Homestead Recording Service

I am ashamed that I paid the $ 35 for nothing… I should have investigated a little more before I paid. I typically am very organized and can explain every hard earned dollar spent, but with a new baby and moving, I thought this was part of the Homestead Exemption process. Nice to know that I got scammed out of $ 35 that could have gone to diapers and wipes for my child… low lifes!

If you want to be ripped off, then use this service. Not only will they charge you $ 35, they’ll send you another bill for $ 35 after that. I must have been in a sleep-​deprived state because I never give these types of a-​holes my info but I have to hand it to them that their forms look pretty good. So after paying the first $ 35 and then waking up to another bill from them, I shredded it and figured that was the last of my stupid mistake. Well, not so much… just got a call from my credit card company about 6 transactions in another city for over $ 900 of sports gear. Thankfully I don’t have to pay the fraudulent charges, but I also have decided I won’t pay bills when drowsy in the future!

A totally worthless service.
Glad I researched and didn’t bite. While they are basing their claim this is legit for the property definition and not just the exemption… the exemption gets you homestead on your property automatically!
From the law:
It is useful, both for ad valorem tax purposes and for protection from creditors, to file an affidavit designating the homestead in the real property records of the county in which the property is located. Tex. Prop. Code § 41.005. However, for protection from creditors, this is not strictly necessary. The homestead arises automatically when required legal conditions occur. Graham v. Kleb, Civ. Act. Nos. H-07−2279, H-07−2878, 2008 WL 243 669, at *4 (S.D. Tex. Jan. 29, 2008) (not selected for publication). Also, if a person receives a homestead tax exemption then creditor protection is automatic.
So don’t waste your time or money on these people. Just let them die off like all the other scams out there.

Thanks for all the reviews on Homestead Recording Service. I almost fell for this. I just called the 800−400−1693 located on their form. Their initial recording does try to clarify that this is just a service and has nothing to do with actual Homestead exemption filing.
DO NOT SEND IN MONEY!!!

How awful. I almost fell for this until I realized my county was not on any of the documentation.
But of course… thanks to all UnilocalERS who posted the envelopes and wrote the reviews. You saved me time and $ 35.00.
The people need to be sued. STAT!

this is a scam… wish i could leave –1. homestead filing is free!!! i would like to see these people put in jail for scamming people!

scam. if you mail back the empty envelope they get charged a fee by the postal service under their postal permit. just a thought. :)

In the cover it states «This is a solicitation». I really wish the government prohibits such companies to run business. They are spending money to print and post, so surely they mucy be making money. Government should have an authority to stop profit making businesses that are immoral.

Total Scam. Watch out for a lot of companies like this that claims to provide non existent service for a fee.

Don’t pay for this. You can get the form free via State Comptroller’s website.

Scam. They want your $ 35 and then probably sell your info after you pay them $ 35.

This is a total scam. They do not do anything. It is free to file for homestead exemption right here:
These people do nothing and take your money!

Wanted to reiterate what other reviewers are saying. this is a scam! Fill out the Homestead Form on the Harris County Website:
I failed for this and paid the $ 35 to get the homestead prepared. I even went to the bank to get it notarized today. But decided to figure out the process of getting it processed at the clerk’s office rather than sending another $ 39. Good thing I came across all these reviews and realized that this is a scam and that homestead declarations are free of charges!

Previously used envelope which show signs of tear? seriously?
Do they think customers are so dumb to buy this???
This company should be sued for misleading customers

Thanks Unilocal,almost blew $ 35. There also other scams that i encountered regarding home purchases. one is a company offering change of address.

Here’s the link to the actual site: Application for Residence Homestead Exemption (Form 50 – 114)

From the warning on the envelope about it being a violation of federal law to interfere with the delivery of the letter to the Texas law quotes covering the entire back of the form… scam. I did use their postage paid envelope to send them a little note with my thoughts at their expense. The Internet domain used in the scam,
, is registered to a company in Mesa, AZ called Advanced Focus, LLC. You can get the real Application for Residence Homestead Exemption (Form 50 – 114) from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website for free.

Fraud!!! Beware not a real company but the forms are very deceiving if you are not paying attention ! I am surprised the the counties or the DO office have not filed a lawsuit. 800 number is worthless, never works ! I am going to keep trying to get my money back.

WARNING!!! HOMESTEAD RECORDING SERVICE IS A SCAM!!!
These people should be ashamed of themselves. Any company that «represents» themselves to be a legal government entity by using official looking documents, or stamps or anything else should be ran out of the state and shipped to a very bad place where bad people are. Boston or someplace like that. (just kidding)
This is nothing but a major rip-​off. It was tricky because it looked pretty official and because we were expecting documentation from the state government regarding some veteran tax benefit, so timing wise this came at the «right» time. (Right for them oddly enough.)
The document they send you looks «official». It has a big bold «Reply by…» stamp, it looks like a government form. It’s not until you get to the bottom and read «This document is an advertisement of services. It is not an official document of the State of Texas. Granted it’s not small print, but I can easily imagine some people being fooled by this and sending $ 35.00 for a service that is FREE.
In my opinion, these kinds of business are just despicable and it’s ridiculous they and others like them can remain in service.

Homestead Recording Service is a scam!!!