Bailey County, TX Property Records

    Bailey County is a South Plains county on the Texas–New Mexico border. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was approximately 6,905, making it the smallest of the six counties by population, with 2024 estimates placing it near that level or slightly below. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1918. It is named for Peter James Bailey, a Kentucky-born lawyer who died at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836.

    The median household income is approximately $70,509, higher than in some comparable counties, reflecting agricultural wage and feedlot employment. The housing market is slow: homes average around 114–160 days on the market, and monthly sales are typically just two to six transactions. The median home value is approximately $113,900.

    According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, an estimated 25–29% of Bailey County households are cost-burdened. Property records are maintained by the County Clerk, Irene Espinoza, at the county courthouse in Muleshoe.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The Bailey County Clerk maintains all official land records in Bailey County. The County Clerk is Irene Espinoza. The office is located at the Bailey County Courthouse in Muleshoe, Texas.

    What County Property Records Include

    The County Clerk maintains all instruments affecting the ownership and encumbrance of real property. Recorded documents include:

    • Deeds: Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, trustee deeds, and correction deeds.

    • Deeds of Trust: The primary mortgage instrument in Texas conveys a security interest to a trustee on behalf of a lender.

    • Releases and Reconveyances: Discharge instruments releasing liens or deeds of trust once obligations are satisfied.

    • Oil and Gas Leases: Mineral leases, assignments, ratifications, and releases.

    • Easements and Rights-of-Way: Pipeline easements, utility easements, and access rights.

    • Mechanic's and Materialman's Liens: Filed under Chapter 53, Texas Property Code.

    • Powers of Attorney: Including durable and real-property-specific instruments.

    • Assignments: Including assignments of leases, rents, and mineral interests.

    • Lis Pendens: Notices of pending litigation affecting title.

    • Subdivision Plats: Plat maps of subdivisions within the county.

    How to Access Bailey County Property Records

    Online Access

    Search Texasfile and select Bailey County. Index and document image availability vary by year. Confirm with the Clerk at (214) 705-6400 or Support@texasfile.com.

    In Person

    Visit the Bailey County Clerk at 300 South 1st Street, Suite #200, Muleshoe, TX 79347 during office hours.

    By Phone

    Call (806) 272-3044 during business hours.

    By Fax or Email

    • Fax: (806) 272-3538. Email: iespinoza@co.bailey.tx.us. Include instrument description and contact information for fee confirmation.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Bailey County Appraisal District.

    • Property Taxes: Bailey County Tax Assessor-Collector (Yolanda Vasquez), 300 South 1st Street, Suite #140, Muleshoe, TX 79347. Phone: (806) 272-3022.

    • Zoning (Muleshoe): Muleshoe City Council governs zoning within the city limits.

    • Texas RRC: RRC for any oil and gas activity.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    To research a property deed using online resources:

    • Search TexasFile: Go to TexasFile and select the county. Search by grantor/grantee name, document type, and date range.

    • Identify the instrument: Note the volume and page number or instrument number and recording date.

    • Retrieve a copy: Download images if available online. If not, contact the County Clerk at (806) 272-3044 or mail a request with instrument details and applicable fee to 300 South 1st Street, Suite #200, Muleshoe, TX 79347.

    • Verify appraisal data: Cross-reference the parcel at the county appraisal district for assessed value, ownership, and exemption status.

    • Check mineral interests: For properties with oil and gas activity, search the Texas RRC GIS viewer for well locations, operators, and production data.

    • Confirm tax status: Verify current tax payment history with the County Tax Assessor-Collector.

    Cities & Towns in Bailey County

    • Muleshoe: County seat and only significant incorporated city. Population approximately 5,000–5,500. Home of the National Mule Memorial (1965). All recorded instruments for Bailey County are filed with the County Clerk.

    • Sudan: A smaller community in the eastern part of the country. Population approximately 1,000.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    County-Specific Nuances

    • Ogallala Aquifer dependency: Bailey County's agricultural economy depends on Ogallala Aquifer irrigation. As the aquifer is being depleted, water rights instruments are increasingly significant for understanding long-term land use and value. Search for underground water district regulations and water rights instruments when researching rural parcels.

