Moving to Fort Lauderdale: What to Know BEFORE You Relocate
Moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida: The Complete Guide (2025)
By a local real estate expert who lived in Fort Lauderdale for over a decade
Are you considering moving to Fort Lauderdale? I lived there for more than a decade and worked with hundreds of buyers in this town. Most of those buyers were either moving to Fort Lauderdale or buying a second home here, so I have a pretty good idea of the questions people ask. I'm going to give you a balanced approach in this guide because it's not all glitz and glamour here.
Table of Contents
Why People Move to Fort Lauderdale: The Dream Phase {#why-people-move}
The Weather
Let's start with the most obvious reason: the weather. Imagine waking up to sunshine almost every day. That's Fort Lauderdale for eight to nine months out of the year. No need for snow boots here - flip flops year-round will do.
Incredible Beaches and Waterways
It goes without saying that Fort Lauderdale Beach is world-famous for a good reason: soft sand and clear water. But it's not just the ocean that's amazing. We have an intracoastal system down here that's absolutely incredible. Whether you're into boating, paddle boarding, or kayaking, it becomes a huge part of your lifestyle in Fort Lauderdale.
Dining and Nightlife Scene
When my wife Candace and I moved to Lauderdale, there weren't a whole lot of dining options. But man, it has certainly grown. Las Olas Boulevard now offers option after option - beachside cafes and an evolved food scene that I honestly can't even believe compared to a decade ago.
Outdoor Activities and Active Lifestyle
One of the benefits of being in Fort Lauderdale is because of the weather, you can always be outside. Beyond just going to the beach or cruising around in a boat, there are lots of parks where you can go running whenever you want. There are endless opportunities for an active lifestyle that incorporates the outdoors.
Perfect Location and Airport Access
If you need to get down to Miami, you can. If you want to check out the Everglades, you can. But what I thought was most helpful when we were living down here is airport access. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is really close to the downtown area - literally just a handful of minutes away.
The Reality of Living in Fort Lauderdale {#the-reality}
But if that's all the dream, here's some of the reality you need to know.
Summer Heat, Humidity, and Rain Season
Remember how I said that it doesn't really rain for eight or nine months? Well, for three or four months, it rains a lot. When it rains a lot and you're in summertime, it's going to get hot and humid, and you're going to sweat just standing still. That being said, everything down here is air-conditioned, so it's not like you can't escape the heat. You just kind of have to learn to put up with it or at least tolerate it.
High Cost of Living in Fort Lauderdale
Look, this is not a big secret and it's worth reiterating to you: Fort Lauderdale is an expensive place to live. There is no way around that. You're going to pay a premium for sunshine. It costs a lot to build down here. It costs a lot to buy homes down here. It costs a lot to rent down here. There is no question about it.
If you're looking for someplace that's wildly affordable, Fort Lauderdale is not that place. I'm just going to be perfectly honest with you - it's just a pricey place to live. That kind of comes with living on the beach and having everything that Lauderdale has to offer.
Traffic and Walkability Issues
We've got to talk about these. While there are some areas of Fort Lauderdale that are walkable, I would not consider Fort Lauderdale on the whole to be a walkable place. You're going to be car dependent, no question about it.
Now, if you're living on the beach, you might say "I can walk up and down the beach." That's very true, but there's also not a grocery store that you're going to be able to get to within that walk. No matter which way you slice it, you're going to have to bring a car with you.
The most walkable area in Fort Lauderdale is downtown. If you're in downtown Fort Lauderdale, you could make an argument for not having a car if your place of work is close by and you can take Ubers when needed. Flagler Village and areas close to Las Olas would be the only other places where I would even attempt this.
Fort Lauderdale Traffic Problems
If you are going to be in a car, we need to talk about traffic. Traffic in Lauderdale can be brutal - absolutely brutal. If you're trying to get from I-95 into downtown during rush hour and need to cross on either Broward Boulevard or Oakland Park Boulevard, it's going to take you a while. It's really common to have a 15-minute drive turn into a 45-minute drive.
Is it a deal breaker? It wasn't for us, but I make sure people don't underestimate that because it is a reality of living in Fort Lauderdale. There is a lot of traffic, and quite honestly, as the city grows, that traffic is only going to get worse.
Crime and Safety Research
The next category I'm going to leave up to you to research: crime and homelessness. I think it's something you're going to want to look into the statistics if you're considering moving to Fort Lauderdale. Different areas have different levels of crime, and it's worth researching before you make your decision.
