homestead
a home with surrounding land
A home in the countryside with land around it.
a/the [someone's] homestead; on a homestead
- They bought an old homestead and started keeping chickens and bees.
- The wildfire came within a mile of their homestead.
- A gravel track led to a small homestead hidden by trees.
- They live on a homestead in the country.
- Our homestead has a garden and a barn.
a family's long-time home
A family home that has been in the family for many years.
the [family name]'s homestead; return to the homestead
- After his father died, he returned to the homestead to help his mother.
- They’re trying to keep the homestead in the family instead of selling it.
- Every summer the cousins gathered at the homestead for a reunion.
- She went back to her family’s homestead.
- They want to keep the homestead.
a legally protected primary home
In law, a person’s main home that gets special protection or tax benefits.
declare [property] a homestead; qualify for homestead; homestead protection
- They declared the house as their homestead to qualify for additional legal protection.
- In her state, homestead status can reduce certain property taxes.
- The lawyer explained how homestead rules affect the sale of the home.
- This house is our legal homestead.
- Homestead rules are different in each state.
land claimed by a settler
In history, land given or claimed so someone could live and farm there.
claim a homestead; a homestead grant
- Her great-grandparents arrived with little money and claimed a homestead on the prairie.
- The museum has letters describing life on a homestead in the 1880s.
- He researched the original homestead boundaries in old maps.
- They claimed a homestead long ago.
to settle and build a homestead
To make a home on land and live from it.
homestead on/in [place]; homestead [land/property]
- They plan to homestead on a few acres and grow most of their food.
- In the 19th century, many families homesteaded in the West.
- She learned to homestead by following experienced growers online.
- They want to homestead in the countryside.
- Base: homestead
- Plural: homesteads
file for homestead
1apply for homestead tax status
To send the forms to get homestead benefits for your home.
- After we closed on the house, the realtor reminded us to file for homestead.
- You can file for homestead online in some counties.
- They filed for homestead but missed the deadline for this year.
homestead claim
1a legal claim to settle land
In history, a legal claim to land for a settler.
- The journal describes the long trip to register a homestead claim.
- She found paperwork showing her ancestor’s homestead claim number.
- Disputes sometimes broke out over overlapping homestead claims.
homestead declaration
1a formal filing for homestead protection
An official form that says your home is your homestead.
- They recorded a homestead declaration to strengthen protection of the property.
- The clerk’s office provided instructions for the homestead declaration.
- A homestead declaration may need to be updated after certain changes.
homestead exemption
1tax break for a main home
A rule that can lower your property tax on your main home.
- We applied for the homestead exemption to lower our property tax bill.
- The county website explains who qualifies for a homestead exemption.
- If you rent the house out, you may lose the homestead exemption.
homestead rights
1legal protections tied to a home
Special legal rights connected to a person’s main home.
- The attorney reviewed the couple’s homestead rights before the sale.
- Some contracts include language about waiving homestead rights.
- Homestead rights can affect what happens to a home after someone dies.
the homestead act
1US law granting settlement land
A US law that let settlers get land by living and working on it.
- Under the Homestead Act, families could claim land if they farmed it.
- The documentary explains how the Homestead Act changed the American West.
- His ancestors came west after hearing about the Homestead Act.