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One of South Florida's bright jewels, Fort Lauderdale shines on the southeastern coast fronting the wide blue expanse of the Atlantic. Its extensive network of navigable canals (totaling over 160 miles), not to mention the residents' passion for sailing (sailboats and marinas galore), has earned the city two sobriquets: "Venice of America" and the "Yachting Capital of the World."
With over 3,000 hours of annual sunshine, deep ties to the water, and an endless array of inland activities and entertainment, it's easy to see why a house for sale in Fort Lauderdale is a dream for many. This guide will help you prepare your sails for a successful voyage into Fort Lauderdale's real estate market.
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WELCOME TO FORT LAUDERDALE!
Fort Lauderdale is a city that stretches over 36 sq. mi. of coastal land, with a population of over 180,000 residents. It's located in Broward County, where it also serves as the county seat. Located about 30 miles north of Miami, Fort Lauderdale is still very much a part of the Miami metropolitan sprawl. Boca Raton and West Palm Beach are roughly 20 miles and 45 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, respectively.
A quick look at Fort Lauderdale's history
Much can be said about Fort Lauderdale's history, which goes back to pre-colonial times. Tequesta Indians flourished in the area until they came into contact with Spanish explorers in the 16th century, which speeded up their decline. And since control of the region was wrestled by three colonial powers, Fort Lauderdale of the bygone era remained largely undeveloped until the 20th century and the Florida land boom.
Fort Lauderdale's namesake is a stockade that was built during the Second Seminole War in the 19th century.
Fort Lauderdale of the 21st century
These days, Fort Lauderdale is busy reshaping itself as a global business center that can rival Miami. Apart from having a bustling tourism industry, the city is also nurturing its marine, manufacturing, finance, media, and aerospace sectors. And by the looks of it, there is no slowing down Fort Lauderdale or dimming its shine.
FORT LAUDERDALE REAL ESTATE
When it comes to Fort Lauderdale's housing market, homebuyers and real estate investors are spoiled for choice. That's because a house for sale in Fort Lauderdale can come in different styles, sizes, and price points depending on where you decide to look.
The 411 on Fort Lauderdale's housing market
General overview
As a whole, Fort Lauderdale real estate offers over 78,000 housing units with a median home value of around $560,000. Home prices run the gamut from affordable to pricey, ranging from $150,000 to $1.5 million and more. More than half of Fort Lauderdale real estate is owner-occupied, while the remaining portion are rental properties, with rates averaging over $2,900 a month.
Two property types dominate Fort Lauderdale real estate: multi-family dwellings (in the form of apartment complexes), followed by single-family homes. A small section of the market comprises townhomes and condo buildings. Nearly 50% of residential real estate in Fort Lauderdale were built between the 1940s and 1960s, but you'll also find more contemporary as well as new construction in different parts of the city.
A wide range of options in different price points make Fort Lauderdale exceptionally buyer- and investor-friendly. But what makes it all better is the local appreciation rate. Fort Lauderdale's housing market has one of the highest 10-year appreciation rates in the country (171%), with annual appreciation rates ranging from 10% to 11%.
Architecture
Because of Fort Lauderdale's coastal location and sprinkling of Spanish influences, most people expect the local housing market to be a treasure trove of Mediterranean-inspired or Old Florida homes. And while those do exist, Mid-century Modern is the reigning architectural style in the city. You'll find it almost everywhere in Fort Lauderdale, from homes to hotels. Three architects in particular left design footprints in the city: Donald Singer, Dan Duckham, and Charles McKirahan.
Mid-century Modern was favored in Fort Lauderdale and other coastal cities for a number of reasons. For one, the materials to build a MCM home are relatively inexpensive. Second, the style allowed for indoor-outdoor living. Third, its design features— clean lines, large windows, and high ceilings— fit well with the tropical climate. Over time, other offshoots of Mid-century Modern architecture appeared in Fort Lauderdale, such as sub-tropical modern.
Other popular architectural styles in Fort Lauderdale real estate include Craftsman Bungalow, Mediterranean Revival, Florida vernacular, and Mission Revival.
The best neighborhoods to live in Fort Lauderdale
The theme of variety carries on to Fort Lauderdale's neighborhoods. To date, the city recognizes over 60 official neighborhoods, while there are at least 30 more communities that are unofficial but nonetheless included in Fort Lauderdale's maps.
In the journey of finding the house for sale in Fort Lauderdale that's perfect for you, knowing where to concentrate your search is crucial. Some of the most sought-after neighborhoods to live in Fort Lauderdale include the following:
Nurmi Isles
Nurmi Isles is a four-island neighborhood just off Las Olas Boulevard and is easily located near the beach and Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Each island feels like its own world as they're not linked to each other by bridges. Private waterfront estates are available in three of the four islands, while the remaining isle adds condos, townhomes, and co-ops to the mix. The median real estate price in Nurmi Isles is over $2 million, making it one of Fort Lauderdale's most highly valued neighborhoods.
Rio Vista
The rivers Tarpon, Stranahan, and New all flow throughout the neighborhood of Rio Vista, one of the coveted neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale. It's a stone's throw away from Downtown Fort Lauderdale and also counts as one of the oldest communities in the city. With its rich heritage, ocean access, and limited housing stock, it's easy to see why median home prices in Rio Vista number at around $1.9 million.
Housing options in Rio Vista are typically waterfront single-family estates. Some of the popular architectural styles in the neighborhood include Key West, Mediterranean Revival, and contemporary.
Lauderdale Harbours
South of Rio Vista is Lauderdale Harbours, a small waterfront neighborhood on the Stranahan River. Here, homebuyers get a mix of both waterfront and inland estates with a median real estate price of approximately $1.4 million. Depending on your preferences, you can look for a home in one of Lauderdale Harbour's three isles or on the small stretch of mainland that's part of the community.
Lauderdale Harbours' main offering, however, is privacy; only the bridge on SE 13th Street connects the isles to the mainland. The only other option to get into the neighborhood is via the Intracoastal Waterway.
Sunrise Intracoastal
Sunrise Intracoastal is a scenic peninsula community overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and Sunrise Key. Real estate options in the neighborhood are a blend of dry-lot and waterfront homes, with the latter offering direct access to the waterway and the Atlantic. Although it's somewhat secluded, Sunrise Intracoastal still enjoys close proximity to The Galleria, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, to name a few attractions. Median home prices in the neighborhood hover around the $1.2 million mark.
Coral Ridge Country Club Estate
The only golf course community in Fort Lauderdale, housing options at Coral Ridge Country Club Estate have a median home price of about $970,000. Naturally, what sets the neighborhood apart from other parts of the city is golf amenities, which include the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Trent Jones, Sr. Waterfront and non-waterfront residences are available at Coral Ridge Country Club.
Harbor Beach
Avid boaters will love living at Harbor Beach, the only neighborhood along Sunrise Boulevard that exclusively offers waterfront luxury estates. Most of these properties are equipped with private docks, the largest of which can even accommodate mega-yachts.
Harbor Beach is divided into several smaller communities. One of these is Harborage Isle on New Island Sound, which only features 17 waterfront home sites. Other neighborhoods located within Harbor Beach include Laguna Isle and Isla Bahia. The median home price in Harbor Beach, together with Harbor Inlet, is around $968,000.
Victoria Park
One of Fort Lauderdale's older neighborhoods, Victoria Park traces its origins back to the 1930s. And although a century has already passed, this neighborhood east of Downtown Fort Lauderdale retains its vintage appeal. It's one of the reasons why Victoria Park is a sought-after place to live in the city, commanding median home prices of approximately $950,000.
Most real estate options in Victoria Park are dry home sites. That said, it's still located along the Intracoastal Waterway, enabling residents to enjoy a wide variety of water activities, including yachting. Condos, townhomes, and luxury properties are available in Victoria Park; they also come in all manner of architectural styles, from Old Florida to Mid-century Modern.
LIVING IN FORT LAUDERDALE
For tourists, Fort Lauderdale offers the best of the sailing lifestyle, as well as proximity to inland attractions such as the Everglades. But for residents, this so-called Venice of America provides an outstanding quality of life. This is characterized by access to recreation both on and off the water, great schools, and a bevy of community amenities residents of all ages can enjoy.
Getting in and around Fort Lauderdale
One of Fort Lauderdale's strongest attributes is its ease of transportation. Several major thoroughfares run through the city, such as I-75, I-95, US 1, US 441, and Florida's Turnpike. These highways eventually branch off to smaller roads, making it a breeze to get around Fort Lauderdale by private car.
The City of Fort Lauderdale is also taking great leaps to make the city more cycling-friendly. More and more roads now feature dedicated bicycle lanes, which are also connected to Fort Lauderdale's greenways. Residents, as well as visitors, have access to the Broward BCycle bike-sharing program.
