Three Islands

It's a quiet, water-focused neighborhood in Hallandale Beach where most homes front a canal or the intracoastal, and you're close to the beach. Families are drawn to the Nova magnet schools like Nova Dwight D. Eisenhower Elem, and established communities such as Country Club give it a settled, residential feel.

Compared to most South Florida waterfront, it's relatively attainable — the median list price is $299,250 and the median sold price over the past year was $249,500. Listings run from $179,000 up to about $899,000, so there's genuine range depending on size and water view.

Expect around $272 per square foot, with a median home size near 1,210 square feet. Most inventory is mid-size condos and townhomes, and there are currently no listings above $1 million and no new construction on the market.

There are 220 active listings against 131 sales in the last 12 months, so supply is ample and homes take a median of 92 days to sell. Sellers are averaging about 94% of asking, which means buyers have real room to negotiate.

Because this is a condo-heavy neighborhood, HOA fees are a real line item — the median is $1,171 a month, which typically covers building and grounds upkeep. Median property tax runs about $5,446 a year, and if you're weighing renting, the median rent in the area is $2,500 a month.