Deerfield Beach

While some envision their neighborhood home as being on a golf course, a close second could be when a neighborhood has been built on what used to be a golf course. That’s the case with the Crystal Lake neighborhood in Deerfield Beach, where single-family homes and townhouses sit on what once were fairways and greens. “The homes in the area are so well kept; many were built in 2019 and 2020 after the golf course redevelopment,” says David Bourns, a real estate investor with Society Realty who has purchased property in Crystal Lake. “A portion of the community is gated, which gives residents greater security and peace of mind.” The more than 400 houses built on the former golf course are now part of the Veleiros at Crystal Lake community. People here are part of a homeowners association with a monthly fee of less than $300. There’s access to a clubhouse with a fitness center and pool, and some properties have a lake view. The homes are all from the late 2010s and early 2020s and are spacious, with five bedrooms and nearly 3,000 square feet. The price range is between $525,000 and $850,000. Outside of that community are homes that initially surrounded the golf course that were built from the 1960s through the ‘80s. Some of the older homes are part of a homeowners association, where the monthly fee is less than $100 a month, and residents have access to a fitness center. There are Minimal Traditional and ranch-style homes, some with Spanish influences, and prices range from $300,000 to $450,000. Part of the former golf course is also home to Fairway Memorial Gardens, where the space has been reimagined as a cemetery. There’s also a pet cemetery section. Sailboat Lake, a big source of recreation in the neighborhood, dominates Crystal Lake’s southern and western parts. The lake spans 80 acres, and several condominium buildings along the lakefront allow residents to dock their boats or cast a line into the water. Condo residents also have additional amenities that come with their community, such as a pool and a fitness center. The homeowners association fee is around $400 a month. The units are two to three bedrooms with 1,000 to 1,500 square feet. Public schools that serve the Crystal Lake neighborhood include those in the Broward County school district. Quiet Waters Elementary School is rated B-minus on Niche and has a 17-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Crystal Lake Middle School is a magnet school, and students have opportunities to join organizations like the debate club, which challenges students from other schools. The school has earned a C-plus on Niche. Blanche Ely High School is named after a Black educator whose career spanned over 70 years. The school is rated a C-plus on Niche. The Broward County School District is rated a B-plus overall. One of the unique restaurants in the area is Marco's Top Burgers, a Brazilian-style burger joint that serves burgers with Brazilian beef. The atmosphere and vibe are authentic, as the employees will likely speak Portuguese. Juice 2U Organic Kitchen is a vegan restaurant with a bright interior. As the name implies, they specialize in juices and smoothies as well as a variety of sandwiches, salads and fruit bowls. A Costco is at the intersection of Sample and Powerline Roads for buying grocery items in bulk. A short drive west on Wiles Road is the Waste Management Monarch Hill Landfill, where residents can take their waste. Next door to that is the Wheelabrator North Broward waste-to-energy plant. The plant produces enough energy to power 39,000 households. The plant has been in operation since 1991. Bus stops along Powerline Road and Sample Road can take customers in any direction through the Broward County Transit bus system. The Pompano Beach Tri-Rail commuter rail station is just over a mile away. The rail line heads south toward Fort Lauderdale and downtown Miami. For those who prefer traveling by car, Florida’s Turnpike and I-95 are less than 2 miles away.

