BROWARD COUNTY
Real Estate
|
2007 |
2008 |
4/2009 |
| Median Price* Single Family Home |
$363,100 |
$278,000 |
$191,300 |
| Median Price* Condominium |
$187,600 |
$132,900 |
$79,900 |
* Median Price of 101 homes sold would be that price which is lower than 50 of the prices and also higher
than 50 of the prices. In other words, there are homes and condominiums available in every price range in
Broward County. Median prices shown above are for the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood MSA. The statistics are
meant to give you a feel for the area as compared to others you may be considering and to show the direction
of the market.
Taxes
Visit
Buy a Home in Florida for comprehensive property tax information.
Weather
Average High/Low in January 72/53, in July 90/74
South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties) is the 7th largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the nation. The region, whose combined population is now over 5.5 million, has roughly one-third of Florida's total population. Approximately 60 percent of the population is in the prime working ages. The region has been designated a mega-region of the future and a driver of U.S. economic growth in Richard Florida's book
Who's Your City?.
Broward County has about 1.8 million residents and Fort Lauderdale (profiled below) is the County seat and the largest city. Fort Lauderdale is surrounded by many, many smaller towns in the County that retirees love. Those on the ocean offer waterfront and canal front homes and condos, such as Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, Sunny Isles and Pompano Beach. Towns inland, such as Plantation, Sunrise, Parkland, Weston and Pembroke Pines have a variety of home styles and communities to choose from. You can live nearby and take advantage of all that Fort Lauderdale has to offer.
With 1.8 million people in the County and 5.5 million people in the MSA, you might guess that Broward County is a busy place and you would be correct! If you are looking for an active lifestyle and you don’t mind the urban crowds, Broward County has a lot to offer.
Events
Arts & Culture
Plunge into a culture as deep as the ocean that frames the county. A culture characterized by Seminoles and Broadway shows. Tasty jazz and art festivals. And like the horizon here, the list goes on and on and on. Just minutes from the beach is the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District in downtown Fort Lauderdale, home to cultural attractions, shops, parks and restaurants. Along Riverwalk, the brick-lined meandering promenade, discover the Broadway shows, opera, ballet and concerts at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, plus the hands-on Museum of Discovery and Science with its Autonation 3D IMAX Theater, major exhibitions at the Museum of Art, Florida Grand Opera, history at Fort Lauderdale Historical Center, Stranahan House. In addition, check out the following:
- AFRICAN - AMERICAN RESEARCH LIBRARY AND CULTURAL CENTER
- ART AND CULTURE CENTER OF HOLLYWOOD
- BANKATLANTIC CENTER
- CINEMA PARADISO
- CORAL SPRINGS CENTER FOR THE ARTS
- DOWNTOWN A&E TROLLEY LINE
- FLORIDA'S SINGING SONS BOYCHOIR
- FORT LAUDERDALE CHILDREN'S THEATRE
- GIRL CHOIR OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- GOLD COAST JAZZ SOCIETY
- HARD ROCK LIVE
- HOLLYWOOD CENTRAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
- INSIDE OUT THEATRE COMPANY AT THE MUSEUM OF ART
- MIRAMAR CULTURAL CENTER
- MOSAIC THEATRE
- PARKER PLAYHOUSE
- POMPANO BEACH AMPHITHEATER
- RISING ACTION THEATRE
- STAGE DOOR THEATRE
Experience Greater Fort Lauderdale's vibrant cultural vibe, as you explore world-class museums and historical and heritage venues. From fine art to fishing, African-American and Native American heritage, antique cars to outer space and a museum dedicated to swimming Olympian legends.
- BONNET HOUSE MUSEUM & GARDENS
- BROWARD ART GUILD, INC.
- BUEHLER PLANETARIUM (BCC Campus)
- CORAL SPRINGS MUSEUM OF ART
- DOWNTOWN A&E TROLLEY LINE
- FORT LAUDERDALE ANTIQUE CAR MUSEUM
- FORT LAUDERDALE HISTORY CENTER
- IGFA FISHING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
- INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME
- MUSEUM OF ART | FORT LAUDERDALE
- MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY & SCIENCE & AUTONATION IMAX
- OLD DILLARD MUSEUM
- PLANTATION HISTORICAL MUSEUM
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- SABA GALLERY
- SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
- STONEWALL LIBRARY & GLBT ARCHIVES
- THIRD AVENUE ART DISTRICT
Parks & Recreation
When the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division was established more than half a century ago, it had neither a mission statement nor much else – a County beach, three undeveloped areas, an annual operating budget of $10,000, and average attendance of 950,000 people per year.
