Moving From California to Florida

A California household earning $350,000 keeps roughly $25,000 to $30,000 more every year in Florida, and high earners keep far more, thanks to zero state income tax replacing California's nation-high 13.3% top rate. Here is exactly what changes, and where California buyers are moving in Central Florida.

What Changes When You Move From California to Florida

When you make Florida your home, your California state income tax (up to 13.3%, the highest in the nation) goes to zero. Florida has no state income tax, no capital gains tax, no estate tax, and no inheritance tax. California's property tax rate is low under Prop 13, but its home prices are among the nation's highest, so in Central Florida your purchase price and your tax bill both typically fall. California is consistently one of the top states relocating to Florida. Below, compare the numbers, calculate your own savings, see where California buyers are landing in Central Florida, and learn exactly how to establish Florida residency.

Your State Income Tax Savings

How much does a physician save moving from California to Florida? On a $500,000 salary, about $45,000 a year, since California takes roughly 9% of income at that level while Florida takes none. Over ten years that is close to $450,000 kept. Use the calculator below for your exact income.

Central Florida Market Snapshot

Live single-family figures for the ten Central Florida markets Sean and Barb serve. Use the tabs to compare a market against what you are leaving behind in California. The numbers refresh every month from Stellar MLS.

Central Florida Housing Stats

Median sold price, price per square foot, market pace, and months of supply for the 10 Central Florida markets we serve, updated monthly from Stellar MLS closed sales. Data through August 2026.

Orlando Single Family Housing StatsAugust 2026 Stats

Choose a market

Median Sold Price, August 2026

$425,000

Jun-Aug Avg-

vs Jun-Aug 2025-

Median Price Per Sq Ft

Closed in August

Median Days on Market

List Price vs. Sold Price %

Half of August sales closed at or above this share of the final asking price

Months of Supply

Active Listing Inventory vs Homes ClosedNov 2025 to Aug 2026

This Month's Listing ActivityAugust 2026

New Listings

Competition that arrived this month

Pending

Under contract now, closing in 30 to 45 days

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Source: Stellar MLS InfoSparks, single-family homes, August 2026. Based on information from the Stellar Multiple Listing Service. This information may or may not include all listed expired, withdrawn, pending or sold properties of one or more members of the Stellar Multiple Listing Service.

August 2026 median sold prices across our ten Central Florida markets, single-family homes: Orlando $425,000 (574 closed, 26 days on market, 98.7% of last list price); Winter Garden $670,066 (131 closed, 22 days on market, 98.5% of last list price); Windermere $960,000 (43 closed, 75 days on market, 95.3% of last list price); Dr. Phillips $962,000 (13 closed, 56 days on market, 96.2% of last list price); Lake Nona $832,250 (26 closed, 69 days on market, 98.8% of last list price); Winter Park $624,900 (63 closed, 16 days on market, 98.2% of last list price); Maitland $620,000 (22 closed, 19 days on market, 98.4% of last list price); Longwood $569,250 (44 closed, 12 days on market, 99.1% of last list price); Lake Mary $650,000 (37 closed, 20 days on market, 97.8% of last list price); Oviedo $581,500 (64 closed, 21 days on market, 98.8% of last list price). Source: Stellar MLS InfoSparks.

Where California Buyers Buy in Central Florida

California buyers tend to want walkability, water, top schools, or new construction. These are the six markets they choose most often. Tap any one to explore current luxury listings.

Winter Park

$900K - $5M+

The most walkable, urbane address in Orlando: Park Avenue walkability, the Chain of Lakes, museums, and A-rated schools.

Lake Nona

$700K - $4M

New construction, fiber internet, a 15-minute-city design, Medical City, and 15 minutes to the airport for commuters.

Windermere

$1.2M - $25M+

Butler Chain lakefront and gated Isleworth and Keene's Pointe for buyers who want privacy, water, and prestige.

Dr. Phillips

$800K - $8M+

Restaurant Row dining, guard-gated communities, and central access; Orlando's most established luxury ZIP code.

Lake Mary

$650K - $2.5M

Top Seminole County schools, gated Heathrow Country Club, lower property taxes, and a corporate commuter base.

Winter Garden

$700K - $2.5M

Horizon West new construction, the West Orange Trail, and strong value per square foot near Disney.

How to Establish Florida Residency From California

Ending California income tax is not automatic; you have to change your domicile and document it. Because high-tax states can review a departing resident, a clean break matters. Here are the six steps:

Spend more than 183 days a year in Florida

Make Florida your primary home and keep simple records (a calendar, travel, card and phone data) showing where you actually spend your time.

File a Declaration of Domicile

Record a Declaration of Domicile with your Florida county clerk of court to formally state Florida is your permanent home.

Get a Florida driver license and register your vehicles

Obtain a Florida license, register your cars in Florida, and surrender your California license.

Register to vote in Florida

Move your financial and personal life

Update the IRS, banks, brokerages, employer, and estate documents to your Florida address, and shift doctors, memberships, and primary accounts here.

File a final California return and sever ties

File your last California resident or part-year return and, ideally, sell or lease the California home. Keep your documentation organized in case of a residency review.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Work with a Florida CPA and, for higher incomes, a residency attorney; Sean & Barb can introduce you to trusted professionals.

Your Questions, Answered

How much money do you save moving from California to Florida?

