Located on the east coast of the Sunshine State, Port St. Lucie, Florida is home to one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Port St. Lucie was originally developed as a planned community in the 1950s. It was envisioned as a retirement community, but it has since grown into a diverse city with residents of all ages. It’s currently called home to almost 250,000 individuals, making it the 6th largest city in the state with a steadily increasing population. It continues to see tremendous growth in new developments for families, 55+ communities, and luxury apartment complex rentals. And the city recently ranked 7th on the list of American cities with the largest one-year increase in population.
I moved to Port St. Lucie from Boca Raton, Florida – after having raised my family and living there for 24 years – so it was not a decision that was taken lightly to relocate a bit further north on the east coast.
So what are some of my favorite reasons I enjoy living in Port St. Lucie? Here are my top five.
Top Reasons Why I Enjoy Living in Port St. Lucie, Florida
1. Climate. Although I grew up in New York, I’ve enjoyed not shoveling snow since moving to Florida in 1996. Living in a humid subtropical climate year-round makes me realize I live in a place people come to vacation. And being just over an hour north of Boca somehow makes it feel a little cooler and a bit more breezy now living north of Palm Beach County. When the lowest average temperature is around 56 degrees, you know you live in paradise. The climate is certainly one of the pros of living in Port St. Lucie.
2. Active Adult Lifestyle. One of the main reasons my wife and I decided to purchase a home in Port St. Lucie was the appeal of the active adult lifestyle and the ability to pick the lot, the model, and the design elements we ideally wanted in our next home for this stage of our lives. As a South Florida real estate agent for over two decades, I’ve seen a lot of homes and know what to look for and truly know what both my wife and I like and dislike when it comes to different home builders and characteristics to look for in a property.
I’ve always been impressed with the quality of home building done by GL and over the years have listed and sold many homes in their Valencia communities farther south. So when we heard they were building in Port St. Lucie and learned of the master-planned community Riverland, my wife and I were intrigued. Needless to say, we made the jump and are happy Valencia Cay homeowners where we take advantage of the beautiful sports complex, pools, paseo, and social groups. And where I enjoy working with customers – both buyers and sellers – and can share with them why I enjoy living in Port. St. Lucie. As a residential real estate agent, I specialize in Valencia/Riverland 55+ communities as well as surrounding communities in the Port St. Lucie area.
3. Proximity to Other Florida Destinations. With my son in Tampa and daughter and son-in-law in Boca Raton, our home makes for the perfect destination for them all to visit for a weekend stay. And we’re not too close so can’t surprise them either. On the topic of travel, since we’re located almost equal distance between the Fort Lauderdale and Orlando airports and even closer to Palm Beach International, we have great options when it comes to airport travel.
We’re also near two ports so we have a great way to set sail on a cruise for a long weekend. Plus just 10 minutes from hopping on 95, we certainly benefit from great infrastructure and ways to get from point A to point B. Living in Port St. Lucie is conveniently and strategically located and opens us up to travel across the state and beyond.
4. The Local Food Scene and Restaurants in Port St. Lucie. When you move to a new place, finding your new favorite pizza, bakery, and local haunt takes time, and after living in Port St. Lucie for a few years now, we’ve found our favorite Port St. Lucie restaurants.
For Italian, we really enjoy Tutto Fresco in Port Saint Lucie and La Forchetta in Palm City, and will often opt for takeout during the week. If we want to grab an early dinner with a view of the water, we head to Kyle Gs or will take the short drive to Sailor’s Return in Stuart. For a special night out, Oak and Ember is at the top of the list. And if we’re looking for a quick yet delicious bite around the corner, we often eat in or take from Kyle G's Oyster Bar or Little Italy Restaurant and Pizzeria.
5. The Incredible and Seemingly Unstoppable Growth. Living in Port St. Lucie, there’s always something new being built or opening around the corner. In a recent article from WPTV, it noted that the Economic Development Council of Port St. Lucie shared that there are more than 60 projects which will bring more than 5,000 jobs to the area which is great for the economy. From the Amazon distribution facility, living around the corner from a PopStroke location, new family communities being built, new construction in active adult neighborhoods, and the 73-foot tall heart-shaped sculpture again putting this once sleepy city on the map.
Experience Living in Port St. Lucie for Yourself
Moving to and living in Port. St. Lucie, Florida has been a great journey and experience, and it’s one that I hope to help you with. When it comes to searching for homes for sale in Port St. Lucie or need a recommendation for a local handyman, our favorite restaurants, or doctors, give me a call and I’ll share more about why I enjoy both working and living in Port St. Lucie.
If you are looking for a trusted and proven real estate agent in Port St. Lucie, please reach out today. It would be my pleasure to help you on your home-buying or selling journey.
