Broward city guide
Fort Lauderdale, FL Homes for Sale
Beach, river, and canals, with Las Olas, the Riverwalk, and downtown at the center.
About the city
Living in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is Broward's county seat and its best-known city. The city's main ZIP codes include 33301, 33304, 33308, 33309, 33311, 33312, 33315, and 33316. The Atlantic beach, the New River, and miles of inland canals earned it the nickname "Venice of America," and a lot of daily life here happens near the water.
The city takes its name from a fort built on the New River in 1838, during the Second Seminole War. Fort Lauderdale was incorporated in 1911.
Downtown, the Riverwalk ties together the arts and history district, including the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Discovery and Science. Las Olas Boulevard runs from downtown toward the beach, lined with shops and restaurants.
The local economy reaches well past tourism, with marine, finance, and professional services among the major employers. Homes range from downtown high-rise condos to older neighborhoods with single-family homes, and canal-front properties with dock space.
Sailboat Bend, in the southwest part of the city, is the oldest neighborhood and the largest of the city's three historic districts. Most of its homes are small one-story houses built from the early 1900s to the 1950s, with some larger homes along the New River. Victoria Park and Rio Vista are older neighborhoods close to downtown, and each has its own civic association.
Brightline's Fort Lauderdale station is downtown. Tri-Rail stops at Broward Boulevard and at Cypress Creek, and I-95 runs north to south through the city.
Comparing cities? Hollywood is to the south. Plantation and Davie are a short drive west. Each has its own guide, and all nine Broward city guides are in one place.
Neighborhood notes
Street by street in Fort Lauderdale
Every part of Fort Lauderdale prices a little differently. A downtown high-rise condo, a canal-front house, and a bungalow in Sailboat Bend each have their own set of comparable sales. Ask us about a street, a community, or a specific home and we will walk you through what has sold nearby.
Ask about a street
Tell us where you are looking in Fort Lauderdale. We will share what homes nearby have sold for and what to watch for on a showing.
On canal-front homes, we look at the seawall, the dock, and the flood zone. On older homes, we look closely at the roof, windows, plumbing, and electrical panel. In condo buildings, ask about the association's approval process, the budget, and any planned special assessments.
See recent sales
See recent Fort Lauderdale sales in our MLS search. For a specific Fort Lauderdale address, we will pull the latest MLS sales for you.
Houses and condos move on different timelines, so we compare like with like. Our post Houses and condos are two markets explains why. Sold data comes from the MLS.
Check the details
HOA rules, flood zone, permits, and schools each have an official source. The city's FEMA CRS Class 7 rating earns 15% off eligible NFIP premiums. See our Citizens post, FEMA's flood map, and BCPS Find My School.
Living in Fort Lauderdale: quick facts
- Utility accounts: since March 1, 2026, only property owners can open new city utility accounts. Tenants can get the bill in care of the owner. See the city's utility billing page.
- Homestead exemption: to claim it for a year, you must own the home and live in it by January 1 of that year. File on time by March 1 (the next business day if it falls on a weekend) with the Broward County Property Appraiser.
- Property tax timing: proposed values come on the TRIM notice in August, and the tax bill follows in November. See the Property Appraiser's calendar.
- Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. County evacuation orders start with mobile homes, low-lying areas, homes beside tidal water and land east of the Intracoastal, and stronger storms add land east of U.S. 1. Check an address on the county evacuation page.
Since October 1, 2025, Florida home sellers must give buyers a flood disclosure at or before signing the contract. Condo buildings three stories or taller need a milestone inspection at 30 years, then every 10. Homestead portability can carry your tax savings to your next Florida home.
Selling in Fort Lauderdale?
Start with what your home is worth
Get a home value estimate, then have Melecia review it against recent Fort Lauderdale sales. Before you list, we go over the flood disclosure, condo or HOA documents, and your expected costs to close. Not sure yet? Compare selling and renting in our sell or rent guide, see how we sell Broward homes, or read what past clients say. We also look at how long similar Fort Lauderdale homes took to sell and plan the listing date around that. Rates matter too, as our post on higher mortgage rates and Broward sellers explains.