The Florida Keys

The Florida Keys is coral cay island chain situated off the southern coast of Florida and forms the southernmost part of the United States. These islands spread from south of Miami to the southern coast of Florida. The nearest portion of the Florida Keys is located about one hour and forty minutes from Miami and can be accessed via US-1 South. Before Juan Ponce de León chartered the area in 1513, the Florida Keys were initially inhabited by Calusa and Tequesta Native Americans. De León described the group of islands as looking like a group of “suffering men” from a distance, so he named them Los Martires, which translated to “The Martyrs.” The word “Key” is a derivative of the Spanish word cayo, meaning “small island.” Believe it or not, Key West was the most significant town in Florida at the time, with its most significant industry coming from wrecking, which was the practice of taking cargo from a shipwreck which has foundered close to shore. The Florida reef was so treacherous that one ship crashed a week during the 19th century. In addition to that, Florida Key became a close trading partner with Cuba the Bahamas and was on the primary trade route to New Orleans.

Residents fortunate enough to own a home on the Florida Key will live among an ecosystem full of distinctive plants and animals not found in any other part of the United States. This alone makes Florida Key a real estate gem. Also, the temperate climate supports the exportation of exotic plants from other places in the world sharing the same environment. The types of wildlife you’ll see here includes the American crocodile, the Key Largo woodrat, and the Key Deer. You have natural spaces such as the National Key Deer Refuge, Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which are protected waters surrounding the Keys. Owning a home in the Florida Keys grants you VIP access to places such as Bahia Honda (also known as Bahia Honda State Park), a nearly uninhabited island featuring white sand beaches, crystal clear waters great for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Furthermore, the park's 3.5-mile paved road allows people to do cycling or inline skating. There are also a few spots for fishing and picnicking. Then you have the residential neighborhood and resort community of Sunset Key, offering you an assortment of activities. The Florida Keys also provides residents places like Florida Keys Outlet Marketplace, with stores including Bealls Outlet, Coach New York, Famous Footwear, and Guess Factory Store. 

Houses on the market in the Florida Keys include Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco, Classical American, Modern, Italianate, Colonial, Mission-Revival, Cottage, Tudor, Craftsman, Spanish-Mediterranean, Spanish-Ranch, and many others. Single-family homes for sale in the Florida Keys range in size from two bedrooms, one bathroom, and 1,188 square feet to 20 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, and 20,084 square feet. Furthermore, available properties in the Florida Keys feature some condominiums ranging in size from two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 845 square feet to four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and 5,376 square feet. In addition to that, you can find a select few lots and some investment properties for sale in the Florida Keys for those looking to build new construction. If you’re interested in learning more about real estate options in the Florida Keys, please contact us today for further details.