Moving to Palm Beach County, Florida
Relocating to Palm Beach County is about more than finding a home. It is about finding the part of South Florida that fits the way you want to live.
Many of my relocation clients come from New York and New Jersey, often because family or friends have already made the move to South Florida. Others relocate for work, retirement, warmer weather or simply a change in lifestyle.
The good news is that Palm Beach County offers an incredible range of choices. You can live close to the beach and a lively downtown, in a gated community farther west, in a golf or country club community, in an active adult neighborhood, on the water or in a newer suburban development.
The key is knowing where to begin.
Finding the Right Area Starts With the Right Questions
After more than two decades in real estate, I have learned that relocating buyers usually do not need an endless questionnaire to figure out where to begin.
Two of the most important things I need to know are your budget and the type of home you would like.
From there, the picture becomes much clearer.
If you have children or grandchildren nearby, friends you want to live close to, a job you will commute to or a particular school that is important to your family, those locations help narrow the search even further.
With that information and a conversation about how you envision living here, I can usually identify the areas and communities that make the most sense to explore first.
East, West or Somewhere in Between?
Location within Palm Beach County can make a noticeable difference in both lifestyle and the type of home available.
Buyers who prioritize the beach, Intracoastal Waterway, downtown restaurants and entertainment often begin by exploring communities farther east in areas such as Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Ocean Ridge, Lake Worth Beach and West Palm Beach.
Farther west, buyers will generally find more master-planned and gated communities, newer development, larger residential neighborhoods, golf communities and many of Palm Beach County’s 55+ active adult communities. West Boca Raton, West Delray Beach, West Boynton Beach, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Westlake offer a different residential experience from their coastal counterparts.
Northern Palm Beach County, including Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter, adds another mix of waterfront living, boating, golf communities, suburban neighborhoods and luxury properties.
There is no universally “best” part of Palm Beach County. The right location depends on what matters most to you.
The Cost of Living May Surprise You
Cost is one of the biggest topics that comes up with my relocation clients, particularly those moving from New York and New Jersey.
Many are pleasantly surprised by their potential property taxes compared with what they have been accustomed to paying up north. Clients also frequently tell me that their utility costs are lower than they expected.
Homeowners insurance, however, can be a different story.
Insurance costs in Florida can be higher, and premiums can vary considerably based on the property itself. Roof age, hurricane protection, location, flood considerations, construction and the type of home you are purchasing can all become part of the conversation.
For that reason, I encourage relocation buyers to look at the total cost of owning a home, rather than comparing properties solely by purchase price.
Buyers should also be careful when looking at the current property taxes shown on a listing. The seller’s tax bill may not represent what a new owner will pay after purchasing the property.
Florida also does not impose a personal state income tax, and buyers who establish a Florida property as their permanent residence may be eligible for a Homestead Exemption and other property tax benefits. A tax professional and the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser can provide guidance based on your individual circumstances.
Schools & Education in Palm Beach County
For families relocating with school-age children, school location may become one of the deciding factors in where to search.
Palm Beach County includes traditional public schools along with Choice, Career, charter and private school options. Because school boundaries, admissions requirements and program availability can change, buyers should always verify information directly with the appropriate school or the School District of Palm Beach County before making a home-buying decision.
If a particular school or educational program is important to your move, tell me at the beginning of your search. We can use its location as one of the factors when determining which communities and homes make sense to consider.
Getting Around Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County covers a large area from north to south, but its major communities are connected by several primary transportation routes.
I-95 is an important north-south route for many communities closer to the eastern portion of the county, while Florida’s Turnpike is particularly convenient to many neighborhoods farther west.
This makes it possible to live in one Palm Beach County city while regularly visiting family, working or enjoying restaurants and activities in another. Actual driving times can vary considerably depending on the time of day, traffic and exactly where you are traveling from.
Brightline and Tri-Rail also provide convenient alternatives to driving. Brightline connects West Palm Beach and Boca Raton with Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando, with a future extension toward Tampa currently in development. Tri-Rail serves communities throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, including Downtown Miami at MiamiCentral and Miami Airport Station, which is within walking distance of Miami Freedom Park for Inter Miami CF games.
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is conveniently located in West Palm Beach, while Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Miami International Airport (MIA) provide additional options farther south.
