Your Guide to Buying a Home in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Buying a Home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

(The scenic New River and the skyline of Fort Lauderdale)

Fort Lauderdale is located in Broward County

Fort Lauderdale first attracted the spotlight in the 1950's, when college students from around the nation sought the fun and sun of the city during Spring Break. By 1985 a record 350,000 students converged on the beaches and shops of Fort Lauderdale. However, shortly afterward city officials decided the city needed a change in its image. Their vision included an upscale area that was both stable in its economy and culture. In the years to follow several ambitious projects were underway, bringing a much greater variety of housing and adding approximately 190,000 square feet of shops, offices and restaurants to Fort Lauderdale's beachfront and Intracoastal Waterway areas. Currently, one of the top dining and shopping districts in the U.S. is to be found along Las Olas Boulevard. Fort Lauderdale has grown from its early days of being a haven for sun-hungry college students, but the city continues to maintain a friendly and fun atmosphere.

Fort Lauderdale offers an unsurpassed quality of life that not only attracts new residents and tourists, but also new businesses. An eclectic blend of cultural and natural attractions offers a tempting environment for upper management. A highly skilled workforce is readily available due to the area's combination of cultural, recreational, and educational amenities. One of Fort Lauderdale's economic initiatives is the Florida Enterprise Zone Program, which offers tax incentives to businesses in an effort to stimulate redevelopment in economically distressed areas.

Fort Lauderdale has developed around the natural setting in which it sits. Numerous area parks take advantage of the warm ocean breezes and provide a nice meeting place for residents. Throughout Fort Lauderdale it is apparent that nature is well respected. Several programs are currently underway to protect the city's urban forestry. These programs include Adopt-a-Tree, Buy a Tree, and the Recycle Corps. Perhaps the most radiant example of the area's beauty is Riverwalk Park. Combining shops, winding paths, and exquisite views, the Park runs along Florida's Most Beautiful Mile. Historically speaking, the Park is very rich, having once been home to Native Americans who brought their ocean catches upriver to trade, and early settlers who brought their harvest for rail shipment north. This area was truly the birthplace of Fort Lauderdale.

There are many sites of interest in Fort Lauderdale, which span all areas of interest. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is home to symphony performances and wonderful plays, while the Museum of Discovery and Science features interactive displays aimed to fascinate and amaze. Historians will enjoy the Seminole Okalee Indian Village & Museum, and the Museum of Art.

Fort Lauderdale is located about 30 miles north of Miami along I-95, and is within easy reach of several local communities. Many transportation routes service the area and a quick 15-minute drive down I-595 will take you into the Everglades.