, agricultural or timber qualification and other protestable CAD actions.
Houston County Clerk Deeds, deeds of trust, releases, liens, easements, plats, probate instruments and mineral records.
Pritchard & Abbott Contract appraisal work for mineral, utility and industrial accounts handled through Houston CAD.
Surveyor or Title Company Exact boundaries, legal access, encroachments, easements, title commitments and mineral reservations.
Taxpayer Liaison Officer Helps explain appraisal and ARB procedures but does not decide values, negotiate taxes or provide legal representation.
Fast routing trick Start every call with the Property ID and taxing entity. One property can have its appraisal at Houston CAD while separate balances are maintained by different collectors.

Choose Your Houston County Property Task

Search Property Records Fix a Failed Search Read the Property Card Use the GIS Map Understand Values Apply for Exemptions Agricultural Land Timber and Wildlife Beekeeping Business Property Minerals and Utilities Prepare a Protest Check Late Remedies Find the Tax Collector Search Deeds and Liens Download CAD Data Contacts and Map

What to Try When the Houston CAD Search Finds Nothing

Search Problem Better Method Why It Helps
Full owner name fails Use only the first or last name. Initials, spouses, trusts and estates may be indexed differently.
New buyer is missing Search the seller or former owner. Deed recording and CAD ownership updates do not always occur together.
Rural tract has no useful address Use abstract, survey, legal description, Geographic ID or GIS. Rural property is often indexed by survey information instead of postal address.
Historical property is hard to find Use previous owner, deed date, volume, page or file number. Houston CAD’s All Criteria search includes deed-history fields.
Mineral account is missing Select Mineral Property and search owner, lease, trust or estate variations. Mineral ownership can be separate from surface ownership.
Business property is missing Select Personal Property and search the legal owner or DBA. Equipment and inventory may not be listed under the building owner.
Too many results Add subdivision, abstract, category, acreage, Property ID or Geographic ID. Additional fields separate common names and large ownership groups.
Need protest information Use protest-status, agent or value fields in the advanced criteria. These filters narrow accounts involved in an appraisal dispute.
“I am trying to locate a Houston CAD account. The current or former owner is ______. The property is near ______. It is a home / farm / timber / mineral / business account. My Property ID, abstract, lease or deed clue is ______.”

How to Read a Houston CAD Property Record

Record Field Meaning What to Check
Property ID Primary appraisal-account identifier. Use it on calls, forms, protests, tax searches and evidence labels.
Geographic ID Geographic or mapping-related identifier. Useful for rural tracts without a reliable street address.
Legal description CAD summary of the abstract, survey, subdivision, lot, block or tract. Compare it with the recorded deed before using it legally.
Market value Houston CAD’s January 1 opinion of market value. Compare condition, size, acreage, use, access and market evidence.
Appraised value Value after an applicable cap, limitation or productivity appraisal. It may differ from market value because of homestead, agricultural or timber treatment.
Taxable value Value remaining for a taxing unit after exemptions and limitations. The amount can differ among county, city, school, hospital and emergency-service entities.
Exemptions Approved homestead, age, disability, veteran or other exemption codes. Confirm each expected benefit for the correct year.
Land details Acreage, classification, market value and productivity value. Review each tract when one operation spans multiple accounts.
Deed history CAD ownership-maintenance references from recorded transfers. Use the County Clerk’s actual records for full documents and title research.
Taxing entities Local units associated with the parcel. Use this list to determine which office collects each tax.
Research-only warning: Houston CAD states that online acreage and legal descriptions are for appraisal research and should be independently verified before being used for a deed, contract or survey.

How to Use the Houston CAD Interactive GIS Map

1
Find the appraisal account first.

Copy the Property ID, Geographic ID, owner, acreage and legal-description clues.

2
Open the official interactive map.

Use the BIS GIS linked by Houston CAD rather than an unofficial parcel-map service.

3
Locate the parcel and surrounding accounts.

Compare roads, subdivisions, abstracts, tracts and adjoining Property IDs.

4
Check every related polygon.

Farms, timber operations, family estates and inherited land may be divided among several appraisal parcels.

5
Save a dated image.

Label the map with the Property ID before using it in a correction request or protest file.

The GIS map can help with
  • General parcel location
  • Neighboring appraisal accounts
  • Rural tract orientation
  • Road and subdivision context
  • Locating land without a normal address
The GIS map cannot prove
  • Exact boundary monuments
  • Legal access
  • Timber or mineral ownership
  • Easement rights
  • Clear title
Wooded-land tip Dense tree cover can hide roads, drainage and improvements. Compare CAD mapping with the deed, survey, aerial imagery and an on-site inspection.
Official GIS: Open the Houston CAD Interactive Map.

Market Value, Appraised Value and Taxable Value

Market Value → Cap or Special Appraisal → Exemptions → Taxable Value
Market value Houston CAD’s estimate of what the property would sell for under normal market conditions as of January 1.
Appraised value The amount after an applicable homestead limitation, circuit-breaker limitation or special productivity appraisal.
Taxable value The amount each taxing unit uses after exemptions and applicable limitations.
2026 non-homestead limitation: Certain qualifying non-homestead real property valued at $5,320,000 or less may receive the temporary 20% circuit-breaker limitation. Agricultural, timber and several special-appraisal categories are excluded.
Homestead-cap misunderstanding: The residence-homestead appraisal limitation does not prevent the market-value line from increasing by more than 10%. It limits qualifying appraised value under the statutory formula.

Houston County Homestead and Related Exemptions

Current school exemptions: The Texas school-district residence-homestead exemption is $140,000. Qualifying age-65 or disabled homeowners receive an additional $60,000 school exemption.
General residence homestead For the owner’s principal residence when ownership and occupancy requirements are satisfied.
Age 65 or older May provide an additional exemption, school-tax ceiling, installment options and possible tax deferral.
Disabled person May provide additional exemption relief, a tax ceiling and installment or deferral options.
Disabled veteran Relief depends on the qualifying disability rating and statutory exemption category.
Surviving spouse Survivor benefits may apply when ownership, residence and remarriage requirements are met.
Heir property Inherited owners without a conventional deed may use permitted affidavits and supporting ownership evidence.

Practical Filing Steps

1
Download the current Form 50-114.

Use Houston CAD’s official forms page rather than an old form saved from another county.

2
Confirm ownership and principal residence.

Use the date you acquired and began occupying the home.

3
Attach identification.

Houston CAD states that the driver’s license copy or other required Texas Property Tax Code information must accompany the homestead application.

4
Attach special ownership evidence.

Inherited property, manufactured homes, disability or veteran claims may require additional affidavits or records.

5
Keep proof of delivery.

Save the complete application and a stamped copy, certified-mail receipt or electronic confirmation.

6
Verify approval on the property record.

Submitting a form does not itself prove that the exemption was approved.

Missed the regular deadline? Certain qualifying residence-homestead applications may be filed during a statutory late-filing period. Submit the application and contact Houston CAD promptly.
Official exemption forms: Open Houston CAD Forms.

Agricultural Special Appraisal in Houston County

Rural acreage alone does not qualify. Houston CAD’s published guidance requires current principal agricultural use, qualifying use history and local degree-of-intensity standards.
Filing period The district’s published guidance describes filing between January 1 and April 30.
Use history Land generally must have qualified agricultural or timber use in five of the preceding seven years.
General acreage The local guidance describes a general minimum of 10 acres for agricultural qualification.
Inspection The district may inspect the land and request proof that the operation meets local intensity.

Examples from the Published Local Guidance

Operation Published Starting Point Evidence to Prepare
General grazing The guidance describes at least five animal units and approximately one cow per three to five acres, depending on conditions. Livestock records, lease, fencing, water, pasture, feed and veterinary documentation.
Native hay The guidance references two to three cuttings and approximately 3,000 pounds per acre. Cutting, baling, sale, fertilizer, equipment and production records.
Improved hay The guidance references two to three cuttings and approximately 6,000 pounds per acre. Planting, fertilizer, weed control, cutting, baling and sales records.
Temporary idle period A reasonable one- or two-year interruption caused by weather, economics or operational transition may be reviewed individually. Drought records, prior production, repair work, transition plans and dated photographs.

Houston CAD’s online agricultural guidance should be treated as a local starting point. The district states that standards may change, so confirm the current 2026 acreage and intensity requirements before filing.

