Palm Coast
On the East Coast of northern Florida and less than 30 minutes between St Augustine and Daytona Beach, you will find one of the best retirement cities in Florida. One of Florida's best kept secrets, this coastal area has 19 miles of unspoiled beaches, 125 miles of biking and hiking trails, dozens of Palm Coast parks, oceanfront beach resorts and golf communities built by new home builders in Palm Coast hugging the Intracoastal Waterway. Nicknamed “the quieter side of Florida,” Palm Coast’s uncrowded, pet friendly beaches are wide and have hard packed sand. No homes are built on a good portion of the ocean side of A1A, designated as a Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway.
With home prices low, Palm Coast is a great place to utilize a reverse mortgage. Reminiscent of South Florida 40 years ago, Flagler Beach still remains one of the best beaches. You won't find hi-rise condos lining the beaches of Palm Coast Florida. Instead, you will find swaying sea oats and weathered wooden stairways inviting you down to the wide hard sandy beaches, ideal for walking miles and miles barefoot. Shallow sandbars and pools of water collect along this beautiful beach. Fisherman surf fish while dogs catch frisbee's splashing along the shore. Spend some time in Flagler Beach and you'll have the chance to experience this coastal charm first hand and observe the quality of life in Palm Coast offers. Local's love their beaches, boating on Intracoastal Waterway and enjoy the three-season tropical balmy weather.
If you're searching for the best retirement cities in Florida, here's why to consider Palm Coast:
ARTS AND CULTURE
The Flagler Auditorium provides year round performances which include national tours of Broadway shows, symphony performances and celebrity entertainment in the 1,000 seat, state of the art, acoustically enhanced theater. The Flagler Playhouse provides performances in a smaller, more intimate setting. Additionally, the Flagler County Art League hosts traveling art exhibits, art festivals, art classes, and social activities.
CLIMATE
Palm Coast’s average winter temperatures range in the low to mid 60’s. From May to September, the average temperatures range in the 80’s. The closer you live to Flagler Beach, the more likely you will enjoy the cooler ocean breezes and avoid the summer afternoon thunderstorms.
LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
There are two college campuses in Palm Coast with a myriad of lifelong learning courses available. Classes are also available at the Palm Coast Community Center and privately run facilities such as the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Or if you choose to learn from home, online college courses are readily available.
MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE
Florida Hospital-Flagler opened in 2002. It is a well-equipped, progressive hospital with a healthy range of services. There at least 19 different specialties represented, inpatient and outpatient surgical services (including DaVinci robotic surgery), emergency care, support services, hospice care, a walk-in clinic, and some home health care near communities built by new home builders in Palm Coast.
RECREATION
Palm Coast is nicknamed the Pebble Beach of the East for its spectacular oceanfront golf courses. There are seven golf courses in Palm Coast; private, semi-private and public. The Palm Coast Tennis Center is a new state-of-the-art tennis facility with 10 HydroGrid clay courts and tennis amenities. Tennis tournaments, competitions, and clinics take place year-round. Freshwater and saltwater fishing are very popular because of the large variety of fish found in the area. Naturalist’s have 44 parks and nature preserves to explore in Palm Coast. Most have walking and biking trails. The Princess Place preserve offers horseback riding. Kayaking is a popular water sport and the quietness of the sport encourages dolphin, manatee and bird sightings. Kayaks, canoes, and bikes are available for rent in Palm Coast, Florida.
SHOPPING AND DINING
With more than 65 restaurants in the area, there are plenty of choices for dining. Everything from luxury restaurants at area resorts to seafood shacks on the barrier island can be found and enjoyed. The number of restaurants in Palm Coast is continually expanding.
The Town Center of Palm Coast is a 1,558 acre planned urban mixed-use development combining retail and commercial space. Big box stores such as Target and Lowe’s Home Improvement are located in Palm Coast along with unique boutiques and specialty stores. Department stores such as Macy’s, JC Penney, Dillard’s, and Sears can be found at the Volusia Mall in Daytona Beach.
HOME AFFORDABILITY AND TAXES
Palm Coast homes for sale average in the high $100’s and are located in Flagler County. The closer you get to the beach, the higher the home prices climb. Instead of buying a fixer-upper, consider building your dream home by one of the new home builders in Palm Coast. Deeply discounted waterfront and oceanfront condominiums can still be found because this segment of the market was hit the hardest in 2007. This is a great way to utilize a reverse mortgage. The estimated property tax millage rate range is 20.82 per $1000. Visit our library to find help and to learn how to calculate property taxes in Flagler County.
Palm Coast is divided into three main north/south corridors; the barrier island along the beach, the east side which is between I-95 and the Intracoastal Waterway, and the west side which is anything west of I-95. On the northern end of Palm Coast, on the east side in ‘Sailboat Country’, you can find homes built along deepwater canals during the 1980’s priced in the $200’s. There are 23 miles of saltwater canals and 46 miles of fresh water canals.
