What kinds of property may be declared as a homestead?
The answer to this can vary from state to state, but a general legal definition is that a ‘homestead’ can be any structure, condominium, manufactured or mobile home, a motor home, vehicle, boat or vessel, tent, or any other livable structure usually on owned or leased land as long as the resident owns the ‘home’, or has an equity interest in it, and resides there. A homestead is usually the structure that a person lives in and land on which it sits. The property must be a person’s primary residence for it to be eligible for a homestead declaration. The term homestead also includes any improvements legally defined as “appurtenances” to the land, such as a fence, addition or a gazebo. In fact, you may not have to be a resident of some states as long as the property you live in can be legally claimed as a homestead.
