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Homestead Exemption Laws in Texas

Texas protects a homestead from creditors with no dollar cap, limited to 10 acres in an urban area and 100 acres (single adult) or 200 acres (family) in a rural area.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Texas at a glance

Exemption amount
Unlimited
Unlimited in value
Yes
Acreage limit
10 acres urban, 100 or 200 acres rural
The rural limit is 100 acres for a single adult and 200 acres for a family.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Texas

How much home equity does the homestead exemption protect in Texas?

Exemption amount in Texas: Unlimited.

Is the homestead exemption unlimited in value in Texas?

Yes. Unlimited in value in Texas: yes.

Is there an acreage limit on the homestead exemption in Texas?

Acreage limit in Texas: 10 acres urban, 100 or 200 acres rural. The rural limit is 100 acres for a single adult and 200 acres for a family.

Where do the Texas homestead exemption laws come from?

The rules above come from Tex. Prop. Code 41.001 and Tex. Prop. Code 41.002. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

The exemption applies to equity, not to the full value of the home. Equity is the market value minus the mortgages and other liens on the property. A lender that holds a mortgage on the home, and certain other claims such as taxes on the property, can usually still be enforced against it regardless of the exemption.

Check whether you need to take a step to claim the protection. Some states protect a home automatically once it is your residence, while others require you to record a homestead declaration with the county or to claim the exemption in court when a creditor tries to collect.

In bankruptcy, federal law can limit a state homestead exemption for a home bought within a set period before the filing, and residency rules decide which state's exemptions apply if you moved recently. Some states also let filers choose the federal bankruptcy exemptions instead of the state list. A bankruptcy attorney can confirm which rules apply to your situation.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.