Many of our clients start the conversation the same way: “We want to retire there, close to the grandkids,” or “We already have our pension, we want sunshine and peace and quiet.” Florida has plenty going for it: the weather, Spanish-speaking communities, direct flights to almost all of Latin America, and no state income tax. But retiring in another country is not the same as buying a vacation home. There are immigration, health care, and tax questions you need to settle before you sign anything. If you are comparing housing options, it is also worth understanding how 55+ communities in Florida work, since they are one of the favorite choices among retirees who move to the state.
Immigration comes first: buying a home does not get you a visa
The United States does not have a retiree or pensioner visa. That surprises a lot of people, because countries like Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico do. Owning a home in Florida, no matter how expensive, does not give you the right to live there.
These are the paths that do exist:
- B-2 tourist visa. Allows stays of up to six months per entry, if the immigration officer authorizes it. It works for a seasonal retirement, but not for living there year-round.
- Visa Waiver Program (ESTA). Only available to a few Latin American countries, such as Chile, and allows stays of 90 days per visit.
- Family petition. If you have a U.S. citizen child who is 21 or older, they can sponsor you for permanent residency. This is the most common route among Latin American retirees who settle in Florida.
- EB-5 investor visa. Requires investing at least $800,000 in projects located in targeted employment areas ($1,050,000 elsewhere) that create jobs. Buying your own home does not count as an EB-5 investment.
Before you start house hunting, work out with an immigration attorney which of these paths is yours. That decides how much time you will spend in Florida, and from there, what kind of property makes sense.
The areas Latin American retirees choose most
| Area | Why retirees choose it | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Kissimmee and St. Cloud | Large Hispanic community, more affordable than Orlando, churches and shops in Spanish | Tourist traffic near the theme parks |
| Lake Nona (Orlando) | Medical city with hospitals and research centers, minutes from Orlando International Airport | Prices above the Orlando average |
| Winter Garden and Clermont | Small-town feel, trails, 55+ communities, and fewer tourists | Fewer services in Spanish |
| Doral and Kendall (Miami) | Well-established Venezuelan, Colombian, and Cuban community, direct flights | Higher housing and insurance costs |
| Tampa and surrounding areas | Somewhat lower cost of living than Miami, strong hospital network | Hurricane exposure along the coast |
In practice, the decision usually comes down to three things: where your children or grandchildren live, which hospitals are nearby, and how much speaking Spanish matters in your daily life.
How much you need each month to live and keep up the house
A retired couple who owns their home outright, with no mortgage, in the Orlando area might put together a budget like this:
| Monthly expense | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Property tax ($360,000 home, no homestead) | $500 |
| Homeowners insurance | $230 |
| HOA fee | $150 |
| Electricity, water, internet, and cell phones | $380 |
| Groceries and eating out | $900 |
| Transportation (one car, insurance, and gas) | $550 |
| Private health insurance for two people over 65 | $1,200 |
| Home maintenance | $300 |
| Leisure, travel, and other | $500 |
| Total | $4,710 |
FHR estimate based on typical Orlando-area costs in 2026. Health insurance varies widely by age, coverage, and pre-existing conditions.
The line that varies the most, and the one that changes the most decisions, is health care.
Health care: the expense that shapes your retirement
Medicare, the U.S. public health program for people 65 and older, is not available to foreigners who come as tourists. To qualify you normally need to be a permanent resident who has lived in the country for five consecutive years, and even then, without a U.S. work history, you pay a high monthly premium for hospital coverage.
That is why foreign retirees usually rely on one of these options:
- International health insurance with U.S. coverage, purchased in their home country.
- Long-term travel medical insurance, which has lower coverage limits.
- Primary care in their home country, with Florida used only for emergencies.
An emergency hospital stay in the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Do not buy a home before you know how you will pay for health care.
Taxes for foreign retirees in Florida
Florida does not charge state income tax, and that includes pensions. But federal income tax can still reach you, and this is the point people overlook most.
