Homestead Exemptions for Full-timers

[GraciesMom]

For background on this request, please see my post under general discussions, "You think your motorhome is your home? Think again."

I'm posting this to ask that all full-timers - those with no other property and those that make a motorhome their home, join me in a letter writing campaign, phone call campaign, etc. to the governors of all states that do not extend a homestead exemption to those of us who make a motorhome OUR HOME. It doesn't matter that your home of record extends you a homestead exemption - wherever you go, whatever state you are in, your home should be respected and given a homestead exemption so that it can never be taken away from you NO MATTER WHAT. In this litigious society, who knows what will happen? I certainly never saw this coming.

It's easy to send an email - you simply go to the state government website for each state and there's a form for you to send an email. You can write one email in Word, copy and paste it in the form.

Full-timers have to stick together. This is my life's passion now, to make sure that no one will ever lose their motorhome due to some ridiculously antiquated homestead law.

Good Sam is currently working on changing this legislation - send them a letter of encouragement. And encourage FMCA and all other RV organizations to do the same.

[Wicked Whippets]

This would be a tough one, since the homestead was intended to protect real property. I can see a fly in the ointment when someone declares their Ferrari or Bentley under the homestead act. Who will decide what is an RV and what's not?

[GraciesMom]

Um . . . does a Ferrarri or a Bentley have a bed? Toilet? Shower? Sink? Oven? Refrigerator? Entertainment system? Holding tanks? Propane?

I think it would be pretty clear what would qualify as a motorhome, RV, etc. A simple sentence such as "self-contained structure produced for the purpose of an abode" might cover it. No matter what you put in a car, it's a car. Or a truck. Or a motorcycle. Only a bus or some other large structure - like a horse trailer - could be modified to actually be lived in and would qualify to be a "home".

I wasn't trying to parse words - this is serious. There are nutcases out there who will try to claim anything, but for those who make an RV their home, it should be classified as their home and the respect given to a home.