For many Florida homebuyers, the mortgage is only one piece of the monthly housing bill. A new Realtor.com analysis found that Florida is home to seven of the 10 U.S. metro areas where homeowners association dues make up the largest share of a typical mortgage payment.
Here's what to know
As WKMG Click Orlando reported, Miami posted the highest HOA burden in the country. The metro's median fee was $617 a month, which equals 26.9% of the projected monthly mortgage cost for a median-priced home in an HOA.
Panama City ranked second, with a median monthly HOA fee of $532, or 22.7% of the mortgage payment. Naples ranked third, with a median fee of $711 per month, representing 20.3% of the payment. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Port St. Lucie, North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, and Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor were the other Florida metros in the top 10.
WKMG also reported that 43.6% of homes listed for sale in 2025 had an HOA fee, compared with 41.9% in 2024 and 34.3% in 2019. Nationally, the median monthly HOA fee was $135.
More background
To create the rankings, the report looked at the 300 largest metro areas in the country and focused on places where HOA-fee listings appeared more often than the national average. Realtor.com estimated mortgage costs with a 30-year loan at 6% and 10% down, then compared HOA dues with monthly principal-and-interest payments.
WKMG reported that Florida's showing reflects the state's large number of condo buildings and new-construction communities, both of which commonly come with HOA fees. It also said higher insurance costs and post-Surfside inspection and reserve requirements are driving up association expenses.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
What can be done?
Association budgets, reserve funding information, insurance details, and any history of fee increases or special assessments can all affect the total cost before buyers commit.
Comparing multiple neighborhoods — including homes without HOAs — can make a meaningful difference. In markets where dues account for a sizable share of the monthly payment, asking detailed questions early may help households avoid a later budget surprise.
Where can I learn more?
Florida's steep HOA dues fit into a pattern of fees, restrictions, and disputes that can drive up homeownership costs. Here are a few examples, from homeowners dealing with steep maintenance bills, lawsuits, and rising insurance costs.
• Years of steep maintenance fees turned one homeowner's lawn into a constant financial drain.
• In Florida, a 55-plus community sued to force her from her late father's home.
• Across the country, a nearly unfathomable increase in insurance costs is hitting homebuyers.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
