Delray Beach

Sandwiched between the Intracoastal Waterway and lakes Ida and Eden is Seacrest, a laid-back neighborhood often described as having lots of "Florida charm." Unlike much of Palm Beah County, this suburban enclave has managed to avoid mass development, leaving it with hundreds of original custom houses with terrazzo floors and traditional architectural elements. And with a location near popular waterways and downtown Delray Beach, this little community offers the perfect launching pad for outdoor adventures and shopping trips. <br><br>For some, outdoor recreation here is as close as the backyard dock that juts out into the Intracoastal or Lake Ida. But for the landlubbers, Lake Ida is flanked by three parks that provide easy access to boat launches, fishing piers, scenic picnic spots and a designated dog park. "If you have a canoe, you can actually connect to all three lakes (Ida, Eden, and Osborne) using the canal," says local Realtor Michelle Sadownick with Realty Home Advisors. The neighborhood is also home to the AC Delray Seacrest Soccer Complex, a public sports club where kids and adults often play in rec and competitive leagues. The neighborhood is also less than 1 mile from the Seacrest Scrub Natural Area, a 54-acre wilderness park largely untouched by the surrounding urban development. And across the Intracoastal Waterway is Gulf Stream Golf Club, an exclusive private club with an 18-hole course designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross. <br><br>The most popular architectural styles here are ranches, bungalows, and Spanish Mission homes, though there are a few new modern and custom builds. Properties in Seacrest are generally priced higher than other areas in Delray Beach. Still, Sadownick, who has been selling in the Delray Beach area since 2004, says, "As you go north, you're going away from Atlantic Avenue, and the prices go down a little bit." Small to mid-sized homes here start around $550,000, but prices can rise quickly, surpassing $1.8 million, while larger three-to-five-bedroom Spanish Mission and custom coastal contemporary homes often sell for between $1 million and $3 million. There are also some custom estates here, which can go for more than $7 million. Many homes are on oversized lots that max out around half an acre, and because the community is bordered by water to the east and the west, there are plenty of opportunities for waterfront living. In fact, most of the condos and townhouses here sit along the Intracoastal Waterway. Small two- and three-bedrooms condos built in the late 20th and early 21st centuries offer more an affordable price point, selling for between $430,000 and $690,000, while large renovated or newly built luxury units start around $900,000 and can easily surpass $3.3 million.<br><br>Most dining and shopping options are found along U.S. Route 1, a major commuter thoroughfare that runs through the neighborhood. Two popular options for groceries and daily essentials are Publix and Walmart, which sit just outside the community. When it comes to fresh fish, Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market has been the go-to since 2007. It's run by Captain Clay S. Brand , a native Floridian and 40-year commercial fisherman. There are also several beloved eateries along the main drag, including Sande's Restaurant, an old-school cash-only American diner known for its breakfast dishes. Another mainstay eatery is Bees Knees Diner, which specializes in breakfast and brunch cuisine. For something a bit hardier, Enigma Bistro is an award-winning roadhouse known for its traditional Cuban dishes and "fall off the porch" sangria. Even more options await in Delray Beach's downtown entertainment district, about 3 miles away.<br><br>The neighborhood is served by the Palm Beach County Public School District, which includes Plumosa School of the Arts, a specialized kindergarten through eighth-grade institution in the heart of the community. Plumosa divides students into discipline-specific "houses," like the Haus of Chopin for keyboard and piano, the Haus of Aasir for dance, and the Haus of Kroma for visual and digital arts. Niche graded it a B-minus. Alternatively, students can attend Carver Community Middle School, graded a C-plus on Niche. For high school, many students attend Atlantic Community High School, graded a B-plus. The neighborhood also has two well-rated private Christian schools: Unity School and St. Vincent Ferrer School.<br><br>The city of Delray Beach hosts several popular annual and recurring events, including a Christmas Tree Lighting and Yuletide Fair at the end of November. A holiday village is also set up downtown in Old School Square Park. It stays open through December and includes everything from local vendor booths to ice skating and carousel rides. Come summertime, the city's annual GreenMarket is a hot spot. Also held at Old School Square, this certified sustainable market has over 50 vendors selling farm-to-table produce, grass-fed, organic meats, locally grown flowers, and artisan desserts. It's held every Saturday morning in June and July.<br><br>Seacrest is conveniently located near U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Interstate 95, two busy thoroughfares that run parallel to each other along the East Coast. Both routes are regularly used by commuters working in West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, about 18 and 14 miles away, respectively. Public transit is relatively accessible here, with Palm Tran buses picking up throughout the community. The closest major airport is Palm Beach International, about 16 miles from town.<br><br>According to RiskFactor.com, Seacrest is at high risk of experiencing high winds, and homes along the Intracoastal Waterway could face severe flooding, especially during hurricane season.

