Stuart Florida Real Estate

Stuart Florida is located in Martin County on Florida’s East Coast next to Jensen Beach, the Key West of Martin County. These communities are ideally located about halfway between Miami and Orlando. Interstate 95 and Florida's Turnpike let you commute to West Palm Beach in less than 45 minutes. Stuart borders the St. Lucie River and is located West of the Indian River. The climate is pleasant with mild winters and warm summers. The annual average temperature is 72°. Annual rainfall averages 70.44 inches. Stuart is famed for Sailfishing and all types of sport fishing. The offshore area of Stuart is claimed by sport fisherman to be "The Sailfish Capital of the World." You can enjoy Ocean fishing, river and bay fishing as well as fresh water fishing in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers, at the Inlet or offshore for deep sea fishing. Just north of Stuart, Fort Pierce claims to have the best fishing in Florida. The North and South forks of the St. Lucie River are tropical wonderlands for cruises. Stuart has quaint older neighborhoods in the downtown area. There is a mixture of town homes and condominiums. Stuart’s successful revitalization program has made the Downtown area into a pleasant ambiance rich in historical buildings and lined with shops and restaurants.

Several local marinas provide convenient and quick access to the Stuart Inlet as do the prestigious gated waterfront communities of Sewall Point and Salfish Point located on South Hutchinson Island which are accessed via the causeway over the Indian River from downtown Jensen Beach. Similar to Jensen Beach, a unique blend of homes, restaurants, unique businesses and exceptional zoning has resulted in impressive growth for this picturesque waterfront community where real estate continues to appreciate in value. The Ocean breeze provides for pleasant weather even during the hot summer season for this waterfront community. Tropical vistas overflowing with gem-colored flowers border the oceanfront and inland waterways. Natural wonders surround you in a group of exclusive waterfront communities on Florida’s Gulf Stream appropriately named The Treasure Coast.

Stuart was first settled in 1870. Incorporated 1914. Chartered 1925. Known as the County seat, Stuart was originally named Potsdam from 1893 to 1896 and was named by Otto Stypman one of the earliest settlers of Stuart (History of Martin County, by Janet Hutchinson). Otto Stypman and his brother, Ernest, came here in 1892 and were originally from Potsdam, Germany. The Stypman brothers originally owned what is now known as “Downtown Stuart”, and were large landowners. They started their fortunes here in pineapple farming. The name was changed to Stuart after the FEC railroad was established and was named after Homer "Jack" Stuart another early settler. Stuart’s population is 17,285 and increases to 21,087 with winter visitors. The city tax rate is 4.0134 mills with 2.8 of that for EMS services. The top major employers are, Martin Memorial Hospital, Northrop Grumman Aircraft, Municipal Government, and thousands of successful small businesses. The economy is driven by retail service, hospitality, construction and government sectors located throughout the city.

At the present time Stuart is a rapidly growing community, annexing new properties north and south of the city, currently 6.25 sq miles. Revitalization is in progress in the Potsdam section of the downtown area as well as North of the new Roosevelt Bridge. The new Roosevelt Bridge was completed in 1996, and the Department of Transportation is now reconstructing the Evans Crary Bridge, which leads to Stuart’s Public Beaches. Stuart is proud of the latest project, the Southpoint Anchorage which consists of a managed mooring field with 69 permanent mooring buoys, a Harbormaster’s Facility featuring a ship’s store, day lounge rest rooms, bathing facilities and a laundromat. The entire operation is supervised by the City’s Harbormaster. This private marina is located just a few blocks away from downtown Stuart and close to supermarkets, restaurants and local services. In addition to being a great place to stop over or as a first class destination for boating week-enders, this anchorage will play a crucial role in helping clean up the St. Lucie River Estuary.

The legislative body of the City of Stuart is comprised of a Mayor, Vice Mayor, and three (3) Commissioners. The Mayor is recognized as the head of city government. The City Manager is appointed by the Commission and is responsible for the efficient administration of all departments. Stuart owns and operates it’s own Water Department getting the supply from shallow wells. Water is then treated at the plant, tested in our own certified laboratory, and confirmed by the State Environmental Department. The city has paved streets with sidewalks, curbs, gutters and streetlights. The city provides garbage and trash collection. The Police and Fire Departments are both operated by the city. The City of Stuart maintains several large parks and also small street end parks. There are two Recreation centers for club meetings, youth activities, Senior Citizens programs and entertainment programs. The main Recreation department and Park are located on the St. Lucie River, as is City Hall. Another major passive park is also located on the south bank of the St. Lucie River with a fish walk and boat dock for the public.

Martin County was founded on May 30, 1925. In size, the County is 555 square miles with 189 people per square mile permanent and 233 people per square mile during our winter season [based on 1992 estimates]. As of 1991, the total number of occupied households is 44,130, with a seasonal population of 129,188 [1992] and a permanent population of 105,031 [1992]. Per 1990 statistics, the per capital income of Martin County is $27,125, the per capita buying power is $26,469, the median home value is $112,700, and the median rent is $442.

Martin County consists of the City of Stuart [County seat], and the Towns of Jupiter Island, Ocean Breeze Park, and Sewall's Point. Respectively, they are 5.5, 2.6, .1, and 1.2 square miles in size. It also includes the communities of Hobe Sound, Hutchinson Island, Indiantown, Jensen Beach, North River Shores, Palm City, Port Salerno, Rio, South County, and Tropical Farms. Martin County Public Schools possess state of the art computers with emphasis on utilizing modern technology and providing high quality instruction for their. Higher education opportunities abound with several local colleges and trade schools to choose from inlcuding an extension for the University of Florida and a local Indian River Community College campus.

