Luxury Waterfront Condos in Palm Beach County: Boca Raton vs. Palm Beach vs. Singer Island

Shopping for luxury waterfront condos in Palm Beach County usually comes down to three places: Boca Raton, the Town of Palm Beach and Singer Island. Each one offers ocean or Intracoastal views. However, they differ in price, building age, rules and daily feel. This guide compares them on the points that matter most: price per square foot, building age and inspections, association fees, boating access and rental rules. Since every building is different, we also show you what to check in each one.

Key takeaways

• Palm Beach is the priciest of the three by a wide margin. Its median list price per square foot for active residential listings was $1,456 on Oct. 1, 2026, compared with $352 in Boca Raton.
• Much of Singer Island is in Riviera Beach, and Palm Beach Shores covers its southern end. Confirm the city for every building.
• Condo buildings three or more stories tall need a milestone inspection by the end of the year they turn 30, then every 10 years. Coastal buildings may face a 25-year trigger.
• On a resale, the seller must give you the milestone summary, the reserve study and other records. You then have 7 days, not counting weekends and holidays, to cancel.
• Rental rules vary by building. A new rental ban only binds owners who agreed to it and buyers who take title afterward.

Luxury waterfront condos at a glance: three markets

Here is how the three areas compare at a high level. Figures come from Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, and cover all active residential listings in each city, both houses and condos. So use them as a rough guide to price levels, not as luxury condo values.

• Palm Beach: median list price $2,499,000, median $1,456 per square foot, 295 active listings.
• Boca Raton: median list price $550,000, median $352 per square foot, 2,188 active listings.
• Riviera Beach: median list price $384,900, median $269 per square foot, 260 active listings.

The Riviera Beach numbers cover the whole city, including the mainland. As a result, they understate prices in Singer Island's oceanfront towers. Ask for building-level sales before you compare.

For the county as a whole, condos and townhouses had a median sale price of $300,000 in August 2026, according to Miami Realtors and the Beaches MLS. They took a median of 69 days to go under contract, and supply stood at 6.7 months. That is a balanced market, which often gives buyers room to negotiate.

Boca Raton luxury waterfront condos

Boca Raton has the largest supply of the three. Its waterfront condos line the ocean along State Road A1A and the Intracoastal Waterway. You will find older mid-rise buildings, big oceanfront towers and newer boutique projects. That range means wide spreads in price, fees and condition.

Boca also offers more choice for buyers who want a slip or water access. Many Intracoastal buildings are close to marinas and inlets, though slip rights differ by building. If boating matters, ask whether a slip is deeded, leased or simply available on a waitlist.

Living in Boca also puts you near shopping, private clubs and healthcare. Our guide to the best neighborhoods in Boca Raton covers the city's areas in more detail.

Palm Beach waterfront condos

The Town of Palm Beach sits on a barrier island between the ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon. It has far fewer active listings than Boca Raton, and prices per square foot run far higher than in the other two markets.

Buyers here often pay for the address, the walkable town center and privacy. Also, each building has its own association rules. Read the rules on renovations, pets, rentals and buyer approval before you write an offer. If a building requires board approval of buyers, ask how long that step usually takes so you can plan your closing date.

Singer Island luxury condos

Singer Island lies north of the Palm Beach Inlet, with the ocean to the east and the Lake Worth Lagoon to the west. Much of the island is in the city of Riviera Beach, whose land use plan covers a Singer Island area. The small town of Palm Beach Shores covers the southern end. That split matters, because each government sets its own permits and local rules.

The island is known for its line of high-rise oceanfront towers. Compared with Palm Beach, buyers often get more space and newer towers for the money. For a fuller picture of island life, see our post on whether Singer Island is a good place to live.

How to compare luxury waterfront condos building by building

In these markets, two condos on the same street can be very different buys. So compare buildings, not just cities. Below are the five checks we run on every tower.

