Smart Money Moves for Home Buyers cover

Smart Money Moves for Home Buyers

8 cards
Buying a home in Jacksonville is the biggest financial decision most families make, and a little preparation saves real money. Curated by Yvette Salley, a Northeast Florida realtor with a background as an FDIC accountant and auditor, these resources cover the programs, exemptions, and money habits that make Duval County homeownership more affordable.
Duval County Homestead Exemption
jacksonville.gov
Duval County Homestead Exemption

Once you close on your Jacksonville home, this is the first money move: up to $50,000 off your assessed value plus the Save Our Homes cap limiting future increases to 3% a year. File with the Duval County Property Appraiser by March 1.

avatar
Yvette Salley
File Your Homestead Exemption Online
homestead.coj.net
File Your Homestead Exemption Online

Duval County's online portal lets new homeowners file for homestead exemption without a trip downtown. Allow about 60 days after closing for the deed to process, then apply, ten minutes that saves you money every single year.

avatar
Yvette Salley
c
jacksonville.gov
c

Search any Jacksonville property's assessed value, exemptions, and sales history before you make an offer. Smart buyers check the tax picture on a home in Riverside, Mandarin, or the Beaches before falling in love with it.

avatar
Yvette Salley
Find a HUD Housing Counselor (Florida)
hud.gov
Find a HUD Housing Counselor (Florida)

Free and low-cost homebuyer counseling from HUD-approved agencies across Northeast Florida, including the pre-purchase education course that programs like Hometown Heroes require. A smart first stop before your first mortgage application.

avatar
Yvette Salley
What Happens If You Fall Behind (CFPB)
consumerfinance.gov
What Happens If You Fall Behind (CFPB)

The best time to understand your safety net is before you need it. This CFPB guide explains every option available to Florida homeowners who hit a rough patch, from refinancing to repayment plans, knowledge worth having on day one of ownership.

avatar
Yvette Salley
Senior Homestead Exemptions in Duval County
jacksonville.gov
Senior Homestead Exemptions in Duval County

Jacksonville homeowners 65 and older with limited income can stack additional exemptions on top of the standard homestead, and they now auto-renew each year. A meaningful saving for retirees buying in Northeast Florida.

avatar
Yvette Salley
Duval County Property Fraud Alert
duvalclerk.gov
Duval County Property Fraud Alert

Free monitoring from the Duval Clerk that alerts you whenever a document is recorded under your name or your business's name. Title fraud is real, and this is the easiest protection a new Jacksonville homeowner can set up.

avatar
Yvette Salley
Florida Hometown Heroes Program
floridahousing.org
Florida Hometown Heroes Program

Florida's flagship down payment program offers first-time, income-qualified buyers up to $35,000 toward down payment and closing costs as a 0% deferred second mortgage. The 2026 round launched in July and funds go fast, so Jacksonville buyers should get pre-approved early.

avatar
Yvette Salley