Florida Real Estate Divided Over DeSantis Push To Eliminate Property Taxes

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is making waves once again this time by doubling down on his plan to eliminate property taxes entirely. If successful, Florida would become the first and only state in the country with neither a state income tax nor property tax, cementing its position as the “Free State” and potentially setting off a real estate explosion. But not everyone is cheering.

For many Floridians tired of writing checks to their county tax collector, the idea sounds like a dream. But real estate industry leaders are split some hailing the move as visionary, others warning it could cripple local services and shift the burden elsewhere.

• Property taxes bring in $55 billion annually, funding up to 60% of public education and over a third of municipal and county budgets, according to the Florida Policy Institute.

• To offset that, analysts say the state would need to double its sales tax from 6% to 12% a move that could hurt working families hardest.

• DeSantis is also proposing $1,000 rebate checks per homestead as temporary relief while voters decide on constitutional protections in 2026.

"Property taxes effectively require homeowners to pay rent to the government," DeSantis said. He’s also floated an “entry tax” on new residents as one possible way to make up lost revenue.

The real estate world is watching closely. Phil Gutman, President of Continuum Company, says the proposal is already generating buzz “It’s creating a perfect storm for us to be completely flooded with buyers. Why wouldn’t you want to move here at that point?”

But Budge Huskey, CEO of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, sees potential chaos without a clear plan: “You cannot simply eliminate property taxes without replacing a significant majority of that revenue. Who’s going to fund education? Who’s going to build the roads? It must be strategic.”

Huskey, like many others in the business world, is calling for real analysis instead of political showmanship: “At the end of the day, I run a large business. I know the numbers. And I want to have somebody show me the numbers, rather than legislating in the absence of clarity.”

Despite those concerns, the idea is gaining momentum particularly among conservatives and transplants from high-tax states like New York and California. U.S. Rep. Greg Steube backed DeSantis’ veto of a proposed study on local tax structures, calling it redundant: “It would only reveal what we already know.”

To his credit, DeSantis remains firm that the plan won’t compromise Florida’s quality of life. “He’s not the kind of governor who’s going to make roads unsafe or schools worse,” Gutman argued. “He truly cares about Florida. This isn’t reckless.”

Still, critics argue the plan favors the wealthy and could lead to higher consumption taxes that hit low-income residents hardest. Huskey called the plan “a very regressive form of tax” that shifts control away from local governments.

In the end, the fight over property tax elimination comes down to liberty versus logistics. The idea of a tax-free Florida may be exciting, but without a solid replacement plan, even supporters acknowledge the devil is in the details.

If DeSantis can pull it off, it could become a blueprint for conservative reform nationwide. But if not, Florida’s freedom experiment may come with a massive price tag.

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