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Guiding You: 5 Star Insights About South Florida

Everyone knows about Miami from movies, televisions shows, maybe cruises, or friends. It is the  “capital” of South Florida…but there are 50+ other amazing gems…waiting to be discovered in Florida’s most valued region. We believe that you can be empowered to find those jewels that are right for you…your paradise! That is why we created 5 Star…as an insightful, easy, fast (& Free!) search resource.

So amazing yet so different! Delray Beach is the #1 demand area for lifestyle and home purchase…and it is the second cousin to Miami. It has Atlantic Avenue and amazing beaches and both have captivated people moving to Florida. Equally impressive, the Delray lifestyle where you live on the ocean or the Intracoastal, and walk (or golf cart) to “The Avenue.” One of our favorites: the open air, Johnny Browns for live music on a beautiful night then walking home to nearby East Delray paradise. 

Shhh…It is a Secret: Lighthouse Point. 75 years ago, a Venetian world was created around the inlet Churchill, Roosevelt and Al Capone used to frequent…secretly. Now it is the most amazing community of homes with pools and boats…and minutes to the ocean. And the residents know it is the best kept secret in Florida. See 31 St Ave. 

Boca Raton Renaissance: Many know West Boca and Boca West from the 70’s and 80’s. Today it is a totally different town and the East Boca area has undergone a Renaissance. It starts with the Boca inlet that comes into Lake Boca. There the Boca Raton Hotel and Resort that welcomes you with its pink tower. So Boca has blossomed into the most beautiful array of intracoastal and canal homes. 

There are select new multi-story condos along the water and along Boca’s restaurant row on Palmetto Park. This is a surge in in-town Boca around the many restaurants, shopping, Art Museum, Mizner Park, Florida Atlantic University and Boca Regional Medical ecosystem. 

Boca Raton has long beaches that run along Spanish River Park. Not a surprise, the town has been ranked as Top 10 Beaches in the USA. So there are select upper caliber homes and condos here, including Our Favorite: 1000 S. Ocean ($6m to $15m) for views of the inlet, ocean and non-stop parade of yachts, speedboats  and fishing boats, etc.

Now add two dynamics that will transform Boca Raton further. First, Mandarin Oriental is building a spectacular resort/residential complex as its second in Florida.

It will be an anchor with its phenomenal design and one mile of shopping. Then Richard Branson announced that his Virgin/Brightline Railway will be coming in 2021, along with the Mandarin. That is a high speed connection for Boca to Miami, Fort Lauderdale , Palm Beach and Orlando! 

The Kennedys, The Flaglers, & The Winter White House: Palm Beach Island. If Miami is the international, most alive, most passion based place in the hemisphere….then PB is at the other end of the So. Fla. spectrum. It is the Grand Dame, older (yet updated), palatial, refined, opulent, sophisticated and fun in its own way. The beaches are beautiful. The Breakers and a cluster of curated hotels are standouts. And of course, there is Mar-a-Lago and its role as the Winter White House. Our fav (politics set aside) is the Cavallino vintage automotive event at The Breakers and Mar-a-Lago each Spring. If curious click here. 

The Vanderbilt’s Mansion on Fisher Island: In the 1920’s, Vanderbilt traded his steamer yacht for a piece of land that once was the tip of Miami Beach, to Carl Fisher, as they played poker. Today, it is just as exclusive: only get there by private ferry, yacht or helicopter. The Mansion, the golf course, 5 restaurants, yacht marina, etc is a now refuge for global billionaires and multi-millionaires.  The once small Tiki Hut feels like South of France meets South Beach. Our favorite: Mrs Vanderbilts bedroom is now a member only club ( & the bar is in her closet).

