canadafloridaThe reference manual

Everything a Canadian needs to know before buying, selling, living, or inheriting in Florida.

Buying, selling, renting, living, or inheriting in Florida from Canada — eleven topics, each with its own tax, legal, and practical rules. This manual covers them one by one, with verifiable public sources (IRS, Cornell LII, Government of Canada, Florida Statutes) and comparisons tailored to each Canadian province (QC, ON, BC, AB, NS, and others).

Browse the 11 chapters ↓

The manual · 11 chapters

The manual, chapter by chapter.

The manual is organized into eleven chapters: every published article lives in one and only one chapter. Click a card to open the chapter's table of contents, see what's already published, and what's coming next.

Chapter 01

Real estate acquisition

Reading an MLS sheet, picking a Florida-licensed Realtor®, the FAR/BAR contract, foreign-national mortgage, 4-point inspection, title insurance, closing costs, holding structure (LLC vs personal name).

76 guides

Chapter 02

Owning & operating

FL property tax, Homestead exemption, Save Our Homes, HOA fees, special assessments, SB-4D milestone inspection, homeowner and hurricane insurance, Citizens, NFIP flood, remote management.

33 guides

Chapter 03

Rental & sub-letting

Short-term rules by city, DBPR Vacation Rental license, FL residential lease, Tourist Development Tax, sales tax, ITIN to rent out, cross-border filing IRS and CRA, security deposit FL rules.

20 guides

Chapter 04

Sale

FIRPTA and the 15 % withholding, Form 8288-B, the $300,000 exception, US and Canadian capital gains, principal residence exemption, FL 10-step sale process, repatriating funds USD → CAD.

29 guides

Chapter 05

Succession & death

FL probate, ancillary probate, Lady Bird Deed, joint tenancy, revocable living trust, cross-border trust, US estate tax (the $60,000 non-resident threshold), proportional treaty exemption Canada-US.

17 guides

Chapter 06

Immigration & status

B-1 / B-2 for Canadians, I-94, Substantial Presence Test, Closer Connection (Form 8840), dual-status, treaty tie-breaker, E-2 and EB-5 visas, days-of-presence calculator over a 3-year window.

26 guides

Chapter 07

Health & insurance

RAMQ, OHIP, MSP: limited coverage outside Canada, snowbird travel insurance ≥ 90 days, pre-existing conditions, Manulife / Blue Cross / Allianz / Tugo / RBC comparison, ER vs Urgent Care.

27 guides

Chapter 08

Banking & cards

US account without residency (RBC Bank US, BMO Harris, TD US), ITIN Form W-7, Certifying Acceptance Agent, no-FX-fee cards, FATCA, T1135, FBAR, building US credit from zero.

24 guides

Chapter 09

Currency & payments

The real cost of converting at a bank, FX brokers (Knightsbridge, OFX, Wise), Norbert's gambit at Questrade and Wealthsimple, forward contract to lock a real estate purchase rate, monthly DCA.

12 guides

Chapter 10

Top Florida cities

Gulf Coast city files (Naples, Marco, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sarasota), Southeast Coast (Miami, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Boca, Delray), Treasure Coast, Tampa Bay, and Panhandle. Side-by-side comparator.

31 city files

Chapter 11

Living in Florida

Vehicle transport, FL Class E driver license, pets, permanent move CBP / CBSA, snowbird mobile plans, mail forwarding, SunPass, hurricane kit, 6 % sales tax, voting from abroad as a Canadian.

46 guides

How the manual is written

The method behind every guide.

Three non-negotiable principles frame editorial production. They exist because the audience makes 6- or 7-figure decisions on the basis of what they read here.

1. Primary sources only

Every figure cited comes from a verifiable official source: IRS.gov, Cornell Law (Code of Federal Regulations), Canada.ca, Florida Statutes, Florida DHSMV, CBP, EPA. Direct links sit at the bottom of each guide.

2. Three explicit markers

Every claim is labeled: Verified fact (sourced, dated), Typical range (practical estimate, never published as truth), Opinion (assumed editorial judgment, not professional advice).

3. Educational information, not professional advice

The manual is a reference document. It is no substitute for a cross-border tax attorney, a Canada–US CPA, a closing agent, or a Florida-licensed broker. Every guide redirects to licensed professionals.

Disclaimer

Educational purpose only. The content of CanadaFlorida.com is drawn from public sources and provides general information. It is not legal advice, tax advice, accounting advice, real estate advice, financial advice, or any individualized professional advice.

No professional relationship is created by reading this site. For any concrete decision, consult a cross-border tax attorney, a CPA / chartered accountant licensed for Canada–US matters, a closing agent, and a real estate broker licensed in the State of Florida.

Time validity. Figures, rates, thresholds, and timelines may change. The last review date is shown at the top of each guide.