DAYTONA BEACH REAL ESTATE

(MORE THAN JUST A SANDY BEACH)

Twenty three miles of sandy beach account for something. What has been haled as “The World’s Most Famous Beach” is one of the natural features attracting people to Daytona Beach for well over a century. After the Seminole Wars and the Civil War (pardon me, the War Between The States), Florida experienced its first tourism boom. That’s when people really began to take notice of the natural beauty of the Daytona Beach area. Two natural features, the Atlantic Ocean and the Halifax River really intrigued them. They were encouraged to stay for a week, maybe two, perhaps a lifetime.

Similar things are happening today. Visitors and investors come to Daytona Beach and discover a world of opportunity awaits them. A buyer’s market is apparent, even through the Daytona Beach Real Estate market. Whether they are interested in residential, commercial or industrial real estate, they are likely to find a good buy in Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach was created from the merger of the towns of Daytona, Seabreeze and Daytona Beach in 1926. Daytona Beach real estate has been an investor’s choice for years. None of that notorious Florida swampland is evident here. Miles of beachfront and riverfront property was available while the interior offered affordable un-cleared acreage.

Daytona Beach is physically divided into two areas, the mainland and the beachside. Separated by the Halifax River, the beachside is accessed by a series of bridges, four high-rise structures, Seabreeze Boulevard, Oakridge Boulevard, Main Street, International Speedway Boulevard and one drawbridge at Silver Beach.

Tourist activity in Daytona Beach is strongly seasonal with spring and early summer typically being the peak periods. Only a fraction of the Daytona Beach Real Estate on the beachside is geared toward the tourist trade with luxury hotels, restaurants and retail establishments and entertainment facilities. The homes on the Halifax river and luxury oceanfront homes are geared towards anyone wanting to reside in a waterfront paradise.

Good real estate buys can be found on either the peninsula portion or the mainland area of Daytona Beach. The County of Volusia and the City of Daytona Beach are currently engaged in a huge revitalization project between Main Street and Seabreeze Boulevard in Daytona Beach.

Other redevelopment projects are currently underway on the mainland. Along the old downtown retail area of Daytona Beach where Beach street shops, shops stores and restaurants line the Halifax river, properties have been undergoing facelifts. With the conversion of former multi-story retail facilities into condominiums and lofts, new life is being breathed into the downtown area. In addition, a beautiful municipal yacht basin was constructed in downtown Daytona Beach. It is one of the largest facilities on the east coast of Florida.

In the Mid-Town area near Bethune Cookman University, real estate has undergone a revitalization as investors have purchased older dwellings and restored them. Dormitories, townhomes and condominiums have been constructed. The City of Daytona Beach is also working towards creating more “green areas” and parks in the neighborhoods.

The focus of the many revitalization projects of the City of Daytona Beach is to encourage future tourism, convention and business meeting venues, all pluses for any real estate investor or private purchaser.

For those who might think there’s not much to do in Daytona Beach, think again. Daytona Beach is famous for its NASCAR races which were founded here in the late 1950’s. The Daytona International Speedway hosts numerous automobile and motorcycle races throughout the year that are attended by millions of people annually. Bike Week (which was initiated on the sands of Daytona Beach in 1937) is a 10 day Mardi Gras like experience. It has to be seen to be believed.

For those with more cultured tastes, Daytona Beach has an impressive host outlets. Patrons of the arts can pursue their interests at the Bandshell, the Museum of Arts and Science (MOAS), The News-Journal Center, Peabody Auditorium, Jackie Robinson Ballpark, Ocean Center and the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center & Visual Arts Gallery. From concerts to ballgames, to exhibits and theatrical productions, you can find it in Daytona Beach.

For those with wanting an adrenaline rush or physical activity great recreational opportunities abound in Daytona Beach. For all the sports enthusiasts the possibilities are staggering: parasailing, surfing, boating, fishing, biking, hiking, skateboarding, kayaking and swimming, just to name a few activities. Keep in mind too that Daytona Beach is the home of the LPGA. There are plenty of golf courses to keep you occupied. With a year round mild climate, it’s easy to see why these activities are enjoyable year-round in Daytona Beach.

Some of the reasons that Daytona Beach continues to be a good choice for a real estate purchase is that it is centrally located. People can arrive by plane, car or boat. Flights are available at several different airports including Daytona Beach International, Orlando International, Orlando-Sanford International and Jacksonville International. US 92/International Speedway Boulevard (ISB) is the main east-west traffic artery into Daytona Beach. It connects the beachside district with the downtown business district and points west through the interstate system using I-95 and I-4. Daytona Beach is only an hour and a half to two hours away from some of the area’s major attractions such as Kennedy Space Center, the Orlando theme parks, St. Augustine, Tampa and the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. Three deep-water ports are relatively close by and include Jacksonville, Tampa and Port Canaveral. Daytona Beach’s central location is very appealing.