Application File Checklist

  • Form 50-129
  • Map of every Property ID
  • Lease or operator agreement
  • Livestock purchase and sale records
  • Feed, seed and veterinary receipts
  • Fencing, pasture and water records
  • Hay, crop or production records
  • Dated photographs
  • Five-of-seven-year use history
  • Explanation of idle or transition periods
Change-of-use warning: Converting qualified agricultural land to a nonqualifying use can create additional taxes and interest. Obtain current written guidance before development or a major operational change.
Official agricultural resources: Open the Houston CAD Agricultural Application, Guidelines and Land-Class Forms.

Timberland and Wildlife Management in Houston County

Timber productivity appraisal Qualifying land must be principally devoted to growing timber or forest products at the local degree of intensity.
Restricted-use timber Separate applications and maps may be needed for streamside management zones, aesthetic management zones or reforestation areas.
Wildlife management Land generally must have qualified agricultural or timber appraisal in the preceding year before changing to wildlife-management use.

Published Timber Starting Points

Published Guideline Practical Meaning
Application between January 1 and April 30 Do not wait until after receiving a value notice to begin gathering forestry evidence.
Five of the preceding seven years of qualifying agricultural or timber use Prepare ownership, management and production history—not only current photographs.
General minimum of 10 acres Confirm how homesites, roads and nonproductive areas affect qualifying acreage.
Approximately 1,000 board feet per acre every five to seven years or five cords of pulpwood per acre Production capacity and active forest management should be documented.
Planted pine may need thinning around year 15 Keep planting, thinning, harvest and consulting-forester records.
Clear-cut land should generally be replanted within two years or retain sufficient seed trees A clear-cut tract without a reforestation plan can jeopardize continued qualification.

Timber Evidence File

  • Timber application
  • Forest-management plan
  • Stand type and acreage map
  • Planting and site-preparation records
  • Thinning or harvest contracts
  • Timber-sale receipts
  • Forester documentation
  • Dated stand photographs
  • Restricted-use maps
  • Reforestation receipts and plans

Wildlife Management Evidence

  • Written wildlife-management plan
  • Target indigenous wildlife species
  • Habitat and erosion-control work
  • Predator-management records
  • Supplemental water or food records
  • Shelter or nesting projects
  • Wildlife census information
  • Annual report
  • Dated photographs and maps
  • Proof wildlife is the land’s principal use
Hunting alone is not enough. Houston CAD’s published wildlife guidance describes active management practices that support a sustaining breeding population of indigenous wildlife.
Official timber and wildlife forms: Open Houston CAD Timber, Restricted-Use Timber and Wildlife Resources.

Houston County Beekeeping Special Appraisal

The linked local beekeeping PDF is dated December 2014. Use its acreage-and-hive schedule only as a historical starting point and confirm the current 2026 standard directly with Houston CAD before buying hives or filing an application.
Acreage in Published Guide Minimum Colonies Listed
5 acres 6 hives
7.5 acres 7 hives
10 acres 8 hives
12.5 acres 9 hives
15 acres 10 hives
17.5 acres 11 hives
20 acres 12 hives
Historical-use requirement The published guide describes a five-year agricultural-use history before initial qualification.
Time on property The older local guide describes keeping qualifying hives on the property for at least seven months of the year.
Active colonies Hives should contain live, maintained colonies and adequate forage or planted food sources.

Build More Than a Hive Count

  • Hive-location map
  • Hive purchase or lease records
  • Colony and queen records
  • Health and inspection notes
  • Dated photographs throughout the year
  • Feeding and pest-control records
  • Forage and water planning
  • Honey, wax or pollination records
  • Proof hives remained on the tract
  • Five-of-seven-year use history
Beekeeping evidence tip A rental receipt alone is weak proof. Keep year-round documentation showing that live colonies were actively maintained for agricultural production.
Official starting point: Open Houston CAD Bee Guidelines and Agricultural Forms.

Business Personal Property and Rendition Workflow

2026 regular rendition deadline: Most business-personal-property renditions were due April 15. A timely written extension request generally moved the deadline to May 15.
Common reported assets Inventory, furniture, fixtures, computers, machinery, tools and other tangible property used to produce income.
Small-business threshold Income-producing tangible personal property valued at $125,000 or less in a taxing unit may qualify for exemption.
Search category Use Houston CAD’s Personal Property option and search the legal owner or DBA.

