Delray Beach Real Estate Market

Delray Beach, a city in the South eastern part of the sunny state of Florida, is a mecca for those who want to enjoy a warmer climate. The city’s wide-ranging sports and recreational facilities and services assure its residents to enjoy healthy and quality living. Its award winning beaches, gardens, museums, and neighbourhoods are truly amazing and relaxing. With a population of 64,112, Delray is a perfect abode from the hasty lifestyle of the metropolitan.


Situated in the middle part of the Palm Beach County, this city has been a favourite destination for families and retirees. Through the years, Delray’s real estate market has progressed significantly.  Even though some of the areas were renovated, still, the small town charm of Delray remains the same. The master plan made by the government has led to the city’s many residential and commercial opportunities in boom. The impact of tourism has led many hotels to establish in this area like Crane's Beach House, Marriott Delray Beach, The Colony Hotel, The Sundy House Inn, and more. For residential dwellings, Delray Beach offers apartments near the ocean as well as single family homes. Retirees can also choose from the diverse retirement housing options include apartments, homes, condos, and town houses.

Delray Beach City

Likewise, the cost of living in Delray is 133 that is much lower than other states. Premium insurance discounts can be availed by homeowners through home inspection programs. One can also see a lot of opportunities in this city for it has a future job growth of 28.3 %.  Some of Delray’s serene and upbeat neighborhoods are Country Club Acres East, Country Club Acres West, Limestone Creek, Ruby at Delray, Sand and Sea Village, Tradewinds Estates East, and Seagate. 

Real estate prices in the area fell quite a bit between 2006 and 2009 and in Nov 10 to Jan 11 median sales price for homes in Delray Beach FL was $100,000 based on 542 home.  Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price decreased 23.1%, or $30,000, and the number of home sales decreased 9.8%. The average price per square foot for Delray Beach FL was $108, a decrease of 18.8% compared to the same period last year. The average listing price for homes for sale in Delray Beach FL was $503,782 for the week ending Feb 09, which represents a decrease of 3%, or $15,753, compared to the prior week. There are currently 2,233 resale and new homes in Delray Beach on Trulia, including 1,680 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction, or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process. In summary, 58.46 % of Delray’s houses are owned, while 25. 73% are being rented, and about 15.82 % are vacant.

Climate and Storm History of Delray Beach, Florida

Like other cities in the south eastern part of the sunny state of Florida, Delray Beach has a tropical rainforest climate.  Because of that, on average, the city has over 235 sunny days per year. It gets 58 inches of rain per year which is quiet higher compared to the average rainfall of the United States, that is, 37. Snowfall is 0 inches while the average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. Likewise, the number of days with any measurable precipitation is 99. Delray Beach, FL, gets 58 inches of rain per year. Most precipitation on average occurs in September with 8.10 inches. During summer, especially in July, the temperature goes between 75°F (23.9°C) to 90°F (32.2°C). But the highest recorded temperature in Delray has reached up to 101°F in 1942 while the lowest went as far as 24°F in 1894. On the other hand, during winter, particularly in January, the temperature ranges between 57°F (13.9°C) to 75°F (23.9°C). Additionally, in a comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, Delray Beach got a 28 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44. 

Facing to the Atlantic Ocean, numerous hurricanes have passed and devastated Delray for many years. These hurricanes strike the city mostly during the months of June to September. Based on the records, over 114 hurricanes, 37 of them major have hit Florida from 1851 to 2006.  Almost 83% of the major hurricanes in the United States have struck the state. In fact, one of the most historical events in Delray Beach was during 1903 when hurricane winds wrecked the British ship, SS Inchulva, near the south end of Delray's municipal beach. On that time, early settlers of African descent who emigrated from the Bahamas initiated the rescue of the survivors. In average, Delray gets affected by hurricanes every 2.24 years. The average mph (speed/strength) of hurricane hits based on advisories on sustained winds is 107 mph.  

