How do I confirm a property really has no deed restrictions?

Confirm it in writing through the title process, not the listing. Order a title commitment from a Texas title company: recorded restrictions, easements and similar burdens appear as exceptions on Schedule B, and the underlying documents can be requested. You can also search the county clerk's real property records for the deed chain and any recorded declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs). Ask the seller for any plat, which may carry plat notes. Then check public rules separately: whether the tract is inside a city or its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), and what county subdivision, septic and floodplain rules apply. Have a real estate attorney review anything unclear before closing.

Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.

Sources

• What You Need to Know About Land-Use Restrictions in TexasTexas A&M Real Estate Research Center
• Title Insurance FAQTexas Department of Insurance
• Texas Rural Land Purchasing ChecklistTexas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Agriculture Law