Known as the “Venice of America,” thanks to its 165 miles of inland waterways, Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city along the Atlantic Ocean. It was built in 1838, and incorporated in 1911. Today, it spans 36.3 square miles and has a median age of 42 (2022). Its main industries include tourism, marine, manufacturing, finance, insurance, real estate, high technology, avionics/aerospace, and film and television production.

Home styles in Fort Lauderdale range from Ranch to Victorian, to Coastal Contemporary, Spanish and Mediterranean. The typical home value is $531,389, which is up 28.8% over the past year (Zillow, 2022). Residents can enjoy annual events that cover many interests, such as the Florida Renaissance Festival, FLL Fashion Week, and the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade.

Major thoroughfares include Las Olas Boulevard, which runs east-west, and U.S. Route 1, which runs north-south. Route 1 lies just west of the Central Beach neighborhood and its luxury condos and apartments, right on the coast. Directly off the route, and not too far from the north-south I-95, is Harbordale. It’s one of Fort Lauderdale’s best neighborhoods for families, filled with everything from colorful townhomes to luxury high-rise condos.

Besides the obvious reasons (e.g., comfortable winters) why Fort Lauderdale is a desirable place to be, the city has plenty of green space and a strong sense of community.