Stuart real estate and the surrounding area offers some of the most beautiful waterfront properties in the Sunshine State. From St. Lucie River and Indian River estate homes overlooking the beautiful flats with access to the Intracoastal Waterway, to Oceanfront Homes & Condos on the Island overlooking the ocean, you will not find more scenic waterfront properties in all of South Florida. Many of these waterfront homes and oceanfront estates come with private docks equipped with hydraulic lifts for the avid fishermen and boaters. Convenient access to the Atlantic Ocean and the St. Lucie River & Indian River flats for boating, diving or world-class sportfishing make Stuart real estate some of the most desirable waterfront properties in South Florida.

The ocean harbor of Stuart has a beautiful protected Inlet. The Stuart Inlet is just a short distance away from most of the marinas providing quick and easy access to the Atlantic Ocean and the offshore area known as the Sailfish Capital of the World. From the Stuart Inlet, the Gulf Stream is only about 6 miles offshore which provides access to world-class sportfishing for tuna, wahoo, dolphin fish, swordfish, marlin and other billfish, etc. The neighboring inlet to the north, Fort Pierce, boasts the best fishing in Florida right here on the Treasure Coast. Nearby attractions include the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, a Smithsonian facility, the unique Underwater Demolition-Seal Museum and the Manatee Center are popular attractions located in the Jensen Beach and Fort Pierce areas. Disney World, Sea World, Nasa Cape Kennedy Space Center & many other attractions in the Orlando area are one and a half hours drive to the north while the West Palm Beach International Airport is a half hour to the south. Miami is one and a half hours drive to the south. Tampa Bay and Busch Gardens Animal Theme Park is about two and a half hours drive northwest of the Treasure Coast. The Florida Everglades National Park is located about two hours to the south.

Directly east of the Treasure Coast are the beautiful waters of the Bahamas, only a few hours away by boat and just a hop and a skip by plane. Aside from being a popular tourist destination, the Bahamas provide excellent fishing, particularly for world-class tuna and wahoo in the Gulf Stream which flows north between the Treasure Coast and the Bahama Islands through the Straits of Florida. The Bimini Islands, a famous sportfishing and tourist community only fifty miles east of Miami in the Bahamas, is considered the Game Fish Capital of the World. Key West and the Carribean Islands are just a short flight from the Treasure Coast. Sport fishermen and charter boat captains of Fort Pierce and Stuart claim that the ocean waters off the treasure coast between Florida and the Bahamas represent "The Sailfish Capital of the World!" More sailfish are caught in this area of South Florida along the Treasure Coast during the winter months than anywhere else in the world. The southern tip of Hutchinson Island, immediately north of the Stuart inlet, is appropriately named Salfish Point. Aside from providing world-class sportfishing and scuba diving, the South Florida Treasure Coast provides excellent boating and treasure hunting opportunities. The Treasure Coast receives it's nick-name from the Spanish fleets which wrecked in 1715 & 1733 depositing their sunken treasures along the eastern coast of Hutchinson Island. For the recreational divers as well as the commercial divers, treasure hunting is a multi-million dollar industry along the Treasure Coast.

Our real estate agents specialize in the Treasure Coast area which extends from Sebastian Inlet south to the Jupiter Inlet including the rapidly growing communities of Wabasso, Vero Beach, Lakeland Park, historic Fort Pierce, White City, Port St. Lucie (including the master planned community of St. Lucie West - winter home of the New York Mets with their own ballpark stadium and the popular PGA Golf Village), Jensen Beach, Hutchinson Island, Stuart, Palm City, Port Salerno, Rio, Hobe Sound, Indiantown & Jupiter Island. The PGA Golf Village in neighboring St. Lucie West boasts that it has one of the finest golf course facilities in the world with seventy two holes. In fact the PGA (Professional Golf Association) is headquartered there. The PGA owns the golf courses and many professional golfers own homes in the PGA Golf village, a beautifully maintained private community with an exceptional tennis facility, beautifull well maintained landscaping and gated access. This area in Jensen Beach and St. Lucie West is the most popular residential golfing community in Florida. In addition to the PGA Golf Village, Salfish Point, Sewall's Point and the Stuart Yacht & Country Club provide some of the most prestigious yahting & golf communities in South Florida.

Whether you are looking for a luxury home, waterfront home or luxury home construction, we specialize in South Florida Real Estate and we would be delighted to assist you as your real estate agent in order to represent your best interests. Our RE/MAX Midway Realty office is strategically located in the center of the Treasure Coast just a short distance from Stuart. Neighboring Palm City, Indiantown & Wellington located further south are known for their exceptional equestrian facilities. Further inland to the west of the Treasure Coast is Lake Okeechobee which is world-renowned for its fresh water bass fishing and alligator hunting.

As South Florida real estate agents, our primary emphasis is locating homes and real estate properties suitable for our buyers. In addition to the Treasure Coast of South Florida, through our Network of Florida Real Estate Agents, we can assist you with locating property anywhere in the Sunshine State from Pensacola to Key West. For your convenience click on the following link to search a Statewide Data Base of Florida Real Estate. This information is provided via the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). Once you locate a property which you are interested in, please contact us and we will be delighted to provide you with additional information and arrange for showing you the property.

If you're selling your South Florida luxury home or real estate, we will develop a custom marketing and Internet advertising campaign for your property; ensuring that your property is seen only by qualified prospective buyers. Your South Florida real estate will sell faster with less time wasted. If you are concerned about capital gains taxes resulting from the sale of your property, we can assist you with a 1031 Exchange, which may allow you to defer paying costly capital gains taxes from the sale of your current property in exchange for buying another property of similar or greater value. For more information, please refer to our web-site page on 1031 exchanges or call us!