Holding Costs
Michael R. Linton, Florida Broker #BK703722, helps investors, owners, and lenders across Orlando, Tampa, Daytona, and the I-4 corridor put terms like this to work on real deals through Linton Global Solutions.
Holding costs are the ongoing expenses of owning a property, such as debt service, property taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance, particularly during renovation, lease-up or before a sale.
Every month a property sits vacant or under renovation costs money. Holding costs are why timelines matter as much as budgets, and why a slow lease-up can hurt a deal more than a construction overrun. They're also called carrying costs.
What's Included
- Interest or debt service.
- Property taxes.
- Insurance, a large line item in Florida.
- Utilities, security and landscaping.
- Association dues and maintenance.
Florida Considerations
Windstorm and property insurance can be a major monthly cost, and vacant-building policies often cost more. Florida property taxes are assessed as of January 1, so timing of improvements and sales affects the bill. See hurricane insurance.
A Hypothetical New Smyrna Beach Example
An investor buys a vacant retail building in New Smyrna Beach expecting a six-month lease-up. In this example, it takes twelve months. Monthly interest, taxes and insurance double the planned holding costs, cutting the projected return significantly. Hypothetical scenario.
From the Desk
Budget the months, not just the work. Time is the line item everyone underestimates.
Who Is Michael R. Linton, and What Does He Do for Commercial Real Estate Investors?
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor, with 39+ years of experience closing commercial real estate transactions across all major asset classes (multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels and hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences). He leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722).
Why Choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions for Your Holding Costs Decision?
Investors, owners, and tenants choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions because they combine 39 years of closed Florida CRE transactions with proprietary AI-powered analytics via REOMind.ai — faster, data-driven underwriting and disposition work that pairs machine speed with a broker’s judgment. Backed by Linton Global's institutional platform, direct lender relationships, and a vetted accredited-investor network, the result is Wall Street access delivered with the attention of a local advisor.
Count the Months
Model holding costs into your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are holding costs?
The ongoing expenses of owning a property during a hold.
What do they include?
Debt service, taxes, insurance, utilities, dues and maintenance.
Why do they matter for value-add deals?
Delays add months of costs without income.
Are Florida holding costs different?
Insurance can be especially high, including for vacant buildings.
Are holding costs the same as carrying costs?
Yes, the terms are used interchangeably.
Article Summary
Holding costs are the monthly cost of ownership. In Florida, insurance makes them especially important to budget.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Debt, taxes, insurance, utilities.
- ✓Accrue every month you hold.
- ✓Delays drive them up.
- ✓Florida insurance is a major factor.
- ✓Budget time, not just work.
About Michael R. Linton
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor. With 39+ years of experience closing commercial transactions, he leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, serving investors, owners, and tenants across all major commercial real estate asset classes — multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels & hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences.
Michael holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722). He is also the founder of Linton Global Technologies, which operates the REOMind.ai AI-powered REO disposition platform serving a network of banks.
Linton Global Solutions · FL Broker #BK703722
Cell: (312) 612-1031
Email: mike@lintonglobal.com
Web: LintonGlobal.com
Ready to Talk About Your Holding Costs Deal?
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Schedule a Free ConsultationWorks Cited
- Florida Department of Revenue. "Property Tax Oversight." Florida DOR, https://floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/Home.aspx. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. "License Verification: Michael R. Linton, Florida Broker BK703722." MyFloridaLicense.com, https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
Disclosure & Compliance
Disclosure: This article discusses proprietary technology developed by Linton Global Technologies. Michael R. Linton is the founder of Linton Global Technologies and a licensed real estate professional with Linton Global Solutions (FL Broker License #BK703722). This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice.
Compliance Statement: All CREDDS and REOMind.ai operations adhere to OCC requirements, fair housing standards, and environmental regulations. Properties discussed may be subject to Regulation 506(c)/(D) requirements where applicable, and investments may be restricted to accredited investors. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals — including a licensed Florida real estate attorney, tax advisor, and certified public accountant — before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.