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Moving inside Florida: your old homestead cap may still matter.

If you leave one Florida homestead for another, you may apply to carry up to $500,000 of the old Save Our Homes assessment difference to the new home. It does not move automatically.

Establish the new homestead within three years of January 1 of the year you abandoned the old one, then file the homestead application and DR-501T with the county property appraiser. Use the calculator to understand the rough math while the county reviews the real transfer.

Open the portability estimate Find your county property appraiser

Quick estimate

Compare the old homestead to the new one.

The basic idea is the assessment difference from the old homestead. Upsizing usually moves that difference up to the cap. Downsizing usually scales it down.

In the starting example, the old home has a $420,000 just value and a $300,000 assessed value, leaving a $120,000 difference. Because the new home's $620,000 just value is higher, the rough new assessed value is $500,000 before exemptions and county review.

Estimated portability benefit

$120,000

The new home's value is higher, so this uses the old assessment difference up to the cap.

Old difference

$120,000

Estimated new assessed

$500,000

Rough ad valorem effect

$2,220.00

Monthly feel

$185.00

The tax effect assumes the full estimated benefit flows through taxable value at the millage you entered. Exemptions, separate school and non-school values, and non-ad valorem assessments can make the actual bill move differently.

Old home

Find the assessment difference.

Subtract the old assessed value from the old just value. If there was no difference, there may be nothing useful to transfer.

New home

Upsizing and downsizing are different.

If the new value is lower than the old value, the transfer is usually scaled down instead of moved dollar for dollar.

Tax bill

This is not the whole bill.

Exemptions, school taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and local millage still matter. Use the estimate as a conversation starter.

Related checks

Portability only answers one part of the move.

Homestead exemption

The new homestead filing, transfer form, and eligibility window are part of making the portability record real.

FAQ

Portability quick answers

Is this the portability amount I will get?

No. This estimates the basic Save Our Homes portability math. The county property appraiser reviews the actual homestead, timing, ownership, and transfer details.

What values do I need?

Use the previous homestead's just value and assessed value, then the new home's just value. County property appraiser records are the best place to start.

Why does downsizing change the math?

When the new home has a lower just value than the old home, the transferred assessment difference is usually scaled down instead of moved dollar for dollar.

What form makes the estimate real?

The transfer request uses Florida Revenue Form DR-501T with the new homestead application path. File with the property appraiser and save the confirmation.

Official checks

Official sources

This page uses Florida Revenue Save Our Homes, property-tax rule, homestead, and transfer-form sources, plus county portability examples. The county property appraiser decides the actual homestead and portability treatment.

Last reviewed: July 22, 2026

Use this carefully: Use this as an estimate only. Ownership, timing, split benefits, the transfer form, and county review can change the result.

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