Island Living

Affordable Keys Home You Don’t Need a Million Dollars to Live in the Florida Keys When people think of the Florida Keys, they picture infinity pools, rooftop terraces, and docks big enough to host a yacht convention. And yes… those homes exist. But here’s the good news: You don’t need a million dollars to live here. You just need realistic expectations, a little flexibility, and maybe a fondness for the […]
Buying Florida Keys Real Estate in 2026: What Buyers Need to Know Before Choosing Their Key If you’re thinking about buying in the Florida Keys, you’ve probably noticed something interesting. Some homes sell quickly.Others sit.Prices are strong—but buyers have more breathing room than they did a few years ago. Welcome to the 2026 Florida Keys market. As a long-time Florida Keys Realtor with Century 21 BE3, I can tell you this: […]
buying advice Pick Your Paradise: Which Florida Keys Neighborhood Matches Your Personality? Trying to figure out where you belong in the Florida Keys? Whether you’re buying, selling, or daydreaming with a cup of Cuban coffee in hand, this fun, lighthearted quiz is here to match your personal style with your ideal Keys neighborhood. Because let’s be honest:The Keys aren’t one-size-fits-all — and that’s exactly what makes them […]
Artificial Turf The Mystery of the Missing Yard: Why Florida Keys Lawns Aren’t What You Think If you’ve spent any time house hunting in the Florida Keys, you may have noticed something odd.Sure, we’ve got waterfront views, island breezes, and porches that stay dry year-round (thank you, awnings!)—but something is often missing. A lush, green, golf-course-style lawn. Instead, you’ll see gravel, native shrubs, coral rock peeking through, and the occasional valiant […]
Florida Keys Living in Paradise Takes a Little Prep: 5 Smart Ways to Fortify a Florida Keys Home Living in the Florida Keys is a dream.Warm breezes. Blue water. Island time. But paradise comes with a few quirks. Sun, salt air, summer storms, and the occasional hurricane are all part of life here. The good news? You don’t need to live in fear—or build a fortress—to live comfortably in the Keys. A few […]
Beacon Reef First Class Fridays: Spotlight on Beacon Reef, Islamorada Beacon Reef has long been one of my favorite condos in the Upper Keys. Every time I walk through this community, I’m reminded why people fall in love with it. The floorplans feel open and welcoming — not boxy like so many condos can be. Most units offer beautiful water views, and every owner enjoys […]
Florida Keys Why Having a Generator in the Florida Keys Still Makes Good Sense (Even in 2025!) If you moved to the Florida Keys in the before times—say, the late 1980s—you remember what the power situation was like. When I first arrived in 1987, the Keys were infamous for regular outages. We didn’t panic, we didn’t complain… we just lit a candle, opened a window, and reminded ourselves that “life in paradise” […]
Florida Keys Hemingway’s Six-Toed Cats: The Quirky Heart of a Key West Sanctuary In the middle of Key West’s lively bars and music, there’s a place that feels calm, cool, and almost timeless. It’s the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, a quiet island of shade and stories. Many visitors come for Hemingway’s writing history. Most stay, though, for the cats — especially the ones with six toes. A […]
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Community Spotlight Seven Palms Cove: Luxury Living Returns to Summerland Key (And So Do a Few Memories!) Every once in a while, a new development pops up in the Florida Keys that makes you stop, stare, and say, “Well… that’s going to be something special.”Seven Palms Cove on Summerland Key is exactly that. Maybe I’m a little sentimental, but this one hits close to home—literally. Years ago, I lived on Summerland Key, […]
below flood The Truth About Downstairs Living in the Florida Keys (And Why It’s Not Always What You Think!) If you’ve spent any time house-hunting in the Florida Keys, you’ve probably noticed something right away: we love our downstairs spaces.Porches, storage rooms, workshops, little bonus areas — you name it, we’ve built it. And because our islands are full of homes on stilts, the downstairs level often looks like the perfect spot for a […]
Florida Keys First Class Fridays: A Spotlight on 415 Palm Drive, Lower Matecumbe Happy Friday and welcome to First Class Fridays! Today, we’re heading to one of my favorite spots in the Florida Keys—415 Palm Drive in Lower Matecumbe. If you’ve ever dreamed of living the true Keys lifestyle, this home checks every box. From the moment you see it, this house feels like island living at its […]
buying advice The Realities Behind Paradise: What to Know About Living in the Florida Keys Most people picture the Florida Keys as sunshine, turquoise water, and endless island breezes — and they’re right. But living in paradise comes with a few realities that set island life apart from the mainland. These aren’t deal-breakers; they’re simply part of the Keys lifestyle. When you know what to expect, it’s easy to see […]
buying advice The Only Frost-Free Place in the Continental U.S.: Life in the Florida Keys If you’ve ever wondered whether paradise exists inside the continental United States, look no further than the Florida Keys — the only frost-free region in the Lower 48. Not “mostly frost-free.” Not “once in a while it dips to sweater weather.” Truly frost-free. Our tropical-jungle-meets-island-lifestyle climate is something the rest of the country both admires […]
Canalfront First Class Fridays: Port Antigua — Where Sandy Toes Meet Serious Boating Happy Friday!This week, we’re setting our sights on Port Antigua, a first-class community in Islamorada that blends laid-back beach vibes with true boating luxury. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a Keys home that checks every box—private beach, deep-water dockage, and calm canals—this is the one to watch. A Private Beach… All Yours Yes, you […]
Community Spotlight First Class Fridays: Spotlight on Key Haven When I first moved to the Keys back in 1987, the very first place I called home was Key Haven. Maybe that’s why this community has always held a special place in my heart. Tucked just outside of Key West, Key Haven has long been one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the Lower Keys—and […]
Florida Keys Florida Keys Weather: Frost-Free, Fun, and a Little Feisty One of the biggest reasons people love the Florida Keys? The weather. It’s the stuff vacation dreams are made of. No Frost Allowed Here’s a fun fact: the Keys are the only frost-free spot in the continental U.S. That means no scraping ice off windshields, no frozen toes, and no dead tropical plants. Your flip-flops […]
Community Spotlight The 10 Most Prestigious Homes in Key West When you think of Key West, you probably picture turquoise waters, swaying palms, and historic cottages. But tucked into this island paradise are some of the most prestigious single-family homes in the Florida Keys. These properties aren’t just houses—they’re retreats, status symbols, and income-generating investments rolled into one. If you’ve ever wondered what the top […]
Florida Keys Ecosystem Eco-Friendly Homeownership in the Florida Keys: Protecting Paradise One House at a Time The Florida Keys are more than just a chain of islands—they’re home to one of the most delicate ecosystems in the world. From our coral reef that acts as a protective barrier, to the freshwater we import and carefully conserve, to the endangered Key Deer that wander Big Pine, every piece of this environment is […]
Atlantic Ocean First Class Friday Spotlight: Mariner’s Club – Key Largo Long ago, the land where Mariner’s Club now stands was left untouched. For years, it sat quietly by the water, waiting. Then came the vision that changed everything. Developers transformed it into one of the Upper Keys’ most exclusive private communities. 🏝 A Club Lifestyle in the Heart of Key Largo Mariner’s Club is a […]
Florida Keys Real Estate Monday Market Update (One Day Late Edition!) First, let me start with a quick apology — this week’s Monday Market Update is arriving on a Tuesday! The market doesn’t wait, and I don’t want you to miss a beat, so let’s dive into what happened in the Florida Keys real estate scene last week. New Listings: 45 Fresh Opportunities Last week, 45 […]