With homes in the millions, most of the housing choices in the West Delray neighborhood in Delray Beach will come from one of 12 gated communities. “It’s a higher-end area and very desirable,” says Keith Dickman, a Realtor with RE/MAX Direct, who lives in one of the communities and produces a free magazine for around 7,000 homes in the area eight times a year. “It’s a growing area as they’re building new communities next to each other.” Each of the dozen gated communities, of which only a few are 55-plus, has a clubhouse with amenities, including a fitness center and tennis and pickleball courts. Each one also has a Homeowners Association that provides lawn maintenance. A monthly fee is around $1,000. “Most every house is over a million dollars. You could count on one hand the number of homes that are under a million,” Dickman says. “They can go as high as 6.5 to 7 million, but the majority are between 1.5 and 2.5 million.” Eight of the 12 communities have homes built by the same builder. The homes between 10 and 20 years old are Mediterranean style, but the more modern homes have more of a contemporary style. “Houses are selling in what I consider a pre-COVID regular Florida market,” Dickman says. “You’re not getting seven offers in the first three minutes, but if you have a great product at the right price, it will sell quickly.” The oldest homes were built in the early 2000s, and 88% of those living in West Delray are homeowners. Currently, Dickman produces a real estate magazine for nine of the 12 gated communities in West Delray, but there could be plans to do the remaining three at some point. “Some of the content is specialized for each neighborhood—for example, there’s a spotlight interview of somebody who lives in the neighborhood,” Dickman says. A recent issue featured an interview with an NBA referee who lives in the Lotus community, which was mailed to residents living in the Lotus, Lotus Palm and Lotus Edge neighborhoods. The magazine is free, mailed out eight times a year, and includes real estate listings. When it’s time to explore the options outside the gated community, West Delray Regional Park is a massive natural area with niche recreational activities. The Delray Beach Mountain Bike Trail is considered one of the best in South Florida, challenging mountain bikers with turns, rocks, mounds and tree roots to navigate. The Gold Coast Archery Club has ranges in the area, including a field course and 3-D practice range. Radio-controlled enthusiasts flock to the radio-controlled airplane field, boat lake and oval track. There are also equestrian trails that run through the park for the horse enthusiast. At the corner of Lyons Road and Atlantic Avenue, close to all the gated communities, is Delray Marketplace, which provides grocery shopping, plenty of options for a meal and a large movie theater to catch the latest blockbuster. Burt & Max’s offers pub food classics and a lively bar. The open-air shopping center has close to 50 stores, including Ann Taylor Loft, a luxury furniture store and a Publix grocery store. Every Wednesday from October through April, the amphitheater at the shopping center has live music from 6 to 8 p.m. You’re encouraged to bring your own chair and blanket. The Paragon Theaters Delray 15 has an IMAX screen and the latest movies. The B-plus Niche-rated Palm Beach County School District serves West Delray kids. Sunrise Park Elementary and other district schools have a dress code where solid-color collared polo-style shirts with cargo shorts or pants are permitted. Skirts and shorts must be 2 inches above the knee. Eagles Landing Middle School is rated an A-minus and has a 17-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Olympic Heights Community Heights High School has a 99% graduation rate. On the east side of Florida’s Turnpike, or State Road 91, there’s a better chance of catching a PalmTran bus, the public transportation system for Delray Beach and Palm Beach County. The nearest hospital is only 5 miles away at Delray Medical Center. It’s a 25-minute drive southeast to the Boca Raton airport, and the Delray Public Beach is about 20 minutes away.

