Are Mortgages, Property Taxes, Appraisals & Utility Bills Public Record?

How Owning & Buying Real Estate Can Make Personal Info Public Record

Your home may feel private, but its records often tell a very public story.

In fact, many personal sensitive details are not locked away securely behind passwords or encryption. They’re sitting out in plain sight, free to search, access, and exploit by anyone who knows where to look.

That reality can raise some critical questions, like:

• How much of your information is exposed when you buy or own a home in Texas?
• What privacy risks can that pose?

To answer those questions, here’s a look at; 

To explore more pro tips for Texas property owners, check out Should I Put My Home in a Trust? and our real estate privacy trust FAQs.

Are Mortgages Public Record?

Yes. In Texas, mortgages, commonly executed as Deeds of Trust, are often part of the public record if they are recorded with the county clerk.

That’s because Texas Property Code § 12.001 states that:

An instrument concerning real property may be recorded if it has been acknowledged, sworn to with a proper jurat, or proved according to law.

This includes deeds of trust and mortgage liens. Once they have been recorded, mortgage liens can be publicly searchable, serving as notice to creditors, buyers, and anyone researching property ownership that a lender has a legal interest in a property.

Notably, while mortgage liens can be part of public record, promissory notes are not. Both signed at closing, mortgage liens and promissory notes differ in the following ways.

Promissory Notes

• Are private contracts between borrowers and lenders
• Serve as the borrower’s personal promise to repay a mortgage loan
• Outline specific loan terms, like the principal, interest rate, repayment schedule, and consequences of default
• Are NOT filed in county property records.

Mortgage Liens & Deeds of Trust in Texas

• Are the security instruments that back up promissory notes
• Establish liens against property for lenders, serving as a form of collateral (If the borrower defaults on the promissory note, the lien authorizes foreclosure.)
• Are recorded in county records, making them part of public record.

As public records, mortgage liens can disclose details like (and not necessarily limited to):

• Borrower (grantor) name: The name(s) of the homeowner(s) who pledged the property as collateral can be public record.
• Lender (beneficiary) name: The bank, mortgage company, or entity holding the lien will be available for the public to see.
• Property legal description: This is the official description of the property, not just the street address. As such, the property legal description can include lot, block, subdivision, and survey information.
• Loan amount (principal): The original amount borrowed to secure the property can be public information.
• Date of execution & recording: This refers to when the lien was signed and when it was officially recorded.
• Trustee name: If the property is owned by a trust, the trustee’s name will appear in public records as the owner. 

Mortgage liens in public records will not generally disclose sensitive information, like Social Security numbers (SSNs), loan balances, payment terms, or default consequences. They simply show that a loan exists, with some basic information about who borrowed money, the lender, how much was borrowed, and what property was associated with the loan.

Are Property Taxes Public Record?

Yes. In Texas, property tax records are public records. 

That’s because Texas Tax Code § 25.195:

• Requires county appraisal districts and tax assessor-collector offices to maintain property tax records and make these records available for public inspection (Public access supports accountability in funding schools, roads, and infrastructure.)
• Clarifies that copies of public property tax records may be provided to anyone who requests them, subject to the payment of any applicable fees
• Allows appraisal districts to make these records available in electronic format, which is why most counties now publish searchable tax records online.

While counties may present data differently, Texas property tax records generally disclose:

• The property owner’s name, as shown in deed records
• The property’s legal description and situs (address)
• The taxing jurisdictions (city, county, school district, and special districts)
• The assessed tax amount 
• Whether taxes are paid, unpaid, or delinquent

Public property tax records do not disclose SSNs or sensitive financial information. Still, anyone can search public records to see tax liabilities associated with a piece of property, tax payment status, and the individuals who are tied to it all.

Are Home Appraisals Public Record?

No. Individual home appraisals are not public record in Texas. 

Unlike deeds, liens, and property tax records, private appraisals for mortgages and refinances are considered confidential business records between borrowers, lenders, and appraisers. As such: 

• These appraisals are not filed with the county.
• They are not accessible through public property record databases or searches.

What is public, however, are county appraisal district (CAD) valuations used for property taxation. 

These records:

• Show the county’s assessed value of a given property for tax purposes
• Are available online in searchable databases or in person at the CAD office
• Are open to inspection as part of the property tax system.

Are Utility Bills Public Record?

Generally, no. Property owners’ utility bills are not typically public record in Texas, and no state or federal statute requires these bills to be publicly accessible information.

The reason is that monthly statements for electricity, water, gas, and/or internet service are considered private customer information, not data that needs to be recorded or maintained by a county, state, or federal agency.

In fact, Texas law establishes some protections for keeping utility information private.

Under the Texas Utilities Code § 182.052, a customer’s usage information, billing records, and personal details (like their home address, telephone number, or SSN) held by a government-operated utility are confidential unless the customer gives written consent for disclosure.

So, as long as you have not provided written consent for your utilities bill to be public information, they usually won’t be.

Are Phone Numbers Public Record?

No. Personal phone numbers are not considered public record in Texas. 

Generally, homeowners’ phone numbers are treated as private identifying information and, therefore, are not disclosed through county property records.

Moreover, the Texas Public Information Act regards personal contact information, like home phone numbers, cell phone numbers, or personal email addresses, as:

• Confidential if held by a governmental body. 
• Only subject to disclosure if an individual affirmatively consents to releasing this info.

A few notable exceptions to this are:

• Business phone numbers that are listed on business filings or professional licenses
• Voter registration records, with some older versions containing phone numbers
• Voluntary publication, meaning a homeowner has decided to add their number to a public directory (such as a business listing or online platform).

So, buying and owning property in Texas will not automatically make your phone number part of public record, even though strangers can still find mortgage liens, property tax records, and other information.

How to Protect Your Privacy in Public Records

Public records are designed to support transparency and governance, but they can also create vulnerabilities and real privacy risks. All too often, that can leave sensitive information open to being leveraged for spam, identity theft, intrusive marketing, or even criminal activity.

That’s where real estate privacy trusts (REPTs) come in. 

By transferring property ownership to a REPT, you can remove the direct link between you and your property in public filings. 

Effective and customizable, REPTs can safeguard your privacy, limit unwanted exposure, and reduce the risks tied to public records. For Texas homeowners, including those looking to buy real estate in and around Austin, REPTs can offer invaluable peace of mind and other benefits.

To find out more and get confidential answers from experienced REPT attorneys, contact Texas Privacy Trusts.

Call 512-827-9212 or email us to set up a free, no-obligation consultation now.