Where Do Byron Donalds and David Jolly Stand on Real Estate in Florida?

By Sun National Title Company | Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Southwest Florida

Florida's 2026 governor's race is now set: Republican Congressman Byron Donalds will face former Republican Congressman and current Democrat David Jolly in the November 3 general election.

For Florida homeowners, buyers, sellers, real estate agents and investors, this election could have significant implications. Housing affordability, property taxes, homeowners insurance and the availability of new housing are among the biggest economic issues facing the state.

So where do the two candidates stand?

Byron Donalds: Lower Taxes, Lower Regulation and More Housing

Byron Donalds has made affordability a central theme of his campaign, particularly the cost of owning a home in Florida.

One of his biggest positions is property tax reform. Donalds supports Amendment 3, the proposal on the November ballot that would significantly reduce or phase out property taxes on qualifying homesteaded properties. He has said that, whether Amendment 3 passes or fails, his goal is to ultimately eliminate homestead property taxes. (Realtor)

For homeowners, the potential impact could be substantial. Lower property taxes would reduce the ongoing cost of owning a home and could make homeownership more attractive to retirees, families and first-time buyers.

But there is another side to the issue. Property taxes help fund local government services, including schools, fire protection and other public services. Economists have warned that major reductions could create funding challenges for local governments. (Realtor)

Donalds and Home Construction

Donalds also argues that Florida needs to make it easier and less expensive to build homes.

His approach emphasizes reducing regulations and legal requirements that he believes increase construction costs. His campaign has described the goal as cutting "red tape" so that younger workers, families and seniors can more easily afford a home. (Realtor)

For the real estate industry, this is an important distinction. Donalds' philosophy is largely supply-side: make it easier and cheaper to build, increase the supply of homes and allow market forces to help bring prices down.

Donalds and Property Insurance

Insurance is perhaps the biggest wild card in Florida real estate.

Donalds has proposed an Insurer Scorecard that would publicly track insurance companies on factors such as claim payment speed and claim denial rates. His argument is that greater transparency and competition could put downward pressure on premiums. (Florida Politics)

That is particularly important in Southwest Florida, where insurance costs can dramatically affect the monthly cost of owning a home.

David Jolly: Insurance Reform, First-Time Buyers and Workforce Housing

David Jolly approaches the housing problem from a different direction.

Jolly has made housing affordability and property insurance reform two of the central components of his campaign.

His most ambitious insurance proposal would create a state catastrophic fund and move hurricane and other major disaster risks away from the private insurance market. Jolly argues that this could substantially reduce homeowners insurance costs. His campaign says the proposal could reduce insurance rates dramatically. (David Jolly)

For Florida homeowners, the potential benefit is obvious: if insurance becomes significantly less expensive, the overall cost of homeownership could fall even without a major change in home prices.

Jolly and First-Time Homebuyers

Jolly has also proposed property-tax relief for first-time buyers.

He argues that Florida's current property tax structure can make it difficult for new buyers to compete with existing homeowners who benefit from programs such as Save Our Homes. His proposals have included additional property-tax relief for first-time purchasers. (David Jolly)

That could be particularly significant for younger Floridians attempting to purchase their first home.

Workforce and Affordable Housing

Jolly also favors greater investment in workforce and affordable housing and expanding programs designed to increase the state's housing supply. (Realtor)

His philosophy is therefore somewhat different from Donalds'. Rather than primarily focusing on reducing regulation, Jolly places more emphasis on government investment and programs designed to increase housing availability and affordability.

Donalds vs. Jolly: A Real Estate Comparison

Issue	Byron Donalds	David Jolly
Property Taxes	Supports major reductions and ultimately eliminating homestead property taxes	Supports property-tax relief, particularly for first-time buyers
Home Construction	Reduce regulations and "red tape" to lower construction costs	Increase investment in workforce and affordable housing
Home Insurance	Increase transparency and competition through an insurer scorecard	Create a state catastrophic fund to take major disaster risks out of private insurance
First-Time Buyers	Lower taxes and construction costs	Targeted property-tax relief
Housing Supply	Deregulation and easier construction	Government investment and expanded housing programs
Overall Approach	Reduce taxes and regulation	Government intervention and targeted investment

The two candidates agree on something important: Florida's housing costs are too high and something needs to change.

Where they disagree is how to get there.

What Could This Mean for Southwest Florida Real Estate?

For buyers and sellers in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lee County and Southwest Florida, these policies deserve attention.

The cost of purchasing a home is about much more than the sales price. Buyers have to consider:

• Mortgage payments

• Property taxes

• Homeowners insurance

• Flood insurance

• HOA or condominium fees

• Maintenance costs

• Utilities

That means changes to property taxes or insurance could have an effect on the real estate market even if home prices themselves remain relatively stable.

For example, eliminating or significantly reducing homestead property taxes could increase the amount buyers are willing to pay for a home because their annual ownership costs would be lower.

Likewise, a significant reduction in homeowners insurance could make Florida property more attractive to buyers who have been discouraged by insurance premiums.

On the other hand, policymakers will have to address how local governments replace lost property-tax revenue and how a state-backed insurance system would be funded.

What Should Florida Homebuyers and Sellers Do?

The 2026 election could change the financial landscape for Florida real estate, but buyers and sellers shouldn't make major decisions based solely on campaign promises.

Real estate transactions involve significant financial and legal considerations regardless of who occupies the Governor's Mansion.

For buyers, it is important to understand your total cost of ownership, not simply the purchase price.

For sellers, understanding how changes in taxes and insurance could affect buyer demand will become increasingly important.

And for real estate professionals, staying informed about these issues can help you better explain the changing Florida market to your clients.

The Bottom Line

Byron Donalds and David Jolly have very different philosophies about government, but both recognize that Florida's housing affordability problem is real.

Donalds emphasizes lower taxes, less regulation and increased competition in insurance.

Jolly emphasizes insurance reform, first-time buyer assistance and greater investment in workforce and affordable housing.

For Florida homeowners and the real estate industry, the November election could have consequences that extend far beyond politics.

At Sun National Title Company, we will continue watching these developments because changes in property taxes, insurance and housing policy ultimately affect the people buying, selling and financing Florida real estate.

Whether you're buying or selling in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lee County or throughout Southwest Florida, Sun National Title Company is here to help you close with confidence.

Sun National Title CompanyFort Myers, Cape Coral & Southwest Florida

239-334-3321

dennis@closewithsun.com

www.closewithsun.com

This article is intended for informational purposes and is not an endorsement of either candidate. Political positions and proposals may change during the campaign.