Something to be on the look out for...especially here in Florida, is whether you are a 'resident' or 'non-resident'. As a Florida resident (like those of us who live here year around, or like others who live here 6 months and 1 day and have declared Florida your legal residence...have FL driver's license) your property taxes will be lower than someone who is a non-resident. As a 'legal' resident, we file for the Homestead exemption (taking $25K off our appraised value of our house every year) and our Save Our Homes legislation, which limits our taxes to not go up more than 3% in a year.
Our next door neighbor is from Austria. She comes over every year for exactly 6 months a year (all she can legally stay here). Her taxes went from $6K per year to over $9K per year. There is no limit for her, and, as she said, if this keeps up, she will have to sell her house. This would apply to anyone who owns a house in Florida who has not become a Florida resident...and who does not rent their house out. If I'm wrong...hopefully someone will correct me, but that is how I understand it.