Collin County, Texas Property Records

Collin County Property Search

Collin County property records are legal documents and information related to real estate within Collin County, Texas. These records contain current and past property ownership details, location and boundaries, tax assessment, and sales history.

The County Clerk's office records and maintains property records in Collin County alongside the County Tax Office, which is the custodian of property tax records. The Tax Assessor-Collector handles property tax accounts and rolls and assesses and collects all taxes imposed on property within the County. The Collin Central Appraisal District works to appraise all property, whether personal or business, in the County at market value equally. The Collin CAD communicates the value annually to taxpayers and the taxing jurisdiction.

At the County Clerk's office, a submitted document must be an original copy or certified by the clerk to be recorded as a land record. It must be printed or written legibly on one-side paper, which should have 8½ x 14 inches dimensions according to Texas Local Government Code, Title 6, Section 191.007. The copy must also be signed and notarized by the grantor and in the presence or authorization of credible witnesses. According to the Texas Property Code, Title 3, Section 12:001, a notary public must attach an official seal to the submitted document. Individuals must also follow the provided Land Recording Fee Schedule and pay accordingly in Collin County. The document must comply with the Texas Property Code and the County Clerk's Office requirements.

The County's official website provides a search tool that allows users to look up a recorded document. Members of the public can find several insights from property record searches. Buyers and homeowners can attain a property's market value, which would help in purchase decisions. Sellers can verify property ownership and research sales history to determine the property's appeal and salability. Lenders also rely on property records to assess the risk of providing mortgage loans. Property taxes owed by property owners are also determined through property record searches. Families can search for and request property records to settle family-related matters such as inheritances, separations, relocation, etc.

Are Collin County Property Records Public?

Yes. Property records are part of Collin County Public Records. The Texas Public Information Act in the Texas Government Code, Title 5, Chapter 552 states that a governmental body produces, collects, or maintains public information under law. According to the Texas Property Record, Title 3, Section 13.002, there are effects triggered when a property document is properly recorded in the County in which it is located:

The record becomes a notice to the public of the existence of the property
The record is now subject to public inspection for viewing and copying.

There are certain instances where information may be omitted from the record, or the document may be restricted from public disclosure. According to the Texas Government Code, Title 5, Section 552.024, exemptions are made for specific information related to government officials to be redacted from public records. The official can restrict information related to their home address, home telephone number, emergency contact details, social security number, or if they have family members from the public. The current or former governmental body officials or employees that this rule applies to include:

Retired peace officers
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice employees
Peace officers, reserve law enforcement officers, commissioned game wardens, correction officers who were killed in duty
Commissioned security officers
Community supervision and correction department officers
Attorney general office employees
Texas Juvenile Justice Department employees
Juvenile probation or supervision officers certified by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department
Juvenile justice program or facility employee
Members of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Texas military forces
Criminal law or child protective services district attorney, criminal district attorney or County or municipal attorney
Texas Civil Commitment Office employee
Federal judge, state judge, federal bankruptcy judge, marshal of the United States Marshals Service, United States Attorney, or their family member
Child protective services caseworkers, adult protective services caseworkers, or Department of Family and Protective Services investigators
Elected public officers
United States attorney, assistant to the United States attorney, federal public defender, deputy federal public defender, or assistant federal public defender and their spouse or child
Firefighters, volunteer firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel

Information about minors: According to the Texas Government Code, Title 5, Section 552.148, the name, age, home address, home telephone number, or social security number of the minor is considered confidential.

Individuals can sometimes request that their property records be entirely restricted from public access. The individual must show evidence that public disclosure of the property record will substantially threaten their privacy or safety.

What Do Collin County Property Records Contain?

