Southern coastal town where property prices are set to soar is crowned America's 'best kept secret' by experts

Florida is known crossed the US for its picturesque formation towns and status hotspots. 

But the coastal municipality of St Augustine has managed to stay nether the radar, earning it the rubric of America's 'best kept secret' by existent property experts. 

The humanities Southern city, which was founded successful 1565 - making it 1 of the oldest successful the state - stands successful marked opposition to the caller developments rising crossed Florida.

Home prices successful the metropolis are importantly little than successful different coastal areas successful the state, broker Jennifer Bryndal told Mansion Global.

However Bryndal, from agency Engel and Völkers successful the area, said she expects prices to soar. 

'I judge we are the nation's best-kept secret,' she told the outlet. 

'As we look connected truthful galore top-10 question lists, we are increasing fast.' 

The mean location successful St Augustine is worthy $443,043, according to lodging marketplace Zillow. This is up from $286,377 5 years ago.

The city, which is astir an hour's thrust from Jacksonville, was established by Spanish colonists. 

It is known for its Spanish assemblage architecture, arsenic good arsenic its beauteous beaches connected the Atlantic coast.

'It's a delightful small metropolis by the sea,' said Bryndal. 

The metropolis has besides gone to large lengths to sphere its architectural practice and beauty, including a regularisation which bans residences, including condos, from rising higher than 3 stories. 

'Compared to different coastal cities, St Augustine is genuinely a unicorn,' Elizabeth Jennings, a planetary existent property advisor astatine ONE Sotheby's International Realty, told Mansion Global. 

'When you deliberation of the oldest [areas] successful America, astir radical representation Virginia oregon New England. 

'We person a vibrant, historical territory paired with beauteous beaches, lukewarm weather, small-town vibes and an awesome culinary scene.'

The metropolis is witnessing important migration from radical astir the country, she said, which is driving up location values.

She points successful peculiar to the vicinity of West Augustine, which she calls 'a small pouch municipality similar Brooklyn' successful New York City, wherever she expects location prices to treble oregon adjacent triple successful the adjacent 5 to 10 years. 

It is simply a premier vicinity for growth, she said, due to the fact that 'we person caller breweries, yoga studios, boutiques, cafes and distilleries popping up - and determination are large plans to link West Augustine with downtown. The opportunities are endless.'

St Augustine was besides precocious ranked 5th connected a list of the astir welcoming places connected earth for 2025. 

The ranking was drawn up by Booking.com, with entries identified based connected the fig of Traveler Review Awards each spot has. 

The emergence successful location values successful St Augustine is successful marked opposition to different parts of Florida, wherever values are flatlining aft falling past year.   

Florida has been gathering a batch of homes, which is limiting terms growth, and an security and clime situation has put galore location hunters connected edge.

Buyer request is besides lackluster due to the fact that galore radical person been priced retired of pandemic homebuying hotspots.