Dallas, TX (Court of Appeals) — In a stark reminder of the rigid enforcement surrounding Texas homeowners association (HOA) laws, an appellate court has overturned a lower court’s ruling, stripping a North Texas couple of their home after they missed a statutory redemption deadline by just a single day following an HOA foreclosure sale.
The case, decided on August 7, 2026, by the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas, centers on Collin County homeowners Jack Van Chapman and Jacquelynn Jonetta Lyles Chapman. The couple lost their home to foreclosure after falling behind on their HOA assessments. At the subsequent auction, the investment firm Legacy Brokerage, Inc. purchased the property for $4,715.
The 180-Day Clock and the Disputed $199,000 Bill
Under Chapter 209 of the Texas Property Code, homeowners whose properties are foreclosed upon by an HOA maintain a statutory right to redeem their property within 180 days after written notice of the sale is mailed. In this instance, notice was mailed to the Chapmans on September 21, 2023, establishing a redemption deadline of March 19, 2024.
On February 20, 2024, the Chapmans formally requested the exact payout figure required to regain title to their home. Legacy Brokerage responded on March 6, 2024, issuing a redemption bill totaling $199,610.46. The firm stated that this total included the original auction price, deed recording fees, and payments made toward the property’s existing mortgage to stave off separate foreclosure proceedings…