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Florida Property Taxes: What South Florida Buyers Should Understand

Property taxes follow the home you buy, not the home you leave. Homestead exemption, Save Our Homes, and portability each change the bill in ways buyers should understand before the offer.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 28, 2026
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When out-of-state buyers compare monthly costs, property taxes are often the biggest surprise, because Florida has no state income tax and collects more through property. The details matter just as much for locals moving to a new address. The bill follows the home, not the owner, and a few Florida rules change the math in predictable ways.

Assessed value is not the same as market value

Your tax bill is based on the assessed value set by your county property appraiser, not the price you pay. For the first year you own a primary home, that assessed value usually lands close to the purchase price, which is why the first bill can feel higher than the previous owner's. Expect it, and budget from the new number.

The homestead exemption lowers the taxable value

If the home is your permanent residence and you file by the deadline, Florida's homestead exemption can remove up to $50,000 from the assessed value. The first $25,000 applies to all taxing authorities, including schools; the second portion is adjusted for inflation and applies to the non-school taxes. Filing is a one-time step that changes the bill every year after.

Save Our Homes caps the annual increase

Once a homestead exemption is in place, Florida law limits how fast the assessed value can rise each year: the lower of 3% or the inflation rate. That cap is why long-time Florida owners often pay less than newcomers with similar homes. The home you buy resets the clock, so your bill starts from today's value.

Portability can carry your cap with you

If you already own a Florida homestead and buy another within the allowed window, you may transfer up to $500,000 of your accumulated Save Our Homes benefit to the new home. For move-up buyers, that benefit can soften the tax increase that usually comes with a larger, more expensive house.

Verify the numbers before you commit

Every county has a property appraiser's office, and its website shows the current assessed value and tax history for any address. Your lender's estimate is a starting point; the appraiser's record is the source. Nanci walks buyers through both before they make an offer, so the monthly number in the budget matches the bill that arrives.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides buyers and sellers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.