Bell County

What Buyers Should Know

Bell County’s 2026 HUD area median income (AMI) for a 4-person household is approximately $85,200, with the TSAHC Heroes 115% AMI ceiling reaching ~$97,980. Most Bell County buyers qualify for at least one TSAHC or TDHCA program; the county is not designated a HUD targeted area, so the standard income limits and first-time-buyer rules apply.

FHA loan limits in Bell mirror the Killeen-Temple baseline. Conforming limits run $806,500 for 1-unit. VA loans are uncapped above conforming limits for full-entitlement veterans.

Property tax in Bell County averages around 1.86% effective (verify current year at the county appraisal district). The Texas residence homestead exemption shaves $100,000 off school-district appraised value and caps appraised value growth at 10% per year — file with the appraisal district on or before April 30 of the year following purchase.

Fort Cavazos Military Community

Bell County is anchored by Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood, redesignated 2023) — the U.S. Army’s largest active-duty armored installation, home to III Armored Corps and the 1st Cavalry Division. Killeen (county’s largest city, ~159,000) sits adjacent to the base; Harker Heights, Copperas Cove (Coryell County, just outside Bell), and Belton (county seat) anchor the perimeter. Killeen ISD (~46,000 students), Temple ISD, Belton ISD, Salado ISD, and Academy ISD serve the county. Most Bell County buyers stationed at Fort Cavazos pair a VA loan (zero down) with TSAHC Heroes (Veterans category) DPA — one of the highest-density military housing markets in Texas. See Fort Cavazos guide for detailed VA + TSAHC pairing.