Greenacres

For those 55 or older looking for a social, reasonably priced senior community with lots of amenities and the option to lease to part-time renters, Cresthaven Boulevard might be an ideal fit. First established in the 1960s, this quiet neighborhood of villas and townhouses was further expanded over the next three decades. “You can find a nice one-bedroom villa here for under $100,000,” says Kelley McDougall, a Realtor with Illustrated Properties LLC who's been selling real estate in the area for 15 years. “Residents tend to be on the lower end of 55-plus, so some come down for the winter only. That’s why leasing options are important to them.” The neighborhood is also conveniently located, less than 10 miles from downtown West Palm Beach, but residents don’t move here to leave. “They come to Cresthaven Boulevard to enjoy the warm weather and spend time together,” McDougall says. “I’d let my mother live there. That’s the best compliment I could ever give to a community.” While the subdivisions in Cresthaven Boulevard share characteristics like walkability and a Floridian aesthetic due to the palm trees dotted around the area, the early subdivisions here have some essential differences from later ones. The villa-style condos of the first five subsections that were developed – Ashley, Barkley, Crosley, Dudley and Emory – have communal laundry facilities, and Ashley is the only community that allows pets. Homes in these subdivisions list between $86,000 and $250,000 depending on their number of bedrooms, baths and square footage. The villas and townhouses of Fernley and Gately, built in the 1990s, come with their own washers, dryers, and detached garages and are priced between $215,000 and $280,000. Homes throughout Cresthaven Boulevard are moderately priced compared to nearby 55-plus communities like Baywinds or Buena Vida, where the home costs can exceed $500,000. With the number of amenities and the leasing options available in Cresthaven Boulevard, homes can take on the feel of vacation rentals. Each subdivision has its own community area with a swimming pool, shuffleboard courts and tennis courts — great places to get to know others in the community. Clubhouses have rooms dedicated to billiards, fitness and exercise, card games and crafts. Larger events like diners and dances are held in the auditoriums and draw people together. While there is often a waiting period before homeowners can begin leasing their properties, snowbirds and others who use this benefit often fly the coop during the summer months, bringing in renters and new faces for tennis and card games. Food and other conveniences are within driving distance. Traveling less than a mile along Cresthaven Boulevard toward South Military Trail, residents will find Presidente Supermarket, one of the most popular Latin markets in the area, housed in a small shopping complex. Desi Subs & Grill sits at the other end of the strip mall and is described as a hidden gem by regulars who stop by for hearty burgers and Philly cheesesteaks. More shopping options are roughly 2 miles away at the River Bridge Center off Jog Road. There’s a Publix for groceries and a Ross Dress for Less where locals can peruse the aisles for clothes. A Walmart Supercenter sits just across the street. On the way to the grocery store, residents will pass Sabor Latino, an upscale eatery with several locations throughout West Palm Beach, known for its authentic Latin American cuisine. Nearby traffic will pick up as students commute to and from John I. Leonard High School, which sits adjacent to the neighborhood along South Haverhill Road. The school gets a B-minus rating from Niche. It has dozens of clubs available to students, including a jazz-influenced vocal ensemble, a serenity club, and a going green club. Other area students attend Clifford O. Taylor/Kirklane Elementary School and L.C. Swain Middle School, with C and C-plus ratings from Niche, respectively. Public transportation through PalmTran is available along Cresthaven Boulevard, connecting locals to nearby shopping centers and the Lake Worth Corridor. To access medical services, residents will have to make the nearly 6-mile trip west along Forest Hill Boulevard to Wellington Regional Medical Center. West Palm Beach sits less than 10 miles from the neighborhood, and residents are able to avoid major highways to reach the city center. Snowbirds who want to make the trip back up north after the summer season can travel roughly 6.5 miles north to Palm Beach International Airport or hop on Interstate 95, which is about 5 miles east of Cresthaven Boulevard.

