Somewhere among the thousands of south Florida MLS properties is the house that will become your dream home, once you find it. The question is how you're going to go about finding it. Chances are good that the MLS databases you access online aren't updated very often. Chances are equally good that the best use of your time is not looking through south Florida MLS listings on your own, but instead making the most of a realtor's expertise.

The ball that's in your court is to know exactly what you're looking for in a house and where your compromise points are. In looking at south Florida MLS properties you start with two basic questions. First is the choice between the green waters of the Gulf coast and the blue waters of the Atlantic coast. Another way of thinking about that is Fort Myers and Naples versus Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale. If you're still working for a living, the question may be moot. Second is what is most important to you, an easy commute or the right location.

South Florida MLS Information

Whether you're retiring to Florida, relocating your family, or planning on starting your family in the Sunshine state, however, you'll enjoy the same attractions, recreational opportunities, fine white sand beaches, and year-round tropical weather. Disney, Epcot, and Sea World are not too far away. The Everglades National Park is nearby. How can it not be when it takes up nearly half of southern Florida? It's almost astounding to think that as few as 60 years ago, thoughts of draining the Everglades in order to use the land for agriculture were not altogether abandoned.

If you look at properties east of the Everglades, you're talking about Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties, a stretch of about 100 miles. Along that stretch are Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Miami, Coral Gables, and the Keys. You could live almost anywhere, depending on where you work.