Sebastian

The quiet, palm tree-lined streets and abundant outdoor recreation are just a couple of reasons potential homebuyers are scoping out Sebastian Highlands. The community makes up a large portion of Sebastian as a city, which lies just north of Vero Beach and 90 miles south of Orlando. "Sebastian Highlands is basically all of Sebastian that isn't a gated community. Sebastian itself isn't huge, maybe 25,000 folks living here," says Chris Junker, a Realtor with Re/Max Crown Realty. He lives in Sebastian and has a decade of experience selling homes in the area. "We like to joke that it feels like a combination of Mayberry and Margaritaville. It's still got a seaside charm that hasn't been transformed by tourist beach development." Sebastian has 23 parks within the city, many of which are in Sebastian Highlands. From pocket green spaces to expansive recreation at the Barber Street Sports Complex, there are plenty of areas to go when the kids need a playground or friends want to meet up for a game of pickleball. "The North County Pool is Olympic-size, with a waterpark attached. It's really nice for how small our city is," Junker says. "Everyone here boats or canoes, anything to do with water. We kind of have it all between the river and the beach." Crossing over the Wabasso Causeway Bridge leads locals to the beachside, where miles of shoreline can be explored. Sebastian Inlet State Park is best known for the rushing waves that bring in surfers, the calm areas perfect for kayaking and saltwater fishing, and the thousands of plant and animal species that have made it home. Most homes in Sebastian Highlands were built between 1990 and 2016, with new construction still popping up on open lots. The area consists of several small subdivisions and residential streets, so housing styles and amenities can vary quite a bit. Florida-classic ranch homes and contemporary Spanish eclectic are the most common styles, but new traditional properties became much more prevalent post-2000. "It's affordable for beachside living. I think it's a great place to raise kids, but also a great place to retire," Junker says. "The nice thing about Sebastian is that we're just inconvenient enough outside of tourist areas that we haven't gotten a huge population or development explosion." Most homes and condos in the area sell between $200,000 and $400,000, but properties with larger square footage or luxury amenities, such as in-ground pools, sell between $400,000 and $600,000. Riverview Park is where locals head for nearly all significant annual events, of which the city has plenty year-round. Some of the biggest events in Sebastian include live music and local eats at RiverDays & Craft Brew Hullabaloo, held in March, to the talented artisans and a wide berth of genres at the Sebastian Fine Arts and Music Festival in January. "Our city works hard to make sure there are a ton of community events," says Kathy Falzone, Recreation Supervisor for the Sebastian Parks and Recreation Department. "A lot of people come for the Sebastian Clambake Festival, but things like the Fourth of July parade and Christmas lightings are more just for the locals." Some of Sebastian's largest commercial areas are just a couple of miles north in the community of Roseland. "It's a 5 to 10-minute drive for most people to go to Roseland if they need to go to Walmart or Home Depot," Junker says. Sebastian Highlands has several grocery stores, such as Winn Dixie and Publix, alongside fast casual dining options. Local eateries line the shores of the Indian River, from the fresh seafood and live bands at Mulligans to the craft beer and pub bites at Pareidolia Brewing Company. Roseland is zoned to the Indian River County School District, which receives an A-minus grade from Niche as a district. Most local kids will start at Pelican Island Elementary or Sebastian Elementary, which get a B and B-minus, respectively. They can move on to Sebastian River Middle and then to Sebastian River High, both rated with overall B grades. Sebastian River High ensures that students have more than just an opportunity to earn their high school diploma; while attending, they can earn industry certifications, college course credits or a simultaneous associate degree. Sebastian Highland heavily relies on Route 1, a major thoroughfare that runs directly up the East Coast. Ramps to Interstate 95 are just a few miles away, and residents mainly rely on cars for transportation. Most residents will catch flights at Vero Beach Regional Airport, 13 miles south, or from Orlando Melbourne International Airport, just 24 miles north.

