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    Calm Florida lagoon beside a sandy edge and sunlit mangroves

    Moving to Florida from Maryland

    By Pete White and Kate Ward, RE/MAX Gold. We help Maryland buyers move to Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie, Sebastian, Stuart, and the rest of Florida's Treasure Coast.

    Last updated: October 2026

    The short answer

    Maryland stacks taxes in a way few states do: a state income tax, a county income tax on top, an estate tax, and an inheritance tax. Florida has none of those. The tradeoffs are higher home insurance and hurricane season. Since October 2026, you can also fly nonstop from Vero Beach to BWI.

    Three Maryland taxes Florida doesn't have

    Income tax, twice.

    2% to 6.5%

    Maryland's state income tax runs 2% to 6.5%. Every county and Baltimore City adds its own local income tax of about 2.25% to 3.3%. Florida has no state or local income tax.

    Estate tax.

    $5 million

    Maryland taxes estates over $5 million, at rates up to 16%. That $5 million figure doesn't rise with inflation. Florida has no estate tax.

    Inheritance tax.

    10%

    Maryland is the only state with both an estate tax and an inheritance tax. Money left to nieces, nephews, cousins, or friends is taxed at 10%. Florida has no inheritance tax.

    What retirees should know

    Already tax-free in Maryland

    • Social Security

    • Part of your pension, if you're 65 or older (up to a yearly limit)

    Taxed in Maryland, tax-free in Florida

    • IRA and 401(k) withdrawals
    • Pension income over Maryland's limit
    • Investment income and capital gains. Maryland also added a 2% surtax on capital gains for people with income over $350,000.

    What your money buys

    Area Median sale price
    Howard County, MD (June 2026) $675,850
    Montgomery County, MD (July 2026) $656,000
    Anne Arundel County, MD (June 2026) $535,000
    Maryland statewide (July 2026) $455,000
    Baltimore County, MD (June 2026) $400,000
    Port St. Lucie, FL (single-family, Sept 2026) $420,000
    Sebastian, FL (single-family, Sept 2026) $366,000
    Vero Beach, FL (single-family, Sept 2026) $450,000

    Coming from the D.C. suburbs, your money goes much further here. Coming from Baltimore County, prices are about the same, so the savings come mostly from taxes. Maryland prices are from Maryland Realtors. Florida prices are from Florida Realtors SunStats.

    Flying home to Maryland and D.C.

    BWI Thurgood Marshall (Baltimore)

    Breeze Airways flies nonstop between Vero Beach and BWI three times a week, on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The flight takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes. Service started October 1, 2026.

    Washington Dulles

    Breeze also flies nonstop between Vero Beach and Dulles, a good option for Montgomery County and the D.C. side of the state.

    Schedules change by season. Check the airline before you book.

    Make Florida your legal home

    Maryland can tax you as a resident if you keep a home there and spend more than 183 days in the state. To leave Maryland's income, estate, and inheritance taxes behind, Florida has to be your true permanent home.

    1. File a Declaration of Domicile with your Florida county clerk.
    2. Get a Florida driver's license and Florida tags.
    3. Register to vote in Florida.
    4. Apply for your homestead exemption by March 1 of the year after you buy.
    5. Update your will and trust with a Florida attorney. Maryland can still tax real estate you keep there.

    We're Realtors, not tax advisors. Talk to a CPA and estate attorney about your own move.

    Property taxes are on the Florida ballot

    On November 3, 2026, Florida voters decide Amendment 3, which would raise the homestead exemption on most non-school property taxes. Under the proposal, people who become Florida residents after 2026 would wait five years for the larger exemption.

    [UPDATE AFTER NOV 3: replace this section with the result and what it means for Maryland buyers.]

    Blue Florida lagoon water sheltered by mangroves and palms

    Chesapeake people will feel at home

    If you love the Bay, you'll love the Indian River Lagoon: 156 miles of protected water for boating, fishing, and kayaking, plus the ocean just across the barrier island.

    [Pete and Kate: 2 to 3 sentences on the Maryland buyers you've helped and where they settled. No client names.]

    The honest tradeoffs

    • Home insurance costs more. Florida averages about $8,471 a year, the highest in the country. Newer homes with newer roofs and impact windows cost much less to insure.

    • Hurricane season runs June through November. Know your flood zone and roof age before you buy.

    • Long, hot summers. Spring and fall are short here.

    • HOAs are common. Read the rules and budget first.

    Our story

    [Pete and Kate: where you each came from (Connecticut and Delaware), when you moved, and what you'd tell someone leaving Maryland. If one of you is from Delaware, mention it here, since many Maryland readers know it well. 3 to 5 sentences.]

    Frequently asked questions

    Sunny Florida Atlantic beach with sea oats and gentle surf

    Trade the Beltway for the beach.

    We'll help you compare towns, taxes, and insurance before you ever book a flight. Call or text us anytime.

    Kate Ward - 772-342-4006 / Peter White - 772-284-1419 / RE/MAX Gold

    Sources