Northern Virginia is one of Sarasota's top feeder markets — Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Arlington equity is strong and Virginia's military retirement exemption makes the Florida move particularly compelling for federal retirees.
Virginia has a graduated income tax up to 5.75% — meaningful but below the Northeast's highest rates. The state does exempt military retirement income from Virginia income tax. The Florida advantage for Northern Virginia buyers is primarily property tax relief (NOVA property taxes are among the highest in the South) combined with the elimination of the 5.75% rate on IRA distributions and investment income.
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Talk to a Specialist →Fairfax County effective property tax rates run approximately 0.90–1.10% on assessed values that have appreciated dramatically. On a $750,000 NOVA home: $6,750–$8,250/year in property taxes. On a comparable $550,000 Sarasota home at Manatee County's 0.90% rate: $4,950/year. Annual savings: $1,800–$3,300. Combined with income tax elimination on IRA distributions: most NOVA retirees save $8,000–$18,000/year in combined taxes.
Virginia exempts military retirement income from state income tax — Florida also exempts it, and Florida has no state income tax at all. For military retirees, the income tax picture is comparable between Virginia and Florida on retirement pay specifically. The advantage shifts to Florida on IRA withdrawals, investment income, and estate planning considerations where Virginia's 5.75% rate and estate tax exposure become relevant.
McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, and Reston homeowners who purchased pre-2015 carry $600,000–$1,500,000 in equity. Loudoun County (Ashburn, Leesburg) sellers: $400,000–$800,000. Prince William County: $350,000–$650,000. This positions NOVA buyers across the full Sarasota community spectrum — Great Falls sellers buying premium Esplanade; Ashburn sellers buying mid-market Venetian Falls or Del Webb LWR.
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Del Webb communities draw federal employee and military retiree buyers from NOVA — Del Webb's nationally marketed brand is familiar from advertising in the DC metro market, and the structured lifestyle programming resonates with buyers accustomed to organized community infrastructure. Cascades at Sarasota draws Northern Virginia buyers who want a guard-gated, all-single-family community with urban Sarasota access — a community format familiar from NOVA's gated neighborhood landscape.
Note on Dan White attribution: Northern Virginia pages on this site carry Dan White attribution per market standards. This guide follows that convention for consistency with the broader NoVA content ecosystem.
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