Monroe County · The Upper Keys
Key Largo: island life, 70 miles from Miami.
First island of the Florida Keys. Diving capital, second homes, and sunsets that don't quit. If you're thinking about a Keys property (to live in, escape to, or rent out), let's talk before you buy, because the Keys play by their own rules.
Emmanuel's take
What I'll tell you about Key Largo.
The Keys play by their own rules, and Key Largo is where it starts. First island, about seventy miles from Miami, and a completely different world. Diving, boating, sunsets that make you forget what day it is. I get why people want a place here. I'd want one too.
But here's what I tell every buyer before we look at a single listing: verify the rental rules first. The Keys have their own short-term rental regulations, and they're stricter than anything in Miami-Dade. Buying a vacation rental you can't legally rent is an expensive mistake, and I've seen people make it.
This is also where my background actually matters. I manage vacation rentals for a living through Lima Pro Management, so when I project what your Key Largo property can earn, it's from real experience, not a listing agent's fantasy. Buy with me, I'll get it rented, and I'll manage it after that. One person, the whole play, from purchase to payday.
Market snapshot
Key Largo by the numbers.
Market stats are refreshed monthly. Text me for today's numbers. They move fast.
The local guide
Know Key Largo before you buy.
The island
Key Largo is where the Overseas Highway starts hopping islands, about 70 miles from downtown Miami, roughly an hour and fifteen minutes when traffic cooperates. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park anchors the island: diving, snorkeling, glass-bottom boats. This is a boating and watersports town first, everything else second.
Second homes and vacation rentals
A huge share of Key Largo buyers are buying their escape: second homes, future retirement spots, and vacation-rental investments. Here's what matters: the Keys have their own short-term rental rules, and they're stricter and different from Miami-Dade's. Before you buy for Airbnb, we verify exactly what's allowed at that address. I also run vacation-rental management through Lima Pro Management, so I can tell you what the property will actually earn, not what a listing agent hopes it earns.
The practical stuff
Insurance in the Keys is its own conversation. Hurricane and flood coverage cost real money here, and I tell buyers to get quotes early in the process, not after they're emotionally committed. Flood zones, elevation, and building codes all matter more here than on the mainland. None of it is a reason not to buy; it's all a reason to buy with someone who checks.
Schools
Key Largo is served by the Monroe County School District, including Key Largo School (PreK–8) and Coral Shores High School in Tavernier, the public high school for the Upper Keys.
On the ground
Key Largo, through my lens.
Buyer questions
What people ask me about Key Largo.
Can I Airbnb my property in Key Largo?
Maybe. And 'maybe' is why you call me first. The Keys have specific short-term rental regulations that vary by location, and Monroe County enforces them. Buying a vacation rental here without verifying the rules at that specific address is how people end up with a property they can't rent. I check this before you write an offer. Through my management company, I can project realistic rental income.
How far is Key Largo from Miami?
About 70 miles: roughly an hour and fifteen minutes via the Overseas Highway (US-1) in normal traffic. Weekend and holiday traffic on the single highway in and out can add real time. Most second-home owners treat it as an easy weekend trip, not a commute.
How much are homes in Key Largo, FL?
The Keys command a premium: the median was around $947K in fall 2026. Text me for this week's numbers and what's actually closing.
What about hurricane insurance in the Keys?
It's a significant line item, so get quotes early. Windstorm, flood, and homeowners policies stack up in the Keys, and costs vary a lot by elevation, construction type, and flood zone. I connect my buyers with insurance agents who actually write Keys policies, and we factor it into the monthly budget before anyone gets attached.
Is Key Largo a good place for a second home?
For the right buyer, it's hard to beat: world-class diving in your backyard, an hour-plus from Miami, and a real community, not just a tourist strip. The keys to doing it right: buy for the lifestyle first, verify rental rules if income matters, and budget insurance honestly. I help buyers with all three.
Thinking about Key Largo?
Buying, selling, or just curious what your options look like: it starts with a conversation. No pressure, no obligation.
Hablo español: English y español, start to finish. 🇩🇴