Highland Beach is one of the smallest municipalities in Palm Beach County and one of the most geographically distinctive. The town runs roughly three miles along a narrow barrier island between Boca Raton and Delray Beach, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Intracoastal Waterway on the west. Nearly every property in Highland Beach is within a short walk of water — which is exactly why buyers seek it out, and exactly why the due diligence here looks different from anywhere else in South Florida.
If you are considering a purchase in Highland Beach this year, here is what the numbers say and what I would want you to verify before you write an offer.
What Highland Beach prices look like in 2026
Highland Beach is a small market, and small markets produce noisy statistics. A handful of trophy sales in a given month can swing a median dramatically, so treat any single figure as a starting point rather than a verdict.
With that caveat: Redfin’s May 2026 data put the median sale price across all home types at roughly $1.03 million, down about 8.5% year over year, with the trailing twelve-month median sitting near $1.0 million — down roughly 5% from the prior twelve months. Homes have been taking meaningfully longer to sell than the national norm, averaging around 107 days on market compared to roughly 55 days nationally (Redfin).
Condo pricing spans an enormous range — from the mid-$300,000s in older mid-rise buildings to well into eight figures for direct-oceanfront trophy units — with roughly 146 condos listed as of this summer (Homes.com).
That combination — softer medians, longer marketing times, healthy selection — describes a market where a prepared buyer has real negotiating room. It is not a market where you need to make an instant decision.
The county picture is stronger than the town-level numbers suggest
Zoom out one level and the tone changes. Palm Beach County posted its tenth consecutive month of year-over-year total home sales growth in June 2026, with total sales up 22.3%. Single-family transactions rose about 25% and condo sales rose about 19%. At the top of the market, sales of $1 million-plus properties climbed roughly 57% year over year. Months’ supply stood at about 3.9 months for single-family homes and about 7.2 months for existing condominiums (MIAMI REALTORS®).
Read those two datasets together and a picture emerges: high-end demand across the county is robust, while Highland Beach’s own medians reflect a small sample and a condo-heavy inventory mix that is repricing around building fundamentals. Which brings us to the single most important topic for anyone buying here.
Oceanfront condo due diligence: the part that actually decides your outcome
A large share of Highland Beach housing stock is mid- and high-rise condominium — much of it built decades ago, and much of it directly exposed to salt air and ocean weather. Since 2022, Florida has required milestone structural inspections for older buildings of three or more habitable stories, plus Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS) that force associations to quantify and fund reserves for structural components.
Those rules are still working their way through the system. Under HB 913, the SIRS completion deadline was extended to December 31, 2026, with associations required to begin funding reserves in accordance with the study starting January 1, 2027. The statutory reserve threshold was raised from $10,000 to $25,000 with annual inflation adjustments, and DBPR set the 2026 figure at $25,675. Associations must now retain milestone inspection and SIRS reports for at least 15 years (Johnson Pope).
In practice, this means two units in two buildings a block apart can carry wildly different true costs of ownership. Before you go under contract, ask for and read:
- The milestone inspection report (Phase 1, and Phase 2 if one was triggered), plus what repairs were recommended and which have been completed.
- The completed SIRS, or a written explanation of where the association stands against the December 31, 2026 deadline.
- The reserve funding schedule taking effect January 1, 2027, and how it changes your monthly assessment.
- Any special assessment that has been levied, voted on, or discussed — including amounts and payment schedules.
- The current insurance renewal and the association’s most recent appraisal.
Sellers with a well-documented, well-funded building have a genuine advantage in this market, and buyers should be willing to pay for that certainty. Sellers whose associations are behind on compliance should expect that to show up in price.
Single-family and Intracoastal properties
Highland Beach also has pockets of single-family homes, including waterfront properties with dockage on the Intracoastal. Different questions apply here: seawall condition and age, dock permitting and depth at low tide, elevation certificate and flood zone designation, roof age relative to insurability, and — for anything on the ocean side — the state’s Coastal Construction Control Line, which governs what can be built or rebuilt seaward of it.
None of these are deal-killers. All of them are cheaper to discover during inspection than after closing.
How I would approach a Highland Beach purchase this year
Start with the building or the parcel, not the finishes. In a market with over 100 days of typical marketing time and a wide selection of condos, you have the leverage to be selective and the time to be thorough. Get the association documents early — not on day nine of a ten-day inspection period. And price your offer against verified comparable sales within the same building or the same stretch of coastline, because Highland Beach averages conceal enormous variation between a 1970s mid-rise and a newly renovated direct-oceanfront residence.
If you already own here and want to know where your unit stands, start with a complimentary home valuation. And if you would like a specific read on a building or a street, reach out — I am happy to pull the reserve history and recent sales for you. That is the work that makes the difference here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home price in Highland Beach, FL?
Redfin reported a median sale price of roughly $1.03 million across all home types in May 2026, down about 8.5% year over year, with a trailing twelve-month median near $1.0 million. Because Highland Beach is a very small market, medians move sharply month to month and should be checked against comparable sales in the specific building or block.
How long do homes take to sell in Highland Beach?
Recent data shows homes averaging around 107 days on market, roughly double the national average of about 55 days. High-end and trophy properties can take considerably longer.
Do I need to worry about condo special assessments in Highland Beach?
It is the most important question to ask. Florida’s milestone inspection and Structural Integrity Reserve Study requirements have prompted many older buildings to fund significant repairs. Review the milestone report, the SIRS, the reserve funding schedule beginning January 1, 2027, and any levied or proposed special assessment before you go under contract.
Is Highland Beach a good alternative to Boca Raton or Delray Beach?
It is a different product. Highland Beach sits between the two on a narrow barrier island, so inventory skews heavily toward oceanfront and Intracoastal condominiums rather than the inland single-family neighborhoods that dominate much of Boca Raton and Delray Beach. Which one fits depends on whether you want a walkable downtown, a golf community, or direct beach access.
What should I budget beyond the purchase price?
Plan for association assessments (and potential increases tied to reserve funding), windstorm and flood insurance, Palm Beach County property taxes reassessed at your purchase price, and — for waterfront single-family homes — seawall and dock maintenance.
About the author
Gary Youngman is Broker of B Realtors, a boutique luxury brokerage serving Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, and South Florida. Florida Real Estate License CQ1052498. Get it Seen. Get it Sold. Browse current homes for sale and seasonal and annual rentals, or explore all South Florida communities.
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Market data is current as of July 2026 and subject to change. This article is informational and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. B Realtors is committed to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation.