How much does a Florida seller pay in closing costs?

Deed stamps are $0.70 per $100 of the price in Tampa Bay. Add title if the contract puts it on you, estoppels, prorations, payoff interest, and the commission you listed with. The commission is usually the largest line. Stamps and title are the next ones people forget to model. The commission is negotiated with your Realtor®.

Do cash buyers pay Florida doc stamps?

Cash buyers do not pay note stamps or intangible tax, because there is no new mortgage. The deed stamps still exist. It's customary to still put those on the seller unless you agree otherwise.

Can the seller pay my closing costs in Florida?

Yes, up to the cap in your loan program, if the contract says so and the file still appraises and underwrites. Sometimes a price cut is cleaner than a credit. That is a loan question and a contract question at the same time.

Are Florida CDD fees mandatory?

Yes, if the lot is inside the district. You do not opt out because you skip the pool.

The debt piece can end when the bonds are paid. Operations and maintenance typically does not. Ask the district for the remaining term and a payoff figure. Get it in writing.

What Florida Amendment 3 Would Change for Property Taxes

August 31, 2026 · Jonathan Loescher

You open a TRIM notice and try to match the lines to what you actually pay. In November, Florida voters will also see Amendment 3 on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. It would raise the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes and lower the cap on how fast non-homestead assessments can rise. School taxes stay on today's homestead rules.

A Tampa Bay Times viewpoints column on Aug. 28, 2026, asked who really pays if Florida's property tax amendment passes in November. Governor DeSantis supported property tax cuts but backed away from Amendment 3 after the Legislature changed his original idea.

What's on the ballot

Amendment 3 is a proposed change to the Florida Constitution. It comes from House Joint Resolution 1F. The official title is Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments. It needs 60% yes to pass. If it passes, it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. The official ballot summary is from the Florida Department of State.

How homestead works today

If the house is your primary residence and you have a homestead exemption, the first $25,000 of assessed value is exempt from all property taxes, including school taxes. An additional $25,000, on value between $50,000 and $75,000, is exempt from non-school taxes. That is why people say today's non-school homestead exemption is $50,000.

Your bill still depends on assessed value and the millage in your city and county. Millage varies. Check your TRIM notice.

What would change in 2027 and 2028

If Amendment 3 passes, the homestead exemption for all non-school taxes would rise to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then adjust for inflation.

The Legislature would have to set a uniform procedure so counties and cities can raise that homestead exemption up to the full assessed value. Special districts could do the same if voters in that district approve it.

Amendment 3 homestead steps: $150,000 in 2027, $250,000 in 2028, school taxes stay, non-homestead cap 10% to 5%

Amendment 3 homestead steps and the non-homestead cap, if it passes.

School taxes stay

School district taxes are not cut by Amendment 3. The larger exemption is non-school only. You would still see school taxes on the homestead rules that apply today.

If you were not a Florida resident yet

If you are not a Florida resident on Dec. 31, 2026, you would get the existing homestead exemption when you qualify. The increased exemption would begin with the fifth year, to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution.

Second homes, rentals, and the 5% cap

Second homes, rentals, and commercial property do not get the larger homestead exemption. Those are non-homestead properties. If Amendment 3 passes, the annual cap on assessment increases for those properties would drop from 10% to 5%.

That cap can slow how fast the assessed value rises. It does not set rent. A landlord's rent is a separate decision from the assessment cap.

The $12 billion projection

Some public analyses, including Florida Phoenix on Aug. 13, 2026, cite a projected local impact that could reach about $12 billion a year by around 2031. A Tampa Bay Times viewpoints column used that same scale. That is a projection. It is not a number on the ballot, and it is not a cut for one house.

A larger exemption can lower the non-school part of a homestead bill. Local governments then have less of that tax to spend, or they may look at other fees or rates. That choice is not on the ballot as a set list of new charges.

What property taxes could be used for

The official summary says counties and municipalities would have to use property taxes solely for public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, natural resources, bond debt service, retirement benefits for employees, and operations and administration. Other spending may be approved by county officers or by county or city governing bodies unless general law says no.

What still costs money

Insurance, HOA dues, and flood coverage are not homestead exemptions. They still sit on the file if they apply to the house. If you are buying, those costs count when you look at a payment.

What you can do next

Read the official ballot summary from the Florida Department of State. Check your homestead filing with your county property appraiser, and keep your TRIM notice. If you want to talk through a specific house or a loan file, book a consultation with Jonathan Loescher, Realtor, Realty of America. If you are buying, apply for a loan. I originate Florida loans through PMF, Inc. You don't have to use both. Approvals stay conditional on lender review.

Common questions

How much does a Florida seller pay in closing costs?: Deed stamps are $0.70 per $100 of the price in Tampa Bay. Add title if the contract puts it on you, estoppels, prorations, payoff interest, and the commission you listed with. The commission is usually the largest line. Stamps and title are the next ones people forget to model. The commission is negotiated with your Realtor®.
Do cash buyers pay Florida doc stamps?: Cash buyers do not pay note stamps or intangible tax, because there is no new mortgage. The deed stamps still exist. It's customary to still put those on the seller unless you agree otherwise.
Can the seller pay my closing costs in Florida?: Yes, up to the cap in your loan program, if the contract says so and the file still appraises and underwrites. Sometimes a price cut is cleaner than a credit. That is a loan question and a contract question at the same time.
Are Florida CDD fees mandatory?: Yes, if the lot is inside the district. You do not opt out because you skip the pool.
Do CDD fees go away?: The debt piece can end when the bonds are paid. Operations and maintenance typically does not. Ask the district for the remaining term and a payoff figure. Get it in writing.

More Tampa Bay home and loan answers on the answers hub.

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