Waterfront vs. Ocean-Access Homes

On the Treasure Coast, "waterfront" can mean a lot of different things: a condo looking straight at the Atlantic, a house on the St. Lucie River, a lot on a lake, or a canal home where you can run your boat out to the ocean. If you're a boater, the difference matters a lot. Here's how to read the listings, and what to check before you buy.

What the terms usually mean

• Oceanfront / beachfront: directly on the Atlantic, usually on Hutchinson Island or Jupiter Island. Great views and beach access, but you generally can't dock a boat there.
• Waterfront: on any body of water: ocean, river, Intracoastal, canal, lake or pond. A waterfront home isn't necessarily boatable.
• Ocean access: on a canal, river or the Intracoastal Waterway with a boat route to an ocean inlet, such as the St. Lucie Inlet near Stuart or the Fort Pierce Inlet. This is the one boaters usually want.

Our ocean-access searches use the terms listing agents enter in the MLS: ocean access, Intracoastal access, river access, canal access, navigable water and no fixed bridges. Always confirm the route for any specific home.

What boaters should check

• Fixed bridges and clearance. A low fixed bridge between the house and the inlet can rule out a sailboat or larger center console. "No fixed bridges" is a big plus.
• Water depth at the dock and along the route, especially at low tide.
• Time to the inlet. Some canals are minutes from open water. Others involve a long no-wake ride, or a lock on certain routes.
• Dock, lift and seawall condition. Repairs can be expensive, and new or replacement docks and lifts usually need permits.
• Insurance and flood zone. Waterfront homes are often in higher-risk flood zones. Get flood and wind quotes early. See flood zones and insurance.
• HOA and deed rules on boats, lifts and docks.

Where to look

Ocean-access homes on the Treasure Coast are spread across Stuart, Palm City, Port Salerno, Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce. Browse by area:

• Palm City ocean access homes
• Port Salerno ocean access homes
• Port St. Lucie ocean access homes
• Stuart waterfront homes
• Jensen Beach waterfront homes

The listings below show ocean-access homes across Martin and St. Lucie Counties, updated from the MLS.

Common questions

What's the difference between waterfront and ocean access?
Waterfront means the property is on water of any kind. Ocean access means there's a boat route from the property to the ocean, usually by canal, river or the Intracoastal Waterway.

Can I dock a boat at an oceanfront home?
Generally no. Oceanfront homes face the beach. Boaters usually look for ocean-access homes on canals, rivers or the Intracoastal.

What does "no fixed bridges" mean?
There are no fixed (non-opening) bridges between the property and open water, so taller boats can get out. Always confirm the exact route for a specific property.