I received another homestead inquiry this past week from someone who caller owned a primary residence in Florida and is temporarily moving out of state. This caller is a self-employed technology consultant to large businesses. He incurred a money judgment from a failed business deal. He has a long-term consulting contract in Ohio and wants to rent his house while working on this assignment. He asked whether he can sign a lease for his Florida home without losing its homestead exemption.
A debtor may move away temporarily from his homestead and maintain the homestead exemption as long as he intends to return. Leasing the homestead by itself indicates that the debtor intends to convert the home to an income producing investment. The determination depends on all relevant facts including, for instance, whether the debtor buys or just rents a residence in another state during his consulting job and whether the debtor changes his drivers license and IRS address to another state.
Last updated on May 22, 2020