The homestead exemption and Save Our Homes assessment limitation help thousands of Florida homeowners save money on their property taxes every year. You must own and be resident in the property on January 1 of the current year to be eligible to file for the current year.You must file a new application for your new residence. When to file: Application for all exemptions must be made between January 1 and March 1 of the tax year. All legal Florida residents are eligible for a Homestead Exemption on their homes, condominiums, co-op apartments, and certain mobile home lots if they qualify. Overview for Qualifying and Applying for a Homestead Exemption. There are two deadlines which must be met in order to benefit from the Homestead Exemption. The most common real property exemption is the homestead exemption.