Save Money on Future Real Estate Taxes When Selling Your FL Home

Starting in 1995, if you own a primary residence in the state of Florida, you can apply for a tax benefit called Save Our Homes. This benefit can be applied to all primary residences in the state of Florida and limits the increase in a property’s assessed value to 3% per year. As market values rise, this can help limit the increase in your real estate tax bill. When selling a primary residence, this benefit can be transferred to your new home through a process called portability. If your new residence has a market value higher than your former residence, the portability amount is determined by finding the difference in the assessed value of your former home from its market value. Assume your previous residence has a market value of $500,000 but the assessed value is $300,000. That means that the assessed value of your new home can be reduced by $200,000 for tax purposes due to portability – which can result in big real estate tax savings. The maximum amount that can be ported is $500,000. If you’ve sold a home and did not transfer your prior benefit, you have two years from the time of your sale. For more information on Save our Homes and portability, check with your local property appraiser.