If you are buying in Florida from another state, four tax facts decide the first two years: Florida has no personal income tax, homestead is tied to January 1 occupancy, the property-tax bill can be discounted up to 4% if you pay in November, and the deed carries documentary stamp tax of 70 cents per $100 in Hendry and Lee counties. Insurance is not a tax, and it belongs on the same checklist.
Last updated October 29, 2026. This is a builder's checklist so you ask better questions. It is not a residency opinion.
What changes when the home is in Florida?
Florida does not tax the income of natural persons. That limit is in Article VII of the Florida Constitution. Your former state can still tax income earned there, and it can have part-year resident rules. Establish residency with your CPA, your employer, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Buying a house is evidence of a move. It is not, by itself, a complete residency file.
Property tax does not disappear. Florida's statewide effective rate is 0.94% of owner-occupied housing value in the Tax Foundation Facts & Figures 2025 table, below the U.S. figure of 1.11% and below New Jersey (2.21%), Illinois (2.05%), New York (1.40%), and Texas (1.69%). California's figure in that table is lower, at 0.74%. Use the comparisons, then use the local bill:
Checklist before you write an offer or a rent-to-own application
- Pick the county on purpose. LaBelle is Hendry County. Lehigh Acres is Lee County. Millage, schools, and the drive to Fort Myers are different. Our LaBelle homes do not have an HOA fee. Lehigh Acres HOA terms depend on the neighborhood.
- Match the closing date to homestead. You generally must own and occupy the property as your permanent residence on January 1 to receive homestead for that tax year. A summer closing usually means the first homestead year is the following calendar year. File with the property appraiser. The Florida Department of Revenue tells owners to apply in the county where the property sits: exemptions page.
- Budget the first tax year without the Save Our Homes cap. The cap (2.7% for 2026) applies beginning the year after homestead is granted. See Save Our Homes for new buyers.
- Put the November discount on the calendar for the first bill that is yours. 4%, then 3%, 2%, 1%. Statute: 197.162. Guide: early-payment discount.
- Ask the title company what documentary stamps will be. Outside Miami-Dade the deed rate is $0.70 per $100 of consideration. A $316,900 purchase is $2,218.30 at that rate ($316,900 / $100 × $0.70). Source: DOR documentary stamp tax. Mortgages can have a separate stamp. Your closing disclosure is the number that counts.
- Get insurance quotes on the actual model before you compare tax savings with your old state. Start with the Office of Insurance Regulation.
- Decide how you will occupy. A mortgage purchase can put you on title this season. Rent-to-own lets you move in with $0 down while the price is locked, and homestead waits until purchase. Both are real options. They are not the same tax year.
What we publish, so you can budget the house itself
These are the single-family starting prices on our model pages as of this article. They change. Confirm on the page before you travel.
| Model | LaBelle purchase | LaBelle rent-to-own | Lehigh Acres purchase | Lehigh Acres rent-to-own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langdon (1,900 sq ft) | $316,900 | $2,700/mo | $346,900 | $2,750/mo |
| Emelia (2,060 sq ft) | $345,000 | $2,750/mo | $374,900 | $2,850/mo |
| Aurora (2,277 sq ft) | $359,900 | $2,900/mo | — | — |
| Delanie (2,610 sq ft) | $369,900 | $2,900/mo | $410,000 | $3,150/mo |
| Viana (2,978 sq ft) | $449,900 | $3,400/mo | — | — |
| Louisiana (3,277 sq ft) | $469,900 | $3,400/mo | — | — |
Aurora, Viana, and Louisiana are offered in LaBelle. The Lehigh Acres duplex is a purchase listing at $510,000 and is not on the rent-to-own menu. Floor plans and photos: models. A line-by-line ownership budget is in what to budget in LaBelle and Lehigh Acres.
Frequently asked questions
Do I become a Florida resident the day I close?
Not automatically. Residency for taxes, voting, tuition, and insurance can use different tests. Closing on a LaBelle or Lehigh Acres home is a strong step. Driver license, voter registration, and where your family actually lives also matter. Use a tax advisor for the year you split between two states.
Can I claim homestead on a house I rent-to-own?
Generally no. Homestead is for the owner who makes the home a permanent residence. You claim it after you take title and meet the January 1 test. Until then, budget rent, not a homestead bill.
Which office do I call about the tax bill?
The property appraiser sets value and exemptions. The tax collector sends the bill and takes payment. Hendry County for LaBelle. Lee County for Lehigh Acres. The state Department of Revenue publishes the rules. It does not send your parcel bill.
Sources
- Florida Constitution, Article VII
- Florida Department of Revenue, exemptions
- Florida Statute 197.162
- Florida Department of Revenue, documentary stamp tax
- Tax Foundation Facts & Figures 2025, rate table
Ready to see a house while you are in town? Schedule an appointment or review rent-to-own for people moving from another state.