Today the park system has grown to include 18 regional parks, four nature centers, and 21 natural area sites at various stages of completion, for a total of more than 6,500 acres. The annual operating budget is more than $40 million, and they host an estimated five million visitors per year.
When it comes to boating, the Greater Fort Lauderdale area is laced with 300 miles of waterways and 40,000 resident yachts. Welcome to the world of water... Fort Lauderdale is known as the “Venice of America”. Don't miss the 50th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Oct. 29 - Nov 4, 2009. If you buy a boat there or already have one, there are plenty of marinas to dock it!
- Bahia Mar Marina
801 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, (800) 755-9558
- Cove Marina
1754 SE 3rd Ct., Deerfield Beach, (954) 421-9272
- Hall of Fame Marina
435 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, (954) 764-3975
- Harbour Towne Marina
801 Northeast Third St, Dania Beach, (954) 926-0300
- Hillsboro Inlet Marina
2705 N. Riverside Dr., Pompano Beach, (954) 943-8222
- Pier 66 Marina
2301 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale, (954) 728-3578
- Sands Harbor Marina
125 N. Riverside Dr., Pompano Beach, (954) 942-9100
- Sea Legs Marina
5398 N. Ocean Dr., Hollywood, (954) 923-2109
Greater Fort Lauderdale is one of the few areas in the world where both fresh water and salt water fishing are within 20 minutes of the angler. In addition to more than 200 fresh water species that can be caught in the county's lakes, there are deep water fishing fleets located in Deerfield, Pompano, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea and Dania Beach; and, each of the six cities that line the Atlantic coast plus four municipal piers.
Visit Your Florida Lifestyle for more information on fishing and our Guide to Establishing Florida Residency for Florida fishing license information.
Beaches
Warm your toes in the golden sands of Broward County’s 24 miles of sun-kissed beaches. There's no better way to relax, refresh, renew and reconnect. Enjoy a day of fun in the sun and swimming in the warm Atlantic waters. Sea turtle nesting season is underway from May through October when these creatures will return to their home beaches to lay eggs. Click here for Sea Turtle information.
For comprehensive information on all Florida beaches and gift certificates to the best Florida restaurants on or near them, check out The Florida Beach Book!
Golf
Lush links and loads of courses combined with easy accessibility, comparatively low green fees, unmatched settings and year-round play make Broward County a hole-in-one for golfers. Close to 60 courses offer options for players of all skill levels and include exclusive private clubs, premier municipal facilities maintained to the highest standards, and resort courses designed by luminaries such as Joe Lee, Bruce Devlin, Robert von Hagge, Rees Jones, Raymond Floyd, Robert Trent Jones, and Tom and George Fazio.
Visit Your Florida Lifestyle for more golf information.
Sports
Broward County is a sure bet for gamers looking for a mix of water and wagers. With casino venues ranging from Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino, MardiGras Greyhound Race Track & Casino and The Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park, to Discovery Cruise Line and three Seminole Indian casinos, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Greater Fort Lauderdale has become one of the top tropical destinations to ante up and double down.
Spectator sport-lovers, rejoice. South Florida has a franchise in each of the four major professional sporting leagues, offering year-round action.
See the NHL in action at the Bank Atlantic Center, home to Florida Panthers ice hockey. And the buzz is already in the air, as South Florida prepares to host the Big Game at Land Shark Stadium in 2010.
Visit Your Florida Lifestyle for more sports information.
Hospitals
- Atlantic Shores Hospital, Fort Lauderdale
- Broward Health-Broward General Medical Center, Fort Lauderdale
- Broward Health-Coral Springs Medical Center, Coral Springs
- Broward Health-Imperial Point Medical Center, Fort Lauderdale
- Broward Health-North Broward Medical Center, Deerfield Beach
- Cleveland Clinic Florida Weston, Weston
- Ft. Lauderdale Hospital
- HealthSouth Sunrise Rehabilitation Hospital, Sunrise
- Hollywood Pavilion, Hollywood
- Holy Cross Hospital, Inc., Fort Lauderdale
- Kindred Hospital South Florida-Ft. Lauderdale
- Kindred Hospital South Florida-Hollywood
- Memorial Hospital Miramar, Miramar
- Memorial Hospital West, Pembroke Pines
- Memorial Hospital Pembroke, Pembroke Pines
- Memorial Regional Hospital, Hollywood
- Memorial Regional Hospital South, Hollywood
- North Shore Medical Center FMC Campus, Fort Lauderdale
- Northwest Medical Center, Margate
- Plantation General Hospital, Plantation
- St. Anthony's Rehabilitation Hospital, Lauderdale Lakes
- The Family at Sunrise, Sunrise
- University Hospital & Medical Center, Tamarac
- University Pavilion Hospital, Tamarac
- Westside Regional Medical Center, Plantation
Visit Florida Medical Resources for comprehensive information including Florida hospital ratings
Colleges
For comprehensive information on Lifelong Learning, visit Your Florida Lifestyle.