Residents of Forest Hill Village, in Greenacres, are only a short drive from stores, parks and schools. “In this high-priced, high-interest-rate market, reasonably priced homes stand out,” says Joni Lue Yat, Realtor with Re/Max Prestige and leader of the Lue Yat Team who has worked in the Palm Beach area for more than six years. “This is why Forest Hill Village appeals to many homebuyers. There is a good mix of homes there, from townhouses to single-families to condos.” Locals can explore The Mall at Wellington Green, about 5 miles away, or West Palm Beach, about a 9-mile drive. Students attend Palm Beach County School District, which earns a B-plus from Niche. The green lawns of Forest Hill Village are decorated with palms and tropical landscaping, with wide driveways that break up the sidewalks. A rainbow of stucco ranch style homes from the 1970s and 1980s fill the neighborhood, with midcentury modern influences found throughout. “Whatever your style, most properties in the neighborhood are small, 1,000 to 1,800 square feet,” Lue Yat says. Prices tend to fall between $300,000 and $450,000 for a single-family, while townhouses and condos in Sherwood Village, a complex in the northwest part of the neighborhood, can range from $175,000 to $200,000. Residents of Forest Hill Village are surrounded by several shopping and dining options. “With today’s gas prices, being central puts you close to everything,” Lue Yat says. The Mall at Wellington Green is about 5 miles west of the neighborhood, with more than 150 shops, including Macy’s, Dillard’s and CMX Theaters. Meanwhile, the Lake Worth Swap Shop and Drive-In, a flea market open four days a week, is about 5 miles to the east. Locals can visit Pete’s Place for breakfast and lunch and find an authentic Latin American dinner at Sabor Latino, both about 1 mile away. They can get their groceries from Publix, near Pete’s Place. Walmart is less than 1 mile away, Target is about a 2-mile drive and Home Depot is about 4 miles away. The City of Greenacres hosts several community events throughout the year, including the annual Egg’stravaganza Easter Egg Hunt and the Rock N’ Roll Sunday car show, which is accompanied by the Greenacres Fire Rescue Chili Cook-Off every summer. Locals can also travel to West Palm Beach, which is home to the West Palm Beach GreenMarket, a farmers market that runs every Saturday from October to April. As part of Palm Beach County School District, students can start at Forest Hill Elementary School, which earns a B from Niche. The school offers the Spanish Dual Language Program, which teaches multiple subjects in both English and Spanish to help children read and speak both languages fluently. Next, students can attend Okeeheelee Middle School before attending John I. Leonard High School, both of which receive a B-minus. Okeeheelee Park, about 4 miles outside the neighborhood, is one of the largest parks in south Florida, spanning more than 1,700 acres. Besides a playground and several sports fields, visitors can explore the BMX track or play a round of golf. Visitors can also go fishing, kayaking and boating on the lake, or see the animals at the Okeeheelee Nature Center. If families want to stay closer to home, Veterans Memorial Park offers a playground, basketball court and soccer field within a mile of Forest Hill Village. Many people drive themselves, with State Route 882, also known as Forest Hill Boulevard, bordering the top of the neighborhood. Palm Tran services buses that run along that road and Purdy Lane. Palm Beach International Airport is about 7 miles away and offers more than 40 nonstop flights. The nearest emergency room is at Wellington Regional Medical Center, about 5 miles away. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the city of Greenacres recommends residents prepare their house and an evacuation plan before the season starts. Homeowners should trim trees before hurricane season and cover windows to protect their properties to minimize damage and take photos before and after storms.

