What is Homestead Exemption? If you own your home, reside there permanently and are a Florida resident as of January 1, you may qualify for homestead exemption.The most common real property exemption is the homestead exemption. The homestead exemption and Save Our Homes assessment limitation help thousands of Florida homeowners save money on their property taxes every year. Homeowners applying for the homestead exemption must own and occupy their Volusia County home as their permanent residence prior to January 1st. The Florida homestead exemption is a property tax break that's offered based on your home's assessed value and provides exemptions within a certain value limit. At its core, the Homestead Exemption lowers the taxable value of your primary residence, which, in turn, reduces your property tax bill.