Why are objects that fall near Earth's surface rarely in free fall?

Objects that fall near the Earth's surface are rarely in free fall because the gravity of the Earth is affecting them too much.

Free fall is what most people would call "floating," as an object in free fall has gravity acting upon it enough to hold it in a general distance, but not enough to pull it closer. For example, the moon is in free fall, as the gravity of Earth keeps it close, but isn't strong enough to bring it much closer from where it's at.