The December 2025 Waterfront Portfolio: Planning Your Exit Before You're Ready to Leave
The December 2025 issue of The Waterfront Portfolio tackles a question that few Boca Raton waterfront homeowners want to consider but every strategic seller should: What does it take to prepare your Intracoastal property for a future sale—even when that future feels comfortably distant?
The answer might surprise you. It's not about timing the market or waiting for the perfect moment. It's about creating options before you need them.
The Case for Boca Raton Waterfront Homeowners to Plan Now
Here's a truth that experienced waterfront homeowners understand: the most successful sales along Boca Raton's Intracoastal rarely happen by accident. They're the result of owners who started thinking like future sellers 12 to 24 months before they actually needed to be.
This isn't about rushing toward the door. It's about strategic preparation that gives you something invaluable when the time does come: options.
Are you thinking about a move in 2026 or 2027? Is it tied to retirement, a business transition, or simply a desire to simplify your lifestyle? When you understand your own horizon, you can make decisions calmly—rather than reacting to a neighbor's big sale or the latest Boca Raton market headline.
Your timeline becomes the foundation for every other choice: what to repair, what to renovate, when to invite an agent in, and how you want your final chapter on Boca Raton's waterfront to feel.
The Exit Strategy Checklist for Boca Raton Waterfront Homes
This month's issue introduces a practical framework for Boca Raton waterfront homeowners who want to be prepared without feeling pressured:
Schedule a property audit. Have trusted professionals review your roof, major systems, windows and doors, and waterfront structures—seawalls, docks, and boat lifts. South Florida's salt air and hurricane exposure make these assessments particularly important. Understanding what needs attention now versus what can wait is the first step toward informed decision-making.
Choose 2–3 high-impact upgrades. Not everything needs to be renovated. The strategic question is which improvements will move the needle with discerning Boca Raton buyers while providing you enjoyment in the meantime.
Capture your lifestyle story. This might sound intangible, but it matters enormously in Boca Raton's luxury waterfront market. What moments have made this home special? The light at sunset across the Intracoastal. The feeling of stepping onto your dock after a long trip. The neighbors who became friends. These details help position your home as more than square footage and water frontage—they help tell its story.
Decide how you want the process to feel. Fast and simple? Carefully curated? Your exit strategy should support both the result you want and the type of experience that will be most comfortable for you.
When 6–9 Months Becomes Your Window
The December issue outlines what serious conversations look like when your target window moves inside that 6–9 month horizon:
Pricing philosophy: Understanding where your Boca Raton waterfront home should sit relative to recent sales in your specific micro-neighborhood—not aspirational comparisons, but reality-based positioning.
Timing considerations: Do you want maximum visibility during Boca Raton's "Season" when the market is most active? Or would a more discreet off-season approach better suit your circumstances?
Positioning strategy: How to highlight your specific advantages—view corridors, frontage, dockage depth, privacy, proximity to the Boca Raton Inlet, or walkability to the beach. Every Boca Raton waterfront property has its own story; the question is how to tell it.
Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club: 2025 Market Intelligence
For homeowners and prospective buyers focused on Boca Raton's most prestigious waterfront addresses, the December issue provides a comprehensive market snapshot of Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club through mid-December 2025:
Eight single-family waterfront homes have sold this year at an average sale price of $13.885 million and an average of $1,787 per square foot. Seven of those eight transactions closed with all-cash terms—a striking indicator of the financial profile attracted to this enclave of 240 estate homes along Boca Raton's most coveted waterways.
Days on market averaged 210, while 15 homes remain available as the year closes—suggesting a market that rewards patience, strategic pricing, and impeccable presentation.
The standout transaction? 1788 Royal Palm Way at $31.5 million—achieving full asking price with zero days on market. The distinction: direct Intracoastal frontage with 150 feet of water. At $3,763 per living square foot, this 2014 estate set the community's 2025 benchmark, commanding more than double the average price-per-square-foot of interior canal properties.
What buyers should understand: The premium for direct Intracoastal frontage versus interior canal positions remains substantial in Boca Raton—and for good reason. Water width, view corridors, and vessel access directly impact long-term value.
What sellers should understand: Pricing philosophy matters enormously in this environment. Where your home sits relative to recent waterfront sales in your specific Boca Raton micro-neighborhood will determine whether you attract serious buyers or simply accumulate market time.
Recent Boca Raton Waterfront Sales Worth Noting
775 Oriole Circle (The Sanctuary) Listed at $8.995 million; sold for $7.68 million (cash). Built 2003 with 116 feet of canal waterfront, 5 bedrooms, 6.3 baths. A meaningful data point for sellers who want to understand where The Sanctuary market stands.
1203 Spanish River Road (Spanish River Land) Listed at $17.399 million; sold for $16.4 million (cash). Built 2002 with 135 feet of direct Intracoastal frontage, 5 bedrooms, 7.3 baths. Another strong showing for this ultra-premium Boca Raton location.
New to Market in Boca Raton: 252 S. Maya Palm Drive
Inside Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, a 2001-built estate with 6 bedrooms and 6.1 baths is now available at $12.5 million. With 101 feet of canal waterfront and a deep-water dock, this property offers entry into one of Boca Raton's most exclusive communities.
Let's Have the Conversation Your Home Deserves
Whether you're thinking about 2026, 2027, or simply want to understand how current market dynamics affect your Boca Raton waterfront property, I'm here for a private, confidential discussion about your home's place in this market.
Maureen Harmonay, Global Luxury Specialist | Coldwell Banker Realty 561.288.0170 | MaureenHarmonayHomes.com.
Selling Your Waterfront Home in Boca or Delray?
Text me at 978-502-5800 to request a confidential positioning analysis and strategic marketing blueprint with the facts and figures you'll need to make your best decision.