Where Realtors See Growth
Florida’s most popular retirement cities are getting crowded and expensive. But a quieter shift is happening in smaller towns across the state, and realtors are paying close attention to all of them.
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New Smyrna Beach
Sitting about 15 miles south of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach gives retirees direct Atlantic Ocean access with a fraction of the noise. Realtors have ranked it near the top of emerging retirement lists, and as per Zillow, median home prices in the mid-$400,000s keep coastal living within reach for a lot of buyers.
Ajr24g, Wikimedia Commons
New Smyrna Beach (Cont.)
New Smyrna Beach holds an unusual distinction: more documented shark bites occur here than anywhere else on earth, earning it the Shark Bite Capital of the World title. Nearly all are minor. On dry land, the historic Canal Street district buzzes with galleries, festivals, and a farmers’ market that draws locals every week.
Babcock Ranch
Babcock Ranch near Fort Myers and Punta Gorda runs on power from an 870-acre solar farm. It’s the first U.S. town built entirely around solar energy. Now home to over 12,000 residents, it ranks among Florida’s top-selling master-planned communities, with median prices around $453,000, as per the National Association of Realtors…