Fort Lauderdale Waterfront Homes For Sale Buying Guide

The Buyers Guide to Fort Lauderdale Waterfront Homes

Hello and welcome to the Fort Lauderdale Waterfront Homes For Sale Buying Guide. In this blog, we will review important waterfront home buying considerations. Living on the water dramatically appeals to anyone who owns a boat, is seeking a waterfront lifestyle, or loves a waterfront view. Fort Lauderdale is a city unlike any other in the United States. It offers miles of navigable waterways giving Fort Lauderdale designations such as Boating Capital of the World and Venice of America. We will guide you through the essential considerations when purchasing a waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale.

Six Reasons Fort Lauderdale Offers the Best Waterfront Lifestyle

1. Location: Fort Lauderdale offers 165 miles of navigable waterways plus ocean access.
2. Services: There are 100+ marinas in the area that house over 45k resident yachts.
3. Community: There are 50k+ vessels registered in the Fort Lauderdale area.
4. Homes: Waterfront homes and condos line the waterways and provide private dockage and waterway access.
5. Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show: FLIBS is the largest in-water boat show in the world.
6. Destinations: There are many options for raft-up waterfront dining, sandbar gathering spots, and the Bahamas. Plus the many yacht clubs in the area.

Buying a Waterfront Home in Fort Lauderdale

In this section of the Fort Lauderdale Waterfront Home Guide, we will review items to consider for bringing home a boat. The David Siddons Group can expertly assist with your waterfront home purchase. As mentioned in the video, these are some important aspects we look out for:

Dock Condition

When you are looking at Fort Lauderdale waterfront homes for sale the condition and age of the dock are essential. There are various materials used in the construction of docks. Each type of material brings a different value, strength, and longevity to the dock. Docks made from concrete are perhaps the most expensive and durable option; composite material docks would be the next level of quality, followed by wood docks with pressure-treated wood decking. The main differences between composite material decking and wood decking are maintenance and cost. Pressure-treated wood decking looks great at first but eventually will require care for mold and rot versus composite decking, which is low maintenance, mold, and rot resistant. Some concrete & composite docks come with warranties. Be sure to include a request for a warranty transfer at the purchase closing.

Dockside Power and Water

Another dock feature you should check is dockside power and water. These options are convenient for most boats but necessary for larger vessels. You should make sure to include an inspection of the dock construction, dockside power, and water in your due diligence inspection before purchase.

Setbacks

Every waterway in Fort Lauderdale has specified setbacks for docking a boat. Setbacks are calculated from the property line at the bow and stern sides of the vessel. Typical setbacks are 5 feet or 10 feet from each end. So, for example, if you plan to dock an 80-foot boat in a neighborhood with a setback of 10 feet, you will need a home with a minimum of 100 feet of waterfront. This minimum would allow enough space for the vessel and the 10 feet of setbacks on each end of the boat.

Canal Width

The Beam of your boat will determine the width of the canal that your boat will require. The 30% rule will apply to all canals in Fort Lauderdale. The 30% rule informs that a vessel cannot take up more than 30% of the canal width. This rule is calculated from the seawall. Riparian Rights are legally governed in Florida, so it is best to confirm the width of the canal if you think your vessel is close to the 30% measurement.

Canal Depth

The draft measures the minimum water depth your boat can safely navigate. The canal depths will vary throughout the waterways of Fort Lauderdale. Some neighborhoods have canal depths as low as five feet and others up to eleven feet. It is best to thoroughly investigate the requirements of your boat and match it with the canal access to the home. The published depths sometimes are not always accurate due to sediment in the canals. Sediment buildup is a natural occurrence and can change the canal depth over time.

Seawalls

No matter if the home is new construction, the seawall should be inspected before purchase. Seawalls tend to develop cracks and become damaged over time. Repairing a seawall is not an inexpensive proposition, and the condition of the seawall is a fundamental consideration when making a purchase offer. It is also important to note that Broward County has passed an ordinance that states: Tidal flood barriers shall have a minimum elevation of five (5) feet NAVD88. Applications for new or substantially repaired, or substantially rehabilitated tidal flood barriers submitted before January 1, 2035, may be permitted a minimum elevation of four (4) feet NAVD88, if designed and constructed to accommodate a minimum height of five (5) feet NAVD88 by January 1, 2050. This height is significant to consider when purchasing an older home. Seawall construction costs are currently averaging approximately $700 per foot to raise to the new level.

Bridge Access

Not all bridges open to allow access to boating traffic. It is essential to know if your boat can navigate the waterways unhindered. The term “fixed Bridge” refers to a bridge that does not open. The bridge heights are published to confirm height sufficiency.

How to Minimize Environmental Impacts to a Waterfront Home

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The marine environment is beautiful, but the effects of location, sun exposure, salt, wind, and moisture can damage a property. These are some of the environmental considerations that will add value, enjoyment, and peace of mind to a waterfront home.

Storm Protection: Additional storm protection adds value and peace of mind to a home purchase. Impact Windows are one way to improve storm protection. However, they are an investment purchase. Not all impact windows are the same. There is a minimum standard for all newly installed impact windows in South Florida. Make sure you purchase from a qualified provider that pulls a permit. Pulling a permit ensures that a Code Inspector will verify that the windows meet the minimum required standard. Most homeowners are confused by the impact window ratings. Here is a link from Alco Windows that helps explain the different window ratings.

Marine Grade Materials: When purchasing a waterfront home, check the exterior for marine grade materials. The materials that hold up best due to salt and sun exposure are stainless steel, aluminum, and powder-coated metals. These are considerations when selecting outdoor fixtures, fans, appliances, and AC covers.

Waterway Activity: Property located on busy, trafficked waterways can be subject to the seawall degrading faster than a seawall on a quieter canal.

Location on Canal: Property near a canal terminus can be affected by stagnated water or a buildup of debris in the canal waterway. Typically properties located at the terminus are the least valued on a canal waterway, and properties on canal point lots are the most valuable.

Top Waterfront Neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale

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Get to Know the David Siddons Group

We are the David Siddons Group, a top ranking group of real estate experts that sell throughout South Florida. We are known for our analytical expertise and depth of real estate knowledge. Our team of Territory Sales Directors offer detailed insight and expertise for their respective areas.

Elaine Tatum is the David Siddons Group Sales Director for Fort Lauderdale, a waterfront sales expert and author of this blog. Get to know more about us on our award winning website. Luxlifemiamiblog.com was voted THE BEST in South Florida by our peers.