San Antonio Tax Lien Leads
Get delinquent property tax leads the day they're filed — reach owners before the county takes their home.
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Why Tax Lien Leads Are Overlooked Gold
Most wholesalers chase foreclosures and ignore tax liens. That's a mistake.
When a homeowner falls behind on property taxes, Bexar County files a lien against the property. If they don't pay, the county can eventually force a tax sale. But here's the thing — that process takes years, not months.
That gives you a long runway to reach owners who are clearly in financial distress but aren't yet being hounded by every investor in town.
Tax lien leads are a signal. They tell you someone is struggling to keep up with basic expenses. Often, they're also behind on mortgage payments, have deferred maintenance, or are looking for a way out. You're just the first one to notice.
OpenDockets pulls fresh tax lien filings from the Bexar County PublicSearch portal every morning. Same-day delivery means you're reaching owners before the situation escalates — and before other investors catch on.
Why Tax Liens Signal Motivation
- Financial distress — can't cover basic costs
- Often paired with other issues (deferred maintenance, job loss)
- Long timeline = less panic, more rational decisions
- Lower competition than foreclosure lists
- Many owners have significant equity
Types of Tax Liens We Track
Property taxes aren't the only liens that signal distress.
County Property Tax Liens
Delinquent property taxes filed by Bexar County. The most common type — thousands of properties each year.
School District Tax Liens
Separate from county taxes. Homeowners can be delinquent on one but not the other. Double the signal, double the motivation.
City/Municipal Liens
Unpaid utility bills, code violation fines, or special assessments. Often stacks on top of tax debt.
Texas Tax Sale Timeline
Unlike foreclosures, tax sales move slowly. See our complete Texas tax lien guide for details.
Taxes Become Delinquent
Property taxes due Jan 31. Penalties and interest start accruing Feb 1.
Lawsuit Can Be Filed
After July 1, the county can file suit to collect. OpenDockets captures these filings.
Collection Attempts
County sends notices, adds penalties. Owner is stressed but still has time. Prime outreach window.
Tax Sale Scheduled
Property scheduled for public auction. Owner faces losing the home. Maximum motivation.
Tax Sale
Property sold to highest bidder. Owner loses the home and any equity.
The best time to reach tax lien leads is 6-18 months after delinquency. They've had time to realize they can't catch up, but the situation isn't yet dire.
Get Tax Lien Leads Before They Hit Public Lists
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What's Included With Each Lead
Property Address
Full address with zip code, verified against BCAD records.
Owner Information
Property owner name and mailing address — often different from property address.
Amount Owed
Total delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest. Know what they're up against.
Delinquent Since
How long they've been behind — longer = more motivated.
Property Value
Assessed value from Bexar County Appraisal District. Calculate equity instantly.
Sample Tax Lien Lead
Here's what a lead looks like in your dashboard.
4521 Sunrise Valley Dr
San Antonio, TX 78244
James Williams
2023
$8,432
$178,000
$95,000+
Single Family
How to Work Tax Lien Leads
Tax liens require a different approach than urgent foreclosure leads.
Check the Numbers First
Calculate equity: Property value minus any mortgages minus tax debt. Many tax lien properties are owned free and clear with massive equity. Use our wholesale deal calculator.
Position Yourself as a Problem Solver
"I can help you avoid losing your home to a tax sale." Many owners don't fully understand the process or think they have more time than they do.
Offer to Handle the Tax Debt
Your offer can include paying off the tax lien at closing. This removes a major stressor and simplifies the decision for the seller.
Be Patient — Follow Up
Tax lien owners often need multiple touches. They're not in crisis mode like foreclosure sellers. Set up a follow-up system and stay in touch.
Wireless headset for consistent follow-up calls. Tax lien leads often need 5-7 touches before they're ready.
Stack Tax Liens With Other Distress Signals
Tax liens are even more powerful when combined with other lead types.
The best wholesale deals come from owners facing multiple problems. Our lead stacking feature automatically flags properties that appear on multiple distress lists.
High-priority combinations:
- Tax lien + code violation = overwhelmed owner
- Tax lien + foreclosure = double deadline pressure
- Tax lien + probate = heirs who don't want the debt
- Tax lien + vacant property = abandoned/forgotten
When you see a property on multiple lists, move fast. That's a highly motivated seller.
Lead Stacking Example
- Property: 1234 Main St
- Tax lien: $6,200 owed since 2022
- Code violation: Overgrown yard, broken fence
- Owner mailing address: Out of state
- Signal: Tired landlord who's given up
Bexar County Tax Lien Market
Bexar County has one of the highest property tax rates in Texas, which means more homeowners fall behind. Combined with rising property values (and higher tax bills), the pool of tax lien leads continues to grow.
Many of these owners have lived in their homes for decades and have substantial equity — they just can't keep up with the ever-increasing tax burden. That's your opportunity to offer a solution.
Our Tax Lien Leads vs. The Competition
| Feature | OpenDockets | PropStream | County Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Freshness | Same-day | Monthly updates | Real-time (manual) |
| Contact Info | + Skip Trace | Yes | No |
| Property Data | BCAD Enriched | Yes | Limited |
| Amount Owed | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Filtered for Residential | SFH focus | All property types | No |
Tax Lien Hotspots by Zip Code
Areas with older housing stock and fixed-income owners tend to have higher tax delinquency. See our neighborhood guide.
Tax Lien Lead FAQs
How quickly do you get new tax lien filings?
We pull from Bexar County's PublicSearch portal every morning. New lien filings appear in your dashboard within 24 hours.
How many tax lien leads can I expect per month?
Bexar County sees 500+ new tax lien filings monthly. After filtering for residential properties with individual owners, expect 200-300 actionable leads per month.
How long before a tax lien leads to a tax sale?
In Texas, the county can file suit after July 1 of the year taxes become delinquent, but actual tax sales typically don't happen until 2+ years of non-payment. You have a long runway to reach these owners.
Can I buy properties at the tax sale instead?
Yes, but competition is fierce and you can't inspect properties beforehand. Wholesaling to owners before the tax sale is usually more profitable and less risky.
What if there's a mortgage on the property too?
Tax liens are senior to mortgages — they get paid first. Run a title search to understand the full picture. Properties with low mortgage balances and high tax debt can still have great equity.
Is skip tracing included?
Skip tracing is available as an add-on. One-click to get phone numbers and additional contact info. See our skip tracing guide.
Start Getting Tax Lien Leads Tomorrow
Fresh Bexar County tax lien filings in your dashboard daily. Reach distressed owners before the county does.
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Related Resources
All Wholesale Leads
See all 9 lead types we offer in San Antonio
Foreclosure Leads
Pre-foreclosure and NOD leads
Code Violation Leads
Pair with tax liens for high motivation
Finding Tax Liens
Free and paid methods explained
TX Tax Sale Timeline
Complete process breakdown
SA Wholesaling Guide
Complete beginner's guide
"If You Can't Wholesale After This" — covers working all lead types including tax liens. Good foundation for beginners.