No Taxes and a 2.5% Rate—Is That Possible? Is Florida Back on Top?

By Jorge Vazquez, CEO of Graystone Investment Group

Over the Weekend, I Saw Something That Stopped Me Cold

I was just sipping coffee, catching up on the news, when two stories hit me like a freight train. One talked about Donald Trump turning up the heat on the Fed. Not behind the scenes—publicly. He even showed up at Fed headquarters and made it clear: if Powell doesn’t cut rates, he’s out by March. Trump’s not subtle, and when it comes to the economy—especially real estate—he plays to win. His message? Lower the rates—or move over and let someone else do it.

Then came the second story that really made my investor radar go off. Governor DeSantis, right here in Florida, has been out there for the past month saying he wants to get rid of property taxes completely. And to help push that vision forward, he just made a major move: he appointed Republican State Senator Blaise Ingoglia as Florida’s new Chief Financial Officer—someone who has already voiced support for eliminating property taxes entirely.

Individually, those two stories are big.

Together? That’s a real estate investor’s dream scenario.

This Is a Policy-Driven Buying Window—Not a Crash

I’ve been in real estate for over 20 years. I lived through the crash of 2007, and it cost me 22 properties. That kind of loss either scares you out of the game or teaches you to play smarter. I chose the second path. Since then, I’ve done over 3,500 deals and built a portfolio of 40+ properties. And I’m telling you—what we’re seeing right now is not a crash. It’s a setup.

What makes this moment different is that it’s being driven by policy—not panic. If Trump follows through on getting rates down, and DeSantis follows through on eliminating property taxes, the cost of owning real estate in Florida will plummet. Same house, same rent, way better numbers. And all of that will drive demand—and prices—right back up.

This isn’t a wait-and-see moment. This is a get-in-while-you-still-can moment.

Why Trump and DeSantis Are (Unintentionally) Tag-Teaming a Real Estate Boom

Let’s start with Trump. Love him or hate him, the man knows real estate. He understands what low interest rates do for markets. It’s not just about helping homebuyers. Lower rates also reduce how much the federal government pays in interest on the national debt. Trump even said in one interview, “If Powell doesn’t lower the rates, I’ll replace him in March and bring them all the way down.”

He’s serious. He knows what cheap money can do.

Now add in Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis. For the past month, he’s been rolling out a campaign to eliminate property taxes—yes, eliminate them completely. And he’s backing that up with action. By appointing Blaise Ingoglia as Florida’s CFO—a longtime ally and supporter of bold tax reform—DeSantis made it clear he’s serious about this agenda. The goal? Change the funding model for the state, keep more money in homeowners’ pockets, and attract even more investment into Florida.

If either of these policies happens, it’s a win for Florida. If both happen? It’s a complete rewrite of the investing rulebook.

What I’m Seeing on the Ground in Q3 2025

Let me give it to you straight:

• Inventory is still up, which means you’ve got options.

• Sellers are negotiating again. They’re tired of sitting.

• Most buyers are frozen—scared of the current interest rates.

• Insurance is a little wild but manageable if you know what you’re doing.

And through all of this, the loudest thing I’m hearing is silence. Everyone’s waiting. Waiting for rates to drop. Waiting for taxes to disappear. Waiting for confirmation.

But here’s the thing: by the time confirmation comes, you’re too late.

Why This Is the Best Time to Launch Your First Strategy

This market is tailor-made for the first move in what I call the Domino Wealth Method—my own personal wealth-building strategy through real estate.

Right now, the smart play is to pick up properties while interest rates are still high and buyers are hesitant. That’s when sellers negotiate. That’s when deals are hiding in plain sight. You buy when everyone else is afraid.

Then, once rates drop—and I believe they will—you refinance. Pull cash out. Lock in lower monthly payments. And boom—you’ve got a BRRRR deal where the last “R” (refinance) sets you up to hold the property with zero money left in the deal. That’s how I bought 20+ properties with very little cash after 2008, and I’m planning to do it again now.

You don’t wait for things to feel perfect. You move before they do.

How the Math Works (Without the Math)

I don’t need to throw out numbers to make the point.

Here’s what happens when you lower interest rates and remove property taxes: the monthly cost to own property drops. Dramatically. That same rental that barely cash flowed? Now it’s spitting off real money every month. That flip project that felt tight on margin? Now you’ve got room to breathe.

People will say, “But the house is still priced the same.” Sure—but your cost to hold it just changed. And that’s what creates long-term wealth.

What I’m Doing Right Now (And What You Should Be Doing Too)

Here’s my current playbook:

• I’m actively buying rentals that work right now.

• I’m not banking on rate cuts or tax changes—I’m treating them like rocket fuel on a solid deal.

• I’m building relationships with lenders, private money guys, and anyone who wants to partner.

• I’m focusing on B-class areas with room to grow.

• And I’m making sure my deals are built with Tonka Thinking: smart, durable, and built to last.

If I’m wrong and the policies don’t pass? I still win.

If I’m right? I win even bigger.

That’s called asymmetric risk. And that’s how you play this game like a pro.

Let’s Talk About What Happens If You Wait

If you sit on the sidelines waiting for rates to drop, you’ll be standing in line with every other buyer in Florida. Inventory will shrink, bidding wars will return, and sellers won’t be giving away discounts.

If you wait until property taxes are gone, Florida will look like a shiny object to every investor in the country. Good luck finding a deal then.

But right now? You’ve still got an edge. The public hasn’t caught on yet. The changes are still “proposed,” not finalized. This is your chance to move before the rest of the herd wakes up.

The Wealth Isn’t in the Headlines—It’s in the Timing

What’s happening right now reminds me a lot of 2010. Back then, I started buying aggressively while everyone else was panicking. I didn’t wait for a press release to tell me it was time to invest. I made my move, and it changed everything.

This feels like that moment again—except this time, the fear isn’t a crash. It’s confusion.

People are frozen. They’re overwhelmed by insurance costs, tax talk, Fed noise, political tension. And in the middle of all that noise… are the best deals we’ll probably see for the next five years.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t just theory for me. I’ve been in the game through the good, the bad, and the “what the heck just happened” years. I’ve won big, lost big, and built a system that lets me thrive in both.

And right now? All signs are pointing to a once-in-a-decade opportunity in Florida real estate.

Trump wants to lower rates. DeSantis wants to eliminate property taxes. The market is in a holding pattern. And we’re sitting in the calm before what could be a massive wave.

You can wait for the world to confirm your decisions—or you can get in while the opportunity is still quiet.

Wealth doesn’t show up in a tuxedo with a PowerPoint presentation. It shows up wearing flip-flops and yelling, “Hey! Are you paying attention or what?”

Right now, the window’s open. Whether or not you walk through it is up to you.

Keep it consistent, stay patient, stay true—if I did it, so can you.

This is Jorge Vazquez, CEO of Graystone Investment Group and all our amazing companies, and Coach at Property Profit Academy.

Thanks for tuning in—until the next article, take care and keep building!

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