Palm Beach for more than a century has been a coveted destination and place to live. Days tend to revolve around the water and plans have a habit of moving outdoors. Recently, with the booming real estate market in both the Town and West Palm, and the upgrading of key amenities like our Palm Beach Marina, the sky seems like the limit for this South Florida coastal paradise.
There are two very different versions of luxury taking shape on opposite sides of the Intracoastal. On the island, oceanfront estates, historic homes, manicured hedges and some very impressive gates remain the order of the day, only now with increasingly extraordinary price tags attached. Across the way, West Palm Beach is going vertical, as billions in new development bring a fresh style of architecture and high-rise living to the skyline.
And right in the middle of it all is the world-class Town of Palm BeachMarina. From the new towers rising along South Flagler Drive, the Marina –yachts lining the island’s shore – is part of the glittering panorama. For yacht owners with homes on the island, the Marina keeps the boat close to home. It puts Palm Beach at their doorstep, from Worth Avenue and the beaches to dining, golf and tennis.
Palm Beach has never exactly been known for starter homes, but the current Palm Beach real estate market is operating in particularly rarefied territory. Recently, according to the Palm Beach Daily News’ analysis report of Forbes’ richest people, at least 66 billionaires had strong residential ties to Palm Beach, with a staggering combined estimated wealth of approximately $655 billion.
The houses, naturally, have risen to the occasion! During the second quarter of 2026 alone, Compass recorded 163 residential closings in Palm Beach totaling nearly $1.1 billion, an impressive 60 percent increase in sales from the same period a year earlier. Fourteen properties sold for $20 million or more, more than double the number during the same quarter in 2025. An oceanfront estate sold for approximately $170 million in 2023, setting a Palm Beach record at the time, while recent listings have tested even loftier territory, including a 23,000-square-foot home offered at $205 million.
Scarcity is part of the appeal. There is only so much Palm Beach to go around, and its most prized properties offer something increasingly difficult to manufacture: land, privacy, architectural pedigree and, in the case of its coveted ocean-to-lake estates, waterfront on both sides. What makes the island particularly interesting, however, it remains a world of historic Mediterranean Revival homes.
In West Palm Beach, however, new construction is on the uptick with a decidedly upward slant – cranes, glass towers and some of the biggest names in architecture, including:
And there is more in the pipeline. Maison d’Or is bringing another boutique luxury development to South Flagler, while La Clara has already added another distinctive glass tower to the area. The result is a fascinating juxtaposition: the timeless estates and Mediterranean architecture of Palm Beach on one side, and a new generation of glass-and-stone residences rising on the other. And now there’s even more to do in South Florida, with WestPalm Beach’s new restaurants, hotels, shops and cultural destinations.
The Palm Beaches may be having a real estate moment and there may be no better place to take it all in than from the Town of Palm Beach Marina. And while plenty is changing on both sides of the Intracoastal, some things at theMarina remain refreshingly unchanged. Privacy and attentive service are still very much the point, with 84 slips accommodating yachts from 60 to 295 feet in the heart of Palm Beach. Reserve your slip today at www.TownOfPalmBeachMarina.com.
Q: Why is Palm Beach real estate so desirable?
A: Palm Beach real estate is known for its limited inventory, privacy, waterfront properties, historic architecture and proximity to beaches, Worth Avenue, dining, golf, tennis and the Town of Palm Beach Marina. With only so much land available on the island, Palm Beach homes – particularly oceanfront and ocean-to-lake estates –remain among South Florida’s most coveted properties.
Q: Is the Palm Beach real estate market growing?
A: Yes. Palm Beach continues to see significant activity at the luxury end of the market. In the second quarter of 2026, 163 residential properties closed for nearly $1.1 billion in total sales, according to Compass, with 14properties selling for $20 million or more.
Q: What is the difference between Palm Beach and West Palm Beach real estate?
A: Palm Beach is primarily known for private estates, historic Mediterranean Revival homes, oceanfront properties and low-rise island living. Across the Intracoastal, West Palm Beach offers a growing collection of luxury condominiums and new residential towers, particularly along the waterfront and in downtown West Palm Beach.
Q: What new luxury developments are coming to West Palm Beach?
A: West Palm Beach has several notable luxury residential projects underway or recently completed, including South Flagler House, Edgeworth, Mr. C Residences, and Banyan Tree Residences. Together with buildings such as The Bristol and Forté on Flagler, they are creating a new generation of luxury living in WestPalm Beach.
Q: Where can large yachts dock in Palm Beach?
A: The Town of Palm Beach Marina accommodates yachts from 60 to 295 feet across84 slips in the heart of Palm Beach. The South Florida superyacht marina offers modern floating docks, shore power, in-slip pump-out, high-speed Wi-Fi, gated access and attentive service, with the island’s shopping, dining, and recreation nearby.