Price per square foot

First, compare closed sales in the same building and in similar buildings nearby. Then adjust for floor, view, renovation and parking. A direct ocean view on a high floor can sell at a large premium to a partial view lower down. Also, ask whether square footage includes balconies, since buildings measure differently.

Building age and milestone inspections

Florida tightened condo safety rules after 2021. Under section 553.899 of the Florida Statutes, condo buildings with three or more habitable stories need a milestone inspection. The first one is due by Dec. 31 of the year the building turns 30. Local officials may require it at 25 years where conditions warrant, such as near salt water. After that, inspections repeat every 10 years.

Phase one is a visual check by a licensed engineer or architect. If that finds substantial structural deterioration, phase two adds more testing. The association must send a summary to every owner within 45 days of receiving the report. Waterfront towers face salt air, so read these reports closely.

Association fees and reserves

Fees in luxury waterfront condos cover insurance, staff, amenities and reserves. Since the safety laws took effect, many associations have raised reserve funding or levied special assessments. So look at the budget, the reserve study and any planned assessments, not just the monthly fee. Our guide on high-rise condos in Florida explains how tower costs add up.

Marina and water access

Oceanfront buildings give you the beach. Intracoastal buildings are more likely to offer docks. If you want a boat, confirm slip size, depth, fees and bridge clearance on your route to the inlet. Then get those details in writing.

Rental rules

Rental rules range from fairly open to very strict. Some buildings set minimum lease terms or limit how many times a year you can rent. Under section 718.110(13), an amendment that bans or limits rentals applies only to owners who agree to it and to owners who take title after it passes. So as a new buyer, any rule in place when you close applies to you.

Financing luxury waterfront condos

Many luxury buyers pay cash. If you plan to finance, check the building early. Fannie Mae's Selling Guide treats projects that need critical repairs as ineligible until the repairs are done. It also treats projects that failed a required structural inspection as ineligible. Jumbo and portfolio lenders set their own rules, but many look at the same issues.

In short, a building with open repairs or a large pending assessment can narrow your loan options. It can also shrink your pool of future buyers when you sell.

Your rights when buying a resale condo

Florida gives resale condo buyers a review window. Under section 718.503, the seller must provide the declaration, articles, bylaws and rules, the annual budget and financial statement, and a question-and-answer sheet. The seller must also provide the milestone inspection summary and the structural integrity reserve study, where they apply.

After you sign, you have 7 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, to cancel in writing. That right ends at closing. Use the time to read the documents with your agent and, if needed, an attorney.

Frequently asked questions

Which area has the most expensive luxury waterfront condos?

The Town of Palm Beach. As of Oct. 1, 2026, its median list price per square foot for active residential listings was $1,456, far above Boca Raton and Riviera Beach.

Is Singer Island part of Riviera Beach?

Much of it is. Riviera Beach covers a large part of the island, and Palm Beach Shores covers the southern end. Check the city for each building.

What should I check before buying a waterfront condo?

Review recent sales in the building, the milestone inspection summary, the reserve study, the budget, any special assessments, and the rental and pet rules. Then confirm parking and any slip rights in writing.

Can I rent out a luxury condo in Palm Beach County?

It depends on the building. Some allow leases with minimum terms, and others limit rentals sharply. Read the declaration and rules before you make an offer.

Are older luxury waterfront condos a bad buy?

Not always. An older building with a clean milestone report, strong reserves and finished repairs can be a good value. The risk is a building with deferred repairs and low reserves.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, s. 553.899 milestone inspections
• Florida Statutes, s. 718.110 amendments and rental restrictions
• Florida Statutes, s. 718.503 resale disclosures
• Fannie Mae Selling Guide, ineligible projects
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report
• City of Riviera Beach, Future Land Use Element (Singer Island area)
• Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Shores

Selling a waterfront condo in Boca Raton, Palm Beach or Singer Island? Start with a free home valuation based on sales in your own building. Shopping instead? Request a confidential luxury market consultation, and our agents will compare towers, fees and inspection records for you. Talk with our team.