Collin County property records typically contain information describing the property's ownership, location, legal description, property value, and history. Several categories contain the different details found in property records. These categories include:

Ownership Information:
- The property's current owner's name and contact details, including mailing address,
- Previous owners' names and contact information
- Date of ownership transfer,
- Purchase date and price of the property,
- Mortgage and lien information,
- Deed reference number and date
Homeowner Association (HOA) details
Property Details (Identification, Building and Zoning Information):
- Property identification number (PIN)
- Property address and location,
- Property type (residential, commercial, etc.)
- The year the property was built
- Property square footage
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Number of stories or levels
- Lot size and boundaries
- Plat information
- Utility easements
- Flood zone information
- Zoning designation
Land use restrictions
Tax Assessments
- Assessed property value
- Appraisal reports
- Tax identification number
- Tax account number
- Property tax rate
- Tax payment history
- Taxes owed
Tax exemptions
Sales History
- Date of sale
- Sale price
- Buyer name and contact
- Seller name and contact
Financing and refinancing information
Building Permits
- Type of permit
- Date of permit issuance
- Permit number
- Contractor's name and contact
- Description of the work carried out.
Date of completion
Legal Description:
- Property's boundaries and dimensions
- Section, block, and lot numbers
- Metes and bounds information
- Easements and encumbrances
- Restrictive covenants

Where to Perform a Collin County Property Lookup

There are several options available for inquirers to look up a property in Collin County. These include online searches through search tools and databases, phone and mail requests, and in-person visits.

Online Search: The Collin County website allows users to search their records database using the Deed Search application, foreclosure notice search tool, and the Collins Central Appraisal District. Inquirers can also search and request information on unclaimed property in Collin County by accessing the County Auditor's Office department.

In-person Visitation: Individuals can visit the Collin County Clerk's Office to enquire about property information. The County Clerk's Office has two locations at McKinney and Plano, Collin County, Texas. Their office hours are between 8 am and 4 pm from Mondays to Fridays.

By Phone or Fax: Inquirers can call the County Clerk's office at (972) 548-4185 (McKinney) and (972) 881-3025 (Plano) to look up a property. They can also call these extensions: (972) 424-1460 ext. 4185 (Metro) for the McKinney office and (972) 424-1460 ext. 3025 (Metro) for the Plano office. Individuals also have the option to send a fax to the McKinney location at (972) 547-5731.

Via Mail and Email: Individuals can email the County Clerk's office at ctyclerks@collincountytx.gov and the County Auditor's Office at unclaimedproperty@co.collin.tx.us. They can also send mail directly to request unclaimed property search to this address:

County Auditor's Office
Unclaimed Property Division
Research and Correspondence Section
2300 Bloomdale Road Suite 3100
McKinney, TX 75071

How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Collin County

Inquirers can obtain information about the ownership of a property through several means, including

How to Find Collin County Property Records Online

To find Collin County property records online, inquirers can access the Collin County search tools on the county website and the Collin County Appraisal District (CCAD) website. The County Clerk's Office offers a deed search tool that allows users to search for property records by providing several pieces of information. This information can include party names (grantor or grantee), recorded date range, legal description, lot number, and document type.

Inquirers can also find property records information by accessing the foreclosure notices provided on the County's website. The notices display property, improvement, jurisdiction, owner, and tax information. They can search and filter for details related to the property they intend to find with the available search box.

Users can access the CCAD website and navigate to the "Property Search" tab to be able to look up a property by providing certain information required. Users can provide property identification details (property and geographic ID), owner information (owner name and ID), or property address to perform a search and get accurate results.

Individuals can use the Real Estate portal provided for states in the US to contact real estate agents and identify property foreclosures to obtain information on properties.

How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free

A person can find a property's owner by address for free through the following methods

Collin County Appraisal District Website: A person can conduct a property lookup using the property's physical address on the Collin Central Appraisal District website. Through this search, they obtain the property's information, including its owner's name, for free.
County Clerk: A person can contact or visit the county clerk's office to look up records or deeds of a property containing the property owner's name. The online deed search tool maintained by the county clerk's office also provides record documents, including the owner's name.
Online directories: A person can check online directories and search for a property's owner using the property's address. Information from free online directories may not be as up-to-date as county records.