Delray City

Hurricane Wilma

The following names are the hurricanes that have hit the city in the past years :King, Able, Judith, Donna, Cleo, Isabell, Betsy, Dottie, David, Dennis, Isadore, Andrew, Jerry, Mitch, Harvey , Irene, Frances, Jeanne, Katrina, Wilma, Ernesto, and so on. On the 24^th day of October, Hurricane Wilma struck the city with a speed of 105 mph. It passed over Delray with the eye lasting approximately 45 minutes. Hurricane Wilma had caused huge damages to the houses, buildings, road signs, and trees.  

 Also, the tennis center in Delray suffered $350,000 in damage. Likewise, old school square roof have to be replaced and the city hall building was hit hard. Recently, Delray was greatly affected by a hurricane named Ernesto in 2006. The storm hit the city in August 30 with a high wind gust of 41 mph. 

Top Delray Beach Florida Restaurants

Delray Beach, a city in Palm Beach County, Florida is hailed by many as a beach paradise. But the city’s beaches are not just its assets. It also boasts for its fine and diverse restaurants. So, if you want to try dining at Delray, try to check out some of the following restaurants.

Sunday House Restaurant

Let’s begin with Delray’s famous Sundy House Restaurant. This restaurant’s interior design is great plus the culinary creations are totally savory and tasty. The client can also choose where to eat whether in the serene tropical gardens or in the romantic dining room. It has a diverse cuisine lie American, International, Contemporary, and Continental. 

Furin Japanese Restauran

For those who want to try some Oriental dishes, check-out Delray’s Furin Japanese Restaurant.  This family own restaurants serves the best Sushi and Thai foods in the city. The place is clean, the decors are good, plus the service is great. Here, you can taste traditional Japanese foods like teriyaki, miso soup, tempura, and more.

Greek Bistro

Or if you want to go to a restaurant with a Mediterranean ambience, you can dine at Greek Bistro and experience the best Greek foods while listening to Greek tunes. Being in this restaurant, gives you the chance to taste Greek delicacies likeOussaka ,Pastitsio, grilled pork souvlaki, Papoutsakia or Little Shoes, Lamb chops, and more. Greek Desserts like Baklava and Galaktobourekoare also available. 

Dada Restaurant

Another pleasant restaurant to visit to is Dada. Dada is a 1924 two story house turned restaurant pubs that attracts artists, musicians, and writers who gather for open mikes, poetry slams, fashion shows, awesome pop scene, films, and indie bands. But there’s food, too, like Butternut Squash Ravioli, Crab Cakes, Char-grilled Guava Marinated Chicken, Chicken del Rio and more. 

Patio Delray

Meanwhile, if you choose to chill out and feel the breeze of Delray, Patio Delray is the perfect restaurant for you. This place is also great for a quiet drink or to meet friends. Patio Delray’s full appetizer and dinner menus are available to satisfy even the most demanding taste. The assorted menu offers a wide range of old and new world selections from fresh local seafood, tropical delights, to nightly specials all under one roof.  For an impressive lunch, the patio’s menu includes Blackened Chicken or Shrimp Alfredo, Sun Dried Tomato Asparagus Blue Cheese Parmesan Cream, Ahi Tuna Brochette Hoisin BBQ Sauce Jasmine Rice, Smokey Grilled Chicken Breast Warm Potato Salad, Asian Noodle Bowl, and Chicken and Veg Dumplings Rice Noodles Baby Greens Miso Broth. Desserts are also available like Brandied Pecan Bread Pudding, Fresh Fruit Garnish, White Chocolate Chunk Macadamia Nut Brownie, and House Made Ice Cream. Finally, for those who are interested to try some New England Style seafood and fresh local catch, check out the city’s renowned Bostons on the Beach. Serving for 28 years, Boston’s lets you see the breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean while enjoying a casual dinner with your loved ones. The restaurant’s menu includes the New England Style Lobster Salad, Ipswich Steamers and Fried Clams, Live Maine Lobsters, Sandwiches, Burgers, Signature Baskets and Fresh Salads.

