Study: Pensacola Among the More Stressful Housing Markets in the U.S.

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- A new national report says Pensacola’s housing market is one of the more stressful places to buy or sell a home. The study ranked 355 metro areas, and Pensacola came in at 46th most stressful.

The analysis shows that homes in the Pensacola metro typically sit on the market for about 40 days before going under contract. And once they do sell, more than 60% close below the original asking price — often by tens of thousands of dollars.

Researchers say factors like longer wait times, price reductions, and overall market pressure — especially in coastal communities — are pushing Florida higher on the stress index.

Statewide, Florida stands out more than any other area. Seven of the ten most stressful markets in the country are in Florida, including Key West, Naples, Punta Gorda, Cape Coral, North Port, and The Villages.Key West tops the national list, with homes taking 84 days to go under contract and nearly 90% selling below list price.

The study was conducted by Mood, a federally legal cannabis retailer, which analyzed Zillow data across a 12-month period.

Pickup Truck Crashes Into ECSO Patrol Vehicles on Highway 4

Escambia County, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- A pickup truck crashed into three Escambia County Sheriff's Office vehicles Thursday night in Bratt. The single-vehicle accident happened just before 9 pm on West Highway 4, near the First Baptist Church of Bratt. An eastbound driver left the roadway and struck all three marked patrol cars parked on the shoulder. The impact caused significant damage, knocking off a side mirror and passenger door handle from one cruiser, and a front tire from another. Authorities say the patrol cars had their headlights on, but no emergency lights activated as deputies were leaving a residence. The three deputies, an inmate in custody, and the pickup truck driver were all unharmed. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Florida PSC Approves Four-Year FPL Rate Plan; Panhandle Sees Small Drop in 2026

The Florida Public Service Commission voted Nov. 20 to approve a four-year rate settlement for Florida Power & Light that was negotiated in August between the utility and a group of stakeholders.

The decision follows months of public debate and about an hour of discussion at a Special Agenda meeting before commissioners took the vote.

What customers in Northwest Florida will see

• For a household using 1,000 kilowatt-hours, the average monthly bill in Northwest Florida (the Panhandle) is expected to drop about $2 next year — from an estimated $143.60 to $141.36 in 2026.

• After 2026, rates in both regions will rise each year, converging at the same average monthly bill of $148.15 in 2029.

• Over the full four-year term, Panhandle customers will experience a net monthly increase of $6.79.

What customers on the peninsula will see

• Peninsula customers will see their average monthly bill rise by about $2.50 in 2026, to roughly $136.64.

• By 2029, residential customers across the state will be paying about $148.15 per month on average — an overall increase of about $14.01 per month for the rest of Florida over the four years.

Revenue and bill impacts

The settlement trims roughly $2.9 billion from FPL’s original four-year revenue request filed in February. Under the approved plan, FPL will collect about $945 million in additional revenue in 2026 and $766 million in 2027. The company will also collect additional amounts in 2028 and 2029 tied to solar and battery projects.

FPL’s February filing had sought much larger increases — including roughly $1.545 billion in 2026 and $927 million each year thereafter — and projected about $10 billion in total revenue over the four-year period once solar and storage charges were included.

Protections, tariffs and controversy

Commissioner Gary Clark described the settlement as “a balanced resolution for all parties” that includes customer protections and allows continued investment. “This is definitely in the public interest,” he said before the vote.

The agreement also creates large-load tariffs aimed at keeping heavy electricity users — such as data centers — on long-term contracts, with penalties for early exit. FPL says those tariffs will prevent ratepayers from shouldering costs tied to attracting large new customers.

FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel said the approved plan will help the company continue to provide reliable service while keeping bills below the national average.

But the settlement drew sharp criticism from consumer advocates. The Office of Public Counsel, which represents FPL’s six million customers, opposed the deal, as did groups including Florida Rising and Floridians Against Unfair Rates. Brooke Ward of Food & Water Watch called the vote “shameful,” saying regulators cannot be trusted to protect families from unaffordable energy and urging the Legislature to act.

Who negotiated the deal

The settlement was reached after negotiations between FPL and a coalition that included the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, Florida Retail Federation, Florida Energy for Innovation Association, Walmart, EVgo Services, Americans for Affordable Clean Energy, Circle K, RaceTrac, Wawa, Electrify America, Federal Executive Agencies, Armstrong World Industries and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

What’s next

Opponents have signaled continued pushback, and some advocate groups are exploring appeals. The PSC says the settlement provides a path for continued utility investment while aiming to balance costs for customers across Florida.