Useful Rendition File

  • January 1 asset list
  • Original cost and acquisition year
  • Inventory totals
  • Asset location
  • Disposed or relocated property
  • Depreciation schedules
  • Purchase invoices
  • Condition and obsolescence evidence
  • Lease or ownership documents
  • Proof of filing or extension
Business closed, sold or moved? Notify Houston CAD and document the closure, sale, relocation or disposal date. Do not assume the appraisal account closes automatically.
Official rendition resources: Open Houston CAD Business Personal Property Forms and Guide.

Mineral, Utility and Industrial Property Accounts

Houston CAD contracts specialized appraisal work. The district identifies Pritchard & Abbott in Tyler as the contract appraisal firm for mineral, utility and industrial accounts.
1
Select Mineral Property in the CAD search.

Search owner, trust, estate, lease number, lease name or Property ID.

2
Open every related account.

One owner may have separate interests in several leases, units or producing properties.

3
Compare the account with source documents.

Use mineral deeds, assignments, division orders, royalty statements and production records.

4
Contact Houston CAD first.

Give staff the Property ID and ask whether the question should be referred to the contract appraiser.

Mineral-title warning: A mineral appraisal account is not a legal title opinion. Ownership research can require County Clerk records and professional mineral-title work.
Start the official search: Open Houston CAD and select Mineral Property.

How to Prepare a Houston CAD Property Protest

Use the deadline printed on the appraisal notice. The normal Texas deadline is May 15 or 30 days after Houston CAD mails the Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. The regular 2026 deadline has passed for most owners as of July 20, 2026.
1
Save the appraisal notice and property record.

Record the Property ID, proposed market value, appraised value, exemptions and filing deadline.

2
Identify every valid protest ground.

Examples include excessive market value, unequal appraisal, incorrect property data, denied exemption or denied special appraisal.

3
Open the official online protest system.

Register or sign in through Houston CAD’s protest page and confirm the correct Property ID.

4
File before the account deadline.

File a separate protest for each affected property unless Houston CAD’s instructions expressly allow another method.

5
Request the district’s evidence.

Ask for comparable properties, appraisal schedules, photographs and other material Houston CAD plans to use.

6
Build property-specific proof.

Use dated photographs, repair estimates, measurements, appraisals, surveys, comparable accounts, leases or business records.

7
State one clear requested result.

Show the CAD value, your requested value or correction and the evidence supporting it.

8
Use the informal review.

Ask how the value was calculated and obtain any proposed agreement in writing.

9
Prepare separately for the ARB hearing.

Arrange exhibits in presentation order and follow Houston County ARB procedures.

10
Read the written ARB order immediately.

Binding arbitration, SOAH or district-court deadlines depend on the property and appeal route.

Evidence That Helps by Property Type

Property Type Useful Evidence Weak Argument
Home Comparable sales, condition photographs, repair estimates, corrected measurements and appraisal. The tax bill increased without showing a valuation or data error.
Rural land Access, utilities, drainage, timber cover, terrain, tract shape, restrictions, survey and adjusted sales. Comparing remote acreage with highway or development-ready frontage.
Timberland Forest type, acreage, management plan, stand condition, harvest history and forester records. Using residential evidence unrelated to timber productivity or land value.
Business property Asset list, cost, age, condition, inventory, depreciation and obsolescence support. An unsupported lump-sum estimate.
Mineral property Ownership interest, production, prices, expenses, decline and lease records. Surface-property evidence unrelated to the mineral account.
Official protest access: Open Houston CAD Online Protest or download the Notice of Protest form.

Possible Remedies After a Deadline

Possible Remedy When It May Apply Immediate Step
Good-cause late protest A qualifying reason prevented timely filing. Contact Houston CAD before the ARB approves the appraisal records.
Failure to receive required notice CAD or the ARB failed to mail a legally required notice. Ask about the applicable hearing procedure before the tax becomes delinquent.
Late homestead application The owner qualified but missed the regular exemption date. File the current application promptly within the statutory period.
Late agricultural or timber application Qualifying land missed the normal filing date. Ask Houston CAD whether late filing and a penalty are available before appraisal-roll approval.
Appraisal-roll correction A qualifying clerical, ownership, multiple-appraisal or statutory over-appraisal issue exists. Identify the exact Tax Code correction ground rather than filing a routine late market-value complaint.
Act immediately. Late remedies have separate eligibility rules and deadlines. Missing the ordinary protest deadline does not automatically create a right to a late hearing.

