Tennessee Code Title 13. Public Planning and Housing § 13-20-511

(a) A regional or county housing authority has the power to sell or rent dwellings outside of cities and to make or accept such conveyances or leases as it deems necessary to carry out the rural housing purposes of this chapter. With respect to such housing, a county and regional housing authority shall not be subject to the tenant selection limitations provided in § 13-20-113(a)(4).

(b) No dwelling shall be provided on a farm by a county or regional authority unless it has determined that, by reason of the character of the farm with respect to which the dwelling is to be constructed and the manner of its operation, the owner is likely successfully to carry out the undertakings required of such owner under the owner's purchase agreement or lease.

(c) Until a purchaser makes full payment for a dwelling which is constructed by a county or regional authority on such purchaser's farm, such dwelling shall continue to be the property of such authority regardless of the title to the land on which it is constructed, and such dwelling shall be exempt from taxation in the same manner as other property of such authority. Any document making land available for use by such authority shall be admitted to record, and accordingly constitute notice, in the same manner as a deed or other instrument relating to real estate.

(d) When a county or regional authority provides a dwelling on a farm hereunder, the owner of the farm living in the dwelling under a lease or purchase agreement shall be entitled to receive the same homestead exemption as if such owner had title to the dwelling.