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The hidden cost of homeownership in Florida

Florida homeowners spend an average of $24,713 a year on upkeep and other "hidden expenses," per a Bankrate study.

Why it matters: Overlooked costs, beyond mortgage payments, can surprise unprepared homeowners.

By the numbers: The average annual cost of owning a single-family home across the U.S. is $21,400 this year.

• That sum includes property taxes, insurance, utilities/energy, internet/cable and maintenance.

Zoom in: East and West Coast states — where home values and property taxes run high — usually see the highest "hidden" homeownership costs, per the analysis.

• Costs are generally lower in Southern and Midwestern states.

The big picture: Inflation and "the nation's aging housing stock" have pushed annual maintenance costs to roughly $8,800, the steepest expense Bankrate tracked.

• Meanwhile, more frequent natural disasters, plus mounting costs to rebuild homes after, have hiked insurance costs.
• Electric and gas bills are also on the rise: The U.S. Energy Administration said they've increased by almost 30% since 2021.

The bottom line: "Buying is just the beginning," researchers wrote in the report. "The squeeze on wallets intensifies after one becomes a homeowner."

Candidates emerge for Polk's 2026 elections in races from School Board to U.S. House

Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, is seeking a sixth term in District 9, which covers a small section of eastern Polk County, along with all of Osceola County and part of Orange County. Soto has reported $158,000 in campaign receipts.

Three challengers have filed to run against Soto. Two are Republicans — Marcus Carter of Kissimmee and Justin Story of St. Cloud. Story has reported $4,176 in contributions, and Carter has reported none.

Stuart Farber of Orlando has also entered the race as a non-party candidate. He has not yet reported any campaign receipts.

Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, is pursuing a ninth term in District 11, which encompasses northern Polk County, all of Sumter County and parts of Lake and Orange counties. He has reported about $68,000 in campaign funds.

Webster faces two potential challengers in the Republican primary, Antonette Harmon of Orange Park and Michael Wilnau of Fort McCoy. Neither appears to live in the district — not a requirement for U.S. House candidates — and neither has reported any campaign contributions.

Peanut farm that sought 700 acres of Florida state forest withdraws plan

A peanut farming company that sought 700 acres of north Florida state forest land, home to wildlife like gopher tortoises and swallow-tailed kites, last week withdrew its request for a land swap after several conservation groups raised concerns.

The Tampa Bay Times first reported in March that Lee Peanut Farms LLC wanted to acquire a swath of Madison County land in the Twin Rivers State Forest – dubbed the Ellaville Tract – in exchange for roughly 550 acres of property along the Withlacoochee River.

A committee overseen by the state agency that owns the land, the Suwannee River Water Management District, voted March 11 to put the swap up for consideration and said the governing board would vote on it at a future meeting.

The move quickly spurred scrutiny from several Florida conservation groups, already on edge after a string of recent public lands controversies, who said the Ellaville Tract was crucial habitat for threatened species.

In a one-sentence email sent July 8, Lee Peanut’s manager Brooks Garland told the district he was backing out.

Miami-Dade gets back on track to build waste incinerator. But where?

Two years after Miami-Dade’s largest waste incinerator went up in flames itself, county commissioners agreed to put the county back on track to constructing a new one. The biggest and most controversial question, however, remains up in the air: Where to put it?

Facing a looming landfill shortage already forcing the county into the expensive step of trucking some waste upstate, Miami-Dade commissioners on Wednesday agreed to build a new incinerator, one with a cleaner, more modern design that would also convert waste to energy.

“We have to stop playing games and politics and this is the most important situation this county is facing today,” Chairman Anthony Rodriguez said. “Where is the garbage going to go?”

But a series of votes also seemed to have taken most of the previous proposed sites off the table. Each one previously sparked criticism or threatened lawsuits from surrounding communities and rebuilding on the old incinerator site in Doral drew backlash from President Donald Trump’s son because of potential impact on the family golf resort. That criticism, as well as objections from environmentalists, had largely put the incinerator discussion on hold for nearly two years until Wednesday’s series of votes.