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    Moving to Florida from Virginia

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

    Last updated: October 2026

    The honest answer

    Virginia's taxes are moderate, so the case for Florida depends on your situation. You'll stop paying Virginia's 5.75% income tax, including on IRA and pension withdrawals, and you'll never get another car tax bill. Virginia's property taxes are already fairly low, so don't expect big savings there. Where you're moving from matters most: Northern Virginia buyers get far more house for the money here, while Richmond and Hampton Roads buyers will find similar prices.

    What changes when you leave Virginia

    Income tax.

    Virginia's top rate of 5.75% kicks in at just $17,000 of taxable income, so most working people pay it on nearly everything. Florida has no state income tax.

    Retirement income.

    Virginia doesn't tax Social Security, and people 65 and older get a deduction of up to $12,000 (income-tested). But Virginia taxes IRA, 401(k), and most pension income. Florida doesn't tax any of it.

    The car tax.

    Virginia cities and counties charge a yearly personal property tax on your vehicles. Florida has no annual car tax.

    Estate and inheritance tax.

    Virginia has neither, and neither does Florida. No change here.

    Property taxes.

    Virginia's property taxes are below the national average. Florida homeowners get a homestead exemption (up to $51,411 for 2026) and the Save Our Homes cap on yearly assessment increases, but your savings may be small. [Pete: add a real example, like the yearly tax on a homesteaded $400,000 home in Port St. Lucie.]

    Military retirement.

    Virginia exempts up to $40,000 of military retirement pay in 2026. Florida doesn't tax any of it.

    Where are you moving from?

    Northern Virginia

    Median sale price: $744,950(September 2026).

    Your money goes much further here. A Port St. Lucie home at the $420,000 median could leave a big chunk of your equity in the bank.

    Richmond and Central Virginia

    Median single-family price: $415,000(September 2026).

    Prices are about the same as Port St. Lucie. The savings come mostly from income tax and the car tax.

    Hampton Roads

    Median sale price: $375,000(September 2026).

    Prices are similar to Sebastian and a bit below Port St. Lucie. If you love living near the water, the Treasure Coast gives you the ocean and the Indian River Lagoon.

    Treasure Coast single-family medians, September 2026: Port St. Lucie $420,000, Vero Beach $450,000, Sebastian $366,000, Fort Pierce $280,000. Source: Florida Realtors SunStats. Virginia prices are from regional Realtor associations.

    Flying home to Virginia

    Washington Dulles

    Breeze Airways flies nonstop between Vero Beach and Dulles twice a week. The flight takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. Ideal for Northern Virginia.

    Breeze also flies nonstop to Baltimore's BWI. For Richmond and Hampton Roads, Orlando and Palm Beach have connecting options, and American flies nonstop from Vero Beach to Charlotte for easy connections.

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

    Make Florida your legal home

    1. File a Declaration of Domicile with your Florida county clerk.
    2. Get a Florida driver's license and Florida tags. Once your car is registered here, Virginia's car tax ends.
    3. Register to vote in Florida.
    4. Apply for your homestead exemption by March 1 of the year after you buy.
    5. File a part-year resident return in Virginia for the year you move.

    We're Realtors, not tax advisors. Talk to a CPA 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 Virginia buyers.]

    The honest tradeoffs

    • Home insurance costs much 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. Get quotes before you make an offer.

    • Hurricane season runs June through November. Hampton Roads folks know storms, but Florida's season is longer. Know your flood zone before you buy.

    • No real winter, no real fall. You trade four seasons for long, hot summers.

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

    Where Virginians land here

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

    Our story

    [Pete and Kate: where you each came from (Connecticut and Delaware), when you moved, and what you'd tell someone leaving Virginia. 3 to 5 sentences.]

    Frequently asked questions

    Blue Florida lagoon beside a sandy mangrove shoreline and palms

    Thinking about trading Virginia for the Treasure Coast?

    We'll give you straight answers on prices, insurance, and taxes before you ever book a flight. Call or text us anytime.

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