Houston County Property-Tax Collector Router

One collector does not handle every Houston County account. Match each taxing entity shown on the property record or statement to the collector below.
Taxing Entity Collector Official Starting Point
Crockett ISD Houston County Appraisal District Houston CAD
City of Crockett Houston County Appraisal District Houston CAD
Lovelady ISD and City of Lovelady Houston County Appraisal District Houston CAD
Kennard ISD and City of Kennard Houston County Appraisal District Houston CAD
Latexo ISD Houston County Appraisal District Houston CAD
Grapeland ISD and City of Grapeland Houston County Appraisal District Houston CAD
Houston County Houston County Tax Assessor-Collector County tax search
Houston County Hospital District Houston County Tax Assessor-Collector County tax search
Grapeland Hospital District Houston County Tax Assessor-Collector County tax search
Houston County ESD No. 1 and ESD No. 2 Houston County Tax Assessor-Collector County tax search
Elkhart ISD Houston County Tax Assessor-Collector County tax search
Groveton ISD or an entity not listed above Follow the current tax statement or contact the entity Do not guess. Use the collector shown on the current statement.

How to Pay an Account Collected by Houston CAD

1
Search the property in Houston CAD.

Confirm the owner, Property ID, legal description and taxing entity.

2
Use Houston CAD’s official payment link.

Follow the Pay Taxes Online option published by the district.

3
Use the payment code on the statement.

If a bureau or reference code is required and is not visible, contact Houston CAD before submitting payment.

4
Save the confirmation.

Keep the entity, Property ID, tax year, amount, transaction date and confirmation number.

HCAD-collected taxes: Open Houston CAD and select Pay Taxes Online.

How to Pay an Account Collected by the County Tax Office

1
Open the official County Tax Office search.

Search by owner, Property ID, Geographic ID, street, subdivision, abstract or another available field.

2
Confirm every open tax year.

Paying the newest balance does not automatically clear an older delinquent year.

3
Review the payment fee.

The County Tax Office currently lists a card fee of 2.25% plus $0.25 per transaction and a $1.50 e-check fee. The amount displayed at checkout controls.

4
Save the receipt.

Keep the Property ID, collector, tax year, amount and confirmation number.

County-collected taxes: Search and Pay Houston County Tax Office Accounts.
Deferral or payment agreement? Contact the office holding the specific balance before paying online. A normal partial payment does not automatically create a formal installment agreement.
General Texas timing: Current property taxes are normally due by January 31 and become delinquent February 1. The County Tax Office states that a 20% attorney fee can be added to delinquent accounts on July 1.
No bill is not a defense. The County Tax Office advises taxpayers who have not received a statement by mid-December to search the account or call rather than waiting beyond the deadline.

Houston County Tax Office Contact and Payment Notes

Tax Assessor-Collector Brittani Womack
401 E. Goliad Avenue, Suite 101
Crockett, TX 75835
Mailing and phone P.O. Box 941
Crockett, TX 75835
936-544-3255
Extensions 244, 257 or 277
Email taxoffice@co.houston.tx.us
Verify office hours before visiting. The dedicated tax-office website currently lists Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., while another county page has displayed a later opening time.
Fraud warning: The Houston County Tax Office states that it will not call residents to collect a debt or request personal information over the telephone.

Truth in Taxation: Value and Tax Rate Are Different Questions

Use Houston CAD for value Protest market value, unequal appraisal, exemptions or property characteristics through Houston CAD and the ARB.
Use taxing units for rates County, city, school, hospital and emergency-service governing bodies adopt budgets and tax rates.
Use the TNT link Houston CAD property-detail pages link to the applicable truth-in-taxation information for the account.
Do not protest a tax rate through the ARB. ARB jurisdiction concerns appraisal and exemption matters, not the policy decision to adopt a taxing unit’s rate.

