Sea Breeze Elementary School

It's a strong fit if you want authentic coastal Florida — Cortez is one of the state's last working fishing villages, with the barrier islands close by. With 411 homes sold in the past year, it's an active, established community rather than a sleepy pocket. Waterfront access is a genuine draw, with 52 of the current listings on the water.

It's mid-range for coastal Manatee County, with a median list price of $399,000 and homes selling at a median of $389,999. That said, the range is wide — entry-level listings start around $67,000, while 28 active listings are priced above $1M. You can browse the full spread on the live map.

The median list price is $399,000 and the average works out to $302 per square foot, with a median home size of 1,486 square feet. Prices run from $67,000 at the low end up to $7.775M for waterfront estates. There are also 30 new-construction listings if you want something modern.

There are 212 active listings, and homes are taking a median of 61 days to sell. Sellers are averaging 95% of asking, which points to a market with room for buyers to negotiate. Over the past 12 months, 411 homes sold at a median of $389,999.

The median HOA runs about $501 a month, though that varies widely by community — 44 of the active listings are in gated developments where fees tend to be higher. Median property taxes come in around $3,051 a year, and if you're weighing renting first, the median rent is $2,850 a month.