Brilliant/Stupid Residency Idea (Victoria, Paducah: real estate, renting, attorney)

[mjpyv2]

I know there are a bunch of threads on obtaining Texas residency for the purposes of in-state tuition, but none that I searched touched on a "rumored" strategy for residency status that I've heard about. Basically, you buy a plot of land for $500 or so, register it in your name and pay the taxes for 12 full months, while living in Texas (presumably renting) for the duration of those 12 months and attending school. Then, in my case, for the second and third years of UT law school, will I have fulfilled the requirements to achieve residency for those two years?

A cursory glance at the requirements tells me yes--a domicile is presumed to be established if you own real property, I don't see anything that explicitly states you have to be living in/on the property you own. This question is a bit legalistic, so I guess its geared towards anyone with legal knowledge of these statutes or anyone who has heard of this being pulled off successfully. Or, if no one has an anwser, who do you think would be qualified to answer my questions? An attorney specializing in real estate from texas? I'm really desperate to find out more about this, as it would save me $30,000 if i established residency.

[Philip T]

Looks like you are thinking, dreaming and scheming like a lawyer, already.

Half way there!



btw, Welcome to Texas.

Suppose there are some folks here that will keep you busy.

[GayleTX]

Yep, the UT law school will be proud to have him, won't they.........

[TexasHorseLady]

First question - where are you going to find a plot of land for "$500 or so"?

[Canine*Castle]

Let me know where that inexpensive plot of land is and I'll buy it in a heartbeat, but only if it's pretty.

[texan55]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

First question - where are you going to find a plot of land for "$500 or so"?

west texas ranch land?


i'm not sure if they would sell a single acre but if you're looking for 100 acres or so it can be had for 500/acre or less out there

[mjpyv2]

Originally Posted by GayleTX

Yep, the UT law school will be proud to have him, won't they.........

Wow, brilliant sarcasm. Let me try to match that wit: You're totaaaalllly right, dood, Texas would be so ashamed to have a student like me, who's scraped together enough money to attend grad school through years of hard work, while maintaining exemplary grades and excelling on the LSAT, all in the hopes of bettering myself by attending one of the most respected law schools in the country, and now is looking only to reduce the enormous cost ($180,000 fyi--a big burden when your goal is public interest law) for the sake of his wife and children. Yep, totally ashamed to have a student like that

Originally Posted by Philip T

Looks like you are thinking, dreaming and scheming like a lawyer, already.

Half way there!



btw, Welcome to Texas.

Suppose there are some folks here that will keep you busy.

Now that's more like it, someone who can appreciate a little scheming

[jtur88]

There are places in Texas (like Paducah) where you could probably buy a lot in town, maybe even with a house on it, for a couple of thousand. But if it is like Victoria, you'd have to arrange to have the grass mowed every month or so, or be issued a weed citation. If there is a house on it, even if uninhabitable, you'd also have a bona fide address.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by jtur88

There are places in Texas (like Paducah) where you could probably buy a lot in town, maybe even with a house on it, for a couple of thousand. But if it is like Victoria, you'd have to arrange to have the grass mowed every month or so, or be issued a weed citation. If there is a house on it, even if uninhabitable, you'd also have a bona fide address.

I don't even thing there you could get something like OP is saying.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by mjpyv2

I know there are a bunch of threads on obtaining Texas residency for the purposes of in-state tuition, but none that I searched touched on a "rumored" strategy for residency status that I've heard about. Basically, you buy a plot of land for $500 or so, register it in your name and pay the taxes for 12 full months, while living in Texas (presumably renting) for the duration of those 12 months and attending school. Then, in my case, for the second and third years of UT law school, will I have fulfilled the requirements to achieve residency for those two years?

A cursory glance at the requirements tells me yes--a domicile is presumed to be established if you own real property, I don't see anything that explicitly states you have to be living in/on the property you own. This question is a bit legalistic, so I guess its geared towards anyone with legal knowledge of these statutes or anyone who has heard of this being pulled off successfully. Or, if no one has an anwser, who do you think would be qualified to answer my questions? An attorney specializing in real estate from texas? I'm really desperate to find out more about this, as it would save me $30,000 if i established residency.

I am certainly not an expert on this, but I think you have to have a residence, not a piece of property that doesn't exist in the first place. $500 will not buy you a drive way...Now, if you could pull it off and cheating and scheming is your cup of tea, boy will you be the best Abulence chaser out there...

Nita