Bonnie Loch offers life along a canal in Deerfield Beach, just across the train tracks from Sailboat Lake. About 15 miles north of Fort Lauderdale and 5 miles southwest of the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier, the neighborhood ensures proximity to major cities and local beaches. Like many communities in Deerfield Beach, Bonnie Loch continues to see growth and enhancement. “All these people came after COVID, so it’s been really picking up pace,” says Lia Papadopoulos of Coldwell Banker, a real estate agent with several home sales in the area. “It’s definitely turning in front of us: more modern buildings, more upgrades. It’s amazing to see the transformation. It’s going from that brown, orange and yellow to white and gray — more modern looking.” Because the neighborhood wraps around the canal, many homes come with backyard views of the water — an appealing feature for permanent and part-time residents. “There are some full-time people, it’s like 60% of the residents, and the rest are seasonal renters — snowbirds, snowflakes and Airbnb,” Papadopoulos says. Ranch-style homes make up about 40% of properties in Bonnie Loch, many of which were constructed in the 1960s and 1980s. Carports and attached garages allow most homeowners to keep cars shaded from the sun, and many homeowners associations include community pools and tennis courts. Three-bedroom homes start around $300,000, but property size and square footage can drive the price closer to $475,000. For part-time residents, condos and townhouses offer a lower-cost alternative, with two-bedroom units starting at around $150,000 and reaching up to $300,000. “You can still find a condo, townhouse or single-family home for under $450,000,” says Danny Darwish of Options Realty Team LLC, a real estate broker specializing in the Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area. “That’s a better value than what you’ll find in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton or Miami. That gives more people a chance to own a home.” Students can attend schools in Broward County School District like Tedder Elementary, which earns a C from Niche, and C-plus-graded Deerfield Beach Middle. From here, students can head to Deerfield Beach High School, a C-plus-graded option that earns a B-minus and boasts a 99% graduation rate. Through the Upward Bound Program at DBHS, at-risk students and first-generation college students can tour colleges, earn money for academic achievements and access tutoring. The school also includes magnet program options like the Urban Teacher Academy. The Military Trail Natural Area sits in the northwestern part of Bonnie Loch, positioning properties alongside colorful plant life, but this quiet preserve isn’t the only space to embrace the outdoors nearby. Situated 5 miles from Deer Creek Golf Club and the Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course, the neighborhood appeals to golf lovers looking to live near public courses. Ecidar Park is less than 2 miles north for playground access, and for a chance to cast a line into the sea, the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier is about 5 miles east. Though entirely made up of residential properties, Bonnie Loch only requires a 5-mile drive to top restaurants along the shore. “There’s JB’s on the Beach and Ocean 234, and The Whale’s Rib is a really good dive place on the pier,” Papadopoulos says. Seabra Foods lies just across the train tracks along Sample Road for grocery shopping, and Costco is just a bit farther down. Additional shopping options line Route 1, including some new additions near the mall, Pompano Citi Centre. “It’s a small area compared to Boca Raton and Lighthouse Point,” Papadopoulos says. “But some things have just been built down the road. There’s a Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and movie theaters.” With ramps to Interstate 95 right along its southern border, Bonnie Loch offers a straightforward commute to Fort Lauderdale, about 15 miles south, and to Boca Raton, less than 10 miles north. With a high-speed rail in Boca Raton, locals can also explore other major cities or reach airports along Florida’s eastern coast without worrying about facing traffic. “You can go to Fort Lauderdale with the BrightLine and to Miami, or you can go the other way to West Point and Orlando,” Papadopoulos says. For local travel, the Broward County Transit’s bus line stops at Broward Health North, a hospital less than a mile east of Bonnie Loch. Because of Bonnie Loch’s proximity to the shoreline, hurricanes can impact properties and lead to damage. Though the neighborhood does not face a significant risk of flood, high wind speeds can cause external damage to houses in the community. The City of Deerfield Beach recommends that locals create an emergency plan to ensure preparation if severe weather causes a need for evacuation.

Desirable South Florida location With a large hospital within its boundaries, the neighborhood of Tedder, just east of the Interstate 95 and Sample Road interchange, is a collection of mainly older homes on the fringes of affordability. “It’s just outside of Boca Raton, where the houses are more expensive,” says Yulia Skurikhina, a Realtor with Julie’s Realty. “You can find a home for under $500,000 and areas without a homeowners association.” This area of Florida in Deerfield Beach, north of Miami, means proximity to the beaches and ocean access for fishermen and boating enthusiasts. From mid-century to modern Houses in Tedder were not all built simultaneously, leaving various houses and styles. Single-family ranch-style homes dominate the neighborhood. Some were built in the 1950s and ‘60s, featuring low-pitched roofs, colored siding and stucco. The older homes are mid-century modern or a famous, colorful ranch style that’s so common in Florida. Plenty of houses built in the 1990s and beyond have a more contemporary look, many with one and two-car garages. “An advantage to having no HOA restriction is being able to do what you want with your home – like parking a boat in the driveway,” Skurikhina says. “That’s convenient for boaters who don’t want to pay marina fees.” The prices in the neighborhood range from $300,000 to $580,000. Sixty-seven percent of the people in Tedder are homeowners. Along 48th Street in the northern part of the neighborhood, there are two RV campgrounds beside each other. Breezy Hill and Highland Woods attract several Canadian visitors who come during the winter months to stay long-term. Highland Woods used to be a 55-plus mobile home community. Quality care is in the backyard The over 400-bed Broward Health North is at the southern end of the neighborhood on Sample Road near I-95. The hospital also has a 36,000-square-foot emergency department with private suites and various medical specialists, including stroke, cardiac and cancer. The hospital has also received advanced certification for joint replacement procedures. A taste of Havana not far from the Little Havana While the famous Little Havana section of Miami is about 40 miles south, Costa Sur Cuban Café is open early for breakfast and is a popular coffee stop. They serve Cuban sandwiches and empanadas the rest of the day, a fried turnover consisting of pastry and filling. Within a block of the hospital is Casa Do Pastel, a unique Brazilian eatery serving freshly prepared pastels, a baked or fried turnover. Grocery shopping can be done at Bravo Supermarket at Northeast 48th Street and Dixie Highway and a Publix at the Venetian Isle Shopping Center, which also has a Petco, a few banks and pharmacies. Namesake elementary school The neighborhood gets its name from a school serving the community. Tedder Elementary School is part of the Broward County School District. With a large Brazilian population in the area, the English for Speakers of Other Languages (or ESOL) Department offers various services like a dual language program and interpreters and translators. Deerfield Beach Middle School earns a C-plus on Niche, while Deerfield Beach High School has a 99% graduation rate and is rated a B-minus. Bright Horizons Center is in the neighborhood and is a specialized K-12 school for students who require intense support. Preserved area just off Dixie Highway The Highlands Scrub Natural Area is 34 acres, which is a designated area for rare pineland scrub. It was formerly known as the Jungle and is considered one of Broward County’s and South Florida’s last substantial remaining sand pine scrub communities. It’s an endangered plant, and less than five percent of this habitat is believed to remain in Broward County. The park features a hiking trail, pavilion, ample parking and benches. I-95 proximity Tedder is on the eastern part of I-95 at the Sample Road interchange. It is heading south on the interstate that leads to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, about 20 miles away. Broward County Transit has bus lines on Sample Road and Dixie Highway. The Pompano Beach stop on the Tri-Rail train line is approximately 3 miles away.

The Cove's name may paint the picture of a sheltered bay somewhere hidden away, but this little waterfront enclave in Deerfield Beach is so convenient that it encourages those who live here to explore the region by land and sea. The neighborhood has direct access to the Intracoastal waterways, which makes it a popular destination for boaters. Private docks are available on the limited waterfront lots, but all homeowners can enjoy the quiet streets and mature Florida landscaping without worrying about HOA fees. Shopping, dining and sandy beaches are all within walking distance, and the vibrant commercial centers of Boca Raton are under 7 miles away. "You really do get the best of both worlds,” says Tinka Ellington, executive director of luxury sales with Douglas Elliman. “There’s a hometown feeling in the midst of all these modern cities nearby, and you can enjoy pretty much anything.” Residents in The Cove live a recreation-oriented lifestyle. Boating and fishing are common throughout the area, while places like Bolo Sport Fishing offer private charters for those looking to cast a line in the open waters of the nearby Gulf of Mexico. Sullivan Park sits in the neighborhood and features kid-friendly amenities, including a playground and splash pad. The park is part of the Freedom Boat Club, which offers members access to well-maintained boats of their choice. Deerfield Beach is a mile away and is a popular spot for residents to enjoy a day on the water. Visitors can catch some rays or head to the 976-foot Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier. “The best part about The Cove is that it's within walking distance to the beach,” Ellington says. Golfers flock to the Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club for 18 holes on a Jack Nicklaus redesigned course. Construction on the neighborhood began in the 1950s and 60s with colorful ranch-style houses on tree-lined streets. While many original builds remain, remodeling and renovations have been widespread. Updated builds feature Spanish-Revival architecture with red-tiled roofs and stucco exteriors. Midcentury-moderns are another popular style. Most lots have well-manicured front lawns and swimming pools in the backyard, offering a great spot to beat the heat. Waterfront properties are available on the neighborhood's eastern side and come with private boat docks, making certain houses attractive to boaters. High-rise condos with bayside views provide a multifamily option and begin pricing at $475,000. Older landlocked builds sell for $650,000, while larger waterfront estates top $7.5 million. Flooding is a concern due to the neighborhood’s location along the Intracoastal Waterway. The area is prone to hurricanes, but updated construction codes have provided some protection against water damage. Broward County provides flood information resources and recommends homeowners purchase a flood insurance policy. Residents are close to shopping and dining as The Cove Shopping Center sits in the neighborhood’s northern end. The Cove Brewery is