Wade M. Berlin

How would you like to wake up 15 minutes from the beach, head up and catch a sunrise and breakfast right on the beach at Dune Deck in Lantana, and have all of your closing costs paid? You bring the down payment. The rest is on us. This is 1,718 square feet of 2017 construction in Palm Beach County. Two bedrooms, two and a half baths, one car garage and Smart Start Grant eligible for up to $15,000 toward your closing costs. What you're getting: Entry living room flows to kitchen with granite countertops, peninsula bar, dark real wood cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. Opens to a large great room with 20 inch tile throughout and sliding glass doors to a fenced backyard. Two oversized suites upstairs, each with their own full bath. Primary suite has dual vanities and corner walk in shower. Half bath downstairs for guests. The backyard has room for cookouts, space to add a jacuzzi, or install a paver patio area with gazebo for the perfect outdoor entertainment setup. Enjoying what South Florida has to offer year round is exceptional whether you're here full time or seasonally. The advantage most buyers miss: This is two bedrooms, not three but here's why that's actually better. The 3 bedroom units in this community are the exact same 1,718 square feet. They just chop up the space into smaller bedrooms instead of giving you two genuine master suites. You're getting more usable bedroom space, two full bathrooms upstairs, and better layout flow. Plus, you're the least expensive unit currently available in The Groves. The location creates rental demand that most properties can't match: Palm Beach State College is two minutes away perfect for professors relocating for new positions or graduate students who want quality housing. The garage sets this apart from 90% of the rental inventory. Use it for your car, convert it to a workout space, or store a jet ski or small boat for weekend runs on Lake Osborne, which is literally around the corner. Weekend life gets real when you're this close to the water. Launch from Lake Osborne for tubing, wake surfing, or hydro sliding. Dock at The Hive restaurant for lunch without leaving the boat. When you want salt water, Lantana Beach is where locals catch sunrise, and Keylime House sits right on the Intracoastal for waterfront dining. Everyday convenience: Tacos El Carbon for late night food. Country Inn around the corner for breakfast. Atlantis Country Club has both private and public courses. The real trade off: If you absolutely need three bedrooms for kids, keep looking. But if two works you're getting superior room sizes and bathroom access compared to the cramped 3 bedroom floor plan. This works for couples, single professionals, college faculty, or investors who understand that newer construction near the beach and college consistently rents for $2,800/month in this corridor. The money reality: 2017 construction keeps insurance reasonable. Accordion shutters all around. HOA is $230/month and covers lawn care, exterior maintenance, and community pool access. Plenty of driveway space for additional parking. Smart Start Grant covering up to $15,000 of your closing costs. Year round outdoor entertainment potential and positioned for both lifestyle and investment return in one of Palm Beach County's most rental friendly locations.