Buying a home in Stuart and Martin County

Communities to know

Stuart is the county seat, with a walkable historic downtown on the St. Lucie River.

Palm City sits across the river from Stuart, with established single-family neighborhoods and golf communities.

Jensen Beach, north of Stuart, runs along the Indian River Lagoon.

Hobe Sound, in the south of the county, is close to Jonathan Dickinson State Park and Jupiter Island.

Hutchinson Island is the barrier island along the county's ocean coast, with beachfront condos and homes.

What makes Martin County different

Martin County's growth management rules have long held most buildings to four stories, which shapes the skyline and the housing stock: more single-family homes and low-rise condos, fewer towers.

Water is central here. The St. Lucie River, the Indian River Lagoon and the Intracoastal Waterway give many homes boat access, which brings the same waterfront checks as anywhere on the coast: seawall and dock condition, water depth and bridge clearances.

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.