Is Save Our Homes Portability Selling Houses? [Tampa Bay Area]

Is Save Our Homes Portability Selling Houses? [Tampa Bay Area]

Raymond McIntyre’s office generated an interesting set of numbers this week: 222 people have moved to Highlands County, and brought their Save Our Homes tax exemptions with them.

Just 75 homeowners left the county, and applied to transfer their Save Our Homes elsewhere in Florida. Net gain: about three to one, said McIntyre, Highlands County’s property appraiser.

So, three real estate agents and brokers were asked, are people moving to Highlands County because they can buy a cheaper home, with lower taxes?

When people buy a home, they can apply for a $50,000 homestead exemption. If their home costs $100,000, the homestead exemption allows them to pay taxes on $50,000 instead.