In court-decided eviction outcomes for San Augustine, TX, tenants prevail in roughly 8.1% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
26d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in San Augustine, TX until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 26 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$1.0–3.3k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in San Augustine, TX costs landlords $968 to $3,256 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$552
39% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in San Augustine, TX is $552 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 39% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
43.2%
of households
43.2% of occupied housing units in San Augustine, TX are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
31.3%
11.1% unemp.
31.3% of San Augustine, TX residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 11.1%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
GOP margin +56.3% (2024)
3.2
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
3.2
State political climate
Texas legislature & governorship
1.5
Economic stress
31.3% poverty · 11.1% unemp.
9.1
Supply constraint
$552 average · 43.2% renters
6.4
Rent Control risk
38.8% of income on rent
9.5
Eviction process difficulty
26 days filing → judgment
1.1
Tenant organizing strength
43.2% renters
8.9
Housing court bias
County bench composition
9.4
Geographic context
Risk heat across San Augustine and the region
Click any city to see its score
How San Augustine compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in San Augustine County
Very High
#1of 2 cities
#1 of 2 cities in San Augustine County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Texas
Very High
#89of 1,841 cities
#89 of 1,841 cities in Texas for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
2.9
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 2.9/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend+0.6 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
26d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $552/mo. A contested eviction takes 26 days and costs $968–$3,256 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
43.2%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 2,054 residents, 43.2% rent. 39% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 31.3% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
3.2
Local + regional
The politics
Light-statute interior market.
Local & regional political climate score 3.2 and 3.2 (GOP margin +56.3% (2024)). State climate at 1.5, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
1.5
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 1.5/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 1.1, housing court bias 9.4, rent-control risk 9.5. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-3.9 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
9.1
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the real risk.
Economic stress: 9.1. Supply constraint: 6.4. The numbers behind those: 31.3% poverty, 11.1% unemployment, 39% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
San Augustine sits in the quick & cheap quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
San Augustine · 26d · ~$2.1k all-in ($81/day) · score 2.9National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in San Augustine, Texas, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 2.9/10 (LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
San Augustine is a city of 2,054 residents where 43.2% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 38.8% of income on rent. At an average rent of $552/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How San Augustine eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 1.1/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in San Augustine closes 26 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of San Augustine's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 9.4/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in San Augustine runs $968 to $3,256 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 26 days of typical timeline and $552/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 8.9/10 in San Augustine, and the city sits at the top of the rent control risk spectrum (9.5/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Texas, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in San Augustine: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Texas's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $3,256 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in San Augustine
Trap · 9.5/10
The 5.2/10 score weighs nine sub-factors including political climate, court bias, supply constraint, and tenant organizing strength. San Augustine's rent-control-risk sub-score is 9.5/10, driven by demographic and political pressure for tenant relief.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
Can I evict a tenant for being a nuisance in San Augustine?
Yes, if your lease specifies what constitutes a nuisance or violation of lease terms. You would typically issue a 3-day notice to cure the violation or vacate, similar to a non-payment notice. If the lease does not specify a cure period, a 30-day notice of termination without cause may be more appropriate for a month-to-month tenancy.
Q2
What if my tenant claims they can't pay due to a job loss?
While unfortunate, a job loss does not legally excuse a tenant from their rent obligations in Texas. You must still follow the 3-day notice and eviction process. You can, however, choose to work with them, perhaps offering a payment plan or cash for keys, but you are not legally required to do so. Landlord compassion is separate from legal obligation.
Q3
Do I need a lawyer for an eviction in San Augustine Justice Court?
No, you can represent yourself in Justice Court for a Forcible Detainer action. Many small landlords do. However, if the tenant hires an attorney, or if the case involves complex issues or an appeal, having your own lawyer is highly advisable. An attorney ensures proper procedure and can save you time and money in the long run. See Texas tenant protections to understand potential tenant defenses.
Q4
Can I charge late fees on rent in San Augustine?
Yes, Texas law allows for late fees. Your lease must clearly state the amount of the late fee. The fee must be reasonable and cannot exceed 12% of the monthly rent for properties with four or fewer units. Ensure your lease specifies when rent is considered late and when late fees apply.
Q5
Is there rent control in San Augustine?
No, there is no rent control in San Augustine or anywhere else in Texas. Texas state law explicitly prohibits cities and counties from enacting rent control measures. Your Texas rent control rules are straightforward: none exist. You can raise rent to market rates with proper notice, typically 30 days for month-to-month leases.
A 2.9/10 places San Augustine in the 99th percentile of Texas cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has climbed steadily since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to San Augustine (2.9/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