    • Very thin market, use caution with aggregate statistics: Monthly sales typically number 2 to 6 transactions. Percentage changes reported by real estate aggregators should be treated with caution. Appraisal district assessed values are a more stable reference point.

    • Email access available: The Bailey County Clerk accepts requests by email at iespinoza@co.bailey.tx.us, a useful option for remote researchers who cannot visit in person or prefer written confirmation of fees before submitting payment.

    • Texas uses a County Clerk, not a Recorder of Deeds: The County Clerk is the statutory custodian of all recorded land instruments under the Texas Local Government Code.

    • Texas uses deeds of trust, not traditional mortgages: Search for "deed of trust" rather than "mortgage" when examining encumbrances.

    • Severed mineral estates are common: A deed to the surface does not convey mineral rights unless explicitly stated. Mineral ownership must be traced through a separate chain of instruments.

    • Texas homestead rights: Both spouses must sign a deed or deed of trust conveying or encumbering the homestead, even if the title is in only one spouse's name.

    • Community property state: Property acquired during marriage is generally owned equally by both spouses.

    • Agricultural land exemptions: Much of the land in this county qualifies for ag appraisal under the Texas Tax Code, valued on productive capacity rather than market value. Assessed values may be substantially lower than market value.

    Typical Contents of a Bailey County Property Record

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names.

      • full legal description; consideration.

      • warranty covenants.

      • acknowledgment.

      • recording volume and page.

    • Deeds of Trust:

      • Borrower.

      • lender, and trustee names.

      • loan amount.

      • legal description.

      • power of sale clause.

    • Agricultural and Water Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names.

      • Description of leased premises.

      • Permitted use; term.

      • Water rights provisions.

    • Easements:

      • Irrigation easements,

      • Utility easements;

      • Parties, description,

      • Permitted use,

      • Term.

    • Releases:

      • Reference to the original deed of trust;

      • Statement of satisfaction;

      • Lender signature.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All instruments affecting real property must be recorded with the County Clerk. Submissions may be made in person, by mail, or through an approved e-recording service. Documents must satisfy the following requirements:

    • Acknowledgment: The instrument must be acknowledged before a notary public. The acknowledgment must identify the acknowledging party by name and be dated on or after the execution date.

    • Legal Description: A complete legal description referencing the appropriate survey, abstract number, and block/lot designations.

    • Legibility: Pages must be 8.5 x 11 inches, clearly printed, with a 3-inch top margin on the first page for the clerk to record notations and 1-inch margins elsewhere.

    • Grantor/Grantee Names: All parties identified by full legal name.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    • Identify the parcel: Obtain the legal description from the deed, tax records, or the county appraisal district.

    • Search the grantor/grantee index: Use TexasFile or the County Clerk's in-office index by owner name, document type, and date.

    • Retrieve deed documents: Trace all deeds in the chain of title. Review for legal description accuracy, warranty covenants, and reservations or exceptions.

    • Search for encumbrances: Search for deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, lis pendens, and other recorded encumbrances against the property and all prior owners.

    • Review oil and gas instruments: Conduct a separate search of mineral-related instruments, including leases, assignments, ratifications, and pooling agreements. Determine whether the mineral estate has been severed.

    • Check Texas RRC records: Visit RRC for active wells, permitted locations, operators, and production data.

    • Verify appraisal and tax status: Confirm current assessed value, exemption status, and tax payment history at the appraisal district and Tax Assessor-Collector.

    • Confirm homestead status: Determine whether the property carries a homestead exemption, which affects conveyance and lien requirements.

    • Review plat records: For subdivided properties, confirm plat recording and verify the legal description matches the recorded plat.

    • Obtain certified copies: Request certified copies from the County Clerk for closing or litigation. Fees: $5.00 first page, $1.00 per additional page.

    Appendix A Municipalities in Bailey County, TX

    Bailey County, TX has 1 incorporated

    City: Muleshoe

    Bailey County also contains several unincorporated communities, including Baileyboro, Bula, Circle Back, Enochs, Goodland, Maple, Muleshoe, Needmore, and Stegall.

    Unincorporated communities are populated areas that do not have their own government (Wikipedia)

    Appendix B Key Contacts & Portals