Florida property guides by buyer profile

Not on ownership. Property tax, sales tax and doc stamps are the same for everyone. The differences appear at sale and on rental income: FIRPTA withholds 15% of the gross sale price from foreign sellers, there is no homestead exemption for non-residents so the 10% non-homestead assessment cap applies instead of the 3% Save Our Homes cap, and rental income requires a US filing.

Yes. Foreign national mortgage programmes typically require 25% to 30% down, with rates above those offered to US borrowers and documentation drawn from your home country. DSCR loans, which qualify on the property’s rental income rather than your personal income, are often the more practical route for investors without US tax returns.

It applies to a specific set of countries and to specific property types and locations, principally near military installations and critical infrastructure, with the tightest restrictions on Chinese nationals. Most foreign buyers are unaffected, but the affidavit requirement now sits in the standard Florida closing process, so it is worth confirming your position before you go under contract.