If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
When we moved to Texas 11 years ago we kept hearing this term MUD district. Coming from another state we thought well it must have something to do with mud. No it actually doesn’t have anything to do with mud it stands for municipal utility district and it may not have anything to do with mud but it has a lot to do with water.
If you live in Texas, especially the Houston area; it doesn’t take long to get acquainted with municipal utility districts. A Municipal Utility District (MUD) is a political entity created under Texas State law, specifically, Chapter 54 of the Texas Water Code. Since most of our subdivisions in Northwest Harris County and Southeast Montgomery County are in an unincorporated part of the county we typically get our water through MUD districts. A MUD is similar to a small town however the MUD is limited to providing water, sewage, drainage 
and a few other services within the MUD boundaries. There are over 1500 MUD districts in the state of Texas.
How does a MUD work?
The Board of Directors is publicly elected and they control all the affairs of the MUD. The MUD is subject to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality. As a public servant the board establishes policies in the interest of its constituents. A MUD may adopt and enforce all charges, fees and taxes to provide the district facilities and services.
How will I be taxed?
MUD tax rates vary according to property values and debt requirements. MUD rates generally decline as the MUD area is built out. I have found a large difference in MUD rates. I have seen them as low as .25 per 100 house value and as high as $2.00 per 100 house value. Typically the newer subdivisions are going to have a little higher MUD tax as they have not had the time to build out. As the subdivision gets more established the tax starts coming down. I have come to the conclusion that having a little higher MUD tax is part of the cost associated with being in a newer area.
Is there any way around being in a MUD?
You could buy out in the country and be on your own well and septic. Another option would be to buy in a country subdivision that has community water and then have your own septic. However then you have to deal with well and septic issues. I have also learned recently that the community water fee is usually higher than the water charge in a MUD but the good news is there is no MUD tax with this option. The other option is to buy in a town such as Tomball. You won’t have a MUD tax in Tomball but you will have an extra city tax. The extra city tax is normally quite a bit less than the MUD tax though. I guess long story short you have to pay for your water somehow, whether through a MUD, city tax, community water or well & septic.
For all your Spring TX Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332
a licensed home inspector. Most people only think of one or two questions to ask a home inspector. The most common being “How much is your fee” and “When you can inspect the home”. Below I am including a list of additional questions you might ask.
The inspector may not inspect swimming pools, wells, septic tanks, wood destroying insects or other environmental test. You will likely need to arrange for those inspections separately.
When you are putting your house up for sale there are certain things you can’t change. You are going to have to live with your location, the size of your yard, your floor plan, what other homes in your neighborhood are selling for. There are however certain things that you can do to stage your home to get top dollar. 
of old and new homes; parts of the neighborhood being a little more run down.. The second home was in a newer neighborhood. When I ran comparatives I found that this floor plan typically sold for about $10,00 more in the newer neighborhood. 
should have sold for more than the home in the older neighborhood. In this case what ended up happening was the home in the older neighborhood sold for more than the home in the newer neighborhood.
