The short answer
Yes, we buy land in Travis County. Lots around Lake Travis and Lago Vista, acreage east and west of Austin, and parcels other buyers passed on because of a title problem or unpaid taxes. You get a written offer, we pay the closing costs, and you choose the closing date.
Why Travis County land is different
Travis County has about 1.39 million people and keeps growing, so there’s always a buyer for land here. But a lot of the vacant land that stays unsold has a catch. An old lien, a tricky septic site, a lot that’s only reachable one way. Those are the ones we like.
A few things we look at on every Travis County parcel:
- City or county. Inside Austin or another city, the city’s rules apply. Outside, Travis County’s Transportation and Natural Resources department handles septic permits. The county’s jurisdiction map shows which one covers your land.
- The Edwards Aquifer. Parts of the county are in the TCEQ’s Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, which adds a plan approval before building.
- Wells. In southwestern Travis County, the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District requires wells to be registered, and some wells need a permit.
- Lake and river land. The Colorado River runs through the county, with Lake Travis and Lake Austin along it. Waterfront and hillside lots often come with floodplain or slope limits.
Behind on taxes in Travis County?
The Travis County Tax Office collects property taxes. Unpaid taxes go delinquent on February 1, with penalties and interest building each month. Travis County holds its tax foreclosure sales online through RealAuction, on the first Tuesday of the month.
If a sale is coming, you still have options up to the sale date. Pay it off, set up a payment plan, or sell and have the taxes paid at closing. Our property tax guide explains each one.
Find your parcel in Travis County
Search your name or address at the Travis Central Appraisal District. Your property ID is on the result and on your tax bill. Or send us your name and we’ll look it up.
From our desk
A real deal, in Daniel’s words
An owner had 2 acres on the north side of Lake Travis and had tried to sell for years. No title company would insure it because of an old mortgage that was paid but never released, plus county citations that had turned into liens. He’d stopped paying the taxes. We bought it as is, cleared all of it, and he walked away with money. Read the full story in our clouded title guide.
Common questions
Do you buy land with county liens or citations?
Yes. They get paid off at closing. Here’s how code liens work.
Can you buy land if no title company will insure it?
Often, yes. We work with the title company to clear the problem as part of the purchase.
Do you buy small lots in Lago Vista and around the lake?
Yes.