“Florida’s ULTIMATE Tax HACK” - DeSantis $250K Homestead Exemption Could ERASE Property Taxes

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
So, you're saying with Hilton Honors, I can use points for a free night stay anywhere?

**Tom** (0:04)
Anywhere.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:06)
What about fancy places like the Canopy in Paris? Yeah, Hilton Honors, baby. Or relaxing sanctuaries like the Conrad in Tulum?

**SPEAKER_3** (0:13)
Hilton Honors, baby.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:15)
What about the five-star Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives? Are you gonna do this for all 9,000 properties?

**SPEAKER_4** (0:22)
When you want points that can take you anywhere, anytime, it matters where you stay. Hilton for the stay.

**PBD** (0:28)
Governor DeSantis in the state of Florida passes $250,000 homestead exemption that could erase property tax as Americans continue to flee high-tax blue states for lower-tax destination. Florida lawmakers have just passed what supporters describe as a major one for economic freedom, moving to provide long-term property tax relief for residents. The Florida legislature has cleared a historic DeSantis-backed constitutional amendment for the November 2026 general election ballot that could eliminate non-school property taxes for many homeowners through a proposed $250,000 homestead exemption. Rob, is this it? Yes, sir. Go for it.

**SPEAKER_3** (1:09)
It would be taxed on $500,000 of value. Making the change would require an amendment to the state's constitution approved by 60% of voters. Now Florida isn't the only state considering changes. Others considering property tax cuts or even eliminations include Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Now according to the Tax Foundation, home values have risen 27% faster than inflation since 2020
That's where those high taxes come from. But many local elected officials oppose any change. Orange County Mayor Jerry Deming saying this, I support meaningful tax relief for residents, but the governor's proposal could significantly reduce local funding that supports essential services like public safety, fire and rescue.

**PBD** (1:57)
So check this out. The biggest beneficiary may be families and retirees looking to establish permanent residency and maximize long-term savings, said the Corcoran group, Mike Duckin. Agreed. Tom, your thoughts on this. How big of a deal is this? For especially Middle America?

**Tom** (2:15)
This is a huge deal for retired people that are already in Florida that have seen Medicare not keep up with the costs that they need and having to buy a Medicare Advantage, Part D to supplement their Medicare and the drugs they may be taking, thyroid medication, you know, diabetes medications, things like that.
They get hit with inflation and they're on fixed income, right? So now the governor says, hey, there are two parts to your property tax. One part is general fund and the other part, it'll say schools. What he's saying is the part of your property tax that's for schools and public infrastructure is not affected. But I'm willing to lower your property tax on the other side because we as a state, through sales tax and other things, are making the funds and we're being more efficient with the dollars we do get. So be a very keen listener to that. He's not sounding like a tax and spend governor like so many Blue State governors. He's saying, we've been more efficient with what we spend, we're being more careful with it, and that is the taxpayers' money. So why shouldn't we allow taxpayers to get some relief? So guess what? It's 150 It used to be, if you went homestead, it was like 25 or $50,000, that you could reduce the value of your home and then pay less. Now it's going to be 150 in 2027, and then 250,000 in 2028, and the $250,000 baseline will be reviewed and adjusted higher starting in 2029
So he's basically saying, if you bought a house here...

**PBD** (4:02)
It could be 300,000 in 2029

**Tom** (4:04)
It could be.
The way the bill is written, it also could be 225,000. But the point he's making is, if you live here and you've retired here on fixed income, the part of your property tax for your contributing to schools and public infrastructure will stay because it's good for you and the city to have lights, good schools, everything like that. Even if you're retired, that's a benefit to you of living here, and somebody's got to pay for it. However, on the other side, it says, I think you should be cheaper to live, and we're making it cheaper to live because we're running the state better and doing more with the money we do get. So guess what? We don't need that tax dollars. I'm here to help you. It's fantastic.

**PBD** (4:47)
Yeah. So million dollar home, instead of paying taxes on the one million, you'd be paying on 750 Half a million dollar home instead of paying on half a million, you'd be paying on 250