FORT LAUDERDALE WATERFRONT HOMES

Misc Yachting Resources

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a group of boats in the water with a bridge in the background. The boats are of various sizes and colors.

Gallery

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Gallery

Search Waterfront Properties

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Search Waterfront Properties

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

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Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

Setbacks

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Setbacks

Marina

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Marina

Sea Ranch Lakes

Sea Ranch Lakes is a stunning hidden gem community that offers top-notch amenities and privacy, allowing for a more l...

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a large mansion is located in a tropical setting with palm trees and blue water with a yacht docked in front of it

Bay Colony

Bay Colony is home to the most coveted luxury waterfront estates that offer unmatched privacy and security.

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 a large mansion surrounded by palm trees and a dock on a body of water

Southwest Ranches

Southwest Ranch is a beautiful secluded affluent ranch-style town that offers a quite yet luxurious ambience.

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Aerial view of a golf course surrounded by houses and a lake

La Gorce

Combining both modern and old world appeal, La Gorce offers an intimate luxurious community.

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Aerial view of a city with tall buildings and a small island in the middle of the ocean

Palm Island

Idyllic boater's dream luxury island, centrally located in Biscayne Bay.

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Aerial view of Palm Island, Miami Beach that has tall buildings, houses, with boats and ships docked in the water

Venetian Islands

Spectacular Venetian Islands offer exceptional amenities, privacy, and best of all beautiful waterfront estates.

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Aerial view of a Venetian Island that has houses on it and is surrounded by a city in the background.

Star Island

This beautiful highly exclusive island, is home to some of Florida's most stunning estates.

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Aerial shot of Star Island with houses and greeneries in the land

Miami Beach

Vibrant and lively, the upscale Miami Beach real estate never ceases to entertain.

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Lifeguard tower on a beach with a quad bike parked next to it

Indian Creek

A highly coveted, exclusive island, Indian Creek offers exceptional luxurious estates.

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Aerial view of a golf course and houses on an island in the middle of the ocean

Hillsboro Mile

The iconic "Millionaire's Mile" has some of the most coveted waterfront estates in Southern Florida.

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Aerial view of a city and the ocean. The city is located on the coast and has tall buildings and houses.

Las Olas

Las Olas is the epitome of Luxury Living, as it offers high-end shopping and fine dining, alongside its beautiful est...

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two boats docked in a canal in front of a house surrounded by palm trees

Coral Ridge

Coral Ridge is an upscale vibrant neighborhood, surrounded by a variety of luxurious shopping and dining areas.

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a large white mansion with driveway

Rio Vista

The historic luxurious community that incorporates both an Old Florida and a modern luxury ambiance in one.

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A swimming pool surrounded by a wooden walkway. The pool is blue and clear, and the walkway is made of light brown wood.

Harbor Beach

The most exclusive oceanfront community offering unparalleled luxury amenities and privacy.

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Fort Lauderdale cityscape with tall buildings and houses on a beach next to the ocean

Those of us who live in the Fort Lauderdale area already know it’s a great city to invest in or live, but now the rest of the world is getting let in on the secret. In its annual report, PWC recently named Fort Lauderdale one of America’s Top Cities To Watch in 2018. Fort Lauderdale is one of the cities highlighted as America’s top 10, alongside other urban centers such as Seattle, Dallas, and Boston.

two luxury boats docked in front of a mansion

THE VENICE OF AMERICA

During the 1920’s, the booming progress in Broward County was evidenced by the rapid rise of hotels, bridges, courthouses, and emporiums. Homes were designed with a Mediterranean flair and mangroves were dredged to jumpstart the building of island neighborhoods in the eastern Fort Lauderdale area. And with 165 miles of waterways within city limits spanning 36 square miles, Fort Lauderdale rather seemed, like a slice of Venice in Florida. New York City investor J.C. Turner then uttered the words that would solidify the city’s identity: "Lauderdale should be called the Venice of America.

a waterfront mansion surrounded by palm trees

WATERFRONT NEIGHBORHOODS

Waterfront real estate in Fort Lauderdale includes single-family homes, condominiums and co-ops which are located either on one of the many canals, the Intracoastal Waterway, a river, lake or directly on the Atlantic Ocean.

​​​​​​​The premier waterfront neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale offering unrestricted ocean access and dockage for large vessels include the Las Olas Isles, Idlewyld, Harbor Beach, Rio Vista, Victoria Park, Coral Ridge, The Landings and Bay Colony among others.

aerial view of a waterfront city

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN BUYING A WATERFRONT HOME

Purchasing the best waterfront property will take time and plenty of careful consideration. If you’re in the market for a waterfront condo or house, here are factors you’ll need to consider:​​

Water Depth – Fort Lauderdale is also known as the “Mega Yacht Capital of the World.” Waterfront homes, therefore, offer dockage for boats of various types and sizes. So if you own a boat or are about to purchase one, consider the canal water depths that lead to and from the property you are considering.

Fixed Bridges – Some waterfront homes are located on canals with fixed bridge restricted access to the Intracoastal Waterway. For these areas, consider the height of your vessel and the clearance height of the fixed bridge(s) at high tide.

Width, Linear Feet of Waterfront, Distance to Open Ocean – Canal widths vary greatly and typically, the width of your boat plus your dock cannot exceed ⅓ the total width of the canal. Also, different neighborhoods have different restrictions on how close to the edge of your property line your boat can be docked, which in turn may impact the size of boat you are able to keep at your property. And if you’re planning on heading into the Atlantic Ocean on a regular basis, know the home’s distance to the open ocean and how long it will take to reach the nearest inlet.

Existing Dockage and Seawall – To avoid inconveniences and unnecessary expenses, check if the existing dockage and seawall meet your needs, or it they require repair.  Verify if changes and upgrades can be made.

​​​​​​​Views – One of the best perks of owning a waterfront home is the amazing views that come with it – so make sure you like what you see when purchasing a home. Also, don’t assume that you can always cut off trees and bushes to enhance your view. Local rules will apply and may prohibit you from thinning trees in the area.

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We offer the highest level of expertise, service, and integrity. Elmes Group is the premier agency in Fort Lauderdale and has helped thousands of buyers find their dream home in South Florida and beyond, resulting in over $2 Billion of closed residential real estate transactions in the last 30+ years.

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