Texas guide
Downsizing In Texas
No state income tax, deep single-story inventory, and some of the best 55+ communities in the country — with property tax rules worth understanding first.
Taxes
Three Rules Texans Should Know
Homestead exemption
File it on your new home promptly. It reduces taxable value and caps annual increases on your primary residence.
Over-65 exemption & ceiling
At 65 you may qualify for an additional exemption and a school-tax ceiling on your homestead.
Ceiling portability
In many cases a percentage of your school-tax ceiling can transfer to your next Texas homestead. Verify with the appraisal district.
Educational information only — confirm current rules with your county appraisal district and a Texas CPA.
Texas questions
What Texans Ask Us Most
Do Texas homeowners over 65 stop paying property taxes?
No, but the burden drops meaningfully. Homeowners 65 and older typically qualify for an additional homestead exemption and a ceiling on school district taxes for their primary residence, so that portion of the bill stops climbing. Confirm current amounts with your county appraisal district.
Can I transfer my over-65 school tax ceiling to a new Texas home?
In many cases a percentage of the ceiling benefit can move with you to your next Texas homestead. The transfer is not automatic — you apply through the appraisal district in your new county.
Where is the best place to downsize in Texas?
Central Texas leads for 55+ inventory, healthcare access, and lock-and-leave housing, with Georgetown, Round Rock, Belton, Temple, and Salado standing out. Dallas–Fort Worth suburbs offer walkable town squares and new builds, and Austin suits travelers who want airport and medical proximity.
Is now a good time to downsize in Texas?
The right time is set by your life, not the market. What matters is whether your current home is costing you money, time, and energy you would rather spend elsewhere — and whether your equity is large enough to convert into real monthly income.
Explore this topic
Everything on Texas & Central Texas
Related guides
You may also like
Topics this connects to
Property Taxes & Capital Gains
Cities & Places
55+ & Active Adult Communities
Your next chapter
Right Size Your Texas Chapter
Schedule your Right Size Strategy Session and we'll map your equity, your timeline, and the life you want on the other side of it.