How to Search Houston County Deeds, Liens and Land Records

1
Collect CAD clues first.

Save the current owner, previous owner, Property ID, legal description and any deed-history reference.

2
Open the County Clerk’s official record-search link.

Use the online land-record service linked by the Houston County Clerk.

3
Select Houston County in the record system.

Follow the Clerk’s published search guide if the portal first opens a statewide or multi-county landing page.

4
Search grantor and grantee separately.

Try current owners, previous owners, spouses, trusts, estates, lenders and businesses.

5
Review document types.

Look for deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, easements, plats, mineral documents and probate-related instruments.

6
Match the legal description.

A matching name is not enough when one owner has several tracts.

7
Follow referenced documents.

A deed may refer to an older plat, easement, restriction, mineral reservation, lien or release.

8
Order the appropriate copy.

Use a certified copy when required by a court, lender, title company, probate matter or official process.

Houston County Clerk Terri Meadows
Houston County Courthouse
401 E. Houston Avenue, Suite D
Crockett, TX 75835
Phone: 936-544-3255
Land and deed contact Chief Deputy Stephanie Yorgensen
Extension 251
General office hours: 8:15 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
Recording hours: The Clerk lists Monday–Thursday recording from 8:15 a.m.–4:15 p.m. and Friday recording from 8:15 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Identification rule: Since September 1, 2025, a person presenting a real-property document for in-person recording must provide photo identification.
Title warning: A CAD property card or basic Clerk search does not guarantee clear title, legal access or the absence of liens. Use a title company or attorney when legal certainty is required.
Official records: Open the Online Record Search linked by the Houston County Clerk.

Foreclosure and Tax-Sale Research

Do not bid from the CAD value alone. CAD records do not show occupancy, interior condition, possession problems, every lien, legal access or title-curative costs.
Clerk notices The Houston County Clerk publishes foreclosure-sale notices organized by sale month.
Tax payoff Obtain a current payoff from the collector holding the delinquent balance.
Title investigation Review deeds, liens, judgments, releases, easements, probate records and the lawsuit before bidding.
  • Match the legal description to the physical parcel
  • Confirm road and legal access
  • Inspect occupancy and condition when lawfully possible
  • Check environmental, timber and flood conditions
  • Understand Texas redemption rights
Official starting page: Open the Houston County Clerk page and review current foreclosure notices.

Houston CAD Reports, Certified Rolls and Bulk Data

2026 reports The data page includes 2026 low-income-housing rates and utility-usage reports.
2025–2026 reappraisal plan Review the district’s official two-year plan for appraisal activity and property review.
Certified real-property data Prior-year certified real-estate files are available in PDF or spreadsheet formats.
Personal-property data Certified business-personal-property files are published for bulk analysis.
Mineral data Houston CAD publishes downloadable mineral files prepared through its specialized appraisal process.
Historical reports Annual reports, mass-appraisal reports, exemption lists and prior truth-in-taxation worksheets are available by year.
No 2026 certified roll yet: Online property records identify current 2026 values as preliminary. Do not label them certified until Houston CAD publishes certification.
One property or many? Use the property search for one account. Use Data, Records and Reports for countywide research or bulk analysis.
Official data library: Open Houston CAD Data, Records and Reports.

Houston County Buyer and Owner Verification Checklist

Appraisal record
  • Correct Property ID
  • Owner and mailing address
  • Legal description
  • Land and improvement details
  • Exemptions and taxing entities
Tax balances
  • Houston CAD-collected entities
  • County Tax Office entities
  • Every unpaid tax year
  • Penalty and attorney fees
  • Separate receipts
Recorded documents
  • Current vesting deed
  • Deeds of trust and liens
  • Releases
  • Easements and restrictions
  • Mineral reservations
Farm or ranch
  • Legal access
  • Survey and acreage
  • Water and fencing
  • Agricultural-use history
  • Change-of-use tax risk
Timberland
  • Stand type and age
  • Management plan
  • Harvest history
  • Reforestation obligations
  • Timber and mineral ownership
Future tax estimate
  • Remove seller-only exemptions
  • Check buyer homestead eligibility
  • Use current proposed rates
  • Include new improvements
  • Check every collector
Buyer warning: Do not estimate future taxes by copying the seller’s current bill. Exemptions, appraisal limits, tax ceilings, agricultural or timber qualification, improvements and collector routing can change after closing.

