According to the Texas A&M Real Estate Research center, people have been crazy about Texas real estate for long due to the low housing prices and affordability factor but never really fond of it’s hot weather condition. In the last two years, post pandemic interest has really spiked many folds due to lots of different factors.

It has been an attractive relocation destination for the past decade thanks to its pro-business environment, relatively affordable housing, and friendly charm. While population growth has been strong all ten years, some years have stood out more than others.

A wave of Californians came to Texas in 2018, shortly after the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, which prompted numerous moves due to the loss of state and local tax (SALT) deductions. The onset of COVID in 2020 brought another wave of newcomers.

While the number of Texas households moving to less dense areas of the state has greatly increased, especially within the “Texas Triangle” (the region bordered by I-35, I-45, and I-10), the number of in-migrants has grown well beyond the national average. In fact, Texas had an almost 200,000 net increase in out-of-state moves between the summers of 2020 and 2021, second only to Florida, which had slightly more than one-quarter million.

The number of newcomers from California has been especially high over the past few years (Figure 2). The big question is, how many more Golden State residents will call Texas home because of the post-COVID scramble?

Here is the most common reason,

To learn more about this trend, check out the article, https://www.recenter.tamu.edu/articles/tierra-grande/Take-Me-to-Texas-2340

Check this really informative Infographics and understand how the Texas Real Estate Market is shaped by various factors and different buyers.

Before a recent change in the Texas Tax Code, some homebuyers were not eligible for a property-tax homestead exemption until January 1 of the year following their home purchase. This caused those homebuyers to lose out on any benefit of the homestead exemption for up to a year after purchase. For example, if on January 2, 2020, a person purchased a home that did not have an existing homestead exemption, that person was not eligible to benefit from a homestead exemption until 2021.? 

Who Benefits from the Change in the Law?

A change in the law that became effective January 1, 2022, allows all homebuyers to be eligible to receive the homestead exemption beginning on the date they obtain ownership.?SB 8 by Sen. Bettencourt, which Texas REALTORS® supported, allows homebuyers who purchase a property that does not already have a homestead exemption to apply for the exemption immediately. This includes homebuyers of new construction, properties that were owned by investors, and properties for which the seller had removed the homestead exemption. 

What is the Deadline to Apply for an Exemption?

A new homeowner must apply for the exemption for the applicable portion of the tax year before the first anniversary of the date the person acquired the property. There is no longer a requirement of applying by April 30 as there was previously. (The April 30 deadline still applies for other types of exemptions.)? 

If the new owner qualifies to receive the exemption prior to January 1 of the following year, the taxing units will recalculate the amount of tax due and correct the tax roll. If the tax has already been paid, the excess amount will be refunded. The previous requirements for eligibility to receive the homestead exemption still apply.

How Does the New Law Affect the Process for Applying for a Homestead Exemption?

Though the deadline for an application to be submitted has changed, the process for obtaining the exemption should not change. Homebuyers should check with their central appraisal district for detailed instructions.

It’s going to be really welcoming news for new home buyers next year. New homeowners will have a way to lower their property’s taxable value and save on their property taxes next year.

Around 250,000 Texans who buy new homes each year that qualify for homestead exemptions will soon become immediately eligible to receive the property tax breaks, instead of having to wait until January of the next year, under a bill headed for Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

Senate Bill 8, which lawmakers expect to generate about $50 million in annual savings for new homeowners, passed the Texas House on Friday without any opposition, becoming the first measure to hit the governor’s desk since he called lawmakers back to Austin in July. It is set to take effect Jan. 1.

A new law effective January 1, 2022 will provide property tax relief by allowing homebuyers to file for homestead exemptions in the year when they purchase the property. Currently, new homeowners must wait until the following year to file for the exemption.

Hurray!! I have been asked my buyers every time why cannot I file for exemption same year and answer is finally here. Thanks to this bill and new home buyers would be delighted about it.