Home to the Lantana Homes homeowners association, Lantana feels like a gated community without the need for gates and security. “Anyone who comes into the neighborhood is here for a reason,” says Realtor Todd Hamilton with United Realty Consultants. “No one is just passing through, and that is just the way residents like it.” Outside of Lantana, residents are just a short drive from restaurants and shopping centers. “Plus, the neighborhood is only 20 minutes from the beach,” Hamilton says. Downtown Lantana and South Palm Beach give Lantana residents access to Florida’s shining coastline, where they can take in the sun and water. While all homes in Lantana are part of the Lantana Homes homeowners association, the neighborhood splits into various subdivisions for a more planned feel. Stucco or stone and stucco ranches sit on landscaped properties. Oaks hanging with Spanish moss hang over some of the streets and shade the sidewalks, while others feature palm trees rising above homes and adding to the coastal feel. Most homes in Lantana list between 400,000 and 520,000, and the market moves a little slower here. “This is a place where properties don’t change hands often,” Hamilton says. “Residents put down roots here and stay.” Even though the neighborhood belongs to a homeowners association, the monthly fees only come to $25 per month. Lantana is huddled between several golf courses. Winston Trails Golf Club offers a 70-yard short game area and driving range alongside their 18-hole golf course. Lost City Golf sports three nine-hole courses for a total of 27 holes on their green, along with several leagues for men, women, and couples. Buttonwood Park is 17 acres with basketball and volleyball courts and a playground. For a day in the sun, Lantana’s Municipal Beach in South Palm Beach is just 7.5 miles from the neighborhood. Students in Lantana attend Indian Pines Elementary School, which receives a C-plus from Niche. Woodlands Middle School earns a B-plus ranking from Niche, which also lists it as the 16th most diverse public school in Florida. Students can enroll in multiple academy programs here, like pre-culinary arts. With a B from Niche, Stanaluces Community High School also offers several academy programs, like culinary arts and cybersecurity. Lantana often hosts events for residents and visitors, like an Independence Day by the water at Bicentennial Park. Barefoot Mailman Family Beach Day encourages people to enjoy the public beach and features food and artisan vendors and live music. In Lake Worth, Oktoberfest is a fan favorite, offering authentic German beers and brats in biergartens and live polka music. Lake Worth Street Painting Festival invites eager artists to chalk up their downtown strip with hyper-realistic pavement drawings that play with perspective. Eggcetera Café offers everything from crepes and pancakes at breakfast to burgers and seafood dishes for dinner. Their outdoor patio is always open and has fans to keep visitors cool on warmer days. Gourmet Deli House has served the area New York Deli food for over 35 years and has a comprehensive menu including grilled sandwiches, omelets, soups and burgers. Grocery stores are just a short drive from Lantana. Pinewood Square, about 1.5 miles away, has a Walmart Neighborhood Marketplace. For Publix, Lantana Plaza is 1.6 miles from the community. To the north, residents can find a Presidente Supermarket and a Target just 4 miles from Lantana. Lantana Road is the neighborhood’s only access point, which helps limit traffic while connecting residents to the essential amenities and downtown Lantana and South Palm Beach. Palm Beach County/Lantana Airport is 4 miles away and offers regional flights. For more options, residents can head to Palm Beach International Airport, just 14 miles away. On Lantana Road, Bus 63 stops at the regional airport and downtown. I-95 is a short drive from Lantana, which can connect residents to West Palm Beach, 15 miles away, and Boca Raton, 21 miles away. HCA Florida JFK Hospital is just 4 miles from Lantana.

