Every time I come over the bridge into Flagler Beach, I see the same thing: low beach cottages, palm trees and the ocean right there. No skyline, no traffic. I've driven it a thousand times and I still take a breath when I hit the top.
Why I live here
I could sell real estate anywhere on this coast, and I chose to live in Flagler Beach. It's small, it's real and it hasn't been built up. There are no high-rises, the restaurants and coffee shops are owned by people you'll get to know, and you can show up anywhere in flip-flops with salt in your hair and nobody cares.
Walking everywhere
We're a short walk from the beach, and that changes how you live. Sunrise walks, a quick swim after work, walking down for coffee on a Saturday morning. You don't plan your day around traffic and parking.
Raising my kids here
My kids, Charlotte and David, are growing up at the beach. Between the sand, the parades down A1A and a lot of Disney songs in our living room, they're having the kind of childhood I want for them. Sally, our Golden Retriever, is convinced the whole town belongs to her.
People show up
I spent 12 years with Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue, 8 with Bradford County Fire Rescue and 2 with Union County EMS and Union County EMS. I've seen this town at its best and right after its worst storms. When someone needs help, whether it's sandbags before a hurricane or finding a lost dog, people show up without being asked.
It's changing, in a good way
The pier being rebuilt in concrete (the city expects it to open in early 2027), new sand on the beach, new local businesses opening up. Flagler Beach is growing, but it's holding on to what makes it Flagler Beach, and I'm glad to be part of that.
Thinking about moving here?
If you want to know what living here is really like, I'm happy to tell you, or show you. Call or text me at (386) 627-3612. See my Flagler Beach guide, too.
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About the Author
David Stanley is a Broker Associate with CENTURY 21 Fine Homes & Estates Realty Exchange and has lived in North Florida for 23 years. A former Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguard and firefighter, he has closed over $60 million in Palm Coast-area sales.
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