Florida property tax move tool

Treasure Coast homestead portability calculator

Use this calculator when you are moving between Stuart, Palm City, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian, and nearby Treasure Coast cities and want a realistic portability estimate before filing.

It compares prior market value vs. assessed value, estimates transferred Save Our Homes benefit for upsizing or downsizing moves, and separates school and non-school taxable values so the result tracks how Florida homestead treatment is commonly explained by state and county sources. It also keeps the tool move-first, with county-specific filing notes and next steps instead of stopping at the math.

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Counties covered

Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River

Best for

Florida move planning before filing

Filing frame

New homestead plus portability by March 1

Treasure Coast move tool

Florida homestead portability calculator

Built for movers comparing places like Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Palm City, and Sebastian. Instead of guessing from the old tax bill, this estimates how much Save Our Homes benefit may transfer to the new purchase and what taxable value you may start with.

Your move scenario

Compare current homestead value against the new purchase.

Stuart (Martin) to Port St. Lucie (St. Lucie)

Current cityDestination cityCurrent homestead countyNew countyCurrent market valueUse the current just or market value from your property record or TRIM notice.Current assessed valueThis is the capped assessed value, not your tax bill amount.New purchase priceUse the contract price or expected purchase price for the next home.

Current SOH benefit

$170,000

Market value minus assessed value, capped at $500,000.

Portable amount used

$170,000

Upsizing usually carries the full transfer amount.

Estimated new assessed value

$395,000

This is the starting assessed value after the transfer estimate.

Estimated non-school taxable

$345,000

Reflects the first and second homestead exemption layers.

Move outcome in plain English

You currently have about $170,000 of Save Our Homes benefit. On this move, the calculator estimates that roughly $170,000 could transfer to the new home. That would put the new assessed value around $395,000 before future annual cap increases.

School taxable value

$370,000

Homestead exemption used

$50,000

Purchase price change

+$90,000

Gap on current home

35.8%

Why taxes jump after a purchase

1. The assessed value often resets closer to the sale price.

Your old homestead may have been protected by the Save Our Homes cap for years. A new purchase starts much closer to market value, so the tax base can jump even if the home feels similar.

2. Portability transfers the capped gap, not your old tax bill.

This estimate shows a transferred benefit of $170,000. That helps, but it does not freeze your old taxes in place.

3. Local rates and non-ad valorem fees can change by address.

Even with the same purchase price, a move between Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, or Sebastian can land in a different mix of taxing districts and assessments.

Deadline and next steps

Filing guidance for St. Lucie

File by March 1. Plan around the new home being your permanent residence as of January 1, then file homestead and portability with the county property appraiser.

County-specific filing note

File portability at the same time as the new homestead application. St. Lucie supports online and office filing.

Portability note

You must establish the new homestead on or before January 1 within three tax years after abandoning the previous homestead.

1Change your permanent residence documents to the new address before filing.
2Apply for homestead on the new property.
3Add portability at the same time instead of treating it as a separate later task.
4Check application status after submission and upload any requested documents.

Homestead filing Portability info

Need the county office? (772) 462-1021

Move checklist

Before closing

Pull your old home's market and assessed values so you know the real portability gap.

After move-in

Update residency records and make the new home your permanent residence.

Before March 1

File homestead and portability together instead of waiting for the tax bill.

After filing

Check status, respond to document requests, and compare the assessed value when notices arrive.

Estimator assumptions

The calculator assumes a straightforward same-owner move without split ownership changes.
It uses current market value minus current assessed value to estimate portable benefit, capped at $500,000.
It applies the common downsizing rule when the new purchase price is lower than the old home's market value.
It shows estimated assessed and taxable values, not a certified tax bill or escrow amount.

Who this is for

Port St. Lucie moversStuart sellersFort Pierce buyersVero Beach relocationsPalm City downsizersSebastian cross-county moves

This layout is intentionally move-first. It answers what buyers and sellers usually ask at the decision stage: how much portability survives the move, what the new taxable value could look like, and what filing steps come next.

How portability works

Portability transfers capped assessment benefit, not the old tax bill

Florida portability is built around the Save Our Homes difference between just value and assessed value on the old homestead. When you move, that benefit may transfer to the new homestead subject to state rules and county filing requirements.

That is why this page estimates transferred benefit and new assessed value instead of pretending to know your final tax bill. A sale can move the new property closer to market value, and portability only carries over part of the old assessment advantage.

Why two taxable values

School and non-school taxes do not use the exact same homestead treatment

The first $25,000 homestead exemption generally applies across property taxes. The additional exemption above $50,000 is typically limited to non-school levies. That is why portability planning is clearer when the calculator breaks taxable value into school and non-school views instead of collapsing everything into one number.

Methodology and guardrails

How this tool should be used

Methodology

The calculator estimates transferable Save Our Homes benefit using the prior market value, prior assessed value, and the destination purchase scenario, then separates school and non-school taxable value views.

Key assumptions

It assumes a standard Florida homestead move and does not model every ownership, title, exemption, millage, or filing edge case. County implementation details and the final property appraiser review still control the official result.

Not professional advice

This is not tax, legal, or property appraiser advice. Use it for move planning only, then confirm eligibility, forms, deadlines, and taxable values with the relevant property appraiser.

Filing guidance

What Treasure Coast movers usually need to know before filing portability

Martin County

Martin County frames portability as part of the new homestead filing flow and points applicants to the DR-501T portability form alongside the homestead application.

St. Lucie County

St. Lucie states that the new homestead must be established on or before January 1 within three tax years after abandoning the prior homestead, with portability filed as part of the new homestead process by March 1.

Indian River County

Indian River County routes portability through the new homestead workflow and provides direct filing guidance through the property appraiser.

Common move situations

Moves this calculator helps you think through

You are moving from Stuart to Port St. Lucie and want a first-pass portability estimate.
You are downsizing from Palm City to Vero Beach and want to see how the transferred benefit changes.
You are moving between Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River County and need county filing guidance in one place.
You want to estimate the new assessed value after buying a house in Florida.
You want to understand why property taxes often jump after a home purchase even with portability.

Keep researching

Local guides for the places people compare most

Stuart guides Port St. Lucie guides Vero Beach guides Regional articles

FAQ

Florida homestead portability FAQ

What does this homestead portability calculator estimate?

It estimates how much Save Our Homes benefit may transfer to a new Florida homestead, then shows an estimated new assessed value, school and non-school taxable values, and county-specific filing guidance for the destination county.

Why does the calculator show separate school and non-school taxable values?

Florida homestead treatment is not identical across levy types. The first $25,000 exemption applies broadly, while the additional homestead exemption above $50,000 generally does not apply to school levies.

When do I file for portability in Florida?

Portability is generally filed with the new homestead application by March 1 using form DR-501T as part of the homestead filing process.

Is this an official property tax bill estimate?

No. This page is designed for move planning and portability comparisons. County property appraisers make the official determination, and more complex ownership or title scenarios may change the result.

Official sources