Opinion ID: 30585
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Use of the Property.

Text: 29 Rush Truck also argues that even if Bouchie's property is not urban, as defined within section 41.002(c), it still should not receive the benefit of the homestead exemption because the property is not used for the purposes of a rural home as required by Tex. Prop.Code § 41.002(b) (2000). Rush Truck does not challenge the bankruptcy court's finding that the Bouchie's use the property as their home. Rather, Rush Truck contends that the bankruptcy court erred in not requiring Bouchie to show that the land is used for rural purposes. 30 Rush Truck is correct only to the extent that the bankruptcy court was required to determine that Bouchie intended to use their property as a rural home. Rush Truck goes further, however, contending that there must also be a showing that the land around the home is used for support of the family. Rush Truck relies primarily on the bankruptcy court's decision in In re Spencer, 34 which held that a property owner seeking to take advantage of the rural homestead exemption must demonstrate that the land is used for agricultural or other rural economic activity to support the family. We disagree with Rush Truck and with the Spencer decision as well. To date, Spencer remains an outlier, and its analysis of the homestead exemption has not been adopted by other bankruptcy judges in the Western District of Texas. 35 We agree with the reasoning in Mitchell: Under Texas homestead law, all that is required for rural homestead purposes is that the property be used as a home. 36 31