At the time of the last census, the median value of properties in Fort Lauderdale was about $150,000. The prices you're more likely to see as you search for your dream house in the Florida sun, however, are more likely to run from about $150,000 to $400,000. A quick unqualified MLS search of single-family homes returns 797 residential properties in Fort Lauderdale with a price range from $75,000 to $18,000,000. A narrower search--for three-bedroom houses under $1 million--returns 67 properties with a bottom price of $40,000.

If this information is not proof enough that finding a good local real estate agent to work with is a critical priority, I don't know what is. The fact is that properties in Fort Lauderdale are both affordable and a wonderful place to call home. With a year-round tropical climate, more than 20 miles of beautiful white sand Atlantic beaches, orchids growing in the wild, a host of recreational attractions, a rich diversity of cultural activities, and a relaxed tempo, who wouldn't enjoy living in south Florida?

About Properties in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale lies just about dead center along the Broward County coast. Broward is sandwiched between the more affluent Palm Beach County to the north and the more urban Miami-Dade County to the south. Both Broward's and Fort Lauderdale's populations have grown significantly in the boom of the 1980s and 1990s, but have stabilized somewhat at around 1.6 million.

The population within Fort Lauderdale's city limits is only 153,000, and that's representative of the area. If there is a single catch phrase to characterize Broward County in contrast to Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, it's probably "small town feeling." You'll find a strong sense of neighborhood community in the cities and towns surrounding Fort Lauderdale, good school systems, and active municipalities.