Berkshire Estates

Is Berkshire Estates Safe? Natural-Hazard Risk

FEMA National Risk Index composite across eight hazards, plus inherited Florida crime context.

Berkshire Estates Environment & Safety

Satellite PM2.5 air-quality history, FBI UCR crime trend (Florida-level, the finest official aggregation), EPA radon potential and point-source hazard screening.

Walkability & Amenities in Berkshire Estates

Amenity density and pedestrian access from OpenStreetMap points of interest.

Buying Property in the US as a Foreigner

Federal & Florida tax facts for non-resident buyers, plus the latest local market news.

Buying as a Foreigner

US Tax & Ownership

Applies to everyone7

Capital Gains (Federal)

Long-term capital gains taxed federally at 0/15/20%, plus a 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax on higher incomes (2026).

Property Tax

Property tax: ~0.76% average effective rate (statewide average; set and collected locally).

State Income Tax

No state income tax — rental income is not taxed at the state level.

State Capital Gains

No state capital gains tax.

Transfer Tax

Real estate transfer tax: documentary stamp $0.70 per $100 ($0.60 in Miami-Dade).

Assessment Cap

Save Our Homes caps homestead assessment growth at 3%/CPI; reassessed to market value on sale.

Mansion Tax / Rent Control

No statewide mansion tax or statewide rent control.

US citizens & tax residents8

Primary-Home Exclusion

Selling your main home: exclude up to $250k of gain (single) / $500k (married) if you owned and lived there 2 of the last 5 years.

1031 Like-Kind Exchange

A 1031 like-kind exchange defers capital gains tax on investment property; 45 days to identify, 180 to close. Real estate only.

Depreciation Recapture

Residential rentals depreciate over 27.5 years; on sale, recaptured depreciation is taxed up to 25% (Section 1250).

Mortgage Interest Deduction

Mortgage interest is deductible on up to $750k of home debt. The SALT cap rose to $40,000 for 2025-2029 (reverts to $10k in 2030).

Opportunity Zones

Opportunity Zones are now permanent (2025): reinvested capital gains get deferral plus a basis step-up, and are tax-free after 10 years.

Rental Income (Resident)

Rental income is reported on Schedule E; passive-loss rules (Section 469) limit deducting rental losses against other income.

Homestead Exemption

Homestead: up to $50,000 off taxable value, plus unlimited protection from most creditors.

Senior & Veteran Exemptions

Extra $50,000 senior exemption plus property-tax discounts for veterans.

Foreign buyers (non-residents)6

FIRPTA (Foreign Sellers)

FIRPTA: the buyer withholds 15% of the gross sale price when a nonresident sells US property. It is an advance deposit, not the final tax.

Non-Resident Capital Gains

Nonresident sellers pay US capital gains tax (generally 15-20%) on the net gain via Form 1040-NR; FIRPTA withholding is credited.

Non-Resident Rental Tax

Nonresident rental income is taxed at 30% of gross by default, or on net income at graduated rates via a Section 871(d) election (W-8ECI).

Estate Tax (Non-Resident)

Nonresidents get only a $60,000 US estate-tax exemption (vs $13.99M for residents); US property above it is taxed up to 40%. Treaties may help.

ITIN Requirement

Nonresidents without an SSN need an ITIN (Form W-7) to file US tax returns, claim FIRPTA refunds, and report rental income.

Foreign Ownership Restrictions

SB 264 restricts buyers from 7 countries of concern (incl. China) from residential property near sensitive sites. Verify first.

Talk to a US real-estate tax advisor

FIRPTA, ITIN & Florida property-tax guidance for foreign buyers

Latest Real-Estate News

New Fed chairman may leave mortgage rates mostly unchanged

Guaranteed Rate • Jun 18, 2026

Household real estate wealth hits record $48.7 trillion

Eye On Housing • Jun 18, 2026

U.S. commercial property prices hit record as deal patterns shift

Altus Group • Jun 18, 2026

Neighborhoods near Berkshire Estates

Compare Berkshire Estates with nearby neighborhoods in Escambia County.