Texas HOA Resale Certificates, Explained

If you're buying a home in a Texas HOA, the seller is required to give you a resale certificate before closing. This is a legal disclosure document, not a courtesy — it's governed by Chapter 207 of the Texas Property Code.

A resale certificate discloses the current dues amount and payment schedule, any violations of record on the property, any pending special assessments, and any lawsuits the association is currently involved in.

This is different from the management certificate — the document filed under Chapter 209 that this site's HOA listings are sourced from. A management certificate identifies who runs the HOA and where to send notices; a resale certificate is property- and transaction-specific, prepared when a particular home is being sold.

Texas law caps the fee an association (or its management company) can charge for a resale certificate at $375, and it must be delivered within 10 business days of the request.

Once you've received the resale certificate, Texas law gives you 7 days to review it and terminate the contract if you don't like what you see — without losing your earnest money. This is one of the few buyer protections built specifically around HOA disclosure, and it only starts once you actually have the certificate in hand.

The dues amount alone doesn't tell you much. Look at whether there's a pattern of dues increases or past special assessments, whether any violations or liens are noted against the property, and whether the association is named in any pending litigation.

This page is general information, not legal advice. For your specific transaction, read the actual resale certificate closely and consult a licensed Texas real estate attorney if anything is unclear.