Florida’s real estate market is the heartbeat of our state’s economy. Every closing table, every new listing, every “SOLD” sign in a front yard isn’t just a transaction—it’s a family putting down roots, a small business growing, an investor betting on Florida’s future.
But there’s a quiet threat eating away at that future: skyrocketing local property taxes and “tax creep” driven by opaque budgets and almost zero spending accountability at the local level.
If you’re a Florida Realtor, you already feel this. You can hear it in your clients’ voices:
- “My escrow went up again… I don’t know if we can afford to stay.”
- “We’d love to buy, but between insurance and taxes, it just doesn’t pencil out.”
- “We’re looking in Georgia or Alabama instead—it’s just cheaper.”
That’s where the Property Tax Reform & Spending Accountability Act (PTR&SAA) comes in. It isn’t just a tax policy idea—it’s a direct defense of your livelihood and your customers’ ability to buy and keep homes in Florida. It’s about protecting housing affordability, stabilizing markets, and forcing honest, transparent local government.
Let’s walk through why Florida Realtors should be among the loudest voices supporting it.
1. Property Taxes Are No Longer Background Noise—They’re Deal Killers
For years, property taxes in Florida were “just part of the conversation.” Now they’re often the reason the conversation ends.
Affordability Is Getting Squeezed from Every Direction
Think about the typical Florida buyer in 2025:
- They’re dealing with higher mortgage rates compared to the ultra-low rate environment of a few years ago.
- They’re battling skyrocketing insurance premiums, especially in coastal and high-risk areas.
- On top of that, they’re facing steadily rising property taxes—even when millage rates stay “the same”—because local governments quietly let taxable values climb and pocket the windfall.
Florida’s median home prices have risen sharply over the past decade, and as values have climbed, so have tax bills. Even with Save Our Homes protections for some homesteaded owners, new buyers and non-homestead properties often get hammered with far higher tax burdens than their neighbors in identical homes. That sticker shock doesn’t just hurt homeowners—it hits Realtors right in the pipeline of future buyers and sellers.
Tax Creep Is Death by a Thousand Cuts
In many Florida counties, local officials brag about “not raising the millage rate” while approving budgets that increase total property tax revenue year after year simply because property values rose. They pat themselves on the back for “holding the line,” but the tax bills tell a different story.
That’s local tax creep in action:
- The rollback rate—the rate that would keep total property tax revenue flat—is quietly ignored.
- New construction, rising values, and reappraisals are treated as open season for bigger government budgets.
- Homeowners and small landlords get stuck with rising bills they had no meaningful opportunity to vote on.
As a Realtor, you see what this does to buyer psychology: people become hesitant, nervous, and uncertain. They’re no longer just asking, “Can we afford this home today?” They’re asking, “What’s this going to cost us in three years… five years… if these increases keep going?”
That fear kills urgency, suppresses demand, and limits what buyers feel comfortable offering. Over time, it chips away at the vibrancy of the market.
2. When Taxes Go Up, Closings Go Down
Realtors live on the front edge of macroeconomic trends. You don’t need a white paper to tell you what rising costs do to your business—you see it daily in:
- Deals falling apart after the mortgage company updates the escrow estimate.
- Investors backing out when projected cash flow disappears under higher tax burdens.
- Retirees who came for “low taxes” suddenly reconsidering whether they can stay on a fixed income.
Property Taxes Hit Both Sides of the Market
High and unpredictable property taxes depress demand and distort supply:
- On the demand side, higher taxes raise the total cost of ownership. Lenders look at principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI). When the “T” and “I” keep creeping up, buyers’ qualification amounts drop. That takes some out of the market entirely, and forces others into lower price brackets.
- On the supply side, existing homeowners feel trapped. If they move, they lose their capped assessment and face a much higher taxable value on a new property. Investors and landlords may sell or avoid buying in certain markets altogether if property taxes keep rising faster than rents or incomes.
The result? Fewer listings, fewer buyers who qualify, and more frustration all around.
A healthy real estate industry depends on stability, predictability, and trust—exactly what endless tax creep destroys.
