Beach Journal
Field notes from the coast
Neighborhood guides, market updates, and the occasional dinner recommendation, written from the inside.
Buyer Tips
New to Florida? The Homestead Exemption, Portability, and the March 1 Deadline, Explained
If you bought a home in Florida this year, the homestead exemption is the easiest win available: roughly $50,000 off your assessed value, plus the Save Our Homes cap that limits future increases. Here is how it works, what portability means for movers, and how to file before March 1.
Jul 15, 2026
Buyer Tips
Renting First in Delray: Which Neighborhoods Make the Best One Year Test Drive Before Buying
Delray's neighborhoods are genuinely different from one another, and renting in the wrong one can convince you the town isn't for you. Where to run the one year test drive, from the beach side to Pineapple Grove, SoFA, and Lake Ida, plus what a lease teaches you that no showing can.
Jul 13, 2026
Buyer Tips
Cash vs. Financing in Coastal Condos: Why So Many A1A Deals Close All Cash
In May 2026, 62% of Palm Beach County condo sales closed all cash, more than double the national rate. Here's why financing a coastal condo got harder after Surfside, why cash keeps winning along A1A, and how financed buyers can still compete.
Jul 10, 2026
Lifestyle
The Best Golf Courses Near Boca Raton for Residents
From the legendary private clubs of Boca West and St. Andrews to standout public courses like Osprey Point, here is a local's guide to the best places to play golf in and around Boca Raton.
Jun 28, 2026
Buyer Tips
What a Special Assessment Is and How to Spot One Before You Buy
A special assessment can quietly add a five figure bill to an otherwise great condo deal. Here is what the term means, why South Florida buildings are seeing more of them, and the due diligence that keeps one from surprising you at closing.
Jun 25, 2026
Buyer Tips
Moving to Boca Raton from New York: A Realtor's Guide for 2026
From the tax math to the neighborhoods New Yorkers gravitate to, a realtor and fellow former New Yorker walks through what to expect when making the move to Boca Raton, Delray Beach, or Highland Beach in 2026.
May 18, 2026
Holiday & Events
Memorial Day Weekend in Boca, Delray & Highland Beach: Where Locals Spend the Long Weekend
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer in South Florida. Here are eight ways locals spend the long weekend in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Highland Beach, from the ceremony at Boca Raton Cemetery to the craft festival on Atlantic Avenue.
May 10, 2026
Market Update
Palm Beach County Leads South Florida in Q1 2026: What the Numbers Mean for Boca, Delray & Highland Beach
Palm Beach County led South Florida in Q1 2026. Here is what the latest numbers mean for buyers and sellers in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Highland Beach, and what to watch through the rest of the year.
May 7, 2026
Lifestyle
Stone Crab Season Is Closing: Where to Eat the Last Claws of the Year
Florida’s stone crab season ends May 1. Three local kitchens, Whale’s Rib in Deerfield, Casa D’Angelo and La Nouvelle Maison in Boca, do it right before the claws disappear until October.
Apr 26, 2026
Neighborhood Guide
Highland Beach Communities With Private Beach Clubs: Toscana, Coronado & Boca Highland, Which Is Right for You
Three Highland Beach communities, three completely different approaches to private beach club living. Here's how to tell which one is for you.
Dec 22, 2025
Dining
Best Places to Eat on Christmas Eve in Boca Raton (2025)
Five upscale tables from Italian to French that take Christmas Eve seriously. Reservations recommended yesterday.
Dec 17, 2025
Holiday & Events
Festive & Fun: The Best Things to Do in Delray Beach This Holiday Season
From the 100-foot Christmas tree at Old School Square to the boat parade the seasonal rhythm of America's most fun small town.
Dec 7, 2025
Lifestyle
A Day in the Life in Highland Beach: From Sunrise to Sunset
Morning beach walk, mid day errand to Delray, afternoon at the pool, dinner on Atlantic. A real day in the town between the towns.
