Truth be told, Boca Raton, that odd name for the affluent city on Florida's Atlantic coast, doesn't really mean "rat's mouth" after all, but rather a rocky-bottom ocean inlet. Located in Palm Beach County, approximately 50 miles north of Miami, the municipality claims about 87,000 residents, but its daytime business population is much higher, and upwards of 200,000 people share its postal zip code. Boca Raton is popular for both business and entertainment. It was once home to a sprawling IBM plant, now "recycled" into a business/research center, and it boasts major shopping and entertainment facilities.
Boca Raton, FL is a great place for affordable rent-to-own homes! With a median household income of over $84,445 and a median rent of $1,837, the Boca Raton, FL rent-to-own market is more affordable than the traditional housing market which has shown tremendous growth across the U.S. and with it, aggressive competition for home purchases. With the current housing shortage trend it can make it harder to become a homeowner, including in Boca Raton, FL. This means higher than average down payments for homes and higher qualification standards for conventional home loans. With a rent-to-own property, tenants are also buyers. You can live in the house for a set amount of time before you purchase it, meaning that you get to know the house, your neighbors, and your community before making the final purchase. This enables you and your family to make the right choice based on both information and experience. Rent-to-own is also a great alternative way to get into a home if you have bad credit or don't have enough saved for a down payment.
Boca Raton, FL is seeing rapid growth and Boca Raton, FL's' housing market remains not optimal with an average home price that is 121% above the 2023 national average. Boca Raton, FL is part of Palm Beach county and taxes are an important factor to consider when purchasing a home whether through rent to own or a traditional purchase. The average tax rate as of 2023 for county Palm Beach is 1.02% which is above the national average, which is 0.99%.
Home Prices Up Although homes and condos are selling in Boca at a rapid pace and prices are up almost 25 percent over last year, statistics indicate that there are still as many properties in foreclosure or bank-owned status as there are existing or new properties for sale. The median sales price for the last quarter was $230,000, while the average listing price of homes on the market today is well over $700,000. There are homes for as much as $25 million and condos for under $75,000. Although it is possible to find rent to own homes in this market, transactions are overwhelmingly home sales, and the majority of single-family homes are owner-occupied. Rentals tend to be in two to ten-unit buildings, with condos in mid-to-high-rise buildings also owner-occupied and expensive. Housing in all categories costs more than state averages.
Cultural Hot Spot The city is known for its culture, including a fine Museum of Art and frequent performances at the Mizner Park Amphitheater. Musical and dance productions are common; Lynn University Conservatory and Florida Atlantic University Theater also offer performances throughout the year. Jazz and Latin dancing are popular nightlife pursuits, and an impressive number of dining spots offer entertainment to complement the food. Of course, for the younger crowd, there are plenty of pubs and crowded beach-bars located just across the city line in neighboring beach towns.
Beaches and Shopping Boca's beaches are well-maintained. Three with unique personalities are worth exploring: South Inlet County Park has a fishing jetty as well as great sand; the reef just off Red Reef Beach Park offers great snorkeling and is a pleasant alternative to a standard beach; and Atlantic Dunes just north in Delray offers inexpensive parking. When you leave the beach, visit the 200-acre Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens to regain a sense of peace and learn about the agricultural community that was established in 1905. You can see butterflies, turtles and marine life during a stroll through Gumbo Lindo Nature Center. Or you could browse the upscale shops radiating from the Mediterranean city center, and then visit the popular Sample Road Flea Market for a unique experience in bargain-hunting.
Local Restaurants Although there are many places to go out at night, classy casual is the dress code for dining out in Boca, rather than beachy funk; and there aren't many truly informal spots. Two beachfront restaurants, however, offer a wide variety of dishes and you'll be sure to find something to your liking at either JB's or WaterColors. Other superb choices for dining include Seasons 52, Chops Lobster Bar, Racks and Abe and Louie's. You'll also find good options at Boca Town Center Mall; try Legal Sea Food, The Capital Grille, and Pinon Grill. You won't go hungry in Boca.
Local Sports Diehard sports fans in Boca Raton can play golf, watch local school and extracurricular team competition, or find favorite teams on television. This is not really a sports-oriented community, but don't despair; there are plenty of other activities to keep you occupied. Then, there's Sports Immortals. It's not a spectator sport, but if you'd like to relive some of the great moments in sports history, or just view memorabilia of the great names in sports, this is the place for you. The current Showcase Museum and Memorabilia Mart is the culmination of a dream held by Joel Platt. Platt, who has been collecting for more than 50 years, says his collection of Jim Thorpe memorabilia is his "most endearing." With more than one million mementos lovingly collected and displayed, this is truly a one-of-a-kind place for the sports lover. Traveling exhibitions take some shows on the road, and there is also a commemorative book.