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Frequently asked questions

Taxes, flood & climate, zoning, health, neighborhood data — and where it all comes from.

Taxes & cost of ownership
Why is the “estimated annual taxes after reset” higher than the seller’s current bill?

Florida’s Save Our Homes cap limits how fast a homesteaded owner’s assessed value can rise each year. When a home sells, that cap is lifted and the property is reassessed toward its current market value — so a new owner’s first tax bill is often well above what the seller paid. The calculator estimates that reset figure from your offer price.

What does “ad valorem” mean?

It’s Latin for “according to value” — the part of property tax calculated from the home’s assessed value. It’s the largest piece of most Florida tax bills.

Is the tax estimate exact?

No. It applies the current effective tax rate to your offer price as an estimate. The county’s actual reassessment, any exemptions, and future rate changes can move the real number. HomeIQ is informational only and not tax advice — confirm with the county property appraiser and your tax advisor.

What’s the difference between assessed value and market value?

Market value is roughly what a home would sell for today. Assessed value is the county’s figure used to calculate taxes, which for a long-time homesteaded owner can sit far below market because of the Save Our Homes cap. That gap is exactly why a new owner’s tax bill can jump after closing.

Flood & climate
My flood zone is “X” — is that good?

Zone X is the lowest-risk FEMA category, outside the mapped high-risk floodplain, so a lender usually won’t require flood insurance. Higher-risk zones start with A or V. Flood maps are revised over time, so a low-risk rating today isn’t a permanent guarantee.

What does “sea-level rise: at risk by 2060” mean — will the home flood?

It’s a long-range projection, based on NOAA scenarios, that this location could face chronic coastal flooding within that horizon. It’s a planning signal about the area, not a prediction that this specific home will flood. It’s most useful read alongside elevation and the current flood zone.

Should I worry about sinkhole risk?

The reading screens for sinkholes reported near the property. “Low” with none reported within five miles means few documented events nearby. It’s a high-level screen, not a geological inspection — a professional survey is how you’d confirm for a specific lot.

What is AQI, and what’s a good number?

AQI is the EPA’s Air Quality Index. 0–50 is Good, 51–100 Moderate, and above 100 can affect sensitive groups. The report shows both the current reading and a 30-day average, so you see typical conditions rather than just today.

Zoning & permits
What does “R-2” zoning mean? Can I rent it out or add on?

R-2 is a residential zoning category that usually allows single-family and sometimes two-family homes at low-to-medium density. Whether you can rent, add on, or build depends on the exact local code and any HOA rules — always confirm with the city or county zoning office before relying on it.

Why does it say “permit data not available”?

The county’s automated permit feed didn’t return records for this property. That doesn’t mean no permits exist — only that they aren’t available through the live source. The link opens the county’s official records so you can search by hand.

What’s the difference between zoning and future land use?

Zoning is the rule for what’s allowed today. Future land use is the area’s long-range plan, which can differ. A gap between the two can hint at how the neighborhood is expected to change.

Health & environment data
The community health numbers look high — is this home unhealthy?

No. These are CDC estimates for adults across the surrounding area, shown against the national average. They describe the broader community as background — not this specific home, and not the people who would live in it.

Why does the report show things like the uninsured rate or depression?

They’re part of the CDC’s community health dataset and give a feel for the area. Green means the local rate is better than the national average, red means worse. They’re context, not a verdict on the property.

What’s a TRI facility? What’s a Superfund site?

A TRI (Toxics Release Inventory) facility is an industrial site that reports releasing certain chemicals to the EPA. A Superfund site is a contaminated location the EPA has flagged for cleanup. The report counts how many fall within a set radius — zero in both is the result most people want to see.

Neighborhood & lifestyle
What’s a good walkability score?

Walk Score runs 0–100: 90+ is a walker’s paradise, 70–89 very walkable, 50–69 somewhat walkable, and under 50 leans car-dependent. It reflects how many daily errands you could run on foot.

What do “L2” and “DC fast” mean for EV charging?

Level 2 (L2) chargers are slower — several hours or overnight, the kind found at homes and parking lots. DC fast chargers add range in minutes. The report counts both within one and five miles.

How is solar potential estimated?

From aerial imagery of the roof — its size, shape, angle, and shading — via Google’s Solar API. It estimates how many panels could fit, yearly sunlight, and the carbon pollution avoided. It’s a desktop estimate, so an installer’s on-site quote will be more precise.

What does a high owner-occupied percentage tell me?

It’s the share of homes lived in by their owners rather than rented out. A higher share often points to a more stable neighborhood with longer-term residents and less turnover; a lower share means more renters or investor-owned homes. Neither is inherently better — it depends on what you’re looking for in an area.

What is a census tract?

A small Census-defined area of a few thousand people, roughly neighborhood-sized. The neighborhood figures describe this tract, not the individual property.

The neighborhood’s home values are up double digits year over year — is that good?

Rising home values, income, and population can signal an area on the way up, which many buyers see as a plus for resale. Fast value growth can also mean affordability is tightening. It’s a trend to weigh, not a guarantee of future returns.

Data sources & trust
Where does this data come from?

Public federal, state, and county sources — FEMA flood maps, NOAA sea-level projections, the EPA (air quality, TRI, Superfund), the CDC (community health), the U.S. Census (neighborhood profile), NREL (EV charging), Google (elevation, air quality, solar), and county property and tax records. Each section lists its sources.

How current is the information?

It varies by source. Air quality is near real-time; flood maps, Census figures, and county tax rolls update on their own cycles and can lag the live market. Items marked “updated just now” were pulled fresh for this report.

Is this real estate, legal, financial, or insurance advice?

No. HomeIQ is informational only and does not constitute real estate, legal, financial, tax, or insurance advice. Use it to ask sharper questions and verify specifics with the right professional.