Fun Activities and Historic Landmarks of Delray Beach, Florida

Located in the central part of the Palm Beach County Florida, Delray Beach has been hailed as one of the premier vacation destination in Florida. Its beautiful white-sand beaches are renowned throughout the country. As a matter of fact, the city has received a number of awards for its natural beauty like the. Some of its awards came from the American Coastal Coalition which has recognized the city government’s efforts in restoring the pristine beaches. Another one came from the Travel Holiday Magazine of which it voted Delray’s beaches as the top public beaches in the southeastern United States and even included the said beach as one of the top 35 beaches in the entire country. The city’s beaches are certified as clean, healthy, and are well-maintained by the Clean Beaches Council.  

Delray's beaches

Delray’s beaches are perfect for having fun and relaxation like sun bathing, swimming, building sand castles, fishing, boating, kite surfing, kayaking, and more! Or if you want to have picnic with your family or friends, the city’s beaches also have picnic areas. On the other hand, if you prefer to take a leisurely stroll in the city, you can drop by at the fabulous Atlantic Avenue wherein art galleries, boutiques, shopping centers, brilliant fine dining restaurants, romantic restaurants, horse carriage rides, and historical landmarks are located.  

Morikami Japanese Garden

But if you want to take a walk at a place wherein you can have feel a total serenity, the Morikami Japanese Gardens of Delray Beach is perfect for you. This garden ranks as the #1 attraction in Delray Beach. It will allow you to experience the beauty and tranquility of a 200 acre Japanese garden. It’s certainly a place of a genuine Zen.

   For those who love to discover the life of sharks, it’s nice to visit the city’s Sandoway House Nature Center Artifacts. Likewise, the city considers the month of August as Shark Month. Here, you will surely be exhilarated in feeding sharks! But if you’re a sports enthusiast, Delray also gives you one of the most exciting tennis competitions in the world. That is, the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (ITC) which is an ATP World Tour 250 series men's tennis tournament held every year in the city.  A festival called the Delray Beach Garlic Fest is also great event to witness. This festival is a three day celebration of food, music, and art held every second weekend of February, annually on the grounds of the city’s Old School Square. In addition, Delray also has the elegant yacht named Lady Atlantic. Lady Atlantic is a 105-foot vessel that travels in the Intracoastal Waterway.

cozy yacht at Delray

 Being in that cozy yacht, let’s you see the city’s natural landscapes, fine-looking homes, and breath-taking beautiful beaches. Delray also is proud for its sophisticated restaurants which make you remember the city forever. Some of its restaurants are Hunan Garden Chinese Restaurant, JBlue Anchor British Pub, Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, Joseph's Wine Bar & Cafe, and Dada. After enjoying those fun activities and relaxing tours, you can stay at Delray’s best hotels like The Colony Hotel, Marriott Delray Beach, Crane’s Beach House, and more.  

City of Delray Beach, Florida General Info

Delray Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA. The city is named after the Detroit neighborhood of Delray, as well as from the Mexican-American War’s Battle of Molino del Rey. It also lies in the middle of the South Palm Beach County which is at the center of Florida's Southeast Economic Region.

Area

Delray Beach is situated north of Boca Raton and south of Boynton Beach. It is exactly located at 26°27′33″N 80°04′59″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.9 mi² (41.2 km²), which comprises 15.4 square miles (40 km²) land and 0.53 square miles (1 km²) water (3.34%).

Demography

According to the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 60,020 and 64,150 as estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau of 2004. Additionally, Delray has 26,787 households, and 15,081 families residing in. The population density was 3,905.6/mi² (1,507.7/km²). The population of city was 66.49% White (61.8% were Non-Hispanic White), 26.63% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.08%Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races, and 3.99% from two or more races. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87. Moreover, the median age was 44 years and for every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

Economy

Delray Beach’s economy prospered mainly because of the service sector that operates with the rapid development of tourism. One of the city’s evidence of its success is the famous Atlantic Avenue that is lined with art galleries, boutique, sophisticated fine dining restaurants, horse carriage rides, and more. The Pet Airways also have its headquarters in Delray.  Additionally, the median income for a household in the city was $43,371, and the median income for a family was $51,195. Males had a median income of $33,699 versus $28,469 for females.