Ranchette comprises several smaller subdivisions and communities, with everything from gated communities to mobile home parks, each with a distinct character contributing to the neighborhood's landscape. While the neighborhood is entirely residential, many pockets of preserved land remain, so no home is without greenery. All the amenities for the neighborhood are often less than a 5-mile drive away. This can range from a wide variety of shopping and dining options at the local shopping center to one of the largest parks in South Florida. “The community is in a really great area. You can be at the beach in 20 minutes and Wellington to the east in 10 minutes, where there is so much dining and shopping,” says Michelle Gonzalez, the property manager of the Victoria Woods community for over two years. Okeeheelee Park, one of the largest parks in South Florida, is less than 5 miles away from the neighborhood, with a wide variety of amenities to choose from. The park offers multiple sports fields and 8 miles of walking paths for residents to use. There is also plenty of lake space at the park for fishing and boating, and it is home to an on-the-water waterpark in the summer. “Locals visit there frequently during the day,” Gonzalez says, “it was my go-to park when I lived in the area.” Residents of the Victoria Woods community also have access to Victoria Woods Park, which is a popular spot for both its playset and tennis courts. More natural fun can be found at Pine Jog Environmental Education Center next to the elementary school of the same name. This 135-acre nature reserve offers classes and camps to those wanting to learn more about nature and local wildlife. Housing is varied in Ranchette, with locals being able to pick from single-family homes, manufactured home communities, condos and townhouses. There are also a variety of gated and planned communities like Joggers Run and Victoria Woods. Housing styles can range from lower ranch-style homes to two-story houses with Spanish-inspired tile roofs and cottages sporting large bay windows. Many homes have either large garages or driveways for cars. “A lot of homes have alleyways in the back and access to lots of greenery,” Gonzalez says. Condos and townhouses commonly range from $200,000 to $250,000 and single-family homes go from $250,000 to around $500,000. Students can begin their education at Pine Jog Elementary and continue on to Okeeheelee Middle School, with both schools receiving a B-minus rating on Niche. Students can then finish up at the A-rated Palm Beach Central High, which offers 21 different clubs and organizations for students to try, from the aviation club to the student literary magazine. Almost all shopping and dining are done at Riverbridge Centere or Trafalgar Square, both of which are located at the southwestern end of the neighborhood. Here, locals can eat out at spots like Pete’s Place, which is “a really good breakfast/lunch restaurant,” Gonzalez says. Locals can also stop by local chains like Pollo Tropical, known for its Caribbean chicken and pork. Groceries are available at Supermercados El Bodegon or Publix. The neighborhood also has a Walmart next to the shopping center for big-box purchases. With Forest Hill Boulevard lining the southern end of the neighborhood, residents can easily access West Palm Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. Longer trips can be reached via the Florida Turnpike right next to Okeeheelee Park. “In the community itself, there is a lot of walking and cycling,” Gonzalez says. Outside of the community, the neighborhood is more car friendly. For trips outside of the state, Palm Beach International Airport is less than 6 miles away. Wellington Regional Medical Center is 5 miles to the west for medical care. Greenacres offers a wide range of events at the nearby Samuel J. Ferreri Community Park to residents of Ranchette and the surrounding neighborhoods. One popular event is the Rock N' Roll Sunday and Greenacres Fire Rescue Chili Cook-Off, which takes place in May and offers a car and motorcycle show, vendor booths, and of course, a whole lot of Rock N’ Roll and chili supporting the Greenacres Fire Rescue Benevolent. At the end of the year, locals can also enjoy Holiday in the Park, which has Christmas tree lightings, performances from local schools and a Santa sighting.

