Potter County, TX Property Records

    Potter County, TX, has a population of well over 118,000 residents. This population reflects a 3.3% decline in growth rate since 2020, which signals a modest population decrease over the recent years. The average home value in Potter County is $142,536, up 1.4% from the previous year and significantly lower than the statewide average of $294,444.

    Listings in the county typically go under contract in around 50 days, with nearly 14% of homes selling over the listing price. This indicates that it is neither an overheated seller's market nor a very slow buyer's market. However, the percentage of cost burden in the county from the Federal Reserve Economic Data is about 34%. This statistic signals the percentage of people who spend 30% or more of their income on household costs. Potter County's housing burden is likely noticeable as a result of median incomes and local rents or sales prices.

    Property assessment and parcel inventories in Potter County are handled at the municipal level. The county assessor is responsible for detailed parcel inventories, assessed values, legal descriptions, and maps. Interested users should visit the website of the assessor to access these documents.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    In Potter County, the County Clerk's Office is responsible for the recording, indexing, and maintenance of property records within the county. These records include deeds, mortgages, easements, liens, and related instruments affecting land. The County Clerk's Office also ensures that these records are available to the public both online and in person.

    Anyone can access property records in Potter County by visiting the office of the county clerk at 500 South Fillmore Street, Suite 201, Amarillo, TX 79101. An interested user can also use the online portal of the county clerk's webpage to access property records using search fields such as grantor/grantee names, document type, instrument number, or other options.

    What Potter County Property Records Include

    Property records in Potter County are a series of documents indexed and maintained by the County Clerk's Office. These documents affect matters concerning ownerships, interests, and encumbrances on real estate within the county. Recorded property documents in Potter County include deeds, mortgages, plats, lis pendens, surveys, homestead declarations, and more.

    Since the inception of the county in 1887, the county clerk has always recorded, indexed, and maintained land records of real estate within the county. The Public Records portal of the County Clerk's webpage allows users to search for land records by grantor/grantee name, document type, and other fields.

    How to Access Potter County Property Records

    You can access Potter County property records either by using online portals, in-person visits, or other request methods. An interested individual can use one or more methods depending on their preferred method.

    Online Access (Free)

    You can access land documents in Potter County for free via the records search portal. A user can search for documents using grantor or grantee names, document number, document type, recording date, or other searchable fields.

    Please note that searching and viewing basic index data is free. However, downloading some images may require paying a small fee.

    In Person

    You can request certified copies, staff assistance, and access to older or historical records at the main office of the County Clerk located at 500 South Fillmore Street, Suite 201, Amarillo, TX 79101. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays.

    By Phone or Email

    For general public records and recording inquiries, you can call the office of the County Clerk at (806) 379-2275 or via email at countyclerk@co.potter.tx.us.

    By Mail/Overnight

    You can submit original documents for recording by mail or courier to the County Clerk's Office. The mail should include an original signed document with the official formatting options, the correct recording fee, and a return envelope containing the return address to which the original document will be sent after recording. The mail can be sent to:

    Potter County Clerk

    P.O. Box 9638

    Amarillo, TX 79105

    For overnight delivery, send mail to: 500 South Fillmore Street, Suite 201, Amarillo, TX 79101

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    Potter County supports e-recording services for approved submitters such as title companies, attorneys, and other approved submitters. E-recording services are carried out through approved e-recording vendors, which are listed on the webpage of the County Clerk.

    What's Not at the Registry (But Matters for Property Research)

    The Portal County Clerk is responsible for all property documents except for tax and assessment documents. The Potter-Randall Appraisal District is responsible for assessment of property and parcel records, while the Potter County Tax Assessor-Collector collects and maintains data on tax rates, tax bills, and payment or delinquency records.

    However, for statewide tax information and tax-rate data, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is the place to access them.

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

    You can pull up Potter County deeds online by taking the following steps:

    • Visit the official Property Records self-service portal on the webpage of the Potter County Clerk.

    • Click “ I accept” when prompted to enter the public search system.

    • Search for the land records using searchable fields like grantee or grantor names, document number, recorded date range, or book page.