Collin County Property Tax Lookup

An individual can obtain property tax information from the following places in Collin County.

Tax Assessor-Collector's Office: A person can obtain a specific property's tax information by contacting the County's Assessor-Collector in person, by phone, email or using the online tools available on their website. Online tools available through their website include the tax lookup tool and Tax Calculator. Property owners also obtain tax information like the amount of taxes owed from the property tax statement the tax collector-assessor sends to them annually.
Collin County Appraisal District (CCAD): Tax information can be obtained by visiting the Collin County Appraisal District in person or looking up property information, including tax information, from their site. A person can find information like property tax rates and tax exemptions on their website. They can also use its online property tax calculator to obtain tax information.

Some situations where a tax lookup would be necessary include when buying or renting a property, for protesting tax bills, for an accurate property budget and for research purposes.

How to Find Collin County Property Appraiser

Individuals can find property appraisers in Collin County through various online and offline channels. These channels include:

Collin County website: The contact and various office locations of Assessor-Collectors in Collin County can be found on the official county website. Individuals can schedule an appointment to visit the office in person or contact them by phone or email.
Collin County Appraisal District (CCAD): An individual can appraise their property and receive equal and fair market value by contacting the Collin County Appraisal District at their office or by phone.
Referrals: A person can find an appraiser in Collin County through referrals from real estate agents, friends, and family who have access to a network of professional appraisers. Inquirers can also check local directories for listings of property appraisers.

The services offered by appraisers in Collin County include property valuation, property appraisal, offering property information, administering exemptions, fielding assessment appeals from property owners, and tax collection.

Collin County Property Assessor

In Collin County, the services that can be offered by a property assessor for the purpose of property taxation include:

Property valuation: By analyzing factors such as location, size, condition, recent sales of similar properties within the area, and the property's age, the assessor calculates the market value of that property. Property valuations are annual, and a notice of the assessed value is sent to the property owner.
Property appraisal: After a property has been assessed, the appraiser uses this value to calculate the amount of property tax to be paid. This is also called the assessed value of the property. Depending on the type of property, whether commercial or residential, the assessed value is a percentage of the market value of a property.
Property information: The assessor's office maintains county property records, including zoning, legal descriptions and current ownership information on appraisal records. A person can obtain property information by visiting the Collin County Appraisal District or using the lookup feature on the County's website. They also provide information on tax rates for cities and schools in the County.
Administers exemptions: Under state and federal laws, all property is taxable, but under certain conditions, the assessor can exempt all or part of the property value. Organizations such as churches, schools or charities qualify for total exemptions, while properties of disabled veterans or the elderly qualify for homestead, reducing the property's taxable value. Property owners apply for these exemptions, and the assessor checks their eligibility and grants it if they qualify.
Appeals: Property owners who disagree with their property's assessed value or property tax can file an appeal with the property assessor's office for review. If this review is unsatisfactory, the property owner can file another appeal to their local appraisal review board. Appraisal review boards are composed of community members and are set up to settle disagreements between appraisers and property owners.
Tax collection: In Collins County, the Tax Assessor-Collector is charged with assessing and collecting all taxes imposed on property within the County. A person can choose to either mail their taxes and statements or visit any of the assessor's offices.

One can contact any of their three offices to find a property appraiser in Collin County. The location and contact of these offices are:

Collin County Tax Assessor-Collector: McKinney Office
Collin County Administration Building
2300 Bloomdale Rd.,
Suite 2324,
McKinney, TX 75071
propertytax@collincountytx.gov
(972) 547-5020

Collin County Tax Assessor-Collector: Plano Office
900 East Park Blvd.,
Suite 100,
Plano, TX 75074
propertytax@collincountytx.gov
(972) 881-3014

Collin County Tax Assessor-Collector: Frisco Office
George A. Purefoy Municipal Center (Frisco City Hall)
6101 Frisco Square Blvd.,
Suite 2000,
Frisco, TX 75034
propertytax@collincountytx.gov
(469) 362-5800