Deerfield Beach’s first brewery and serves up original drafts in an old-school Florida setting. Nearby, The Modern Rose is known for its timeless breakfast foods and coffee creations. Cocktails and good times flow freely at The Cove Waterfront Restaurant and Tiki Bar. This neighborhood staple allows boaters to dock off and dine in or pick up to-go orders without ever having to leave the water. Live music echoes from the outside patio every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Publix provides groceries to the neighborhood while medical care is available at PMC Hillsboro. Broward County Public School District is the sixth largest school district in the nation and serves the neighborhood’s younger residents. Deerfield Beach Elementary received a C-plus rating on Niche. Deerfield Beach Middle School also received a C-plus rating and offers the International Baccalaureate Middle Years program to students looking to accelerate their honors-level learning. The B-minus rated Deerfield Beach High School serves as a communication magnet for the district and immerses participants into the world of audio and visual media. Recording studios, an on-campus television studio and computer graphics labs are all available. St. Ambrose Catholic School is a private school option for parents to consider. The Ocean Brews and Blues festival attracts craft beer and music enthusiasts for an evening of cold beverages, local food, and the best blues music entertainment. The Fourth of July celebration on the beach is capped off with fireworks and music. Santa and his reindeer head to town during the Ocean Way Holiday, which features ice skating and famous holiday lights. This neighborhood is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood close to nearby attractions. “People walk and bike everywhere,” Ellington says. While residents take advantage of the convenient location, those traveling farther will find they are well connected to other south Florida cities. Boca Raton is under 7 miles away, while Fort Lauderdale and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport are around 25 miles south. The Broward County Transit services multiple bus routes throughout the neighborhood. Boaters have direct access to the Intracoastal waterway and the open ocean of the Gulf of Mexico via the Boca Raton Inlet.

With its pristine landscaping, vibrant fairways and timeless Spanish-inspired architecture, there’s something idyllic about the Deer Creek neighborhood. “Just driving home puts you into a different frame of mind,” says Linda Chudnoff, a Realtor at Century 21 Guspav Realty Inc who has lived in Deer Creek for more than a decade. “You pass lakes and the golf course and so much greenery. I used to split my time between New York City and Hillsboro Beach, but Deer Creek is the only community I would live in now.” Just 5 miles south of the energy in Boca Raton and 5 miles west of the coastal sea breeze, this Deerfield Beach suburb has no shortage of outdoor adventure. Part of the attraction of Deer Creek are the homes themselves, which range from 1,000- to 1,500-square-foot condos and apartment units that sell between $225,000 and $500,000 to single-family homes with traditional Spanish Revival features, priced from $1 million to $1.5 million. Because the neighborhood was built around small lakes and a golf course, many properties offer water or fairway views. “With so many housing options and price points, the neighborhood has a good mix of young families and retirees,” Chudnoff says. “Deer Creek homes are easy to sell not only because they are magnificent, but also because the community is so friendly.” Another perk of living in Deer Creek is the recreation right outside the back door. The Deer Creek Golf Club features an 18-hole championship golf course with no membership fee, a multimillion-dollar Key-West-style clubhouse, and other amenities. The Deer Creek Grille is open for drinks and chef-prepared meals — the holiday dinners and Sunday breakfast buffets are well-known. Nearby is the Arboretum at Constitution Park off Hillsboro Boulevard, the park featuring jungle gyms and athletic courts. A walk through the 9-acre Arboretum will show over 200 exotic trees from five continents and a butterfly garden, frequented by dozens of native bird species. Shops and restaurants are just a stone’s throw away. Deerfield Mall with its Italianate arches is an extensive shopping center with a Publix, storefronts and a variety of eateries. For more shopping options, Target is close enough to Deer Creek that many residents bike to it. Located east on Hillsboro Boulevard is JByrd’s Muddy Waters, a tropical-themed restaurant and raw bar that serves a local favorite Cajun Alfredo pasta coined the Rasta Pasta. Euroland is also close, a grocery store stocked with niche ingredients. Children can start their education journey at Quiet Waters Elementary, which receives a B-minus Niche grade and offers a special visual arts program that helps students become more creative learners and thinkers. They can then progress to Lyons Creek Middle, graded a B, and potentially join the Cambridge program — a program that enhances students’ curriculum and leads to a full Bright Futures Scholarship. Deerfield Beach High serves the area’s older learners. Niche grades this school a B-minus and ranks it in the top 16% of best high schools for athletes in Florida. Interstate 95 runs along the east side of Deer Creek, where residents can hop on and drive just 5 miles to land in the heart of Boca Raton. Bus riders take advantage of the several Broward County Transit stops that line Hillsboro Boulevard. And a mile or so east is the Deerfield Beach Station, which picks up Amtrak and RTA Tri-Rail passengers. Hillsboro Beach, with its sandy shores, piers and boardwalks, is only 5 miles east of Deer Creek. And with the interstate close by, shopping at the Town Center at Boca Raton is within 5 miles. Also in nearby Boca Raton is Florida Atlantic University, a public university with more than 20,000 students on its main campus.