The history of Dillman Farms is rooted in a gentleman farmer’s dream. Hugh Dillman’s life among the stars as a Broadway performer and silent film actor made it clear that his heart lay in country living. When Dillman wasn’t hosting concerts, luncheons and dances at his new country estate in Palm Beach County, he was experimenting with agriculture. Although his produce and livestock flourished in the tropical climate, his life around the property — namely, his marriage — became less fruitful. After being sold, the land lived another life as a commercial plant nursery before it grew into the community it is today. Dillman Farms may not center around agriculture or horticulture, but it does echo the past with plenty of healthy green space. The neighborhood balances pastoral charm and suburban convenience on the edge of Greenacres through large lush lots, an immense park and a location central to schools, shopping and major thoroughfares. Some subdivisions in Dillman Farms are unnamed and HOA-free, home to midcentury ranch-style residences on midsize lots. Others, like Normandy Isles, were built in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Most of these turn-of-the-century subdivisions are HOA-managed and gated. Their properties blend New Traditional and Spanish eclectic architecture, featuring layered front gables, entryway arches, stucco siding and barrel roof tiles. Prices range from the mid $400,000s to around $600,000. There are also estate-home subdivisions with lots sized a half-acre or more on quiet streets like Pioneer Road and Gun Club Road. There is no blanket architectural style since most are custom-built. A grand Spanish Revival might be across the street from a quaint contemporary farmhouse. However, both are likely hidden from view behind dense greenery and a long driveway. “Those properties have more of a rural feel,” says former resident Roger Plevin, a local Realtor with the Keyes Company’s Mizner Grand Group. “People there want to be kind of off the grid. They want a big house on a big lot without answering to anyone but the municipal authority. It’s a quiet way to live, but there is some telltale droning the closer to the turnpike you are.” Estate homes range from roughly $700,000 to more than $2 million. Dillman Farms’s newest additions are new construction houses and townhouses that display sleek contemporary and streamlined New Traditional styles. While townhouse prices fall in the $500,000s, new-construction houses range from the mid $500,000s to the mid $700,000s. The neighborhood is served by the School District of Palm Beach County. Students on the north side attend Melaleuca Elementary, central students attend Cholee Lake Elementary and south side kids head to Liberty Park Elementary. Each of these schools is graded C-plus on Niche. Academic pathways converge at Okeeheelee Middle, graded B-minus, and Palm Beach Central High, graded A and ranked No. 12 on Niche’s list of the county’s best public high schools. Palm Beach Central has strong athletics, including varsity teams for football, volleyball, soccer and lacrosse. The landscape Hugh Dillman first fell in love with is perfectly preserved in Okeeheelee Park. Although it’s in unincorporated Dillman Farms, the 2,000-acre park is a major recreational hub for folks in Greenacres, Wellington and West Palm Beach. On its south side, hikers walk through wetland trails, kayakers launch onto the lake and local horseback riders saddle up at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. All the athletic facilities are on the north side, including a golf course, various ballfields and courts. Shark Wake Park is on the north side as well; its floating obstacle course is a major draw for local kids. “My kid has a Shark Wake membership,” says local Realtor Ismael Esteves with Keller Williams Reserve Palm Beach. “We’re there like every day in the summer. It’s huge for water recreation. I’ve seen some water-skiing competitions on the lake. I’ve been to some BMX competitions there, too. It’s a massive park.” Greenacres Freedom Park is also in the neighborhood. Albeit smaller, this green space is amenity-packed with pickleball, basketball, Bankshot basketball and sand volleyball courts, as well as soccer fields, a shaded playground and a lakeside walking path. At most, it’s a 4-mile drive from home to nearby shopping and dining options. The intersection of Forest Hill Boulevard and Jog Road is a commercial corridor with grocery stores like Publix, big box stores like Walmart and various chain eateries, from KFC to Chipotle. A little farther down Jog Road are some local spots, such as Sabor Latino. Whether it’s arepas or churrasco steak, this restaurant’s menu has all the classic Latin American staples. As for retail therapy, The Mall at Wellington Green is about 5 miles west with favorite stores like Macy’s, JCPenney and Dillard’s. True to its rural roots, Dillman Farms is car-dependent. It’s a 10-mile commute from the neighborhood to Downtown West Palm Beach. Access to Florida’s Turnpike is within a mile’s drive. Interstate 95 is about 5 miles east on Southern Boulevard, a major thoroughfare that runs along the neighborhood’s north side. Palm Beach International Airport is 5 miles away as well. The nearest hospital, Wellington Regional Medical Center, is 6 miles away.