Airports
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport provides nonstop service more than 93 U.S. cities, Bahamas, Canada, Caribbean, Central, and South America. A total of 23 scheduled airlines provide service with 311 non-stop flights per day.
www.broward.org/airport
Shopping
Discover the convenience and the value of shopping in everything from boutiques to department stores in Broward County. The Galleria in Fort Lauderdale is a favorite mall out of the 12 in the county. Sawgrass Mills, the world's largest discount and entertainment mall, the Swap Shop, South's largest flea market, and Festival Flea Market, a quarter-mile long shopper's paradise, are just a few of the venues to begin your retail therapy. Translated “the waves” in Spanish, Las Olas Blvd. is known as Greater Fort Lauderdale’s “style mile,” lined with independently owned boutiques, a restaurant row with acclaimed chefs, and lively lounges and cafés with sidewalk seating. Las Olas also is the starting point for canal tours in authentic, Italian gondolas, as well as a major stop along Greater Fort Lauderdale’s Water Taxi system.
Broward County, Florida, Cities & Towns
Additional Resources
Broward County Government http://www.broward.org
Broward County/Fort Lauderdale Tourism http://www.sunny.org/
Broward County Cultural Division http://www.broward.org/arts/home.htm
Featured Towns/Cities
Fort Lauderdale
Incorporated on March 27, 1911, the City of Fort Lauderdale is centrally located between Miami and Palm Beach. Encompassing more than 33 square miles with a population of nearly 180,000, Fort Lauderdale is the largest of Broward County's 30 municipalities and the seventh largest city in Florida. Embraced by the Atlantic Ocean, New River and a myriad of scenic inland waterways, Fort Lauderdale truly lives up to its designation as the "Venice of America."
The City of Fort Lauderdale is named for a Second Seminole War fortification built on the banks of New River in 1838. In that year, Major William Lauderdale led a detachment of Tennessee Volunteers south along the east coast of Florida to capture Seminole agricultural lands and battle the elusive Indian warriors. Altogether, three forts named after Major Lauderdale would be constructed: the first at the fork of New River; the second at Tarpon Bend; and the largest on the beach at the site of Bahia Mar. None of the forts survives today. There is more historical information at http://www.oldfortlauderdale.org/.
English is the first language of about 75% of the population, followed by Spanish at almost 10%.
Fort Lauderdale also offers an outstanding quality of life, highlighted by a semi-tropical climate, rich natural beauty and array of cultural, entertainment and educational amenities. Blessed with over 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and pleasant year-round ocean breezes, world-famous Fort Lauderdale Beach offers premier opportunities for recreation, relaxation and enjoyment. The picturesque Riverwalk serves as the cornerstone of the City's arts, science, cultural and historic district which features the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Museum of Discovery and Science, Museum of Art and Old Fort Lauderdale Village and Museum. Las Olas Boulevard has gained international acclaim as Fort Lauderdale's centerpiece of fashion, fine dining and entertainment. In addition, the City's downtown area is home to Broward Community College, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, and the award-winning Broward County Main Library, and federal, county and school district offices.
Fort Lauderdale was a U.S. News Editorial Pick: Best Places to Retire for Single Retirees
Fort Lauderdale offers an interesting and perhaps overwhelming mix of housing options. There are so many choices in every category: Florida beach front condos, riverfront condos, older neighborhoods where homes have been rehabbed or can be, and of course, gated and non gated communities further inland.
If you would like to get a feel for home prices in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County, visit www.zillow.com and search for recent homes sold.
If you would prefer to save precious time and would like personalized assistance, call or email us today to take advantage of our free Florida Relocation Services. We’ll answer all of your questions and if the timing is right for you, we’ll introduce you to one of the best real estate agents in Broward County who can provide detailed information and professional assistance.
