For a lot of our buyers, the house comes second. The boat comes first. A home with a dock can be the best part of living in South Florida, but "waterfront" covers everything from a lake view to a deep-water lot two minutes from the inlet. Here is how to tell them apart, and what is on the market right now.
How many boating homes are for sale?
As of late October 2026, there were about 786 single-family homes for sale across our five counties listed with ocean access, Intracoastal frontage or navigable water. That is a small slice of the roughly 11,800 single-family homes on the market.
| County | Boating homes for sale | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|
| Broward | 382 | $3.44 million |
| Palm Beach | 215 | $8.90 million |
| Martin | 110 | $2.90 million |
| St. Lucie | 69 | $1.13 million |
| Indian River | 10 | $3.80 million |
Broward has nearly half of the supply, thanks to the canal systems of Fort Lauderdale (195 listings), Pompano Beach (60) and Lighthouse Point (43). In Palm Beach County, Boca Raton (52), Jupiter (49) and North Palm Beach (21) lead. On the Treasure Coast, Stuart (44), Fort Pierce (27), Palm City (25) and Port St. Lucie (25) offer the most room for the money. Only about 121 of these homes were priced under $1 million: 57 in Broward, 34 in St. Lucie, 21 in Martin and just 8 in Palm Beach County.
Fixed bridges: the first question to ask
A fixed bridge between your dock and the ocean sets a hard limit on how tall your boat can be. That matters for sailboats, sportfishing boats with towers and larger yachts. Of the 786 boating homes on the market, about 430 were listed with no fixed bridges to the ocean. Not every listing reports it, so we check the route from the dock to the inlet for every home our boating clients consider.
Canal width and water depth
A wide canal makes turning and docking a larger boat much easier. Among listings that reported canal width, 114 were on canals up to 80 feet wide, 142 on canals 81 to 120 feet, and 54 on canals wider than 120 feet.
Depth matters as much as width. What counts is the depth at low tide, both at the dock and along the route out. A canal that works at high tide can leave a deeper-draft boat stuck at low tide. Ask for the depth at mean low water and talk with the neighbors, who know their canal better than anyone.
Seawalls, docks and lifts
- Seawall condition. Replacing a seawall is one of the most expensive repairs a waterfront owner can face. Have it inspected along with the house, and look for cracks, leaning sections and soil loss behind the wall.
- Dock size and permits. Find out how long the dock is, whether it was permitted, and what the rules allow if you want to extend it or add a lift.
- Boat lift capacity. If there is a lift, confirm its weight rating against your boat with fuel and gear aboard.
- HOA and city rules. Some communities limit boat length, overnight guests at the dock, or where you can store a trailer.
Insurance
Waterfront homes are often in flood zones, and lenders typically require flood insurance for those homes. Get quotes for both homeowners and flood coverage early, before you are deep into the inspection period, because they can change the monthly cost significantly.
If you do not need a private dock
Many communities offer marinas, boat slips or dry storage instead. That can cost far less than a deep-water home and takes the maintenance off your plate. Our Find Your Home questionnaire asks about your boat's size and whether you want a private dock or a community marina, and builds the search from there.
About the numbers: figures come from Beaches MLS records for Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, analyzed by Exodus Realty. Listing counts are active single-family listings as of October 24, 2026. Bridge, canal width and depth details are as reported by listing agents and are not included on every listing. Homes sold privately or by builders outside the MLS are not included.
Talk it through with Paul
Every number above is a starting point, not a verdict on any one home. If you want to know how a specific property or neighborhood compares, reach out to Paul Christle or call (561) 420-9620. You can also answer a few quick questions in our Find Your Home tool and we will pull the homes that fit.