How to Move to Florida From New Hampshire (Sun City Center Retiree Guide)

Direct answer

You move to Florida from New Hampshire for property tax and winter, not income tax. Establish Florida domicile, file homestead, and unwind New Hampshire ties. On a 500,000 dollar home the annual property tax swing is commonly 5,000 to 6,000 dollars a year in Florida's favor after homestead, and that is the whole tax case honestly stated.

The tax swap, New Hampshire versus Florida

The biggest single dollar difference for New Hampshire retirees is property tax. A 500,000 dollar New Hampshire home commonly carries 9,000 to 10,000 dollars a year in property tax because the state funds schools through property tax. Sun City Center on the same value with homestead and Save Our Homes typically runs 4,000 to 5,000 dollars.

Tax disclaimer

Tax information is general and for educational purposes only. It is not tax advice. Rates, exemptions, and thresholds change and vary by county and by individual circumstance. Verify current figures with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue and consult a licensed CPA or tax attorney before making relocation decisions. Tax data verified July 2026.

The seven step move

• ◆Decide snowbird or outright move. Most New Hampshire retirees start with one winter rental in Sun City Center before buying.
• ◆Line up Florida financing before you list at home. Get fully underwritten so you can write a non contingent offer once you are ready.
• ◆Pick your neighborhood category: Sun City Center Proper for detached single family, Kings Point for gated condo and villa living, or Renaissance for the higher end.
• ◆Sequence the sale and purchase. Options include buy first with bridge or asset based financing, sell first with rent back, or overlap with a short term rental.
• ◆Establish Florida domicile and document it. See the checklist below.
• ◆Move the household. Full service movers, container pods, or auto transport for one vehicle plus a fly down are the three common patterns.
• ◆File Florida homestead by March 1 of the year after you close. Miss that date and you lose the exemption for a full year.

Establishing Florida domicile from New Hampshire

New Hampshire does not audit departures for income tax because there is not one. Property tax administration is town level, so notify the town of your primary residence change to update the tax bill mailing and exemption status.

• ◆File a Declaration of Domicile with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court.
• ◆Get a Florida driver license and surrender the license from your former state.
• ◆Register vehicles in Florida and cancel the old state registration.
• ◆Register to vote in Hillsborough County.
• ◆Update your address on federal tax returns, Social Security, and Medicare.
• ◆Move primary banking and brokerage relationships to Florida addresses.
• ◆Transfer primary physicians and specialists to Tampa Bay providers.
• ◆Update wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health directives to Florida law.
• ◆File Florida homestead by March 1 to lock the exemption and the Save Our Homes 3 percent cap.
• ◆Count and document days present. Keep flight receipts, EZ Pass records, and credit card geolocation.

Logistics: drive, flights, and moving

The drive from Manchester is about 1,450 miles and 21 to 22 hours, typically split over two to three days down I-95. Nonstop flights MHT to Tampa International are limited, so most retirees fly through BOS which has multiple daily nonstops. Household moves band 6,000 to 12,000 dollars, and auto transport New Hampshire to Tampa runs roughly 1,100 to 1,500 dollars per car.

Financing from out of state

Get fully underwritten before you list at home. That means income, assets, and credit verified so your Florida offer can go in without a financing contingency. Travis works multiple retiree friendly programs. Asset depletion qualifies buyers on brokerage and retirement balances instead of monthly income. Social Security and pension income qualification gets you the gross up boost most lenders miss. Kings Point condos need non warrantable condo programs, and Travis has relationships that lend where big banks decline. See the full financing overview. Travis Penny is a licensed mortgage broker, NMLS 1649161, and this is not an offer to lend. Loans are subject to underwriting approval.

Why New Hampshire retirees pick Sun City Center

New Hampshire retirees pick Sun City Center for the property tax line item and the winter. Snow removal, ice dams, and heating bills disappear, and the community feel is comparable to the small New England town scale you left. HCA Florida South Bay is inside the community, Tampa International is 45 minutes north.

Call Rex

Ready to plan the move? Call Rex, your 24/7 concierge, (813) 576.3131. Rex hands warm calls to Dewey for real estate and Travis for financing during business hours, and takes messages the rest of the time.