The View From the Seventh Floor, and the Numbers Behind It
Ben BrykJuly 9, 2026
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Vero Premier Properties · Luxury Market Report
July 9, 2026
Oceanfront · Village Spires · Vero Beach, Florida
The View From the Seventh Floor, and the Numbers Behind It
A corner residence in Vero Beach's only high-rise, examined for buyers currently paying income tax in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Illinois.
$925,000·2 BED / 2 BATH·1,112 SF·7TH FLOOR CORNER·VILLAGE SPIRES SOUTH TOWER
A corner residence on the seventh floor of Vero Beach's only high-rise is, on its face, a real estate listing. Examined more closely by a buyer currently filing a New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Illinois income tax return, it functions closer to a financial instrument — one priced at $925,000, requiring no state income tax return of its own, and reachable from four of those five states by nonstop air service.
The Residence
Village Spires rises thirteen stories above Ocean Drive, the only structure of its height on Vero Beach's barrier island. Unit 702S occupies the seventh floor of the South Tower, a corner position that opens the interior to the Atlantic on one exposure and the Indian River's bridges on the other.
The 1,112-square-foot residence was recently updated: a kitchen finished in butcher block counters, marble-look tile, new hardware, and stainless steel appliances; engineered hardwood through the living room and kitchen; impact glass throughout, admitting light without admitting weather. Two bedrooms, two baths, and a private, gated entrance one elevator ride from an oceanfront pool, a fitness center, and private beach access.
Ocean Drive's boutiques and restaurants sit at street level. Riverside Park, Riverside Theatre, and the Vero Beach Museum of Art are a short walk north.
The oceanfront pool and private beach access at Village Spires · South Tower at right
The Florida Financial Trifecta
Florida is one of nine states that levy no tax on wage income, a fact that does most of the work in what has become, across this firm's listings, a shorthand: the Financial Trifecta — no state income tax, no state estate tax, and property taxes that run near one percent of assessed value.
Market
Top Marginal State Income Tax, 2026
Florida
0%
New York
10.9% (+3.876% NYC)
New Jersey
10.75%
Massachusetts
9.0% (income over $1M)
Connecticut
6.99%
Illinois
4.95% (flat)
Property taxes tell a parallel story. Connecticut's effective rate runs near 1.5 to 2 percent; New Jersey's is among the highest in the nation, near 2.3 percent; Illinois runs near 2.1 percent. Florida's statewide effective rate sits closer to 1 percent, before any homestead exemption is applied.
None of the rates in the table above apply to a Florida homeowner. That is the entire argument, reduced to one sentence.
A Pending Expansion, Not Yet Law
Florida's property tax advantage may widen further — though not yet by law. In June 2026, the Florida Legislature passed House Joint Resolution 1-F, known on the ballot as Amendment 3, which would raise the homestead exemption from its current $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, eliminating non-school property taxes for a majority of homesteaded owners. The measure requires 60 percent voter approval on November 3, 2026, and touches only the non-school portion of a tax bill. Nothing changes unless and until voters approve it.
One detail is worth noting regardless of the outcome in November: the amendment's schedule treats residency established on or before December 31, 2026, differently from residency established after that date, with a five-year phase-in for those who arrive later. A buyer weighing the timing of a Florida purchase may want that date, and not the election, on the calendar.
Getting Here: Direct From the Northeast
Vero Beach Regional Airport, a short drive from Village Spires, is now served by three commercial carriers — a level of connectivity the airport has not carried before.
New YorkJetBlue · nonstop daily · JFK
BostonJetBlue · nonstop daily · Logan
ConnecticutBreeze Airways · nonstop · Hartford
New JerseyBreeze Airways · nonstop, from Sept/Oct 2026 · Trenton & Atlantic City
ChicagoAmerican Airlines · nonstop daily to Charlotte hub, one connection onward
For a buyer in Greenwich, Scarsdale, Short Hills, or Wellesley, the flight to a second home on Vero Beach's barrier island is now measured in one leg, not two.
The Vero Premier Properties App
Buyers working with this firm also have access to the Vero Premier Properties app, an Apple Editors’ Choice selection rated 4.9 stars and — by the firm’s own market survey — the only dedicated luxury real estate app operating within roughly 100 miles of Vero Beach. The firm reports that listings marketed through the app have closed roughly 40 percent faster than the surrounding market average, a gap attributed to buyers reaching new listings, price changes, and open house dates before they surface on competing platforms.
For an out-of-state buyer, the practical value is timing: a corner unit at Village Spires that reaches the app on a Monday can be under a private virtual tour by Tuesday, well before a Northeast buyer would otherwise see it on a national portal.
Why Village Spires, Why Now
Corner residences at Village Spires do not turn over often. This one, offered at $925,000, is open for tours this Saturday, July 11, from noon to 2 p.m., and Sunday, July 12, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Out-of-state buyers are welcome to schedule a private showing outside those hours.
Ben Bryk and Vance Brinkerhoff · Apple News, Top 10 Most Trusted Agent in Florida, 2025
OPEN HOUSE · SAT JUL 11, 12–2 PM · SUN JUL 12, 12:30–3 PM
The Firm
Vero Premier Properties, The Signature Division of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, is RealTrends Verified in the top 1.5 percent of firms nationally, was named to Apple News’ Top 10 Most Trusted Realtors in Florida for 2025, and holds the exclusive Cleveland Clinic Preferred Physician Realtor designation in Indian River County. The firm has closed more than $1.2 billion in career sales across over 2,000 transactions and is a member of the International Luxury Alliance, spanning 60 global markets.
Questions Northeast Buyers Ask
Does Florida have a state income tax?
No. Florida is one of nine U.S. states that levy no tax on wage income, and it also levies no separate state estate tax.
What are property taxes like in Vero Beach, Florida?
Florida's statewide effective property tax rate runs near one percent of assessed value, and a homestead exemption further reduces the bill for full-time residents. A proposed November 2026 ballot measure, Amendment 3, would expand that exemption if approved by 60 percent of voters, though it is not yet law.
Is Village Spires the only high-rise in Vero Beach?
Yes. Rising 13 stories above Ocean Drive, Village Spires is the tallest residential building on Vero Beach's barrier island.
How do I fly from New York or Boston to Vero Beach?
JetBlue operates daily nonstop service from New York's JFK and from Boston's Logan Airport directly to Vero Beach Regional Airport.
How do I fly from Connecticut or New Jersey to Vero Beach?
Breeze Airways flies nonstop from Hartford, Connecticut, to Vero Beach. Beginning in fall 2026, Breeze also adds nonstop service from Trenton and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
How do I fly from Chicago to Vero Beach?
American Airlines flies daily, nonstop, between Vero Beach and its Charlotte hub, connecting to Chicago and other Northeast cities with a single stop.
What is Florida's Amendment 3, and is it law yet?
Amendment 3 is a proposed constitutional amendment, passed by the Florida Legislature in June 2026, that would raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It is not yet law. It requires 60 percent voter approval on November 3, 2026.
About the Author - Ben Bryk
Lead Real Estate Agent
Buying a home is a very emotional experience, especially for those who have not done it very often. My experience in sales can help guide buyers with an analytical approach.
Get assistance in determining current property value, crafting a competitive offer, writing and negotiating a contract, and much more. Contact us today.
