06.14.2024

Today’s Forecast

92º | 42% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:30 a.m. | Sunset 8:25 p.m.

🏡 Comin’ down with a case of house fever

What do Lakelanders look for in a home?

A white home with brick columns and a driveway is shown under a blue sky surrounded by trees.

1215 King Ave. in the Dixieland neighborhood fits right in the sweet spot of our respondents’ property size preferences. | Photo courtesy of Keller Williams Smart — The Graham Advantage

If you’re anything like us, you occasionally — okay, maybe more than occasionally — find yourself scrolling sites like Zillow to see available homes. In fact, a recent survey showed that 83% of respondents have used Zillow to look for homes without any intention of buying.

We asked what qualities stand out to Lakelanders when they look for a home. Here are the most popular answers.

272018365_5374203459279878_7059693513024396246_n — When it came to desired neighborhoods, Lake Morton came out on top for our survey respondents — and with views like this, we can see why.
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Photo via @kellyarichard

Location, location, location

Nearly 66% of respondents shared that while some light driving isn’t a dealbreaker, they ultimately want to be close to shops + attractions. This home in the Lake Morton neighborhood, a favorite of our respondents, is near both South Florida Avenue and downtown Lakeland.

Other Lakelanders shared they’re in need of wide open spaces + prefer to stay out in the country. Consider 2308 Sands Rd., nestled on 3.2 acres of land in north Lakeland.

Make sure it has enough room

When it comes to a home’s size, 58% of respondents said they prefer something between 1,000-2,000 sqft like this home in the Dixieland neighborhood, while 38% want to go big and aim for a property that’s 2,000 sqft or more — we think 1083 Lake Deeson Woods Ln. fits the bill nicely.

A large home with stucco and stone exterior and a lush green lawn. — When it came to most desired features, garages/carports topped our respondents’ wishlists.
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Photo by Jesus Contreres of High Res Homes

Gotta love the amenities

Responses were divided regarding ideal features. Garages/carports, pools, gorgeous kitchens, and outdoor spaces were just a few of the things that topped our respondents’ wish lists, and it looks like this home may just check every box.

The price better be right

Of course, we can’t forget about price. Nearly 55% of respondents shared that they’re targeting homes with price ranges of $300,000-$450,000+, which aligns with the city’s median home sale price of $349,425 in May 2024.

Events

Friday, June 14

Dixieland Night Market | Friday, June 14 | 6-11 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Browse art, fashion, food, and jewelry from local makers at this monthly night market.

Saturday, June 15

Polk Pride 2024: Pride in the Park | Saturday, June 15 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Munn Park, 201 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Polk Pride’s biggest event of the year will feature dozens of vendors and plenty of entertainment.
“Bridgerton” Luncheon | Saturday, June 15 | 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Cob & Pen, 1221 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $29 | Join fellow “Bridgerton” enthusiasts in a discussion of the show’s unofficial cookbook while enjoying Regency-inspired fare.
Kidz Night Out — ‘Glow’ | Saturday, June 15 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Art Centric Studio, 1035 S. Florida Ave., Ste. 180, Lakeland | $30 | Kids ages 6 and older will enjoy a night of pizza, glow painting, and games — no parents allowed.

Sunday, June 16

Donuts with Dad | Sunday, June 16 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Little Lake Play, 111 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $0-$15 | Father figures and kids can play and enjoy treats together — regular admission required, but dads get in free.
Brews & Blooms: Father’s Day Planting Party | Sunday, June 16 | 1-3 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | $25 | Create potted plants with help from The Greenhouse Garden Store, sip craft beers, and enjoy live music.

Monday, June 17

Take & Make: Adult Craft Kits to Go | Monday, June 17 | 9 a.m.-7 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland | Free | Join the wait list to snag a craft kit for creating your own sunburst mirror.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Open

Hold on to your hippie scones — Bandidas Bake Shop is officially open for business at 1755 E. Edgewood Dr. Stop by the storefront Wednesday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. + Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to grab your favorite treats from these former Catapult Kitchen members.

Try This

Polk County youth can learn different vocational trades through Lakeland Police Department’s Summer Trades Camp. Now in its third year, the 10-day camp has seen such popularity that a new session at Ridge Technical College is starting on Monday. (Fox 13 News)

Environment

After several days, firefighters have fully contained a large brush fire that burned 4,500 acres in eastern Polk County. While recent rainfall helped crews to contain the firefighters, the countywide burn ban is still in effect until further notice. (Fox 13 News)

Edu

Polk State is one step closer to completing its Haines City-Davenport Campus thanks to the $8.1 million in funding it received in the state’s 2024-2025 budget. The campus will include a 75,000-sqft facility housing Central Florida’s first public higher education simulation hospital.

Fun Fact

With around 1,500 nesting pairs, Florida is home to one of the densest concentrations of bald eagles in the US. One of those eagles was rescued on Wednesday by Polk County Animal Control after being found at the intersection of County Road 540 + DeCastro Road in Winter Haven. (WFLA)

Number

63,000. That’s how many individuals attended Bonnet Springs Park’s inaugural “Light Up BSP” event last December. With just over six months left until Christmas — yes, it’s that close already — make sure to stay tuned for announcements about this year’s festivities.

Award

MCO travelers got the spott-light this week for being winners of Orlando International Airport’s planespotting contest — an annual photo contest highlighting planespotting hobbyists’ top photographs. See the winners (and be sure to stop by the exhibit the next time you fly out of MCO).*

Wellness

Imagine caffeine-free energy with no jitters, no crash, and no impact on sleep — plus reduced hunger and cravings. Explore MTE energy drink + get 22% off with code MI22.*

Holiday

5 Juneteenth events around Lakeland

Commemorating Juneteenth around Lakeland

A flag commemorating Juneteenth flies in the wind.

Commemorate Juneteenth with these Polk County events. | Photo courtesy of Amy Wallot

Wednesday, June 19 is Juneteenth, an annual holiday observing the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation — two and a half years after it was passed. Join in on these festivities around Lakeland.

Juneteenth Freedom Celebration | Saturday, June 15
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., head to Jackson Park (1130 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.) for a celebration rich with live music, community dance showcases, and arts + culture exhibitions.

Tapas + Paint Night | Wednesday, June 19
Join Our Noire Kitchen at AR Workshop Winter Haven (5535 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Ste. 210, Winter Haven) for a guided painting class complete with Caribbean-inspired small plates from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Juneteenth Freedom Festival | Saturday, June 29
Explore cultural exhibits that showcase African American hisory + heritage in this free, family-friendly festival, 1-6 p.m. at Simpson Park Community Center (1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.).

More ways to commemorate

The Buy

Do you have a bourbon lover in your life? Gift this Box Of Bourbon from Adams Apple Co. for National Bourbon day. The set includes a marinade and grilling sauce, made ready for a barbecue.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Amelia

From the editor

Recently, Connor and I were told we should start a podcast. We’ll likely leave the podcasting to the professionals, but the notion got me thinking — what podcasts are folks listening to nowadays? Some of my favorites include “Pod Meets World,” “The Squeeze,” and “Counterclock.” Got any more recs?

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