Save our Homes explained by Cyndee Haydon, Realtor ~ Clearwater, Florida
When working with First-time home buyers and families moving and relocating to Clearwater, Clearwater Beach and the Tampa Bay area they usually have lots of questions about how Save or Homes and local property taxes works. Here's some info I hope you'll find helpful...
Back in January 1995 the Florida Constitution was amended to create a cap on rising property values which are used to calculate our Florida property taxes on homes and condos. This amendment now limits annual increases of the assessed property value to 3% or to the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. It's important to note that this cap is applied ONLY to the property value - not the property taxes. Property taxes could actually rise more than 3% depending on your city or towns approved budget.
When a property such as a home or condo is sold any existing property value cap and exemption are removed at the end of that calendar year. Then the property taxes are calculated on the full market value called Just Market Value. ..So, if a property owner applies for and receives Homestead Exemption for 2007, the Assessed Value will be capped in 2008. The Biggest Mistake we see Home and condo Buyers make is... (Read more)
Thinking of buying or selling Clearwater Florida Real Estate? Remember, in these changing times having a real estate agent (or 2 in our case) working for you is a real asset! We make sure our condo, town home, villa and home buyers in Tampa Bay get great deals. We'd love to talk to you about how we can help you find the perfect property - home, town home, villa or condo at the perfect price.
Tampa Bay MLS Search shows all the homes, town homes, villas and condos for sale by all real estate agents in the Tampa Bay area. With us there's never any pressure - just consulting, educating, working to be your real estate consultant for life. Want proof - read our client testimonials to see what they have to say. Cyndee & Jack Haydon - specializing in Sandbars to Sunsets
Serving Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Sand Key, Island Estates, Largo, St Petersburg, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Tierra Verde and the surrounding Tampa Bay area. Helping with Relocations ~ Waterfront ~ Homes for Sale~ Condos for Sale ~ Townhomes for Sale ~ Villas for Sale~ Luxury Estates
Courtesy of Sandbars to Sunsets, all information and photos are the property of Cyndee & Jack Haydon,Realtors copyright 2007.

Cyndee - great tax information! It is imperative for homebuyers to know how taxes will affect their payment. Many here in Indianapolis buy a new home, assessed value on land only for the first year to year and a half, then they have sticker shock. Their house payment goes up by $100-300 a month and some find their home on the auction block at the sherriff's sale. Does Florida tax work the same way on new builds?
It's all about educating the client - sounds like the homebuyers in Clearwater have an excellent resource in the knowledge you provide.
Cyndee, this is great information for not only first time home-buyers, but for all types of buyers in Clearwater and Tampa Bay area. We have some what of a different property tax adjustment here in California.
Thanks for stopping by - I hope it will help clear-up the confusion for home and condo buyers in Tampa Bay.
How do taxes work in California Mana? It would help to know if clients here are planning to head that way...
Hi Cyndee,
Did you read Karen George's Blog Why Blog for Points? I'll Tell You Why! ? After reading her blog I thought maybe we can link our sites and help each other's ranking. Also this way if someone here is looking to move to Tampa Bay area they can have easy access to you from my site and vise-versa.
Your blog today has inspired me to write a blog about Ca property taxes and property tax adjustments, I hope you don't mind.
Cyndee, what a great explanation of property taxes in Clearwater, FL. Great job!
In Los Angeles county, property taxes are based on the transfer value and are capped at that amount due to Prop. 13. Although with real estate prices going through the roof, taxes can be pretty substantial.
Cyndee,
I didn't know Florida taxes worked like that. Our property values here increase with each new valuation - we had a new valuation this year in our county. Thanks for the information about Florida.
in lee county the tax collector's website has a tax estimator. plug in the new value and it will give you an estimation of taxes with and without homestead.
buyers, especially first time homebuyers, who have tax escrows should take a look at what the escrow account was based on. if it's current taxes then they will be short when the taxes come due.
great post!
thanks for teh info!