New Braunfels Property Records
New Braunfels property records are maintained by the Comal County Clerk, the official recording office for all real estate instruments in Comal County. If you need a deed, lien search, or title history for a New Braunfels property, the Comal County Clerk is where those records are kept. New Braunfels is the county seat of Comal County and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, with a population of around 90,000. All deeds, deeds of trust, plats, releases, and other property instruments are indexed at the clerk's office and open to public search online or in person.
New Braunfels Overview
Where New Braunfels Property Records Are Filed
The Comal County Clerk holds all real property recordings for New Braunfels and the rest of Comal County. The clerk's office is in the Comal County Courthouse in downtown New Braunfels. Because New Braunfels is the county seat, the recording office is right in the heart of the city. All deeds, deeds of trust, liens, plats, and related instruments affecting real property in New Braunfels are indexed here. Records go back to the mid-1800s when Comal County was established.
New Braunfels has experienced some of the fastest growth in Texas, and the Comal County deed records reflect that. The volume of subdivision plats, builder deeds, and mortgage recordings has grown steadily with the influx of new residents and developments. The clerk's office manages a large volume of daily filings. Online access to the deed index is available through the county website, which helps researchers find records without visiting in person.
| Office | Comal County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Main Plaza New Braunfels, TX 78130 |
| Phone | (830) 221-1230 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.comal.tx.us |
Note: New Braunfels building permits and development records are handled by the City of New Braunfels at newbraunfels.gov. These city records are separate from deed instruments filed at the county clerk.
How to Search New Braunfels Property Records
The Comal County Clerk provides online access to the deed index at co.comal.tx.us. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, or document number. The index returns instrument type, recording date, book and page, and party names. Scanned document images are available for many recorded instruments and can be viewed or downloaded through the portal.
The New Braunfels city portal at newbraunfels.gov is shown below, providing a view of the city's online services for residents and property researchers in New Braunfels.
The Comal Central Appraisal District at comalcad.org provides a free public property search for all Comal County parcels. You can look up any New Braunfels property by address or owner name and see current ownership, the legal description, and appraised values. This is a good first step before searching the deed index at the county clerk. COMAL CAD records are updated regularly and free to access.
For in-person research, visit the Comal County Clerk at the courthouse in downtown New Braunfels. Staff can help look up records at the counter and assist with copy requests. Call (830) 221-1230 before visiting to confirm what you need and what to bring.
Types of Property Records in New Braunfels
The Comal County Clerk records all standard real property instruments for New Braunfels. Warranty deeds are used in most sales and include a full title guarantee. Special warranty deeds limit the guarantee to the period the seller owned the property. Quitclaim deeds convey the grantor's interest without any guarantee. Deeds of trust secure home loans. Releases of lien are filed when a mortgage is paid in full.
New Braunfels has a large volume of new residential development, and subdivision plats are commonly filed with the Comal County Clerk. These plats establish lot lines and common areas for new neighborhoods. Builder deeds from production builders are a significant portion of recent deed filings. HOA declarations and deed restrictions are recorded for most new communities. Mechanic's and materialman's liens are also filed when payment disputes arise on construction projects. The clerk's index covers all of these instrument types and more.
- Warranty deeds and special warranty deeds
- Quitclaim deeds
- Deeds of trust
- Releases of lien
- Mechanic's and materialman's liens
- Subdivision plats and replats
- HOA declarations and deed restrictions
Comal Central Appraisal District
The Comal Central Appraisal District (CCAD) handles property appraisals for all parcels in Comal County, including those in New Braunfels. Their public search at comalcad.org lets you look up any property by address, owner name, or account number. Results include the current owner, legal description, land and improvement values, exemptions applied, and the taxing entities that apply to the property. The site is free and public.
New Braunfels has seen significant property value appreciation in recent years as the city has grown. CCAD records show historical appraised values, which can help put current values in context. For investment research or due diligence on a specific address, checking the CCAD record alongside the deed index at the county clerk gives you the most complete view of the property's ownership and value history.
Owners who disagree with their Comal County appraisal can protest with the Appraisal Review Board. The deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice. CCAD provides forms and instructions on its website at comalcad.org.
Recording Fees in Comal County
Comal County recording fees follow the state schedule under Texas Local Government Code Section 118.011. The standard recording fee is $26 for the first page of a real property instrument and $4 per additional page. A simple warranty deed costs $26. Longer instruments with riders or exhibits cost more based on total page count.
Certified copies of recorded documents cost more than plain copies. Call the Comal County Clerk at (830) 221-1230 to ask about current rates and accepted payment methods before you visit. The office is downtown and accessible to most New Braunfels residents.
Texas Public Information Act
Property records at the Comal County Clerk are public under the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. Any person can request and inspect deed records. No reason is required. You don't have to be a Texas resident or own property in New Braunfels to access these documents.
The clerk provides access at the public counter and through online tools. A formal Chapter 552 request is rarely needed for standard deed records. Sensitive personal identifiers are removed from recorded instruments before they appear publicly, as required by Texas Property Code Section 11.008.
Additional Resources for New Braunfels Property Research
The Comal County Tax Assessor-Collector handles property tax billing for New Braunfels and all of Comal County. Unpaid taxes are a lien on real property. Before a sale can close, any outstanding tax balance must be paid. The CCAD website often shows tax account status. You can also contact the county tax office directly if you need more detail.
The Texas General Land Office at glo.texas.gov maintains original survey archives for Central Texas, including Comal County. New Braunfels was established in the 1840s, and some properties in the area have title histories tied to early Republic of Texas land grants. For complex or historical chains of title in New Braunfels, the GLO archives may hold relevant documents.
Lone Star Legal Aid provides free legal help to qualifying individuals in the New Braunfels and Comal County area. The State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 can refer you to a licensed real estate attorney in the area. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has free guides on deeds, liens, title disputes, and other property law topics.
Comal County Property Records
New Braunfels is the county seat of Comal County, and all property records for the city are filed with the Comal County Clerk. For more on the recording office, fees, and county resources, visit the Comal County property records page.
Nearby Cities
Other Central Texas and San Antonio-area cities with property records pages include: