With so much time on our hands during quarantine, and being unable to travel this summer, we have been looking at old photos of our trips. When I saw the photos we took of our trip to Pennsylvania, I could not stop smiling. What a beautiful vacation. We made memories that will last a lifetime. For a girl that grew up in sunny Venezuela, seeing and touching the snow was a joy. Our son had never seen snow before. He was so happy that he made a mini snowman that he kept in the hotel window sill until we had to go back home. We went to the U.S. Mint, the Philadelphia Museum of Art (known as the “Rocky Steps” as a result of a scene from the film Rocky), the Hershey’s factory, and other touristy places. We loved seeing the horse carriages pass by, and walking through the city. The only thing that put a damper on our vacation was the weather. I guess Pennsylvanians know what I mean. We were stuck in the airport for 2 days due to a winter storm…which brings me to the point I wanted to make…

Many of our Highland Beach Florida neighbors are from Pennsylvania. They either have a second home here in Highland Beach, or have permanently moved to Florida to take advantage of the lower taxes, the lower cost of living, and the MUCH warmer Florida weather.  Florida is reeling in new residents, and their wealth, while other states like Pennsylvania are experiencing an exodus of residents.

There’s new evidence to help show that many Northerners are packing their belongings — and bank accounts — and heading to Florida and other zero income tax states. South Florida saw a more than 60% increase in net personal income over 2017, and Palm Beach County alone saw a 20% increase, according to the IRS, which tracks changes in personal income through address changes on annual tax returns. Americans are taking a closer look at how much they’re paying in taxes. Moving to a lower-tax state such as Florida can make a big difference come Tax Day. Business owners also are driving moves to Florida. Companies can move their management or headquarters to Florida while still operating in other states. In South Florida, the largest increase in new personal income has been in Palm Beach County, where President Donald J. Trump, a lifelong New Yorker, recently applied for the Mar-a-Lago resort on Palm Beach to be his permanent residence. He’s not the only billionaire to do so. Read more in this article from The Philadelphia Inquirer:

Pennsylvania and N.J. residents flee high taxes by relocating to South Florida

Why do Pennsylvanians LOVE the exclusive coastal town of Highland Beach in Florida so much?  What is so special about Highland Beach?

• Highland Beach is a very quiet little coastal town (The 10 Safest And Most Peaceful Places to Live in Florida). To view detailed information about Highland Beach, please go to City-data.com .
• Highland Beach has lower crime rates compared to other cities in Florida and the USA. Ranked #2 in the 2015 Safest Cities in Florida Study prepared by ValuePenguin.com . Other websites such as CityRating.com  also provide data about the low crime rates in this quaint coastal town.
• Voted one of the most Livable Cities in Florida and the USA  by AreaVibes.com and one of the best cities to live in Palm Beach County by Livability.com  .
• Highland Beach is one of the most exclusive coastal towns in the US. It is also one of the highest income per capita towns in the USA.  Highland Beach’s zip code 33487 ranked #24 on the list of the wealthiest zip codes in Florida by the South Florida Business Journal .
• Famous football (TheRealDeal.com), hockey (Wikipedia ,  TheRealDeal.com), and tennis players (Wikipedia), have lived in Highland Beach throughout the years. CEOs (TheRealDeal.com), Nascar Drivers (TheRealDeal.com), actors (The Parker), and other wealthy people have called Highland Beach their permanent home, or their home away from home, for years.
• Location, location, location : Highland Beach is a small exclusive beach town that is located close to major cities: the hip City of Delray Beach, the exclusive city of Boca Raton, the quaint town of Deerfield Beach, the lively city of Ft. Lauderdale, and the iconic town of Palm Beach. There are lots of attractions nearby. Highland Beach is just 5 minutes away from famed Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach, and Boca Raton’s Downtown. The coastal town of Deerfield Beach is located just 10 minutes away, and the exclusive city of Palm Beach is just about 20 minutes away. There are lots of things to do and attractions nearby, such as: the Town Center at Boca Raton, Mizner Park, the shops at Royal Palm Place, and Worth Avenue. Residents and visitors can rent a boat for the day, or go on a cruise through the Intracoastal Waterway. They can go surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, or just take a relaxing walk by the beach! A brewery tour is always a great choice too! There are many beautiful local parks and museums nearby, and the restaurant choices are endless! Golf is extremely popular among Highland Beach residents since there are so many public and private golf courses around the area. For tennis players, the Delray Tennis Center is only about 5 minutes away from Highland Beach. It is an awesome tennis center! The cities nearby organize many street festivals throughout the year and they are a fun activity for residents of all ages. The possibilities are endless when it is sunny outside and you live in Highland Beach! Highland Beach is 30 minutes away from 2 major airports and 5 minutes away from the Boca Raton Airport which makes this location even more desirable.
• Highland Beach has warm weather 10 months out of the year. It’s always beach season in Highland Beach! Reading a book on the beach, having happy hour on the sand with your loved ones and friends, walks by the beach, fishing, and shell collecting, are all part of the Highland Beach lifestyle. We also love walking on the beach to the nearby restaurant, Latitudes, located in the Delray Sands Resort. They have an awesome brunch and good happy hours!
• Among the many things that made us fall in love with Highland Beach was the fact that Highland Beach is ALL PRIVATE BEACH. There is no public access to the beach, which means, a less crowded beach compared to the very touristy public beaches in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
• When you are home in Highland Beach, it is quiet…no, really…very quiet! Although there are many things to do nearby in the cities surrounding Highland Beach, when you live in Highland Beach, the town is VERY quiet. It is nice to know that you can go for dinner to a trendy nearby restaurant in a busy street such as Atlantic Avenue, where you can walk that street to see the nightlife, cute stores, and bars, but then, when you get home, you can enjoy the peace and serenity that Highland Beach offers. No restaurant noise or smells, and no noise from the tourism and traffic that other bigger cities get.
• Compared to other States, you really do get more for your money in Highland Beach Florida, while still being able to enjoy a high quality of life and exclusivity.
• There are great communities to live in Highland Beach: single family homes, townhomes, villas, and condos are available to purchase. Many properties have ocean and Intracoastal views, and most have beach access. Property prices in Highland Beach range from $300,000 – $25,000,000. Many Pennsylvanians like the community called the Highland Beach Club where condo prices range from $350,000 – $750,000. The Highland Beach Club offers beach access and a deck on the Intracoastal for their residents to enjoy. Another community that Pennsylvanian’s love is Highland Beach’s most exclusive condominium development: Toscana Towers. Toscana Towers has three exclusive towers: Toscana North, Toscana West, and Toscana South. It also features a private beach club, 3 pools, 2 hot tubs, 2 tennis courts, a bocce ball court, a shuffleboard court, valet parking, concierge service, and other amenities of a luxury resort style community.  The price of condos in Toscana range from $650,000 – $6,000,000. Watch the sunset and sunrise EVERDAY from your own condo! Both communities are pet friendly for property owners.
• Nearby cities like Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale have been attracting many companies that are relocating from other States with higher taxes. So, there are plenty of jobs in the area for residents that are still working.
• There are very good public and private schools nearby such as Pine Crest, Saint. Andrews, FAU University, and Lynn University. This is a major selling point for families relocating to this area.

Interested in a condo in Toscana Highland Beach? Got a few minutes? Watch this movie we made so that you can get a glimpse of what the “Toscana Lifestyle” is like: https://youtu.be/aVTncuVgBdg

Visit our Toscana Real Estate website to learn more about the Toscana community:  floor plans, amenities, lifestyle, videos, condos for sale, condos sold, market statistics, and more! Go to: www.ToscanaRealEstate.info

If you are interested in buying or selling a luxury property in Highland Beach Florida, or the surrounding coastal cities, please, contact us at 561.715.0314

Visit our Highland Beach Real Estate website for more information about Highland Beach: http://www.HighlandBeachRealEstate.info

Missing your Philly cheese steak sandwiches? Boca and Delray have restaurants that have good ones! No need to go back to Pennsylvania for that! 🙂

Much health to all,

Mayra & Ben Stern, Stern Realty

041917 – HIGHLAND BEACH – Ben and Mayra Stern pictured with their dog Cubby, a three-year-old mixed breed who is part Border Collie, part Spaniel and part Black Labrador Retriever. The one foster dog the Sterns couldn’t quite bring themselves to give up, Cubby is the Stern’s “ambassadog,” working with each of the new foster dogs and helping to make them feel welcome. Since early 2014, the Sterns have fostered more than two dozen dogs of all breeds and sizes, bringing them into their Highland Beach home and caring for them until the animals are ready to be adopted. Photo by Tim Stepien