Bus transportation in Fort Lauderdale comes in the form of the Broward County Transit, which also connects the city to other parts of the county. A couple of passenger rails also serve Fort Lauderdale, including Amtrak, Tri-Rail, and Brightline.
But with over 160 miles of navigable waterways weaving throughout the city, one of the best ways to go around Fort Lauderdale is by boat. Residents and visitors can also use Port Everglades and board a ferry to select international destinations such as the Bahamas. Residents with water vessels but don't have private docks or slips have the option to moor their boats in one of the city's many marinas, which include Lauderdale Marina, Hall of Fame Marina, and Marina Bay Marina.
Schools
When you invest in a house for sale in Fort Lauderdale, a plethora of academic opportunities (as well as real estate possibilities) also open up. The city is served by Broward County Public Schools (BCPS), along with a handful of private schools that include:
- Pine Crest School - Fort Lauderdale campus
- St. Thomas Aquinas High School
- Westminster Academy
- Calvary Christian Academy
- Cardinal Gibbons High School
Fort Lauderdale also offers several options for higher learning, such as Keiser University and Florida Atlantic University - Fort Lauderdale.
Dining and shopping
Living in Fort Lauderdale isn't complete without sampling the city's best restaurants and shopping destinations.
Top eats in Fort Lauderdale
- Coconuts at 429 Seabreeze Boulevard is one of the quintessential waterside restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy upscale fresh-caught seafood, wine, and specialty cocktails from your table overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. True to brand, boat parking is available. Coconuts is also pet-friendly.
- Rivertail at 10X Riverwalk, 4 W Las Olas Boulevard also serves a seafood-driven menu that has earned the restaurant numerous accolades, including "Best Restaurant Fort Lauderdale 2020." Of course, we don't expect anything less from a menu curated by James Beard-nominated chef Jose Mendin. Come by for lunch, dinner, brunch, or even just oysters and cocktails.
- Cafe Seville at 2768 E Oakland Park Boulevard is a family-run restaurant that will transport you to Spain with their delectable array of tapas, sopas, ensaladas, and meat or chicken-forward entrees. And if you're a wine lover, make sure to order a bottle from Cafe Seville's award-winning wine selection.
Where to shop in Fort Lauderdale
- Las Olas Boulevard is a 2.5-mile road that runs from the beach to the heart of Fort Lauderdale. About a mile of this main thoroughfare is lined with a wide selection of retail spots, from local restaurants and chains to independently owned boutiques and specialty stores.
- The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale at 2414 E Sunrise Boulevard is one of the go-to destinations in the city for upmarket shopping. There are over 100 fashion retailers housed here, including Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, Free People, Michael Kors, and Swarovski.
- Sunny Side Up Market at 820 NE 4th Avenue is one of the farmers markets that pop up in Fort Lauderdale throughout the year. This pet-friendly farmers market is open every second Sunday of each month and offers myriad goods, from locally grown produce and fresh flowers to handicrafts and antique finds.
Recreation
Parks, bars, beaches, and other entertainment spots are scattered around Fort Lauderdale. Some of the most beloved attractions in the city include the following:
- Hugh Taylor Birch State Park at 3109 E Sunrise Boulevard is described to be Fort Lauderdale's very own Central Park despite its non-central location (it's situated in east Fort Lauderdale, near the ocean). The park covers 180 acres of urban wilderness where you can spot different species of shorebirds as well as turtles, tortoises, and opossums, just to name a few of the local wildlife.
- Museum of Discovery and Science at 401 SW 2nd Street is one of Fort Lauderdale's treasured family attractions. Apart from permanent and seasonal exhibits (some of which are interactive), the museum also hosts daily demos and shows, such as animal encounters and idea hubs.
- The Everglades National Park is only a short drive away from Fort Lauderdale, making it a popular day trip for both residents and visitors. That said, a day is definitely not enough to explore this 1.5-million-acre heritage site and bioreserve. Bring your binoculars and keep your eyes peeled for shorebirds, manatees, panthers, and American crocodiles during your visit.
UNLOCK FORT LAUDERDALE REAL ESTATE WITH FLORIDA EXCLUSIVE LIVING
Led by Brian Scharick, a Realtor with 13+ years of experience and over $600 million in sales, the Florida Exclusive Living team can guide you towards your ideal house for sale in Fort Lauderdale. Contact us at 954.644.9118 for access to exclusive and off-market listings. You can also send us an email or fill out our contact form to get started.
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