The short answer
Miss the filing window, lose the savings.
Property tax portability lets a homeowner transfer assessed-value savings from one primary residence to a replacement, usually within the same state. California’s Proposition 19, Florida’s Save Our Homes Portability, and similar rules preserve decades of accrued savings for in-state rightsizers. Filing windows are tight.
California — Proposition 19
55+ may transfer base-year value to a replacement home anywhere in California, up to 3 times in lifetime.
Florida — Save Our Homes Portability
Up to $500,000 of cap benefit transferable to a new Florida homestead within 2 years of selling.
Other states
Texas senior homestead with school tax ceiling. Georgia floating homestead in some counties. Most other states have senior exemptions but not true portability.
Cross-state moves
Portability is in-state only. CA→FL forfeits Prop 13 base; FL→TX forfeits Save Our Homes.
Key takeaways
- Prop 19 and Save Our Homes are the most consequential portability rules.
- Filing windows are typically 2 years.
- Portability is in-state only.
- Consult destination-county assessor before closing.
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