Stubby wrote:


Norminn wrote:

miamicuse wrote:

Just purchased a home which I intend to use as a primary residence
eventually. But I intend to do some substantial remodeling before
moving in
and it may take six to nine months to complete. During this time I will
continue to stay at my current home, after the remodeling is completed I
will move to the new home, then I will fix up the current residence to
increase it's value for resale, and that may take a few months. So
there
may be a period of nine months or more that I will be fixing up one
place or
the other. How should I deal with the primary residence and homestead
exemption issue? I can't claim both as primary residence... Will it
be the
best to claim homestead as long as possible on the current home since
the
property tax will stay depressed for the longest time?

Claim the one that gives you the highest savings. In the new home, if
the previous owner owned it a long time, the taxes will go up for you
substantially because of the "Save our Homes" tax rise cap, I believe.
Register to vote from whichever one you decide on. Don't think the
gov' t goes around to see if you are sleeping in the homestead.

I changed my voter regis. when I moved in with hubby and was getting
ready to sell my house. I promptly got a notice saying my homestead
ex. was cancelled because I registered to vote elsewhaere. Just
changed the vot. reg. back to my house until it was sold.


Your problem might not be the new state letting you declare it as your
residence. Rather the state you are leaving may not let go. That want
your tax dollars!
In my situation, both locations within Florida.