Neighborhoods to know
Las Olas Boulevard is the city's walkable, restaurant-lined spine, and Las Olas Isles are finger islands off the Intracoastal with direct boat access.
Victoria Park, just north of Las Olas, mixes renovated bungalows with new construction on tree-lined streets.
Flagler Village and FAT Village, north of downtown, are the arts districts, with active new condo construction.
The beach corridor, from Fort Lauderdale Beach north to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, offers ocean-facing condos across a wide range of buildings.
Wilton Manors is its own city within the greater Fort Lauderdale area, compact and walkable.
Waterfront homes
Fort Lauderdale is known for its waterways, and waterfront homes carry a premium along with extra checks: seawall condition, dock permits, water depth, fixed-bridge clearances on the route to the ocean, and flood zone. If boating matters to you, have an inspector who knows marine properties look at the seawall and dock.
What to check before you buy
Much of South Florida sits in FEMA flood zones. Ask for a flood zone determination and get insurance quotes before you set your price, because flood and wind coverage can change the true monthly cost of a home more than a few thousand dollars on the price.
Florida's Homestead Exemption lowers the taxable value of a primary residence by up to $50,000, and the Save Our Homes cap then limits yearly increases in its assessed value to 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. File with the county property appraiser by March 1 of the year after you buy.
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General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Confirm details with your agent, attorney, insurer or the county property appraiser.