People outside Florida usually ask the same six questions: whether the state taxes their income, whether property taxes are actually lower, what the 4% discount is, when homestead starts, whether they can move in with no money down, and whether they must visit. The short answers are below. Each one links to the longer guide with the statute or the dataset behind it.
Last updated October 29, 2026. M.J. Newell Homes builds new homes in LaBelle and Lehigh Acres. We are not your tax advisor or your lender.
Does Florida have a state income tax?
No. The Florida Constitution, Article VII, prohibits a state tax on the income of natural persons. If you become a Florida resident, Florida will not tax your wages. The state you are leaving may still tax income from the months you lived there, and it may have rules for remote work or retirement income. A CPA should time the year you move. Buying a house does not, by itself, finish that paperwork.
Are property taxes lower than in my state?
Often, not always. The Tax Foundation Facts & Figures 2025 table of effective property-tax rates shows:
- New Jersey 2.21%, Illinois 2.05%, New York 1.40%, Texas 1.69%
- United States 1.11%
- Florida 0.94%
- California 0.74%
Florida is lower than the Northeast states and Texas on that statewide measure, and higher than California. Your parcel in Hendry County or Lee County will not match the state average exactly. Insurance can offset the tax difference. Full tables: versus New Jersey, Illinois, and New York and versus Texas and California.
What is the Florida property-tax discount?
It is a statutory discount for paying early: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February, then no discount in March. The law is Florida Statute 197.162. It comes off the tax bill. It is available in both Hendry County (LaBelle) and Lee County (Lehigh Acres) because it is a state rule for county tax rolls. Walkthrough: the 4% discount.
When does homestead start if I just moved?
After you own the home and occupy it as your permanent residence on January 1, and the county property appraiser approves your application. For 2026 the exemption is $25,000 for all taxes plus up to $26,411 more for non-school taxes. The Save Our Homes cap, 2.7% for 2026, starts the year after homestead is granted, not in the first year.
If you are in rent-to-own, you do not own the home yet, so homestead waits until you purchase. Guides: homestead in 2026 and Save Our Homes.
Can I buy or move in with $0 down?
Yes, in two different ways. Do not merge them.
- Rent-to-own with M.J. Newell Homes: $0 down and $0 closing costs to move in. Fixed rent, price locked, credits toward the down payment and closing costs when you buy. No bank loan required to start. How it works from out of state.
- A zero-down mortgage: USDA for eligible buyers and eligible addresses, or VA for eligible veterans. A lender decides. We do not guarantee either one. USDA versus rent-to-own.
Published prices start at $316,900 in LaBelle and $346,900 in Lehigh Acres for the Langdon, 1,900 square feet. The matching rent-to-own rates published today are $2,700 and $2,750 a month. The budget, including deed stamps of 70 cents per $100, is in what to budget.
Do I have to visit Florida?
You can apply from another state. You should still walk the house. LaBelle and Lehigh Acres are about a different drive to Fort Myers, a different county tax roll, and a different lot. Our LaBelle homes have no HOA. Lehigh Acres HOA terms depend on the neighborhood. Schedule the visit while you are here, or make the trip before the truck is loaded.
Which community fits a relocation?
| Question | LaBelle | Lehigh Acres |
|---|---|---|
| County | Hendry | Lee |
| Published Langdon price | $316,900 | $346,900 |
| HOA on our homes | No | Depends on the neighborhood |
| Feel | Smaller city, inland | Larger community, closer to Fort Myers |
| Rent-to-own | Yes, on the single-family models we list | Yes, except the duplex, which is purchase only |
Community pages: LaBelle and Lehigh Acres.
A short list of mistakes we see
- Comparing a homesteaded tax bill from a parent in Florida with the first-year bill on a new purchase. The cap is not in effect yet.
- Assuming rent-to-own starts the homestead clock.
- Treating California's lower property-tax rate as if Florida also had no advantage. The advantage for many California households is income tax and the price of the house, not the property-tax rate.
- Forgetting insurance. Tax tables do not include wind.
- Using a third-party website that looks like the Hendry County property appraiser. The official office publishes at hendryprop.com. Lee County's property appraiser is leepa.org.
Sources
- Florida Constitution, Article VII
- Florida Statute 197.162 (2026)
- Florida Department of Revenue, homestead CPI adjustment, January 2026
- Florida Department of Revenue, Save Our Homes sheet, January 2026
- Tax Foundation Facts & Figures 2025, property-tax rate data
- USDA guaranteed loan program
The full relocation checklist is moving to Florida from another state. When the answers are enough, look at new homes for sale or apply for rent-to-own.