For many people moving here from the Northeast, having family and friends just a few cities away can be much more convenient than the map initially makes it appear.
Relocating From Out of State
You do not need to wait until your flight lands in Florida to begin searching for your new home.
When a relocation buyer first contacts me, we normally start with a phone conversation. I want to understand what you are looking for, your budget, your preferred type of home and anything that needs to influence the location of your search.
From there, I can begin sending you listings that fit those criteria.
As you review them, we circle back and talk about which properties and communities are catching your attention. That conversation often tells me even more about what you like and what we should eliminate.
By the time you are ready to come to Florida, we can schedule an appointment and focus your time on the homes and areas that actually make sense for you.
Instead of spending the first day of your trip trying to figure out Palm Beach County, you can arrive with a much clearer idea of where your search should begin.
Relocating to a 55+ Community?
Palm Beach County is home to a large selection of 55+ active adult communities, particularly throughout Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and the Lake Worth area.
But 55+ communities here are far from interchangeable.
Some offer large resort-style clubhouses and extensive social calendars. Others are smaller and quieter. Buyers can choose among single-family homes, villas and condominiums, with communities offering different combinations of pools, fitness centers, tennis, pickleball, restaurants, clubs, entertainment and other amenities.
There are also important differences in HOA fees, community size, location and overall lifestyle.
If active adult living is part of your move, my Palm Beach County 55+ Communities Guide can help you compare individual communities, amenities and available homes.
Daisy's Perspective
Relocation buyers often begin their search with a particular city because that is where a friend or family member lives. But Palm Beach County has many neighboring areas that can put you close to the people you want to be near while giving you very different choices in homes, communities and lifestyle.
That is why I encourage buyers to keep an open mind at the beginning. Sometimes the community that ends up feeling most like home is not the one they originally had on their list.
Ready to Understand the Buying Process?
Once you have a better idea of where you would like to live, my Palm Beach County Buyer’s Guide walks you through the home-buying process, including preparing to buy, financing, making an offer, inspections and what to expect through closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Florida does not impose a personal state income tax. For many people relocating from states such as New York and New Jersey, that can be an important financial difference. Your individual tax situation may vary, so you should always consult a qualified tax professional regarding how a move to Florida may affect you.
If you own a Florida home and make it your permanent residence, you may qualify for Florida’s Homestead Exemption, which can reduce the taxable value of your property. Homesteaded properties may also benefit from the Save Our Homes assessment limitation. Florida adjusts a portion of the Homestead Exemption for inflation, so the exact exemption amount can change from year to year. Eligibility and current exemption amounts should be verified with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser.
Not necessarily. This is important for relocating buyers to understand. A property’s assessed value can change after a sale, so the seller’s current tax bill should not automatically be used as an estimate of what you will pay. Before purchasing, I recommend looking at an estimated tax amount based on the anticipated purchase price.
CBS commonly refers to concrete block and stucco construction, which you will see frequently in Palm Beach County. Buyers relocating from the Northeast are often more accustomed to wood-frame construction, so this is one of those Florida real estate terms that may be unfamiliar at first. Construction can vary by property, so the home’s actual construction type should always be verified.
It can be. Many of my out of state clients are pleasantly surprised by property taxes and utility costs here, but homeowners insurance can be higher than they expected. Roof age, hurricane protection, construction, location, flood exposure and other property-specific factors can all affect the cost, which is why insurance should be considered when comparing homes.
Absolutely. Most of my relocation clients begin with a phone conversation. From there, I can send listings based on your budget, preferred property type and location needs. We review the homes and communities that interest you, narrow the search and then schedule time to see properties when you come to Florida.
Let me know at the beginning of the search. Those locations can become important starting points when determining which cities, neighborhoods and communities make sense within your budget.
Finally, an easy Florida housing expense: $0. No snowblower, no driveway shoveling and no wondering whether the plow will bury your car five minutes after you finish digging it out.
Planning a Move to Palm Beach County?
Whether you already know exactly where you want to live or are just beginning to explore your options, you do not have to figure it all out on your own.
Tell me what you are looking for, what you would like to spend and what is bringing you to Palm Beach County. From there, we can start narrowing down the homes and communities that fit your move.