From seasonal villas and condos to lavish estates, the gated communities in Kings Point have one thing in common — they were designed to provide plenty of amenities. “Adults, professionals and families come here for the lifestyle,” says Lynne Gewant, a broker associate with Coldwell Banker Realty/Delray Beach. Gewant has lived in the area for 30 years and has been selling real estate for more than 20. “People want the safety of gated communities; they want the pool and tennis courts right down the street. In Kings Point, no matter where you look, that’s a given.”<br><br>Seniors looking for reasonably priced condominiums find ample listings in subdivisions like Kings Point, the gated community that the neighborhood was originally named after, where meticulously maintained or recently renovated units are priced between $125,000 and $280,000. Seniors can also choose from other adult communities, such as Floral Lakes, which features larger villas with single-car garages in the $375,000 to $480,000 range. By contrast, The Polo Club of Boca Raton and several other high-end luxury communities have no age restrictions and offer custom-built estates that run in the millions. Homebuyers can also find single-family homes in the $500,000 range that fall in both the 55-plus and all-ages categories.<br><br>Instead of public parks, Kings Point features championship golf courses that are integral to the communities built around them. Residents also won’t find public tennis, pickleball, bocce ball or shuffleboard courts; rather, homeowners can join the members-only clubhouses of each respective community. There, residents have ample opportunities to get to know each other through exercise classes, clubs and activities. Clubhouses in Kings Point are multimillion-dollar facilities with large outdoor pools, restaurants, theaters that bring in live shows and movies, and special events, such as holiday barbecues and brunches. Families with children, too, can take advantage of youth activities, including camps that keep kids active during the holidays, school breaks and the summertime.<br><br>Boynton Beach Mall is 10 miles away, and the Kings Point community offers free bus service to this mall and other shopping destinations for its senior residents. For everyday needs, there's a Publix in the Delray Square Shopping Center and a Home Depot on Jog Road and Atlantic. A hidden treasure to explore is the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, a beautiful cultural center with tea ceremonies, festivals, classes and a sushi café. For more sushi, Sea is just up the road. It's a fine-dining Asian restaurant with specialties such as the lobster monster roll, made with tempura lobster tail, cucumber, asparagus, masago and sesame seeds.<br><br>The schools that serve the community are all within a short drive of Kings Point and include Orchard View Elementary, Carver Middle, Omni Middle and Spanish River Community High School. Calusa Elementary is one of the closest and one of the highest rated. According to state test scores, 87% of its students are proficient in math and 82% in reading. Its student-teacher ratio is also low, 16 to 1, which means Calusa students receive a good amount of personalized attention. American Heritage Schools-Palm Beach Campus, a private K-12 school, is close by as well and received an A-plus grade from Niche for its high graduation rate of 100% and high student SAT and ACT scores.

High Point offers a prime location for residents to enjoy casual Delray Beach living at its finest. The neighborhood was originally established with a focus on 55+ adult living communities and still offers a major appeal for that population with close access to the beach, golf courses and local businesses. “Those subdivisions are still highly sought, but the adult communities have had to make room for other interested parties. High Point is only 5 miles from one of the best beaches in Florida, and it has become a haven for professionals, families and seniors alike,” says Kathy Casaine, a Realtor with Block Realty. Casaine has been selling real estate in the area for more than 30 years. <br><br>Mediterranean and Spanish-style ranch homes are a fixture of High Point’s home market. Locals also live in condo units and villas within duplex homes and beach house-styled condo buildings. Buyers looking for larger homes can also find multi-level homes in the area – typically harder to find in Florida, but numerous within High Point’s gated communities. Some areas in High Point limit ownership to 55+ residents and their families, and these areas typically include specialized amenities and pricing to suit locals’ needs. Prices vary widely, from below $160,000 to as high as $1.5 million or more.<br><br>Barwick Park offers prime space for picnics and sunny days out near Barwick Road and Lake Ida Road on the neighborhood’s west side. Northwest of Barwick Park, Bexley Trail Community Park lets locals enjoy comfortable amenities such as a nature trail and a playground. Three 18-hole golf courses – The Seagate Golf Club, Lakeview Golf Club and Delray Beach Golf Club – each sit within 3 miles southeast of the neighborhood. To the east of the neighborhood, Lake Ida West Park offers a prime spot for residents to go kayaking or fishing, while Eagle Park offers another small neighborhood park retreat near High Point’s south end.<br><br>Close to the area’s shopping hubs on Military Trail, Turtle Tavern offers a place for residents to socialize, sip and snack with a sports bar atmosphere, NFL Sunday Ticket games and a varied menu of pub fare. More bar options and nightlife venues sit near Delray Beach proper, 4 miles east. High Point’s proximity to Delray Beach and Wellington also means residents are close to annual events like the Delray Affair arts & crafts festival, the Delray Beach Wine and Seafood Festival and South Florida Garlic Fest.<br><br>A mix of national brands and local favorites for retail and dining occupy the shopping centers around Atlantic Avenue and Military Trail. Publix, Walgreens, CVS and Sprouts Farmers Market locations surround the intersection for everyday goods, alongside specialized retailers like Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Ross and Office Depot. Locals can buy and sell produce, bakery items and more at The Boys Farmers Market, while The Big Apple Shopping Bazaar offers dry goods from multiple vendors. Local dining choices include Lindburgers for American fare, Wood & Fire for refined Neapolitan pizzas and Hacienda for Mexican-Colombian eats and cocktails. Well-known casual and fast food stops like Chipotle, Chili’s and Chick-fil-A round out the immediate area’s food choices. More shopping options, including Walmart and Aldi locations, are available to the south of the neighborhood along Military Trail.<br><br>Students in the High Point area can attend schools within The School District of Palm Beach County. The area’s youngest students attend Banyan Creek Elementary School, which has a B-plus rating on Niche and has a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. Carver Community Middle School holds a C-plus grade. Atlantic Community High School has a 94% graduation rate and offers more than 50 clubs, athletic programs and after-school activities for every kind of student. The school earns a B-plus grade on Niche.<br><br>High Point’s major thoroughfares are South Military Trail to the neighborhood’s west side, Atlantic Avenue to the south and North Congress Avenue to the east. Lake Ida Road connects to the neighborhood’s center, while Interstate 95 runs along the neighborhood’s leftmost side. Central Delray Beach is a 3-mile drive from the area, while Boynton Beach is about 5 miles northwest of the area. The nearest hospital, Delray Medical Center, is about 4 miles away to the south. Flights out of the area depart from Palm Beach International Airport, about 20 miles north.

