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Realtors Claim These 10 Popular Florida Cities Still Have Affordable Homes

If you think sunny, coastal living is out of reach, think again.

By Stacy Garrels

Edited by Lauren Wellbank

Updated Feb. 19, 2025

Florida’s sunny beaches, tax-friendly policies, and vibrant tourist attractions have long appealed to homebuyers nationwide. Yet with rising prices, many would-be Floridians believe that buying in the Sunshine State is out of reach.

Luckily, there are plenty of affordable pockets of inventory.

We’ve reviewed the county housing data and spoken with two Florida real estate pros to identify 10 cities where you can still find an affordable home.

These areas offer a mix of natural tranquility, urban convenience, and some of the best price points in the nation for those looking to build wealth by moving to a more affordable town.

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Tamarac

Median home sales price: $325,000

Nestled in Broward County, Tamarac strikes a balance between convenience and affordability, with a median home price of $325,000.

It offers close proximity to Fort Lauderdale along with family-oriented suburban living. Its cost of living is lower than in nearby coastal areas.

Tamarac and other homes in the tri-county area are popular with new Florida buyers, according to Faith Montgomery, a Florida REALTOR®, with many buyers coming from out of state. Buyers from New York, California, and other areas are drawn to the affordable list price and lower cost of living.

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Lauderdale Lakes

Lauderdale Lakes is another Broward County city that offers affordable living. The city features older housing stock which often sells at lower prices than newer property, and typically has a median sales price of $253,250.

Additionally, the city has made efforts to maintain and renovate existing affordable housing complexes.

Montgomery also serves clients in Lauderdale Lakes and says there are quite a few homes in “the lower six digits” in this location and neighboring cities

Lauderhill

Once an overlooked market, Lauderhill has become a haven for budget-conscious buyers hoping to take advantage of the median sales price of $297,500.

Its diverse community offers homes at reasonable prices while still being within commuting distance of Fort Lauderdale.

Although Lauderhill is becoming a more competitive market, things have cooled slightly from peak craziness a few years ago when Montgomery had a client have strong offers declined on repeat because of all-cash buyers.

Since then, it’s slowed down, which allows hopeful homeowners to make more budget-minded opening bids. Now, if a first offer is not accepted,

Montgomery says, “You may just want to wait a little bit to see if they get other offers,” since your initial rejected offer could still be the winning bid.

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North Lauderdale

atlantic ocean in fort lauderdale florida

North Lauderdale is another cost-friendly enclave in Broward County, with a median home price of $335,000. Its location balances affordability with city access to Fort Lauderdale. The presence of service-sector jobs and relatively low land costs contribute to the city’s price stability.

And it’s that very stability that makes it attractive to new Florida residents. When buyers move to North Lauderdale and nearby, Montgomery says it’s not just snowbirds coming down for the winter months. “The ones I’ve encountered, they’re coming here to stay.”

Pompano Beach

Pompano Beach is one of Florida’s most budget-friendly coastal cities, with a median home price of $385,000. While its oceanfront property is pricey, inland neighborhoods are still close to the ocean and have more affordable condos and single-family homes.

That said, Montgomery cautions budget-seeking buyers to “stay away from condos as much as possible” because of ‌association fees.

She says, “Most houses [here] do have homeowner’s association fees, but it’s vastly different than condos” where she says the fees can cost “as much as a mortgage.”

Margate

Path over sand dunes to the Atlantic Ocean

Margate is another affordable city for Florida buyers, according to Christina Menendez, a Realtor Associate with Brown Harris Stevens Miami. The city actively utilizes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to increase affordable housing opportunities and also offers easy access to commercial centers, schools, and other amenities.

“Margate is embracing revitalization efforts, enhancing its family-friendly atmosphere with improved public spaces like Calypso Cove and Firefighters Park,” according to Menendez.

Home sales prices are up 19.5% compared to last year, according to Redfin data, which may make 2025 the right time to pounce on a good price that’s also a great investment.

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Coral Springs

Montgomery herself lives in Coral Springs. While the median home sales price is high — the median home prices average around $594,000 in this town — she says you can still find many affordable homes in this location, you’ll just need to be patient while you wait for the right house to hit the market.

While the city’s popularity has grown in recent years, it remains a well-rounded community with residents from every walk of life.

Additionally, the lower cost of living means it could be cheaper to live in Coral Springs than a starter home elsewhere. Florida has no state income tax, lower property taxes, and no state or inheritance taxes.

Sunrise

Sunrise offers a blend of housing stock which helps keep prices in check. Area homeowners enjoy a range of amenities, including numerous parks and entertainment venues like Amerant Bank Arena (formerly FLA Live Arena).

“Sunrise continues to grow as a hub for residential and commercial development, with new housing options and its proximity to the popular Sawgrass Mills Mall and FLA Live Arena,” according to Menendez.

A strong, local job market also adds to the city’s desirability for buyers.

Plantation

While not universally inexpensive — the median home price is $550,000 — Plantation can still offer solid value for buyers. The city houses a mix of older, more affordable homes alongside newer developments.

In fact, Montgomery counts Plantation as one of the top three areas for affordable housing in Broward County.

Residents here can enjoy the city’s natural beauty with 42 parks, an 18-hole championship golf course, and panoramic views from multi-use trails.

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Davie

With a population of 107,000, Davie offers small-town charm near the big-city amenities of Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Additionally, Davie has excellent schools. The city’s public schools hold top GreatSchools ratings, with one high school and three elementary schools scoring at least a 9 out of 10.

“Meanwhile, Davie maintains its charm with new estate-style communities like Crescent Ridge, blending its rich equestrian heritage with modern living,” according to Menendez. “These developments make each city an attractive place to live, invest, and experience South Florida’s evolving landscape.”

The city’s also trending more affordable as of late. According to Redfin sales data, median home sales prices are down 8.70% compared to last year, and there’s 30% more available housing inventory.

Bottom line

Affordable Florida living is still possible, particularly in cities like Tamarac, Lauderdale Lakes, and Lauderhill. You can find prices in the area that remain accessible compared to the state’s most expensive markets.

That’s good news for anyone who has been dreaming of moving into one of Florida’s more popular cities, either so that they can move beyond living paycheck to paycheck, or so that they can experience all of the perks that The Sunshine State has to offer.

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