Florida’s housing market now includes two distinct flavors of new-development housing: institutional build-to-rent (BTR)  communities (single-owner rental neighborhoods often operated by a professional landlord/operator) and master-planned communities  (MPAs) where single-family homes are sold to owners inside HOA governance. If you’re choosing where to rent or buy — or you manage one of these places — the practical differences around warranties, construction/noise rules, and

Construction & renovation disturbances — what notice you’re owed Areas covered:  Mizner Park area (Boca Raton / Palm Beach County), A1A corridor (Deerfield Beach / Broward County), and new-build streets (Palm Coast / Flagler County) Construction is noisy and disruptive — but it’s not lawless. Between city noise/construction rules, Florida’s construction-law paperwork, and condo/HOA governance, residents are owed certain kinds of notice and protections. Below I summarize what

What property managers can — and can’t — ask, and how to handle requests correctly Housing providers in Florida must navigate two overlapping bodies of law when tenants say they need an animal for a disability: federal disability law (the Fair Housing Act and ADA) and Florida law. The rules differ depending on whether the animal is a service animal  (trained to perform tasks) or an assistance animal  such as an emotional support animal (ESA)  (provides therapeutic emotional s

Living with pets in Florida means juggling three rulebooks at once: (1) the association’s covenants, conditions & restrictions (CC&Rs) if you’re in an HOA or condo, (2) municipal animal-control laws, and (3) federal/state disability rules that protect service and assistance animals. Below is a practical, region-focused guide comparing what you’re likely to run into in Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach associations versus what single-family homeowners in Palm Coast normally face.

Timing a lease-renewal ask in Florida isn’t just bookkeeping — it’s strategy. Coastal Broward & Palm Beach submarkets (think Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach) swing strongly with the “snowbird” season, while inland / quieter northeast-coast markets such as Palm Coast show gentler seasonality and different demand windows. Below I break down the patterns, explain the implications for landlords and tenants, and give a clear, calendar-ready playbook for when — and how — to make you

When property managers, boards, or homeowners ask how utility costs get passed to residents in South Florida, the answer depends less on state law (which generally permits both sub-metering and RUBS) and more on building type, local utility practice, and whether an HOA or association controls the master meter. Below is a clear comparison focused on mid-rise multifamily/condo buildings in Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach versus predominantly single-family neighborhoods and HOAs

When moving into a Florida home—whether in Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, or Palm Coast—setting up utilities is one of the first practical steps to ensure a smooth transition. While electric service in all three areas is handled by Florida Power & Light (FPL), water and sewer services differ depending on the city. 1. Electricity: Florida Power & Light (FPL) Florida Power & Light (FPL) is the primary electricity provider for a large portion of Florida, including cities such as B

Florida’s coastal humidity poses one of the most persistent habitability challenges for property owners and tenants alike. In areas such as Boca Raton  and Deerfield Beach , near the Atlantic shoreline, and Palm Coast , along its canal systems and humid subtropical microclimate, managing moisture inside homes—especially those with enclosed lanais —is both a health and legal concern. 1. Why Documentation Matters When it comes to mold and moisture issues in Florida’s humid coas

Planning, buying, insuring, or managing coastal property in Southeast Florida means answering two related questions: (1) Is the property in a FEMA flood zone (and what’s the Base Flood Elevation)?  and (2) How exposed is it to storm surge?  The places in this short guide differ in how those questions are answered: Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach include barrier-island / Intracoastal neighborhoods where ocean surge and wave action are key risks, while Palm Coast’s risk picture

Why landlords request proof of insurance Landlords routinely require tenants (especially long-term tenants, vacation rental tenants, or those leasing whole properties) to provide proof of insurance coverage or name the landlord as an additional insured. The reasons include: Ensuring the unit/house is insured in case of damage (fire, windstorm, vandalism) which could otherwise expose the landlord’s investment. Protecting against liability claims (guest injuries, property damag

Living near Florida water — whether it’s the Atlantic surf in Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach or the quieter canals of Palm Coast — changes what you should expect from renter’s insurance. Standard renters policies are useful and inexpensive, but they have important gaps that matter more the closer you live to the water. Below I explain what typical policies do and don’t cover, how coastal geography (oceanfront vs. canal) changes your risk and your premium, and exactly what to

Rethinking the Traditional Security Deposit in Florida For many years, landlords have relied on security deposits as a financial safeguard against unpaid rent, property damage, or lease defaults. But in recent years, evolving tenant expectations, increased competition for quality renters, and changes in state law have encouraged landlords to explore alternatives  that reduce move-in cost burdens while still protecting the property owner. For landlords in Palm Beach, Broward,

What Is the Live Local Act? The Live Local Act , enacted on July 1, 2023 , is one of Florida’s most significant housing initiatives in recent decades. Designed to expand access to affordable and workforce housing , the law aims to encourage private developers to build and maintain rental units that are attainable for middle-income workers—such as teachers, nurses, and first responders—who often earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing yet still struggle wit

As Florida continues to refine its landlord-tenant laws, renters in Palm Beach, Broward, and Flagler counties should pay attention to several changes and proposed amendments that may affect their rights, notice periods, deposits, disclosures, and protections. While Florida law largely preempts local ordinances in the residential rental sphere, local implementation and county/city practices can cause variation in how changes play out on the ground. Below are key developments i

Florida is well known for sun, sand, and sea—but increasingly, it’s the state’s lifestyle and culture that are driving its real estate...

Florida is well known for its sunshine, beaches, and vibrant tourism—but the state’s homes and living spaces often tell equally vivid...

When people envision life in Florida, they often conjure up images of palm-lined beaches, open-air patios, saltwater breezes, and...

When it comes to rental properties, first impressions matter. Prospective tenants often make their decision within moments of stepping...

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered the landscape of education. As schools and universities transitioned to remote or hybrid...

For decades, the term “snowbirds”  has referred to retirees from colder northern states and Canada who flock to warmer southern...