Climate

The city of Delray Beach has a tropical rainforest climate.  Because of this, the place is sunny for most part of the year, with a temperature that ranges between 83 °F (28.3 °C) and 67 °F (19.4 °F).  During the summer months, especially in July, the temperature reaches up to 90°F (32.3°C). On the other hand, during the winter months, particularly in January, the temperature decreases up to 57°F (13.9°C). The annual precipitation of Delray Beach is 61.39 inches (1559.3 mm). Additionally, the wettest month of the year is June with an average rainfall of 7.58 inches (136.9 mm).

Tourism

The city of Delray Beach has been known for its award-winning beaches. It has also been the premier vacation destination in Florida. In fact, in 2002, the city received recognition from the "American Coastal Coalition" for its accomplishment in restoring their pristine white sandy beaches. Likewise, according to the Travel Holiday magazine, Delray has the top public beaches in the southeastern United States. The city’s beaches are even hailed as one of the top 35 beaches in the entire country. Several hotels and resorts are also in Delray that are truly outstanding like The Sundy House Inn, The Colony Hotel, Marriott Delray Hotel, Crane’s Beach House, and more. Aside from that, it also has the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens plus the famous Shark month (August) wherein you can experience the exciting feeling of feeding sharks.

Delray House Inn

History of the city of Delray Beach, Florida

The history of Delray Beach started when William and Sara Gleason, natives of Wisconsin, purchased thousands of acres of land in Southern Florida, in 1868. One of those thousands of acres of lands became the present Delray Beach. Eventually, William Gleason became the Lieutenant Governor of Florida from 1868 to 1870. Later on, their sons managed real estate transactions (for those who want to settle in Delray) with the business name of “Gleason Brothers”. Before, the city of Delray was identified as the Orange Grove Haulover and was changed to Zion by Annie Andrews in 1885. Then, in1894, a U.S. Congressman for the State of Michigan, named William S. Linton, together with David Swinton and Major Nathan Boynton, bought tracts of land from H. Flagler’s Model Land Company and the Gleason Brothers. Also on the same year, African –American established first school in the town. After a year, the town’s name was again changed to Linton.  Then, in 1896, the first church in Linton, Mt. Olive Baptist Church was built. Finally, in 1898 the name of the Town of Linton was changed to "Delray" following hardship brought on by crop-destroying freezes.   

A town leader named W.W. Blackmer suggested the name "Delray" which was derived from the name of a town located near Detroit, Michigan. After a few years, the Ladies Improvement Association, a small group of women, initiated to build projects in the town like a cemetery, the public library, Atlantic Avenue renovations, and a town hall. Hurricanes have also hit Delray and one of them wrecked the British ship, SS Inchulva which happened in 1903. Later in 1904,”Yamato”, an agricultural settlement located south of Delray was established. One of those was George Morikami for whom the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach is named. Subsequently, the Town of Delray passed the first bond issue and the first city electric and water plants were built. On May 11, 1927, the two incorporated towns - Town of Delray Beach and the City of Delray - united to form "The City of Delray Beach."  After World War II, the city developed rapidly with the business brought to the area by the Delray Beach Tennis Center, which has hosted several major international tennis events such as the April 2005 Fed Cup (USA vs. Belgium), the April 2004 Davis Cup (USA vs. Sweden), the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (ATP Event), and the Chris Evert / Bank of America Pro Celebrity. Recently, the historic home of teacher/principal Solomon D. Spady was renovated and turned into the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum. The Spady Museum houses a black archives and hosts exhibits and programs designed to recognize the efforts of blacks who were instrumental in shaping Delray Beach and Palm Beach County. As of 2007 the museum is being expanded with the renovation of a 1935 cottage as a Kid's Cultural Clubhouse, and the construction of a 50-seat amphitheater named for C. Spencer Pompey, a pioneer black educator. In 2007, Delray Beach was labeled as the drug recovery capital of the United States because it had one of the country’s largest recovery community and relative number of halfway houses.

Delray Beach