2026 Houston County Property Deadline Board

January 1 General appraisal date used for ownership, value, condition, use and many exemption questions.
April 15 Normal deadline for most business-personal-property renditions.
April 30 Houston CAD’s published filing date for agricultural and timber special-appraisal applications.
May 15 or later Normal protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after Houston CAD mails the appraisal notice, whichever is later.
October The County Tax Office says tax statements are generally mailed during the first week of October.
January 31 Normal last day to pay current property taxes without penalty and interest.
February 1 Unpaid current taxes generally become delinquent.
July 1 The County Tax Office states that a 20% attorney fee may be added to delinquent accounts.
Follow the actual notice, form or tax statement. Weekends, holidays, late notices, separately collected entities and statutory remedies can change the operative deadline.

Current Houston County Property Contacts

Office or Contact Current Details Use It For
Houston County Appraisal District 1512-B E. Loop 304
Crockett, TX 75835
Mailing: P.O. Box 112
Crockett, TX 75835-0112
936-544-9655
Fax: 936-544-8213 		Property search, value, ownership, exemptions, agriculture, timber, renditions, GIS, protests and participating-unit tax collection.
Houston CAD email hcadadmin@houstoncad.net General appraisal-district correspondence and questions.
Chief Appraiser Carey Minter
Deputy Chief Appraiser: Johnny Ivy 		District administration and appraisal operations.
HCAD Collections Anita Meador
Desiree Crager
936-544-9655 		Balances, statements, payments and receipts for HCAD-collected entities.
Houston County Tax Office 401 E. Goliad Avenue, Suite 101
Crockett, TX 75835
Mailing: P.O. Box 941
936-544-3255
Extensions 244, 257 or 277 		County, hospital, emergency-service and Elkhart ISD accounts listed by the office.
Houston County Clerk 401 E. Houston Avenue, Suite D
Crockett, TX 75835
936-544-3255
Deed contact extension 251 		Deeds, liens, easements, releases, plats, probate and certified records.
Taxpayer Liaison Officer Joan Lucas
P.O. Box 112
Crockett, TX 75835 		Help understanding appraisal and ARB procedures or resolving procedural concerns.
Call Houston CAD before visiting. The district’s official contact page does not currently publish public counter hours.

Map to Houston County Appraisal District

Bring: Property ID, identification, appraisal notice and copies of relevant forms, deeds, photographs, estimates, receipts, maps or land-use records.

Official Houston County Property Actions

Search appraisal records Houston CAD Property Search
Open the interactive map Houston CAD GIS
File an online protest Houston CAD Online Protest
Download official forms Houston CAD Forms
Review bulk data and reports Houston CAD Data and Records
Contact Houston CAD Houston CAD Contact Page
Pay HCAD-collected taxes Houston CAD Pay Taxes Online
Pay County Tax Office accounts County Property-Tax Search
Read County payment help Houston County Property FAQ
Search deeds and liens Houston County Official Records
Review Clerk services Houston County Clerk
Texas exemption help Texas Comptroller Exemptions

Related Texas CAD Guide

Walker County CAD Walker County property search, GIS, timber, protest and tax guide

Houston County CAD Property Search FAQs

1. What is the official Houston County CAD property search?

The official free search is available through houstoncad.org/Home/Search. It supports owner, property and advanced searches using Property ID, Geographic ID, abstract, subdivision, deed, lease, acreage, value and protest fields.

2. What is the Houston County Appraisal District address and phone number?

Houston CAD is at 1512-B E. Loop 304, Crockett, TX 75835. The mailing address is P.O. Box 112, Crockett, TX 75835-0112, and the main phone number is 936-544-9655.

3. Who is the Houston County Chief Appraiser?

Carey Minter is listed as the Houston County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser.

4. Does Houston CAD collect property taxes?

Yes. Houston CAD collects taxes for listed Crockett, Lovelady, Kennard, Latexo and Grapeland school or city accounts. The Houston County Tax Office collects separate county, hospital, emergency-service and Elkhart ISD accounts.

5. Are Houston CAD’s 2026 property values final?

No. Houston CAD property records state that 2026 values are preliminary and subject to change before certification.

