Ninety miles of coast. Every town with its own character.
South Florida is three counties along one shoreline. Each town has a personality that decides who your neighbours are and how you'll spend your days. Here's the short version, written for someone choosing from abroad.
Palm Beach County is quieter and more private, with a fast-growing downtown in West Palm Beach and new master-planned communities to the west.
Broward County is built around water you can drive a boat on, with a new wave of oceanfront towers in Pompano Beach.
Miami-Dade is the international city: oceanfront towers, historic neighbourhoods and some of the best-known addresses in the world.
Looking for something specific? See golf club communities and the new luxury condominiums.
Palm Beach to Miami Beach is about 75 minutes by car outside rush hour, or a little over an hour by Brightline train. Three international airports: Palm Beach (PBI), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Miami (MIA).
Quiet money, a booming downtown, and room to grow
From historic estates on the island to brand-new neighbourhoods inland.
Palm Beach
A barrier island a mile wide between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal. Historic estates, landmarked houses, Worth Avenue, and the most private club culture on the coast. Supply is fixed, which has always protected value.
West Palm Beach
Across the bridge from Palm Beach, and the fastest-changing downtown in the county. Financial firms relocating from New York have earned it the nickname "Wall Street South", and new waterfront condominiums now line the Intracoastal. Walkable, with a Brightline station to Miami.
Urban · waterfront condosNorthwood
A historic district in the north of West Palm Beach, with 1920s and 1930s homes, galleries and independent restaurants along Northwood Village. Character and charm at prices below the waterfront, in a neighbourhood that keeps improving.
Historic homes · artsLake Worth Beach
An artsy, relaxed beach town with colourful cottages, a lively downtown and its own public beach. One of the best-value ways into a walkable coastal town in Palm Beach County.
Arts · beach · valueNorth Palm Beach
A quiet village on the water just south of Jupiter, known for marinas, boating and well-kept waterfront homes. Calm and residential, minutes from the beach and from PGA Boulevard.
Boating · quietJupiter and Jupiter Island
Lower density, wide beaches, golf and an unhurried rhythm. Jupiter Island is one of the most discreet enclaves in the United States.
Wellington
The winter capital of show jumping, dressage and polo, with golf communities, large estates and barns set on wide lots. Twenty-five minutes inland from Palm Beach, with a strong international season from January to April.
Equestrian · estates · golfDelray Beach
Atlantic Avenue runs from downtown straight to the beach, lined with restaurants and shops. One of the most walkable small towns on the coast, with a strong year-round community.
Walkable · beachBoca Raton
Gated golf communities, new luxury condominiums downtown, and a growing business district. The widest range of price and building age in the county.
Manalapan, Gulf Stream and Ocean Ridge
Small oceanfront municipalities with ocean-to-Intracoastal estates. This is where large single-family purchases happen quietly.
Avenir (Palm Beach Gardens)
A master-planned community on the western edge of Palm Beach Gardens, planned for roughly 4,000 homes from several national builders, with lakes, trails, clubhouses and a town centre. New construction with room to breathe, close to the golf and shopping of PGA Boulevard.
New construction · familiesWestlake
Palm Beach County's newest city, incorporated in 2016 and built by Minto on about 3,800 acres. New homes, parks and schools at prices well below the coast, for buyers who want new construction and space.
New city · new homesYachts, a lively city, and a new oceanfront skyline
The middle of the coast, built around water.
Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas
Hundreds of miles of navigable canals and some of the best yachting infrastructure in the world. Las Olas Boulevard is the city's dining and shopping street; the Las Olas Isles, Harbor Beach and Rio Vista put deep-water dockage behind the house.
Boating · waterfront homesPompano Beach
The most active oceanfront building boom in Broward. Branded residences including the Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf Astoria are rising on a redeveloped beachfront, with new restaurants and a renovated pier alongside.
New oceanfront towersHillsboro Beach
The Hillsboro Mile is a single road of oceanfront estates and condominiums between the ocean and the Intracoastal. Private and quiet, with a few new projects proposed.
Oceanfront · privateLauderdale-by-the-Sea
A low-rise beach village with a relaxed, small-town feel, walkable to the sand and well loved by winter residents.
Low-rise · beachParkland
Inland and residential, with large lots, gated communities and some of the most sought-after public schools in the county. A favourite for families who want space and privacy, about 25 minutes from the beach.
Families · schools · spaceHollywood
Known for its Broadwalk, a car-free promenade along the sand. A mix of classic beach condominiums and newer resort-style towers, between Fort Lauderdale's airport and Miami, often at friendlier prices than its neighbours.
Beach · valueThe international city, and its quieter neighbourhoods
From world-famous towers to leafy family streets.
Miami Beach
From South Beach's Art Deco district north through Mid-Beach and North Beach, the most famous oceanfront in the country, with full-service and branded condominiums for every taste.
Surfside and Bal Harbour
Surfside is a small, low-key beach town with a handful of very high-end new oceanfront residences. Next door, Bal Harbour pairs luxury towers with one of the best-known shopping centres in the world.
Boutique luxurySunny Isles Beach and Aventura
Sunny Isles is known for its branded oceanfront towers and is especially popular with international buyers. Aventura, just inland, offers shopping, marinas and family-friendly condominiums.
Brickell and Downtown
Where the banks, family offices and new arrivals from New York work. High-rise living, walkable streets and the most liquid condominium market on the coast. Ideal for a pied-à-terre.
Urban · high-riseCoconut Grove
Miami's oldest neighbourhood, with a lush tree canopy, bayfront parks, marinas and a village centre. Relaxed and green, with respected private schools nearby.
Bayfront · village feelCoral Gables
A planned city of Mediterranean Revival architecture and tree-lined streets, home to the University of Miami. Its waterfront enclaves, Gables Estates and Cocoplum, are among the most private in Miami.
Architecture · estatesPinecrest
Large, leafy lots, well-regarded public schools and a quiet, residential feel just south of Coral Gables. A favourite for families who want space close to the city.
Families · large lotsKendall
Suburban, convenient and family-friendly, with more house for the money than the coastal neighbourhoods and good access to schools, shopping and parks.
Space · valueKey Biscayne and Fisher Island
Key Biscayne is an island village reached by one causeway, with beaches and parks on both ends. Fisher Island is reached by ferry and is entirely private.
Alternative cities, such as Naples, Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando and the Keys
Many of our clients also look at the Gulf Coast, Central Florida, the Treasure Coast or the Keys. If you like those areas, we can help you there too, and introduce local licensed professionals.
Planning a move of capital, property or family to South Florida?
Tell us where you live and what you're planning. We'll reply with clear next steps and, where you need one, an introduction to the right licensed professional. Usually within one business day.