    • Click the matching record and review the scanned document, taking note of the instrument number, recording date, and volume or page number.

    • Download or print the PDF from the portal using the viewer's download or print option. A small fee may be required per download.

    Cities & Towns in Potter County (and Their Registry Districts)

    Potter County does not run multiple registry districts for land records. All recorded land and property instruments, such as deeds, liens, plats, and easements, fall under the single county-level registry maintained by the Potter County Clerk. The same Clerk's Office serves every property that falls within the boundaries of Potter County.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments and tax data in Potter County are maintained by the Potter-Randall Appraisal District and Comal County Tax Assessor-Collector, respectively. The Potter-Randall Appraisal District (CAD) officially handles assessments, property class, parcel cards, appraised value, and exemptions, among other property assessment documents.

    For property current and past tax payment records, tax collection and receipts, and questions about bill calculations and due dates, the Potter County Tax Assessor-Collector is where such documents are maintained. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts maintains statewide property tax data.

    Potter County-Specific Nuances

    Potter County, TX, has several distinctive features that may influence property research:

    • All land records in Potter County are recorded with the County Clerk's Office. There are no separate registry districts in the county.

    • Potter County has deep historical archives as it maintains deed records dating back to the late 19th century.

    • Online portal offers free access to the index (names, dates, document numbers, and types) with online viewing and downloading of images. However, a small fee may be required for downloading.

    • Planning, zoning, and development review are primarily handled at the municipal level and not by the land records registry at the Court Clerk's Office.

    • There is no land court or registered-title system in Comal County. The county follows Texas's traditional recorded-land (deed recording) system only.

    Typical Contents of a Potter County Property Record

    A Potter County property record refers to a collection of official documents that prove property ownership, financial interests, and land boundaries. You will typically see the following information when reviewing these records:

    • Deeds (conveyance record):

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Prior instrument references

      • Sale consideration (the purchase price or transfer value)

      • Legal description of the property

      • Execution and acknowledgment

    • Mortgages and Discharges (releases):

      • Lender

      • Borrower

      • Secured amount

      • Promissory note reference

      • Recording information

      • Date and signature of the releasing party

    • Plans, Plats, and Surveys:

      • Survey or plat number

      • Subdivision name and phase

      • Lot dimensions and layout

      • References to related plats or re-plats

      • Recording information

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions)

      • Easements

      • Restrictions or covenants

      • Lis pendens notices

      • Declarations or amendments to covenants

    Depending on the record, you may also view other information, such as homestead declaration, trustee information, lien holder, surveyor certification and seal, recording references, and affected legal descriptions.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All changes to property titles in Potter County, including new conveyances, mortgages, liens, easements, and other related property instruments, must be recorded with the Potter County Clerk. Documents can be recorded from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

    More information on recording guidelines and a list of approved third-party vendors for the e-recording option is on the website of the Potter County Clerk.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    Here is a practical checklist that you can use to conduct effective property research in Potter County, TX:

    • Identify the correct registry district. The Potter County Clerk is the single county-wide recording authority for the county.

    • Search the public records and note reference numbers. Search the Clerk's official public records and note the document reference exactly as indexed.

    • Trace the chain of title. Use the grantor and grantee names alongside the prior reference listed on the current deed to review ownership history until you get to a satisfactory root of title.

    • Review related plans and encumbrances. Check for recorded plans, easements, restrictions, liens, and other encumbrances that may affect use or access.

    • Verify parcel data with the appraisal authority. Cross-check your parcel records with the Potter-Randall Appraisal District to confirm property characteristics, assessed value, and tax information.

    • Confirm registered land status, where applicable. Potter County does not operate a registered land system in keeping with Texas Law.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Potter County

    Potter County, TX, has 1 city, 7 incorporated communities, and 9 unincorporated communities:

    • Cities: Amarillo* (the county seat)

    • Town: Bishop Hills

    • Census-designated Places: Bushland*

    • Unincorporated Communities: Ady, Cliffside, Gentry, and St. Francis

    • Historical communities: Folsom, Pleasant Valley, Pullman, and Soncy.

    *Potter County has some communities that are partially in Randall County (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B: Key Contacts & Portals