Tax Friendly Southwest Florida Real Estate

Demand for tax friendly Southwest Florida real estate is expected to get a boost due to new rules within the federal tax bill signed into law this past December. Rules now cap “SALT” (state and local tax deductions) to only $10,000. Previously, these deductions were unlimited, and include real estate, and either income taxes or sales taxes. For those of you who itemize deductions, it is likely that your income taxes exceed that amount, even the property and sales taxes. If you happen to live within a relatively high tax state (say, New York or New Jersey) this could ultimately mean NOW is a good time to declare Florida as your “home” because we have NO state income tax.

And indeed, since this law has come into effect, there has been an uptick in real estate inquiries, particularly from more affluent customers originally from the East coast. That makes sense when you consider New York has a maximum 8.82 percent state income tax. Therefore, tax on any income over $120,000 has already well-exceeded the $10,000 cap.

With respect to tax friendly Southwest Florida real estate, it is believed the cap rules are factoring in increased demand.  In Naples, during the first quarter, home sales priced above the $1 million mark were up 61 percent according to the Naples Area Board of Realtors. What’s more, pending sales of condominium’s priced at $2 million or more increased by 109 percent from the same time last year.

Along with our sunshine and coastlines, Florida has long been promoted as a tax-friendly state. In fact, a recent Kiplinger Report further affirmed Florida’s ranking among America’s most tax-friendly of states. Indeed, the cap on SALT deductions could be a tipping point that pushes some high-income residents in other areas of the country to now consider calling Florida “home.”

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