JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Campaigns against Amendment 3 are challenging the idea that reducing property taxes would make homeownership more attainable, saying that if the amendment passes, Florida home values could shoot up.
Having put $18 million toward the Yes on 3 campaign, the Florida Realtors Association is one of Amendment 3’s biggest supporters.
The association claims phasing out property taxes will make homeownership more attainable for first-time homebuyers.
But Amendment 3 opponents like Edie Ousley with Vote No on 3 claim that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“For most of Floridians, this is not going to be beneficial,” Ousley said.
A 2025 study conducted by Realtor.com looked at a total elimination of property taxes in Florida and found home values would increase by 7-9% overnight.
Ousley notes that, while Amendment 3 doesn’t go as far, the massive property tax cuts it would bring would likely have a similar outcome.
“If you are a first-time home buyer in Florida, what is that going to do to your ability to attain your first home?” Ousley said. “This is going to price them out of the market.”
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
In response to the study’s findings, the Florida Realtors Association sent a statement doubling down on its pitch for Amendment 3, saying in part, “...This amendment is about helping Florida families afford to buy, own, and keep a home in Florida.”
Ousley argues that, given what the study found, it’s no surprise realtors are backing the amendment.
“Realtors work off of a commission-driven business model, and that involves one thing and one thing only: having more real estate transactions at higher prices,” Ousley said. “So they saw the boon. They knew that home prices would immediately increase, and maybe they went for the money grab.”
The Florida Realtors Association’s full statement is below.
Florida families are facing rising costs from every direction, from housing and insurance to groceries and everyday necessities. Amendment 3 provides meaningful property-tax relief at a time when many homeowners need it most. While Floridians can’t control many of the expenses putting pressure on their budgets, they can address one cost that keeps rising: property taxes. Amendment 3 helps homeowners keep more of their hard-earned money, makes it more affordable to stay in their homes, protects school funding, and prioritizes remaining property-tax revenue for essential community needs, including public safety. At its core, this amendment is about helping Florida families afford to buy, own, and keep a home in Florida
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
