Buying a home in Tampa Bay comes with a paperwork checklist that doesn't end at closing. One item near the top of that list, and easy to overlook in the rush of moving boxes, is the Florida homestead exemption. It's not automatic. You have to apply for it, and the deadline arrives faster than most new owners expect. Highlights: The exemption can reduce a home's taxable value by up to $50,000 for owners who occupy the home as their primary residence. File by March 1 of the year following purchase. Miss it, and you wait until the next tax year. The Save Our Homes (SOH) cap limits how much...