When Combined Property Tax and Mortgage Payments are Required. If you hold less than 20% of the property (LTV > 80%) or you are a first-time homebuyer, most lenders will require that you pay your property taxes through them, especially if they are offering competitive rates.
Homesteading is a spectrum. Ultimately, the broadest definition is that it is a lifestyle with a commitment to self-sufficiency. This can encompass growing and preserving food; providing your own electricity with solar, wind or water; and even making your own fabric and clothing.
The homestead was an area of public land in the West (usually 160 acres or 0.65 km 2) granted to any US citizen willing to settle on and farm the land for at least five years. The law (and those following it) required a three-step procedure: file an application, improve the land, and file for deed of title.