Jupiter Real Estate Guide: Buying & Selling a Home

For Buyers

Buying a home in Jupiter: what to know

Town of Jupiter or unincorporated Palm Beach County?

The Town of Jupiter handles zoning, permits and code enforcement inside town limits. Many homes with a Jupiter mailing address, including Jupiter Farms, are in unincorporated Palm Beach County, and Jupiter Inlet Colony, Juno Beach and Tequesta are separate municipalities with their own rules. Confirm the jurisdiction on the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's record for any home you consider.

Property taxes and the homestead exemption

To qualify, you must own the home and make it your permanent residence by January 1, then apply by March 1 with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. The exemption deducts $25,000 from assessed value, plus a second exemption of about $25,000, now adjusted each year for inflation, on assessed value above $50,000. After you qualify, assessed value can rise no more than 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index each year, whichever is lower. Taxes reset for a new owner, so don't budget from the seller's current bill.

Flood zones and flood insurance

Homes along the Loxahatchee River, the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean, and some low-lying inland areas, may sit in higher-risk flood zones. Most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, and homes with federally backed mortgages in high-risk A or V zones must carry flood insurance. Look up any address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and ask your insurance agent whether a Community Rating System discount applies for the Town of Jupiter or unincorporated Palm Beach County.

Condos, HOAs and inspections

Florida requires milestone structural inspections for condo and co-op buildings three or more habitable stories tall, generally at 30 years and every 10 years after, and condo associations in those buildings must complete a structural integrity reserve study at least every 10 years. Before buying a condo, ask for those reports, the budget, reserves and any planned special assessments. In club and HOA communities, review the association documents, any required club membership or capital contribution, and rules on rentals, pets and boats. Florida insurers commonly ask for a wind mitigation inspection and, on older homes, a four-point inspection, so get insurance quotes during your inspection period.

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Lifestyle

Living in Jupiter

• The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, completed in 1860, is the town's best-known landmark, and the Loxahatchee River Historical Society runs tours and a museum on the grounds.
• Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Abacoa hosts spring training for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins.
• The Loxahatchee River, Florida's first federally designated Wild and Scenic River, is popular for kayaking and paddleboarding, and Riverbend Park has trails and paddling upriver.
• Beaches include Carlin Park, Jupiter Beach Park and a dog-friendly beach along A1A.
• Harbourside Place and the Jupiter Riverwalk put restaurants, shops and waterfront dining near the inlet.
• The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and Florida Atlantic University's Jupiter campus are part of the town's research and education community.

Also see William's Tequesta, Jupiter Island, Hobe Sound, Palm Beach and Stuart real estate guides.