Florida has no state income tax, so the savings equal the California tax you stop paying. A household with $350,000 of taxable income saves roughly $25,000 to $30,000 a year, and higher incomes save substantially more. California's property tax rate is low under Prop 13, but its home prices are among the nation's highest, so in Central Florida both your purchase price and your tax bill typically fall. Use the calculator above to see your exact number, then call (407) 383-0707.

Does Florida have a state income tax?

No. Florida has no state income tax, no tax on capital gains, no estate tax, and no inheritance tax. Wages, bonuses, investment income, pensions, and retirement withdrawals are all free of state income tax once you are a Florida resident. California, by contrast, taxes income up to 13.3%, the highest rate in the nation.

How do California and Central Florida property taxes compare?

California's effective property tax rate is low (~0.7% under Prop 13), but its home prices are among the nation's highest. Central Florida runs roughly 1.0% to 1.2%, but on a home that often costs a fraction of a comparable California property, so your actual tax dollars and your mortgage both usually drop. Florida also adds the Homestead Exemption and the Save Our Homes 3% cap.

How do I establish Florida residency and domicile after moving from California?

Make Florida your primary home and document it: spend more than 183 days a year in Florida, file a Declaration of Domicile with your county clerk, get a Florida driver license, register your vehicles and to vote in Florida, and move your bank, doctors, estate documents, and memberships to your Florida address. Then file a final or part-year California return. The cleaner your paper trail and the more California ties you sever, the stronger your position. This is general information, not legal or tax advice; confirm your plan with a CPA or attorney.

How many days do I have to live in Florida to avoid California income tax?

The practical target is to spend more than 183 days a year in Florida and make Florida your true domicile, then keep records (travel logs, card and phone data, a Declaration of Domicile). Day counting alone is not enough; what matters is where your primary home and life are centered. Once Florida is genuinely your domicile, California no longer taxes your income.

Will California tax me after I move to Florida?

Once you establish Florida as your domicile and are no longer a California resident, California does not tax your income. A clean break helps: a Declaration of Domicile, Florida licenses, time records, and selling or leasing the California home. Income actually earned from California sources can still be taxable, so confirm specifics with a CPA.

Where do most California residents move in the Orlando area?

California buyers gravitate to Winter Park (Park Avenue walkability and the Chain of Lakes), Lake Nona (new construction and a master-planned, 15-minute-city feel), Windermere (Butler Chain lakefront and Isleworth), Dr. Phillips (Restaurant Row and gated luxury), Lake Mary (top Seminole County schools and gated Heathrow), and Winter Garden and Horizon West (newer luxury at strong value). Sean and Barb cover all ten Central Florida luxury markets and match the neighborhood to your commute, schools, and lifestyle.

How much more home can I buy in Central Florida than in California?

A great deal more. Money that buys a modest single-family home in coastal California often buys a 4,000-plus square foot estate with a pool in Central Florida. Luxury homes in Winter Park, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, and Lake Nona typically run $800,000 to $3M, with lakefront estates above that.

Does Florida tax retirement income, Social Security, or pensions?

No. Florida does not tax Social Security, pensions, IRA or 401(k) withdrawals, or any retirement income at the state level, because it has no state income tax at all. California taxes pensions and 401(k)/IRA withdrawals (up to 13.3%) but exempts Social Security; Florida taxes none of it. For retirees, the Florida difference compounds every year.

Is it cheaper to live in Central Florida than in California?

In most categories, yes. Beyond zero state income tax, Central Florida offers dramatically lower home prices than coastal California, comparable or lower property taxes in dollar terms, and a lower sales tax. The total cost of living gap is large, and Sean and Barb can walk you through it.

What property tax breaks do Florida homeowners get?

Once a Florida home is your primary residence you can file for the Homestead Exemption, which removes $50,000 from the assessed value, and the Save Our Homes cap, which limits annual assessment increases to 3% no matter how fast the market rises. Accumulated Save Our Homes savings are also portable to your next Florida homestead.

Can Sean and Barb help me buy a home in Central Florida remotely from California?

Yes. Sean and Barb regularly guide California buyers through the entire purchase before they ever set foot in Florida, with live video home tours, neighborhood drive-throughs, market data, lender introductions, and fully remote closing coordination. Many clients tour by video, go under contract, and only arrive for the final walkthrough and keys.

Do I need to sell my California home before buying in Florida?

Not necessarily. Many California buyers purchase in Florida first (using a bridge loan, portfolio loan, or cash) and sell afterward, while others sequence the sale first for certainty. Sean and Barb coordinate the timing and connect you with lenders who handle both ends.

With 60+ combined years in Central Florida, Sean & Barb work with luxury buyers and sellers, physicians relocating to the region, and the attorneys who refer estate and divorce property.

Sean Spencer

Licensed Locally 20+ Years

I've had the honor of working with physicians and executives relocating to Central Florida, helping them land quickly and confidently in communities that fit their lives. Honesty, discretion, and a genuine investment in your outcome - every time.

Barb Vance

Licensed Locally 40+ Years

With four decades of relationships across Central Florida's luxury communities, Barbara brings a depth of local knowledge that simply cannot be replicated. Her clients trust her not just for her expertise, but for her unwavering integrity.

Thinking About the Move From California?

Tell us your timeline and what you are looking for. We will send homes that fit and walk you through the residency side, with no pressure and no obligation.

Thank you. Sean or Barb will be in touch shortly.