Aug 9, 2025
Neighborhood Guide
What It Means to Be a Blue Flag Beach in Florida: Spotlight on Spanish River Park in Boca Raton
Spanish River Park is one of just a handful of Blue Flag beaches in Florida. Here's what that designation means and why it makes a difference for visitors.
May 30, 2025
Buyer Tips
Hurricane Season Prep in Delray Beach & Boca Raton: A Guide for Condo & Single Family Homeowners
A practical, local guide to hurricane prep for both condo dwellers and single family homeowners in Delray Beach and Boca Raton.
May 8, 2025
Lifestyle
Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale
Beaches, boats, museums, and Everglades airboats. Ten ways to experience Fort Lauderdale, the 'Venice of America,' just down A1A from Boca and Delray.
Dec 25, 2024
Buyer Tips
The Benefits of Hurricane Impact Windows for Homes in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Highland Beach
Eight reasons hurricane impact windows pay for themselves in coastal South Florida, from storm protection to insurance savings, security, and quieter days.
Nov 22, 2024
Buyer Tips
What Title Companies Do for a Closing: A Guide for Buyers and Sellers in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Highland Beach
A buyer and seller friendly walkthrough of exactly what your title company does between contract and closing in South Florida.
Oct 30, 2024
Lifestyle
Fun Things to Do in West Palm Beach, Florida
Museums, waterfront cruises, antique shopping, fine dining, and nightlife at Rosemary Square. Ten ways to make the most of West Palm Beach.
Oct 11, 2024
Buyer Tips
Understanding the 40 Year Recertification in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Highland Beach: Why It Matters and How a Good Real Estate Agent Can Help
What the 40 year recertification means for buyers of older buildings in coastal South Florida, and why a knowledgeable agent matters.
Sep 25, 2024
Lifestyle
Turtle Nesting Season in Delray Beach, Highland Beach, and Boca Raton: How to Protect These Precious Creatures
Sea turtle nesting season runs March through October on our beaches. A practical guide to nesting sites, light pollution, beach cleanup, and how to help.
Sep 10, 2024
Buyer Tips
Essential Tips for First Time Homebuyers in Boca Raton, Highland Beach, and Delray Beach
Ten things first time buyers should know before purchasing a single family home in Boca Raton, Highland Beach, or Delray Beach, from coastal building codes to HOAs and closing timelines.
Sep 4, 2024
Buyer Tips
The Importance of Landscaping in Assessing Condominium Maintenance: Insights for Boca Raton and Highland Beach
Landscaping is one of the most underrated tells about how well a condominium is run. What thriving (or neglected) outdoor spaces reveal about HOA health and maintenance.
Feb 12, 2024
Lifestyle
A Visitor's Guide to Navigating the Upgrades at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Notes from the field on the 2024 renovations at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: parking, boardwalk access, and the new observation tower.
Feb 4, 2024
Lifestyle
Miami Is Just a 56 Minute Brightline Ride Away
From the Boca Raton Brightline station to the Perez Art Museum in under an hour, no traffic, no parking. Why the train turned Miami into a day trip.
Jan 29, 2024
Lifestyle
Airports to Use When Visiting Delray Beach or Boca Raton
BCT for private, PBI for easy commercial, FLL for the most flights. A quick guide to the three airports closest to Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
Mar 31, 2021
Lifestyle
Five Fun Live Music Spots in Boca and Delray Beach
Five great venues in Boca Raton and Delray Beach for live music, good drinks, and a fun night out.
Mar 19, 2021
Lifestyle
Where to Beach When Visiting Boca Raton
A guide to Boca Raton’s three beachside parks: Spanish River, Red Reef, and South Beach Pavilion.
Feb 21, 2021
Neighborhood Guide
Where is Highland Beach, Florida?
A barrier island town just 1 square mile in size, tucked between Boca Raton and Delray Beach on A1A.
Feb 21, 2021