Fort Lauderdale Schools: Public, Private, and Charter
Schools is a whole separate topic. Whether you're going public, private, or charter, this is something we went through, and I'm happy to talk to you about it.
Public Schools: If you're trying to go to public schools, I would look at something like the GreatSchools website to see how they compare and which one might work for you.
Private Schools: Understand there are not a lot of private schools in Fort Lauderdale. Most of them operate on a waitlist, so it takes a lot of planning now to get into one of the private schools in Lauderdale.
Charter Schools: If you're willing to drive west, there's a charter school system that exists in the western part of Broward County that's pretty readily accessible from Fort Lauderdale. Again, just a bit of a drive, but that may be an option you'd want to look into if you're looking for schooling and want to live in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale Neighborhoods Guide {#neighborhoods}
There are a lot of neighborhoods in Lauderdale, and you have a whole lot of options.
Downtown, Las Olas, and Flagler Village (City Living)
If you want to be somewhere that feels more city-like, downtown Fort Lauderdale, being close to Las Olas, or Flagler Village is really going to be where you want to look.
Rio Vista, Victoria Park, and Coral Ridge (Established Family Areas)
If you want to be in one of the more established neighborhoods that have been around longer where a lot of families move, you would want to look at:
Rio Vista - the first neighborhood that Candace and I lived in Fort Lauderdale
Victoria Park
Coral Ridge
You'll find a mix of housing in terms of years built, pricing, townhomes, and regular single-family homes - just a whole lot of options in those three neighborhoods.
Oakland Park, Poinsettia Heights, and Tarpon River (More House for the Money)
If you want to consider traveling a little bit west and you want to get more house for the money, you could look at Oakland Park. Or if you wanted to stay within Fort Lauderdale city limits, Poinsettia Heights or Tarpon River are good options.
Riverland Village and Shady Banks (Budget Waterfront)
If you wanted to do waterfront on more of a budget, you could look at Riverland Village or Shady Banks.
Plantation, Davie, and Southwest Ranches (Large Yards)
If you are more concerned with having a large yard and you want more yard space, we could look at options in Plantation or Davie. If you want really large space, we'd have to go towards I-75 to get you out towards Southwest Ranches.
My point in bringing this up is within Lauderdale and the surrounding area, there's something for everybody. Whether that's beachfront, large lot size, or walkability - if you want it, you can probably find it right around Lauderdale or one of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Who Fort Lauderdale Is Best For {#best-for}
In my experience working with buyers, Fort Lauderdale has worked for a lot of niches.
Beach Lovers and Beachfront Condo Buyers
People who call me and tell me they want to live on the beach - I've often said this: We may build more buildings, but we're not building more ocean. So if you get a condo on the beach, I think it tends to be a pretty sound investment in terms of long-term value.
Now, we can have a whole separate conversation if you're looking to just stay here for a few months and want to rent your condo out. Fort Lauderdale is not a very good place for that due to rental restrictions.
Townhome Buyers with Boats
If you're just looking for a residence where you can fly into Fort Lauderdale, hop in an Uber, and you'll be at your townhouse with boat dockage in the rear, Las Isles has a lot of great townhome options. That's something you might want to look at.
If you're looking to do it on a lower cost spectrum, something like 15th Street may be a better idea for you.
Second Home Buyers
If you're looking for a second home, you don't want waterfront, but you don't want the hassles of a single-family home and you don't want the fees of a condo, we've got a lot of really good townhome options. Those tend to work really well for second homeowners.
People Relocating to Fort Lauderdale
For people moving to Fort Lauderdale or relocating, it kind of depends on what you're moving here for.
Young singles: I've had a lot of young people that are single that I help move in, and they do very well in the condos in downtown because that has everything they need and want.
Families: I've worked with a lot of families. About half of those families have originally looked at Fort Lauderdale and then we ended up buying something out in Plantation or Davie.
So it really depends on your situation. But I think the truth is Lauderdale is for everybody.
Ready to Move to Fort Lauderdale?
What are your thoughts? Where would you move in Fort Lauderdale? Are you considering moving here and have questions?
Contact me today:
Phone: 786-443-7203
Email: Caseyprindle@gmail.com
Remember one thing: Nothing's worse for a buyer than overpaying for a property. Nothing's worse for a seller than selling for too little money. My clients don't make those mistakes. Give me a call and become a client. Let's talk.
Last Updated: October 2025
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