When the Florida sun sets over Wabasso, residents can see the orange reflected off the bordering Indian River and silhouettes of cars heading back from the beach across the Wabasso Causeway. Both an unincorporated and census-designated community, Wabasso is just 5 miles south of the small beach city of Sebastian. Best known for its meticulously sculpted golf courses and immediate access to the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean, Wabasso has seen an uptick in popularity in the 21st century. It may be welcoming gated communities and new country clubs, but packed sand roads are still dotted with bait shops and beach equipment rentals. Wabasso was, and still is, a community for those searching for a waterfront lifestyle. A large portion of Wabasso is sculpted by golf courses – namely, RedStick Golf Club and John's Island Club West, both member-only private clubs. Many residents in Wabasso have memberships for the clubs' diverse selection of recreation. At John's Island Club West, members and their guests can access three 18-hole golf courses, with the 300-acre West Course standing out for its sand ridges. The club also provides tennis courts, croquet, and weekly activities like trivia nights and luncheons. West Wabasso Park features a large playground, lit tennis and basketball courts, and a multi-purpose field for baseball and softball. One of Wabasso's biggest draws is that it's bordered by the Indian River. "The riverfront is just so pristine; there's no wall of development," says Chris Junker, a Realtor with Re/Max Crown Realty. He lives in Sebastian and has a decade of experience selling in the area. "People ride their bikes down it all the time, and it feels like you're seeing the whole reason why anyone chooses to live here." The Wabasso Causeway directly connects to Wabasso Island and Wabasso Beach. Boating, kayaking, fishing and beach lounging are favorite pastimes of those living in Wabasso. The original homes of Wabasso were mainly constructed between the 1970s and 1990s, with common architectural styles being ranch homes and bungalows. Many of them were taken down for new construction, but those that were renovated sell between $200,000 and $300,000. "Vero Beach and all of the waterfront areas are sadly no longer a secret, so the market is moving crazy fast, and you're seeing all kinds of new construction," says Eric Attio, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of VB who's lived in the area for 20 years. "I see many people come in with big deposits who just finance the rest because they want to get in now." Wabasso, since 2010, has seen an explosion of new development. Contemporary homes with manicured lawns, stucco exteriors and luxury amenities have popped up near the riverfront and southern corridor, sporting price tags between $450,000 and $650,000. Wabasso heavily relies on Route 1, a major thoroughfare that runs directly up the East Coast. Ramps to Interstate 95 are just a few miles away, and residents mainly depend on cars for transportation. The Wabasso Causeway is one of the most convenient ways to get to the coastal side of Sebastian and Vero Beach. Most residents will catch flights at Vero Beach Regional Airport, just 9 miles south, or from Orlando Melbourne International Airport, found 28 miles north. For health needs and emergencies, Wabasso is 6 miles from the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, the largest medical center in Vero Beach. Wabasso is zoned to the Indian River County School District, which receives an A-minus grade from Niche as a district. Many local kids will be sent to Pelican Island Elementary or Sebastian Elementary, getting B and B-minus, respectively. They can move on to Sebastian River Middle and then to Sebastian River High, both rated with overall B grades. Sebastian River High ensures that students have more than just an opportunity to earn their high school diploma; while attending, they can earn industry certifications, college course credits or a simultaneous associate degree. Riverview Park is where anyone local to the Sebastian area heads for nearly all significant annual events, of which the city has plenty year-round; Wabasso is just under 5 miles from Riverview Park. Some of the biggest events include live music and local eats at RiverDays & Craft Brew Hullabaloo, held in March, to the talented artisans and a wide berth of genres at the Sebastian Fine Arts and Music Festival in January. Errand stops and local shops are dotted along Route 1, and residents can find Publix, Walgreens and banking locations within the area. "Sebastian itself isn't huge, so it's a 10-minute drive for most people to go to Roseland if they need to do big shopping at Walmart or Home Depot," Junker says. The locally owned and operated Twisted Pickle Deli is a favorite for stopping into after returning from the beach, using fresh, local products to make creative sandwiches.