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Don't Forget to File for the Texas Homestead Exemption

By
Real Estate Agent with Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, TREC #0492321

Remember, Now is the time for all buyers who bought a home in the state of Texas last year to apply for the Texas Homestead Exemption to help reduce the amount you pay on your property taxes.

Texas Homestead ExemptionThe homestead must be a person’s primary residence. Homeowners in the state of Texas must be the owner occupant of the residence as of January 1st of that particular tax year. Example, if you bought a home in July 2014, you are not allowed to claim the Homestead Exemption until January 2015.  Homeowners will not receive any protections of the law until this claim has been filed. This protection can be lost if the homeowner abandons the protected property by taking up primary residence in another property in the state of Texas.  In other words, you are only allowed to have one Homestead Exemption at a time. If you live in Bexar County, and wish to apply for your Homestead Exemption to reduce your property taxes see Form for Texas Homestead Exemption.  

 

Texas’s  Homestead Exemption has no dollar value limit and has a 10 acres(4.0 hectares) exemption limit for homesteads inside of a municipality(urban homestead), and 100 acres(40 hectares) for those outside of a municipality(rural homestead).  The rural acre allotment is doubled for a family: 200 acres(81 hectares) can be shielded from creditors in Texas for a rural homestead.

Texas allows a deduction equal to 20% of house value. Additional exemptions are available for county taxes, people over 65, and people who have a disability or a military disability. For residents in Bexar County see,  Bexar County Tax Appraisal District.  For all other Texas Counties, see Texas Association of Appraisal Districts.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in and around the Greater San Antonio area, Contact Jerry at 210-789-4216, or visit my website at Homes For Sale in San Antonio, where you can search at your own leisure. I am here for all of your real estate needs. needs.

Comments (14)

Florida Tolbert Team Keller Williams Advantage
Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Lake Nona - Orlando, FL
Keller Williams Land Luxury Division Specialist

Thanks for the reminder.  Our county is just a bit behind as we closed in Nov and ours is still not recorded so we can file.  

Jan 15, 2015 11:59 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Hi, Jerry!  Same deal in Florida.  Remember to file for your SOH (Homestead Exemption) before the deadline.   Contact your local County Property Appraiser or County Tax Collector for instructions.

Jan 15, 2015 12:03 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Yes, Kevin. You'll want to file for your homestead exemption too. Anything to help reduce taxes is worth doing.

Jan 15, 2015 12:24 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Yes, Fred. Everyone loves to reduce their property taxes. Get the word out to all your clients. Enjoy your evening!

Jan 15, 2015 12:26 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

I heard you had a birthday??? Wait! We need to get Paula and Lisa and myself down there to go to our joint on the Riverwalk and get some new hats to celebrate your birthday!!!!

Jan 15, 2015 12:29 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Patricia, Yes, that would be great to have you three ladies back in town on the Riverwalk at that Fun restaurant we all enjoyed before. I celebrated my birthday all last week. Have a Wonderful Evening!

Jan 15, 2015 12:36 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Excellent reminder, Jerry. We don't have this exemption in NC, but we do in SC, so I do remind my clients who've recently purchase in South Carolina not to forget to do so. (They rarely do, as the savings on taxes is quite substantial.)

Jan 15, 2015 08:34 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Yes, Nina. I am sure your South Carolina residents will want to take advantage of reducing their property taxes. Have a Blessed Weekend!

Jan 15, 2015 11:52 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is certainly an important reminder for home owners.

Jan 15, 2015 11:58 PM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Jerry, Everyone who owns the home they live in needs to make sure they have the homestead exemption! They can save a lot of money over the years. We don't have it here in Tennessee.

Jan 16, 2015 05:55 AM
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Jerry it's hard to believe how so many people don't even know about this exemption. I have explained it many times to first time home buyers.

Jan 17, 2015 12:08 AM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Jerry, great reminder of Texas residents. It's a big thing here in Alabama as well. If homestead is not claimed your taxes will approximately double!

Jan 17, 2015 08:46 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for the timely information. I hope home owners who qualify will read it.

Jan 17, 2015 09:45 PM
Nancy Laswick
United Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
Your REALTOR® For The Valley Of The Sun

Great information Jerry Newman and with the link you've made it very easy for homeowners to take advantage of this great way to reduce your property taxes. Well done.

Jan 18, 2015 02:29 PM