Notes from Tony Fitzgerald's desk on how Florida mortgages actually work — the escrow resets, the homestead deadlines, and the details nobody mentions at the closing table. Written for Sarasota, Bradenton, and the Gulf Coast.
Amendment 3 is on the November 3 Florida ballot. Here is what it would and would not change for homeowners, buyers, second homes and new residents, and how property tax shows up in your escrow and your approval.
Your Florida TRIM notice arrives in August. It is not a bill, it is the only early look at the assessed value that drives your November tax bill and your escrow. Here is what to check on it and the 25-day petition clock most people miss.
Florida homestead does not start automatically. You qualify if you own and occupy the home on January 1, and the deadline to file is March 1, 2027. Most counties let you file now, online and free. Here is what it actually saves you.
A fixed rate does not mean a fixed payment. Florida resets your assessed value the January after you buy, and your escrow was built on the seller's lower tax bill. Here is the 18-month timeline and how to plan for it.
Tony Fitzgerald · NMLS #1284924 · 1st Response Mortgage · powered by Mpire Financial Group LLC · NMLS #2108504 · Florida License #MLD2467 · Mortgage Broker · Sarasota, FL · (941) 941-5150