Overview of the Homestead Act. File with your local Registry of Deeds.Unlike most states, Alaska does not impose an acreage limit for homestead exemptions. The homestead can't exceed one acre in a city or 160 acres in a rural area. What was the history leading up to the 1862 Homestead Act? As the United States emerged as a new nation in the late 18th century, it accumulated title to land. File a Declaration of Homestead under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 188, Section 1. Additional exemptions are available for veterans. We have looked a lot into on the best states for homesteading and homeschooling. There's a lot of information out there.