3. Lack of Transparency and Accountability Is Driving the Problem
Realtors excel at educating clients. But here’s a key problem: even you, as a professional, often have to dig through confusing public records, arcane budget documents, and bureaucratic jargon to figure out why taxes are rising and where the money is going.
If you struggle to get clear answers, imagine how the average homeowner feels.
Budgets Have Become Black Boxes
At the county and municipal level, budgeting has often become a game of:
- Burying increases in “adjustments,” “new needs,” and “capital improvements,”
- Using rising property valuations to expand spending without ever formally raising the millage rate, and
- Avoiding tough conversations about priorities, waste, or whether certain programs should exist at all.
Citizens are typically given dense budget documents, confusing hearings, and very little explanation in plain language. Most never see an apples-to-apples comparison of:
- Last year’s total tax revenue vs. this year’s
- How much is due to new construction vs. tax creep
- Which departments are expanding and why
Without that clarity, people lose trust. And when homeowners don’t trust local government, they don’t trust the long-term cost of owning property in that community.
Realtors Are Stuck Answering for Government Behavior
When buyers ask, “Why are taxes so high here?” or “Are they going to keep going up like this?”, they aren’t calling the county commissioners—they’re asking you.
That’s unfair. Realtors didn’t raise the budget. Realtors didn’t expand government programs. But Realtors end up on the front lines explaining the consequences of decisions they had no role in making.
The PTR&SAA helps fix that dynamic by pulling these decisions out into the light and giving the people—your clients, your industry—a real voice in the process.
4. What the Property Tax Reform & Spending Accountability Act Does
The PTR&SAA is built on a simple principle: local government should not be able to quietly grow its tax take far beyond population and inflation without voters explicitly approving it.
While the exact language of the Act can be technical, the core ideas are straightforward and Realtor-friendly:
1. Caps Automatic Tax Growth to Rollback Rate + Population + Inflation
Instead of allowing local governments to ride rising property values to big, built-in revenue increases, PTR&SAA would cap routine growth:
- The base is the rollback rate—the rate at which total revenue would remain flat compared to the prior year.
- On top of that, local governments may increase revenue only by a limited amount tied to population growth and inflation—in other words, real-world factors.
- Any increase beyond that has to go to the voters for approval.
For Realtors, this is huge. It brings predictability into the tax side of the equation. You can speak to buyers and sellers with more confidence about what to expect from local government, because the rules are clear and the growth is tethered to reality, not political appetite.
2. Forces Honest Conversations About Local Spending
When local officials can no longer quietly take advantage of rising values, they must make explicit choices:
- “Is this new program or expansion worth asking voters for a tax increase?”
- “Can we find savings elsewhere instead of automatically turning to property owners?”
- “Are we focusing on core services, or stacking non-essential spending onto the backs of homeowners and landlords?”
That’s accountability. It doesn’t shut down local government; it just demands that big growth is justified in public, not quietly baked into the tax bill.
3. Puts Power Where It Belongs: In the Hands of the Taxpayers
Under PTR&SAA, if local politicians truly believe they need more than rollback + population + inflation, they can ask for it directly and transparently:
- Put the proposal on the ballot.
- Explain it to the people who will pay for it.
- Let them decide.
For Realtors, this is a powerful talking point: communities that adopt this framework are signaling long-term fiscal responsibility and respect for property owners. That’s incredibly attractive to buyers and investors choosing between Florida and other states—or between counties within Florida.
5. Why This Matters So Much to Florida’s Real Estate Industry
Realtors are not just salespeople. You are economic ambassadors, community builders, and trusted guides for families and businesses making some of the biggest decisions of their lives.
The PTR&SAA aligns with the core interests of your profession in several key ways.
It Protects Housing Affordability
Every dollar taken in unnecessary taxes is a dollar that can’t go toward:
- A better home
- A safer neighborhood
- A down payment
- Essential upgrades and repairs
By slowing tax creep and forcing honest justification for big increases, PTR&SAA helps keep monthly housing costs from spiraling out of reach. That directly protects your buyer pool.
It Stabilizes the Market and Encourages Long-Term Investment
Investors—both large and small—hate uncertainty. If they believe local governments will keep squeezing property owners whenever values rise, they think twice about putting money into that area.