Just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, most Delray Beach residents can walk or bike to the beach to spend a day under the sun. Some residents only need to step out onto their back decks to enjoy the sand and water. On the other side of the neighborhood, downtown Delray Beach has a vibrant culinary scene and an active events calendar that engages residents throughout the year. Even though it may feel like a beach town, Delray Beach is home to more than 70,000 permanent residents, according to the city government. It's also just 9 miles from Boca Raton, where many locals commute to work. Residents live within walking distance of Delray Public Beach, where they can soak up the beautiful Florida sun, sea and sand. The SS Inchulva, also known as the Delray Wreck, is a sunken steamship schooner located about 150 yards off the coast of the public beach, and many residents and visitors dive out to investigate it. Entrances to the public beach are scattered along Ocean Boulevard so that residents can access the beach where it's most convenient for them. There are designated kayak and paddle board launches for locals to get out onto the water. Land dwellers can head over to Anchor Park, where kids can play on the playground and groups can use the picnic tables and grills. Housing in Delray Beach is a mix of homes and condos. Contemporary and industrial condo high-rises line the Intracoastal Waterway. Condo cottages painted in bright coastal colors sit closer to the beach, with some directly on the oceanfront. While some quaint ranches are available, most houses in Delray Beach are elegant Spanish Revival villas with circular driveways and landscaped lawns and minimalist contemporary homes with large windows. Many homes have private pools for another way to enjoy the Florida weather. Neighborhood streets lack sidewalks, creating a more private, intimate feel. Homes lining busier throughways often have hedges to create privacy. Palm trees frame homes, adding to the coastal atmosphere. Most homes in Delray Beach start at $1 million, with newer construction and homes with more bedrooms listing as high as $4.2 million. Houses along the beach or waterways will also list higher than those further from the water. Monthly condo fees start at around $800 per month and can go as high as almost $2,000. GreenMarket brings fresh produce and artisan goods to Delray Beach residents, taking place every Saturday in Old School Square. There's always live music playing while locals peruse the options. Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival is first-responder-themed, and the festival features live music and countless vendors. The Delray Beach Fourth of July Celebration features food trucks, live performances, contests and snorkeling tours leading up to the fireworks. Most restaurants and shops in Delray Beach sit along Atlantic Avenue, including Elisabetta’s Ristorante. This Italian restaurant makes all of its food fresh each day, including pasta, bread and gelato. Deck 84 sits right on the water and offers an eclectic menu with everything from burgers to fresh sushi. It even has a dog menu. Residents can find most chains and grocery stores along Linton Boulevard. Trader Joe’s is just 1 mile from Delray Beach. Publix supermarket is 1.5 miles from the neighborhood at Plaza at Delray. Whole Foods Market is 1.8 miles away. Students in Delray Beach can attend Pine Grove Elementary School, which receives a 7/10 from GreatSchools. Boca Raton Community Middle School earns a B-plus from Niche. With an A-plus ranking from Niche, Boca Raton Community High School offers several specialized programs to students, from medical sciences and STEM to culinary arts and teaching. Delray Beach has sidewalks and crosswalks along roads to keep pedestrians safe. Some residents use golf carts to get around. The Intracoastal Waterway runs along the western border, allowing locals to get around via boat. I-95 and Route 1 are both just a short drive from Delray Beach, connecting residents to Boca Raton. Boca Raton Airport is about 7 miles from the community, but downtown Delray has an Amtrak station just 4 miles away. Baptist Health Bethesda Health East is 5 miles from Delray Beach.