Buying a Waterfront Home in The Keys: What to Know
Florida Keys real estate is so highly sought after, mainly because most acquisitors are fond of the idea of living in a subtropical environment accompanied by a beautiful sunset/sunrise and ocean each day. When you want to take advantage of all that the Keys has to offer, often, the best choice is to buy one of its available waterfront properties. But, with the many listed waterfront properties for sale in the Florida Keys, there are quite a few considerations that must be taken into account before you make an acquisition. Such considerations will serve as the fine line guaranteeing a successful purchase or one that will make you second guess if you made a good choice or not. To learn more about the considerations you should make before buying a waterfront property in the Florida Keys, continue reading below.
What to Know Before Buying a Waterfront Home in The Keys
There are quite a few factors to take into account before you decide to make an acquisition of Florida Keys waterfront real estate. They include:
Island & General Location
When you’re deciding which waterfront property to purchase, the first decision you’ll need to make involves which key island is right for you. There are more than 40 islands in the Keys, most of which contain plenty of options for you to choose from.
As you’re considering an island, you have to decide how close to the mainland you would like to stay. Driving from Key West to Miami can take a while (roughly 3 hours with light traffic).
You also have to be mindful of where exactly the waterfront property is located on the island. Some potential buyers would like to live near the ease of access to popular fishing spots and boating areas whereas others may prefer a more secluded type of home.
The View
There are generally three categories of Florida Keys waterfront homes, all of which offer different views. They are:
Canal Front
Bayfront
Oceanfront
Canal front homes allow access to open waters through channels. Such Keys waterfront property types tend to be less costly than most other homes but their views show other homes across the canal as opposed to popular sunny oceanfront views that the Keys is known for. One benefit of canal-front homes is that they’re built with private dockage.
The other two types of waterfront homes, ocean and bayfront offer views unlike any other. Their prices are usually a bit more pricey than canal-front homes, but they’re also pretty equal in price. Their acquisition more or less depends on your preference. An oceanfront home offers more beautiful sunrises while bayfront homes offer beautiful sunsets.
Boating Accommodations
All waterfront properties in the Keys differ tremendously based on how much they allow passage for certain boat sizes. A boat’s size is possible based on a given property’s controlling depth, the minimum water depth that a boat can travel through to get to open water. The bigger the vessel, the higher the controlling depth, resulting in a higher cost for a waterfront property. If you own a boat or are planning to own one, this is something that you definitely need to take into account.
Another thing you need to take into account involves how far away the property is from the channels and cuts that connect the home to the ocean. There are only certain homes that allow ease of access to the sea whereas others are located too far away.
Need Help Acquiring The Perfect Waterfront Property in the Florida Keys? Call April Struhs of Florida Keys Search Today!
When you need assistance in acquiring the perfect waterfront home in the Florida Keys, you can trust that April Struhs of Florida Keys Search is the go-to. April Struhs has been providing her quality services to numerous potential buyers of the Keys real estate market, promising a smooth acquisition for all clients but also guaranteeing the acquisition of properties that they can’t find anywhere else. Her work has left every client satisfied and if you don’t believe us, just browse through her Testimonials page; she’s never received a review less than 5 stars! For any inquiries, you call April Struhs at 305-399-6297 or visit her contact page.