Under PTR&SAA:
- Tax growth becomes more predictable.
- Surprise jumps caused by opaque budgeting are harder to engineer.
- Communities look more attractive to long-term capital.
That stability encourages people to build, buy, remodel, and reinvest—driving more listings, more demand, and more closings.
It Levels the Playing Field for Your Customers
Right now, many buyers get whiplash when comparing similar homes with wildly different tax burdens because of timing, exemptions, and assessment quirks. Add unpredictable future increases and it becomes nearly impossible to plan.
PTR&SAA doesn’t solve every inequity in the system, but it slows the rate at which those inequities grow and creates a more even, honest framework for everyone.
6. Realtors Have a Unique Voice—and a Unique Responsibility
No one understands the real-world impact of property taxes like you do. Legislators see numbers. County commissioners see budgets. Realtors see people:
- The retired couple who worked their whole lives to retire in Florida and are now worried taxes will push them out.
- The young family stretching to buy their first home and hoping costs don’t balloon beyond their reach.
- The small landlord trying to keep rents reasonable but squeezed on all sides by insurance, maintenance, and rising taxes.
You see the ripple effect when a community becomes “too expensive” or “too unpredictable.” You see how quickly a hot market can cool when buyers lose confidence in the long-term costs of ownership.
Supporting the Property Tax Reform & Spending Accountability Act is not about partisanship. It’s about doing what’s necessary to protect the health of Florida’s housing market and the financial stability of the families and businesses you serve.
7. How Florida Realtors Can Lead on This Issue
You don’t need to become a full-time activist to make a huge difference. But you do have more influence than you may realize.
Here’s how you can help move PTR&SAA forward:
Start the Conversation Inside the Industry
- Talk with your broker, your office, and your local Realtor associations about what rising property taxes are doing to your deals.
- Share real stories (without breaching client confidentiality) about closings jeopardized by sudden tax increases.
- Encourage your associations to formally evaluate PTR&SAA and consider publicly supporting it.
Educate Clients and Communities
When buyers or sellers bring up taxes—and they will—don’t stop at “This is just how it is.”
You can say, in plain language:
- “There’s an effort underway to cap how fast local governments can grow property tax revenue unless voters approve it.”
- “It’s called the Property Tax Reform & Spending Accountability Act, and it’s designed to protect homeowners from unexpected tax spikes.”
- “Realtors across Florida are starting to support it because it brings transparency and predictability to local taxes.”
Again, you’re not telling people how to vote—you’re giving them the tools to understand the issue and decide for themselves.
Engage with Local Officials
Realtors are respected voices in their communities. Your perspective matters.
- Attend county or city budget hearings.
- Submit comments or speak briefly about how rising property taxes are affecting your clients and your business.
- Ask officials directly: “Do you support a framework like the PTR&SAA that ties tax growth to rollback + population + inflation and requires voter approval for anything more?”
When local leaders know the real estate community is watching, they behave differently.
8. A Stronger Future for Florida Real Estate Starts with Honest Taxes
Florida has long been a magnet for families, retirees, entrepreneurs, and investors—in large part because of its reputation for a lighter tax burden compared to high-tax states. But that reputation is at risk if local tax creep continues unchecked.
Insurance costs are already a major challenge. We can’t afford to let opaque, ever-rising property taxes pile on top and drive people away.
The Property Tax Reform & Spending Accountability Act offers a clear, practical way to:
- Rein in automatic tax growth
- Restore transparency and accountability
- Put major tax increases in the hands of the voters
- Give Realtors, homeowners, and investors more predictability and confidence
If you’re a Florida Realtor, this isn’t a side issue. It’s central to your business and your clients’ financial future.
By standing up for PTR&SAA, you’re standing up for:
- A healthier housing market
- A more stable business environment
- A Florida where families can afford not just to buy—but to stay
The bottom line: your voice matters here. When Realtors speak up together, lawmakers listen, local officials take notice, and homeowners gain a powerful ally.
Now is the time for Florida’s real estate community to step into that role and champion real property tax reform and spending accountability—not just for the sake of good policy, but for the future of every “Welcome Home” you help make possible.
Add comment
Comments