6. Can I protest a Houston County appraisal online?

Yes. Use Houston CAD’s official online protest page. The normal deadline is May 15 or 30 days after Houston CAD mails the Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later.

7. What is the 2026 Texas school homestead exemption?

The general school-district residence-homestead exemption is $140,000. Qualifying age-65 or disabled homeowners receive an additional $60,000 school exemption.

8. Does rural land automatically qualify for agricultural or timber appraisal?

No. The land must meet qualifying use-history, principal-use and local intensity requirements. Houston CAD’s published guidance generally describes a 10-acre minimum, but owners should confirm the current 2026 standard before filing.

9. Is the Houston CAD GIS map a legal survey?

No. The GIS map helps locate appraisal parcels but does not replace a recorded deed, title report or professional boundary survey.

10. Where can I search Houston County deeds and liens?

Use the online land-record search linked by the Houston County Clerk. Search current and former owners, then match every document’s legal description to the correct Houston CAD parcel.

Independent Editorial Notice

County-CAD.us is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with Houston County Appraisal District, the Appraisal Review Board, Houston County, the Tax Assessor-Collector, County Clerk, Pritchard & Abbott, any city, school district, hospital district, emergency-services district or the State of Texas.

Property records, values, exemptions, agricultural and timber standards, protest deadlines, tax-collector assignments, office hours, payment fees and online systems can change. Confirm time-sensitive information through the responsible official office.

Editorial verification: July 20, 2026.

Free County CAD Property Tax Assistant

Estimate Taxes, Exemptions, Escrow, Protest Savings and Next Steps

This sitewide tool helps homeowners, buyers, sellers and investors understand property tax numbers before they check the official county appraisal district or tax office. It runs in your browser, does not collect personal data and gives practical next steps after each calculation.

Start Free Tool
8-in-1Calculator, checklist and official-search helper in one widget.
No loginWorks instantly without collecting names, emails or property IDs.
Mobile-firstDesigned for phone users reading county CAD articles.
HelpfulGives next steps, not only numbers.

What are you trying to do today?

Choose your main goal. The tool will guide you to the right calculation or next step.

Best for homeowners

Use Tax, Exemption and Protest tabs to understand your appraisal notice and possible savings.

Best for buyers

Use Buyer Budget and Monthly Escrow before relying only on a mortgage payment estimate.

Property Tax Estimate Calculator

Estimate annual tax using property value, assessment ratio, exemptions and local tax rate.

Homestead and Exemption Savings

Estimate how much a homestead, senior, disabled, veteran or local exemption may reduce annual tax.

Monthly Escrow / Ownership Cost

Estimate monthly property tax, insurance, HOA and reserve cushion. Useful for buyers and homeowners comparing affordability.

Property Tax Protest Savings

Estimate possible savings if your appraised value is reduced after a protest, evidence review or correction.

Appraised Value Growth / Cap Impact

Estimate how a value increase or appraisal cap may affect taxable value. Rules vary by state, county and exemption status.

Home Buyer Monthly Budget Estimate

Estimate a more realistic monthly ownership cost by adding mortgage, property tax, insurance and HOA.

Find Official County CAD and Tax Resources

Enter county and state to create safe search links. This avoids guessing official URLs and helps users find the correct county appraisal district, property search, tax payment and exemption pages.

Why this tool helps your site

It gives visitors an interactive reason to stay on the page, calculate their own numbers and move from general reading to practical action.

Best placement

  • Below county CAD articles
  • Before FAQ section on long posts
  • Inside sidebar or after first major section on desktop

Estimate disclaimer

Values are educational estimates. Visitors should confirm final values, exemptions, tax rates, payment status and deadlines with official county resources.

County-CAD.us
Independent Platform

County-CAD.us provides verified access to official County Appraisal District (CAD) property records across the United States.

We offer step-by-step guides, manually verified links, and practical instructions to help users access official data quickly and accurately.

Quick Links

About Us

Contact Us

Editorial Policy

Legal

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: County-CAD.us is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with any government agency, County Appraisal District, or public authority. We do not provide official services or manage government records. All information is provided for educational purposes only. Users must verify details through official government websites.

All trademarks, logos, and names belong to their respective owners.

© 2026 County-CAD.us — All Rights Reserved