Living in Hollywood Lakes

Where it is and what the streets look like

Hollywood Lakes lies east of downtown Hollywood, between US-1 and the Intracoastal Waterway, and takes its name from North Lake and South Lake. It dates to the city's first development in the 1920s, and you still see some homes from that era alongside 1940s to 1960s houses and newer rebuilds. Lots are generally larger than in many inland neighborhoods, streets are shaded, and some homes sit on the lakes or on water with Intracoastal access.

Zillow's neighborhood boundary may not match exactly what residents or the neighborhood association call Hollywood Lakes, so confirm which lines a listing uses before you compare prices.

Price against the city and the top neighborhoods

At about $588,453, Hollywood Lakes sits in the upper group of Zillow's Hollywood neighborhoods:

• North Beach: about $1,269,220
• Lake of Emerald Hills: about $778,657
• Hollywood Hills: about $616,265
• Hollywood Lakes: about $588,453
• Park East: about $507,033
• Emerald Hills: about $496,556

Against the city's size figures, the index is above Hollywood's typical three-bedroom at $532,706 and below its typical four-bedroom at $705,549. It is also about $78,000 above the city's typical single-family value of $510,695. Inside the neighborhood, the range is wide: a small older house on an interior street and a renovated home on the water are priced in different markets.

Five-year growth below the inland areas

Hollywood Lakes is down 0.8% over the past year and up 23.6% over five. The city overall is down 1.5% and up 25.0%. So the neighborhood held value slightly better over the year and grew slightly less over five.

Inland neighborhoods such as Hollywood Hills, up 37.1%, and Playland, up 35.6%, gained more. My view is that higher insurance and flood costs east of US-1 have weighed on buyer demand closer to the water, while inland houses with lower insurance drew more buyers. A buyer can use that: Hollywood Lakes prices have not run ahead the way some inland areas have.

Low ground and the flood check

Hollywood Lakes sits close to sea level near the Intracoastal, and many streets fall in FEMA high-risk flood zones. If you finance in an A or V zone, the lender will require flood insurance. Even outside those zones, many owners here carry it.

For each house, ask for the elevation certificate and any flood claim history, and get a flood quote during the inspection period. Look at the lowest floor and garage for signs of past water. A raised newer house and an older slab-on-grade house on the same block can have very different flood premiums.

Older houses: what the inspection should cover

Hollywood's median year built is 1969 according to Census data, and many homes in Hollywood Lakes are older. Plan for:

• A 4-point inspection of roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC, which insurers ask for on older homes
• A wind mitigation report, since roof straps, impact windows and shutters lower the wind premium
• A sewer line camera inspection
• A check of permits for additions, enclosed porches and garage conversions
• Termite inspection on wood-frame houses

On lake or canal lots, add the seawall's condition, dock permits and whether the water actually connects to the Intracoastal for boats.

Condos and the Intracoastal edge

The Zillow index for Hollywood Lakes blends houses with condo buildings along and near the Intracoastal, and the condo side behaves differently. Hollywood's typical condo is about $249,577 and fell 4.0% over the past year, more than houses. Many of those buildings date from the 1960s and 1970s and are now in the milestone inspection window for buildings of three or more habitable stories.

If you look at a condo here, read the milestone inspection report, the Structural Integrity Reserve Study and the last two years of board minutes before you go firm. Ask for the reserve balance against the study's recommendation and whether a special assessment is planned. Florida gives resale buyers a short cancellation window after they receive the association documents, and in older waterfront buildings it is the most valuable week of the deal. Also confirm the building is warrantable if you plan to finance, since many lenders avoid buildings with underfunded reserves or open structural work.

Living close to the beach and downtown

The location is the main draw. The Hollywood Broadwalk and the beach are across the Intracoastal to the east. Downtown Hollywood, Young Circle and the ArtsPark are to the west. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a short drive north, and I-95 is a few minutes west.

Hollywood Boulevard and the bridges to the beach carry traffic, especially on weekends and during events, and homes near those routes hear more of it. Interior streets are quieter.

Taxes and who it fits

Florida has no state income tax. Your property assessment resets to market value after the purchase. If this becomes your permanent Florida home, homestead takes up to $51,411 off assessed value in 2026 and caps future increases at 3% or CPI, which over many years is the larger benefit in a neighborhood like this.

Hollywood Lakes fits buyers who want an established single-family neighborhood near the beach and are fine with older homes and flood insurance. Buyers who want lower insurance and a newer house often look west of I-95 instead. If you want to see current Hollywood Lakes listings with flood zones marked, the shortlist can do that.