Tax residency. If you spend enough days in the United States to meet the IRS substantial presence test (183 days, using a formula that weighs the last three years), you become a tax resident and owe tax on your worldwide income, including your pension. Tax treaties help avoid double taxation, but the United States has income tax treaties with only a few Latin American countries, among them Mexico, Venezuela, and Chile. Colombia, Peru, and Argentina do not have one in force.
Homestead. If you become a permanent resident and live in your home, you can apply for the homestead exemption, which reduces the assessed value by about $50,000 and caps the annual increase in assessed value at 3%. Keep an eye on Amendment 3, which goes to voters on November 3, 2026. If it passes, the exemption for non-school taxes would rise to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, but people who are not Florida residents on December 31, 2026, would receive the current exemption when they qualify and the larger benefit only starting in their fifth year.
Estate tax. A nonresident foreigner who dies owning U.S. real estate only gets a $60,000 exemption from federal estate tax. Above that, the rate can reach 40%. A trust or the right ownership structure can prevent that, but it has to be set up beforehand, not after.
How to structure the purchase
Being retired does not stop you from getting a loan. The federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from denying you a mortgage because of your age. What they will ask for, as with any foreign buyer, is a down payment of 25% to 40% and proof of income or assets.
For most Latin American retirees, the most sensible approach is:
- Buy in cash or with minimal financing, so you do not depend on a monthly payment in dollars when your income is in another currency.
- Choose a single-story home, with no stairs, close to medical services and grocery stores.
- Decide on ownership with inheritance in mind: in your own name with a will, in a revocable trust, or in another structure your attorney recommends.
- Keep the option to rent open, in case you end up spending more time back home in a few years.
Our team that handles property for sale in Florida works with retirees who buy from abroad, coordinating virtual showings, reviews of 55+ communities, and contact with immigration and estate planning attorneys.
Example: a couple from Bogotá retiring in St. Cloud
Carlos and Marta are 66 and 63. Their daughter lives in Orlando and is a U.S. citizen. They have $450,000 in savings and a combined pension equal to $3,200 a month.
- Immigration path: their daughter files the family petition. While it is pending, they travel on B-2 visas for stays of four to five months.
- Purchase: a single-story home in St. Cloud for $360,000, in cash. Estimated closing costs of $9,000.
- Remaining cushion: $81,000.
- Monthly spending: about $4,700 while they do not have homestead.
- Gap: $1,500 a month between their pension and their spending, which they cover from the cushion during the first few years.
Once they get permanent residency and apply for homestead, their property tax will go down. If Amendment 3 also passes, their savings would be larger starting in their fifth year of the exemption. Their budget works, but it is tight: if they had not sorted out health insurance or had bought with a mortgage, the numbers would not add up.
Frequently asked questions about retiring in Florida
Is there a retirement visa to live in Florida?
No. The United States does not offer a retirement visa. The usual routes are the B-2 tourist visa for temporary stays, a petition from a U.S. citizen child who is 21 or older, or the EB-5 investor visa, which requires investing at least $800,000 in a job-creating project.
Do I have to pay U.S. taxes on my Latin American pension?
Only if you become a tax resident, either through permanent residency or by spending enough days a year in the country. Florida does not tax pensions, but federal tax can apply, subject to any tax treaty with your country.
Can I get a mortgage in Florida if I am retired?
Yes. Federal law prohibits denying credit based on the applicant’s age. As a foreigner, you will be asked for a down payment of 25% to 40% and proof of enough income or assets, for example your pension and bank statements.
What part of Florida is best for Latin American retirees?
Kissimmee and St. Cloud offer a Hispanic community and affordable prices. Lake Nona stands out for its hospitals. Doral and Kendall are ideal if you want to live in a Latin environment in Miami, although at a higher cost.
Can I use Medicare if I retire in Florida?
Only if you are a permanent resident who has lived in the United States for at least five consecutive years, and without a U.S. work history you would pay a high premium. Most foreign retirees use international health insurance.
Retiring in Florida is possible and, with good planning, very rewarding. Book your Florida retirement consultation and review with our team the area, the property, and the structure that fit your pension and your family.