The Palm Beach National neighborhood does more than share its name with a well-known golf course, it shares that venue’s sense of whimsy and fun. In 2006, the eponymous golf course went through a rebranding that has changed its image from a stodgy links-centered location into an entertainment mecca, offering everything from complementary shots of flavored rum to a beer-pong-themed virtual driving range. "All in all, the community is embracing the updates," says Alice Hodach, a Realtor with Keller Williams Palm Beach International and 21-year Palm Beach National resident. "We've been asking, 'When is the clubhouse gonna be finished?' We want to hold some of our cocktail hours there," she jokes. In addition to the course, the neighborhood is attractive for its prime location next to the popular Okeeheelee Park and Florida's Turnpike, a busy commuter thoroughfare. Palm Beach National Golf Club is the centerpiece of this community. The 18-hole public course, often called "The Nash" by locals, was built by prolific golf course architect Joe Lee in 1962. In recent years, it's become a trendy hangout complete with Bluetooth speakers on carts, complimentary drinks for every birdie, a tiki food truck and a virtual Toptracer driving range. The construction of a new clubhouse is also currently underway and is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2024. It will include a new restaurant, patio, and coverage for the driving range. The golf course is the community's only sizeable outdoor space, but plenty of public parks sit just outside the neighborhood, including the 1,702-acre Okeeheelee Park. This massive space is one of Palm Beach County's most popular parks because of its wide range of amenities, including an equestrian center, BMX track, golf course, sports facilities and miles of walking paths. The park also has two lakes, one for leisure activities like kayaking and fishing and another for water skiing. The park brushes up against the neighborhood, but the main entrance is about 3 miles away. Smaller nearby parks include Greenacres Freedom Park and Samuel J. Ferreri Community Park, which feature playgrounds, multi-use lawns and shaded pavilions. Most homes here are stylized ranches with traditional and Spanish Mission architectural influences, ranging from neutral-colored vinyl-sided facades to stucco exteriors accented by arched windows and doorways. They tend to sit on oversized lots that max out around half an acre. Houses with three or four bedrooms are common and range from $420,000 to $735,000. There's also a 36-unit condo community called St. Andrew's Glen, where two- to three-bedroom Spanish Mission-style dwellings can sell for up to the high $300,000 range. Unlike the rest of the neighborhood, St. Andrew's Glen does have an HOA. Aside from the golf course, the neighborhood is mainly residential. Still, there are plenty of shops and restaurants within a 3-mile radius of the community, including an Aldi, Target, Walmart Neighborhood Market and International Market. The Nassau Square shopping mall is about a "golf cart distance" away and offers a Publix, Dollar Tree and several local eateries. One popular spot is Brass Monkey Sports Bar & Grill, a hole-in-the-wall serving classic bar foods like burgers and flatbreads. The restaurant features two dozen flatscreens and a billiards table, creating a lively environment popular for nights out. Another nearby favorite is Mom's Kitchen, a locally run eatery popular for its classic American breakfast dishes. The community has a very active voluntary HOA, which hosts various events for kids and adults, including a Santa breakfast, Easter egg hunt and Halloween extravaganza. Another beloved tradition is the placing of American flags on front yards ahead of Memorial Day. "We do it 'stealth' at night. We get in our golf carts and get the flags up," says Hodach, the leading Realtor in the community for the past 10 years. The city of Lake Worth Beach also hosts several staple annual events, including its Street Painting Festival. The fair features live music and a food truck court, but the main event is the creation of hundreds of chalk art pieces drawn on the streets of downtown Lake Worth in renowned art styles like Cubism and pop art. The neighborhood is served by the School District of Palm Beach County, which includes Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School, the county’s first new high school in 20 years. The school is off to a strong start, offering a variety of specialty academic pathways, including a pre-med academy and an I.T. program. It has yet to be graded on Niche or GreatSchools.org. Other options include Liberty Parks Elementary School, graded a C-plus on Niche, and Okeeheelee Middle School, graded a B-minus. Goliath Academy is a popular nearby private school offering traditional "day school" education for high school-aged kids and adult education classes for those looking to earn their high school diploma later in life. The neighborhood is next to Florida's Turnpike, a major toll road that runs through the state, and Lake Worth Road, which leads to popular beaches like South Palm Beach, about 10 miles away. West Palm Beach is the closest major city, about 13 miles from town. Fort Lauderdale and Miami are much farther, sitting 42 and 63 miles south, respectively. Public transit does not run through the community, so residents depend on cars and golf carts to get around. However, air travel is easily accessible since Palm Beach International Airport is only about 11 miles away.