Florida Homeowner Programs & Exemptions

2 programs

Property tax

Exemption

Homestead Exemption

Up to $50,000 off assessed value + the Save Our Homes cap

Program maximum

If the home is your permanent residence, homestead removes up to $50,000 from your assessed value and activates the Save Our Homes cap, limiting assessed-value growth to 3% or the change in CPI, whichever is lower. In a rising market, the cap can come to outweigh the up-front $50,000.

Deadline: March 1 (late applications accepted to the TRIM appeal deadline)
Who: Florida homeowners whose primary residence is the home.

Official source Florida exemptions, Department of Revenue (opens in a new tab)Read the guide Homestead Exemption Check it on my home

Benefit transfer

Save Our Homes Portability

Up to $500,000 of transferred cap benefit

Program maximum

When you sell one Florida homestead and buy another, up to $500,000 of your accumulated Save Our Homes benefit transfers to the new home. Filed with Form DR-501T within 3 tax years of leaving the prior homestead.

Deadline: Within 3 tax years of abandoning the prior homestead
Who: Anyone who sold a Florida homestead and bought another.

Official source Property tax forms, Department of Revenue (opens in a new tab)Read the guide Save Our Homes Portability Check it on my home

2 programs

Home hardening

State grant

My Safe Florida Home

Up to $10,000 in matching grants ($2 per $1)

Program maximum

A state grant program that funds wind-hardening upgrades — impact windows, doors, roof improvements — for eligible homesteaded single-family homes. A free inspection documents your upgrade paths and unlocks matching funds. Program funding opens in cycles.

Deadline: Cycle-based — verify current availability before applying
Who: Homesteaded single-family homeowners meeting program criteria.

Official source My Safe Florida Home program (opens in a new tab)Check it on my home

Sales-tax refund

Home-Hardening Sales-Tax Refund

Up to $500 of the sales tax you paid

Program maximum

Florida refunds the sales tax paid on qualifying impact-resistant windows, exterior doors and garage doors installed on a homesteaded, site-built home with a just value of $700,000 or less. You pay the tax at the register and claim the refund from the Department of Revenue; Form DR-26HH and its instructions set out what to file and when.

Deadline: A limited window that opened July 1, 2026; Form DR-26HH and its instructions give the purchase and claim dates
Who: Owners of a homesteaded, site-built Florida home with a just value of $700,000 or less; one home per owner.

Official source Form DR-26HH — Florida Dept. of Revenue (opens in a new tab)Check it on my home

1 program

Your mortgage

Federal & GSE rules

PMI Cancellation Rights

Ends once the loan reaches enough equity; your loan statement shows when.

Two federal/GSE rights let you drop private mortgage insurance: the HPA at 80% of original value, and Fannie/Freddie on current value (75–80% by seasoning).

Deadline: Any time you qualify — the request must come from you
Who: Homeowners who put less than 20% down on a conventional loan.

Official source CFPB — cancelling PMI (opens in a new tab)Read the guide PMI Cancellation Rights Check it on my home

1 program

Unclaimed property

State-held funds

Florida Unclaimed Property

Varies; a search shows possible matches only

Florida's Division of Unclaimed Property holds money in residents' names — old deposits, refunds, sale surpluses. Claims are free and never expire; never pay a 'finder' a percentage.

Possible match only. You verify it with the state, and claiming is free.

Deadline: None — funds are held indefinitely
Who: Any Florida resident (search your name).

Official source Florida's official unclaimed property search (opens in a new tab)Check it on my home

Check your home · Free

See which of these apply to your home.

One address checks your exemptions and PMI eligibility, and searches for a possible match in Florida's unclaimed property.