Key Largo
Upper Keys
Where Shane grew up. Closest to the mainland, with Adams Cut linking bay and ocean.
Guide coming soonKey Largo to Key West
Florida Keys Waterfront Homes
From Key Largo to Key West along US 1, with a Realtor who grew up on these waters and still fishes them every chance he gets.
Shane and the Keys
Shane Waterfront Wilson was raised in the Florida Keys. He started in a rowboat in Key Largo's Buttonwood Bay at seven, and before he could drive he was running his own boat to Islamorada and Marathon. His family were Realtors, developers and builders who built homes from Ocean Reef down to Marathon, and his dad still lives in the Keys.
Today Shane and his wife, broker Anne Wright Wilson, sell waterfront homes from Key Largo to Key West, and he flies his own plane between Fort Myers and the Keys in under an hour.
The Keys are a different animal from Southwest Florida. The water is clear, there are few beaches, and the Gulf Stream is only 10 to 15 miles offshore for blackfin tuna, mahi and wahoo. Most of all, where you buy decides how you'll boat: bay side or ocean side, how far to the nearest cut, and whether the canal mouth is deep enough for your boat.
Towns & Villages
Towns & Villages Along US 1
Tavernier
Upper Keys
Tavernier Creek connects Florida Bay and the Atlantic. Shopping and dining in Tavernier Town.
Guide coming soonIslamorada
Upper Keys
The Village of Islands: Venetian Shores, Treasure Harbor and more, minutes from both bay and ocean.
Explore Islamorada →Marathon
Middle Keys
The Middle Keys hub, near Duck Key and Key Colony Beach.
Guide coming soonBig Pine Key
Lower Keys
Guide coming soonSummerland Key
Lower Keys
Guide coming soonCudjoe Key
Lower Keys
Guide coming soonSugarloaf Key
Lower Keys
Guide coming soonKey West
Southernmost
Guide coming soonBuying in the Keys
What Shane Asks Before You Look
Price point and boat parks
Not every Keys boater needs a dock. Some off-water neighborhoods have private boat parks with a ramp, and some let you leave the boat at the dock for 24 to 48 hours.
Bay, ocean, or both?
Buy on the wrong side and you may face a 20- to 30-minute run to Adams Cut or Tavernier Creek every time you go out. Shane matches the home to where you'll fish.
Canal width
Narrow canals limit how far a dock can extend. A wide-beam boat may only fit in a few neighborhoods.
Depth at the mouth
A canal can be 15 feet deep inside and only 2.5 to 3 feet at the entrance. Shane knows which ones by boat.
Free Guides & Checklists
Buying or Selling on the Water?
For Buyers
Florida Waterfront Home Buyer's Guide & Checklist
What to check before you make an offer on a Florida waterfront home.
- Match the home to your boat: length, beam, draft and bridge clearance
- Water depth at the dock, in the canal and at the canal mouth at low tide
- Seawall, dock and lift inspection checklist
- Flood zone, elevation and insurance questions to ask early
For Sellers
Florida Waterfront Home Seller's Guide & Checklist
How to prepare, price and present your waterfront home.
- Pricing for the market you're actually in, not last year's
- Pre-listing checks for seawalls, docks, lifts and termites
- Documents waterfront buyers will ask for
- Showing your home from the water side
Client & Neighbor Stories
What People Say
“I wouldn't change a thing. I'm so happy we came here. I'm so happy that we took that chance, because we weren't sure. It's almost like we're in a cool little bubble here that not everybody knows about.”
Videos, Photos & Podcast
See and Hear Florida Keys
Shane on Florida Keys, from the podcast
- Episode 1 · 01:28:32 Boat parks: Keys boating without a waterfront price ▶ Watch this moment on YouTube
- Episode 1 · 01:32:09 Adams Cut and Tavernier Creek: buy on the right side ▶ Watch this moment on YouTube
- Episode 1 · 01:36:20 Keys vs. Southwest Florida: two different animals ▶ Watch this moment on YouTube
- Episode 5 · 13:03 Matching canal width to your boat ▶ Watch this moment on YouTube
Florida Keys FAQ
What parts of the Florida Keys does Shane Waterfront Wilson cover?
Shane and his team help buyers and sellers from Key Largo to Key West.
What is a boat park in the Florida Keys?
A private neighborhood boat ramp for residents of off-water homes. You keep your boat on a trailer at home, launch at the neighborhood ramp, and some boat parks let you leave the boat at the dock for 24 to 48 hours.
Should I buy on the bay side or ocean side of the Keys?
It depends on where you'll fish and boat. Living far from a cut like Adams Cut or Tavernier Creek can add 20 to 30 minutes each way to reach the other side.
Let's Talk About the Keys
“I was raised on these waters. Before I could drive, I was running my boat from Key Largo to Marathon. Tell me how you want to live in the Keys and I'll show you the places that fit, by land, by boat or from the air.”
— Shane
(239) 851-3861 (call or text) · shane@shanewaterfrontwilson.com
Florida Keys Office: 85960 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036