Remember walking downtown to see a movie, catching a ride to the mall or barbecuing on a Sunday with friends? Residents in West Deerfield Beach do this all the time. In fact, residents of Century Village, the 55-plus gated community that occupies most of the neighborhood, enjoy a 1,600-seat theater, complimentary bus service that takes them to local malls and a barbecue area complete with a gazebo and a dance floor. “It’s an unparalleled way to enjoy your retirement. And many are snowbirds — they come down for the fall and winter months only,” says Jerry Workman, a real estate agent with Signature Paradise Realty International who works out of the Century Village office. For recreation, residents of Century Village have an extensive array of options at their disposal. “Century Village is perfect for active adults who want all the conveniences,” says Workman. Whether it’s working out, dancing or art, the community’s 145,000-square-foot clubhouse probably has a dedicated workspace for it — and that’s only inside. Residents can enjoy 16 heated swimming pools throughout the community, alongside sites for tennis, shuffleboard, volleyball, bocce ball and more. In addition, West Deerfield Beach is next to Quiet Waters Park, where locals flock to attend its annual Renaissance Festival, rent a boat in its marina or make friends at the dog park. A drive along the community’s curved residential streets reveals two and four-story condominium buildings built in the 1970s and 80s. Mature palm trees and spacious parking lots are found in front of each, making carrying groceries inside convenient. Balconies provide residents with views of dazzling lakes and green spaces, which are equally prioritized, thanks to the presence of a homeowners association, which also supports the neighborhood’s seemingly endless amenities. Prices for these condos vary greatly and range from $85,000 for units that need work to $340,000 for larger, more recently renovated units. It’s also worth noting that there are Spanish Revival ranch-style homes on the eastern side that rarely go on the market but range from $400,000 to $600,000 when they do. Cen Club Recreation Management Inc. is behind the community’s events, keeping residents connected and busy. Fans of Bingo collect every Tuesday evening, while Saturday Night Dances carry residents into the weekend. However, this only scratches the surface, as they also host a photography club, art classes, line dancing and several other daily events and gatherings. Young students can take advantage of the Visual Arts program provided at Quiet Waters Elementary School, which Niche has given a B-minus. Meanwhile, older students will attend Lyons Creek Middle School, which has a B on Niche, and Deerfield Beach High School, which has earned a B-minus from Niche. Residents traveling out of the area can catch flights at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, a 22.7-mile drive away via I-95 South. The shores of Hillsboro Beach are closer to home, a quick 6.8-mile trip east along Southwest 10th Street. This same route carries those needing medical attention at the hospital in Broward Health North along a shorter 3.1-mile drive. Whether residents take the Century Village bus or venture out independently, the Deerfield Mall has a Publix Super Market for all grocery needs. Within the same intersection sits Target, as well as Walgreens and other retailers like Marshall’s and Ross. Locals head to JByrd’s Muddy Waters Restaurant and Bar for a seafood-inspired dinner with a sports game and a beer. Not far are the Colombian Latin flavors found at El Balcón de las Américas, best known for its live music and friendly service.