South Beach and SOBE’s offspring SOFI. With limited land, Miami and Miami Beach went vertical with sky palaces  and amazing towers. In South Beach a lovely, very chic area emerged: South of Fifth aka Sofi. Imagine the tip of the island, with the most amazing views of the ocean, the Government Cut (the Army Corps of Engineers created inlet), the Miami Islands and motoring yachts, cruise ships and jet skis. Then add beautiful beaches, SoBe vibe and lovely, hip restaurants and of course Joe’s Stone Crab’s. Our Favorite: The Apogee residences and Prix Fixe lunch at Milos. See Miami’s Government Cut on Live Cam

The Miami Islands & Star Island: Al Capone, Shaq and Miami Heat’s best, Enrique Inglesia, Gloria Estefan, Rosie and so many other notables have made these beautiful islands their homes. They have an elegant, residential feel as you drive over the stately bridges. The gated island homes start at $5m and go over $25m+. Star, Palm, Hibiscus, Venetian Islands. Our favorite: the majestic Palm Island fountain.

Fort Lauderdale vs Miami: One of the great decisions when exploring South Florida. One hour north of Miami is “Lauderdale” which has a different persona. It is more open, more homes than towers, across a lovely network of intracoastal/canals. this it the boating capital of the world based on its annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat show, the passionate yachting, boating, fishing residents and the Port with its cruise lines and shipping leadership. 

The Miami Islands & Star Island: Al Capone, Shaq and Miami Heat’s best, Enrique Inglesia, Gloria Estefan, Rosie and so many other notables have made these beautiful islands their homes. They have an elegant, residential feel as you drive over the stately bridges. The gated island homes start at $5m and go over $25m+. Star, Palm, Hibiscus, Venetian Islands. Our favorite: the majestic Palm Island fountain.

Fort Lauderdale vs Miami: One of the great decisions when exploring South Florida. One hour north of Miami is “Lauderdale” which has a different persona. It is more open, more homes than towers, across a lovely network of intracoastal/canals. this it the boating capital of the world based on its annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat show, the passionate yachting, boating, fishing residents and the Port with its cruise lines and shipping leadership. 

Interesting insight: Fort Lauderdale real estate is always half the price of Miami. Both homes and condos offer a FLL value advantage. Our favorite: the renaissance going on from Las Olas Blvd to North Beach and the Adagio (below) residence overlooking the S curve on the intracoastal yet three blocks to ocean. 

Value Please: We love that there are some very smart value plays in So. Fla. If Lighthouse point waterfront is a value versus Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, then adjacent Pompano Beach and The Cove in Deerfield Beach move to an even better price point. The two towns are close to the Hillsboro and Boca inlets and you can find canal/waterfront  starting under $1m and some intracoastal under $2m. 

Then Ocean Ridge (between Gulf Stream and Manalapan) has found a value niche with people building waterfront homes and updating others that are a short walk to the beach (some under $2.5m). The key: ten minute Uber ride to Atlantic Avenue in Delray! Smart, very smart. 

Palm Beach County’s Gulf Stream & Manalapan:  Delray Beach has Atlantic Avenue as its unique point of difference. Sister community Gulf Stream is beautiful beaches in a very private, very reserved community. Decades back, the old guard Fortune 500 CEO’s came to the town, and built a few private golf clubs (have to go to Delray for stores and restaurants).

Then a few miles north, just past the Boynton Beach inlet, is Manalapan. And is know for it is glorious beaches and flow through to the intracoastal estates. Truly majestic set of homes ($10m to $50m). 

Hillsboro Mile & Premier Oceanfront: Similar to Miami, West Palm Beach and Manalapan, there is one more 5 Star location…known for its once valued $140m estate (see pic above). Hillsboro Mile. It extends north from the Hillsboro Inlet and the Lighthouse, with ocean on one side and intracoastal on the other (Lighthouse Point’s premier waterfront faces across the water to Hillsboro Mile). 

Most of the very large, gated estates have wide open beachfront and then yacht docking across A!A as well. See below, our One Sotheby’s listed property, Le Palais Royal, that sold for a fraction of its’ initial list price. (Note: our Your5Star.com videos were filmed at the celebrated mansion). 

Hopefully this 5 Star Search tool gives you insights to find your paradise! Welcome to South Florida 😎

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