Inside HAVN Residences: A $3.3 Million Unit Tour and Honest Buyer Breakdown
There are only 36 units at HAVN Residences and Yacht Club in Palm Beach Shores — and that number was not an accident. In a county where condo prices have appreciated over 120% in the last decade and migration from the Northeast continues to accelerate, the developer behind HAVN made a deliberate decision to build small.
I'm Joe Vairo — a 2x eXp ICON Agent, ranked the #3 real estate agent in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine, and founder of the Vairo Group, ranked the #3 real estate team in Fort Lauderdale. I walked through one of the largest units at HAVN — a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom residence listed at $3.3 million — and I want to give you the complete picture: what the unit actually looks like inside, what Palm Beach County's growth story has to do with this building, and an honest breakdown of exactly who HAVN is right for and who it is not.
What's Actually Driving Palm Beach County's Growth Right Now
Before walking through the unit itself, it's worth understanding the broader context that makes a project like HAVN possible — and worth taking seriously as an investment.
Palm Beach County has historically been viewed as the quieter, slower-paced alternative to Miami-Dade and Broward County. That reputation is shifting fast. The Northeast migration that has always existed here has accelerated meaningfully, driven by development in downtown West Palm Beach, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, and Boca Raton. But this is not just about second and third home buyers anymore — it is increasingly about jobs.
The office space coming to downtown West Palm, the finance jobs relocating here as part of the broader Wall Street of the South story, the new Vanderbilt University campus, and the arrival of both the Cleveland Clinic and ongoing investment in Good Samaritan Hospital are creating what amounts to a complete ecosystem of development. Condo sales across Palm Beach County are up 122% over the last decade — and that appreciation is not happening in a vacuum. It is the direct result of population growth, job growth, and institutional infrastructure investment occurring simultaneously.
For a buyer evaluating a $3.3 million purchase at HAVN, understanding this macro picture matters. You are not just buying a unit. You are buying into a county-wide growth story with genuine economic fundamentals behind it.
The Unit: 2,900 Square Feet, Three Bedrooms, Peanut Island in Your Backyard
The unit I toured is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence at just under 2,900 square feet — one of the largest floor plans in the building and positioned with some of the best views HAVN has to offer.
Entry is through a private elevator that opens into a private foyer — the kind of arrival sequence that immediately signals this is not a standard condo experience. The first bedroom, positioned at the front of the unit, captures sunrise views and works equally well as a guest room or a home office. A half bathroom sits just off that space.
The second bedroom is genuinely spacious with abundant natural light — bright enough that you could comfortably turn the lights off during the day and the room would still feel fully lit. It includes an en suite bathroom with dual vanity sinks, a standup shower, a water closet, and dedicated closet space — a notably complete secondary bedroom configuration that many condos at this price point compromise on.
One detail worth highlighting specifically: the storage space throughout this unit is exceptional. This is one of the most common complaints about new construction condos — developers maximize livable square footage at the expense of storage, or vice versa. HAVN does not make that tradeoff. The kitchen cabinet space alone is more generous than most three-bedroom condos in this price range, and a full laundry room with a utility sink completes the practical infrastructure of the home.
The Kitchen: The Centerpiece of the Unit
The kitchen is, as it should be in any home built for entertaining, the most important room in the unit. A wet bar sits just off the kitchen, leading into a massive island sized appropriately for entertaining — the kind of setup that handles a casual breakfast as easily as it handles a full Thanksgiving dinner for extended family.
Wolf appliances run throughout — the oven, the stove, the microwave, and a substantial refrigerator. There is room for a full dining table adjacent to the kitchen, flowing directly into the living room.
The Living Room and Ceiling Heights
The top-floor units at HAVN — including the one toured here — feature vaulted ceilings, a detail that elevates the entire living space and creates a sense of openness that is difficult to replicate in standard condo construction. Units on the first and second floors do not have vaulted ceilings, but they still feature high ceilings throughout, which is one of the building's more consistently appreciated design decisions — particularly for buyers transitioning from a single-family home who are used to that sense of vertical space.
The Outdoor Space: Genuinely the Best Part of the Unit
If there is one feature that defines the HAVN experience, it is the outdoor space — and having walked through this specific unit, it is easy to understand why.
The marina sits directly in view, with residents receiving preferred access to slips. Peanut Island is visible from the outdoor space. Phil Foster Park sits just behind the building. And residents have exclusive beach access, complete with chairs, cabanas, towels, and a golf cart to make the trip — though walking is entirely realistic too. The walk from the building to the beach takes approximately seven minutes.
Palm Beach Shores effectively functions as its own private beach community — and as a geographic footnote worth knowing, it is also the easternmost point in the entire state of Florida.
The Primary Bedroom and Primary Bath
The primary bedroom comfortably accommodates a California king bed with room for two nightstands and a wall-mounted television, while still delivering water views and a glimpse of Peanut Island from the room itself. The hallway leading to the primary bath is lined with built-out closets on both sides — his and hers, with genuine capacity on each side rather than a single oversized closet pretending to serve two people.
The primary bathroom continues the pattern established throughout the unit: dual vanity sinks, a freestanding soaking tub, a freestanding shower, and a separate water closet. Every inch of this bathroom is maximized without feeling cramped — a balance that is harder to achieve than it sounds.
This particular unit comes fully furnished, which is worth noting for buyers who want a turnkey purchase without the additional step and cost of furnishing a residence from scratch.
Building-Wide Unit Range and the Rental Question
Across the building, units range from two-bedroom to three-bedroom floor plans spanning approximately 1,900 to just under 2,900 square feet, with prices starting around $1 million.
The question I get asked most consistently about HAVN is whether units can be rented — and the answer is yes, with a 30-day minimum. That structure makes HAVN a genuinely useful option for a few different buyer profiles: the seasonal Northeast buyer who wants a winter home that can generate income during the months they are not using it, or the boat owner who keeps their yacht at the marina and needs a place for crew to stay nearby. Both use cases are well served by HAVN's rental flexibility.
The Amenities: Intentionally Simple
HAVN is not an amenity-heavy building by design — and that is worth understanding clearly before comparing it to larger luxury developments. The amenity package includes a courtyard, exclusive beach access with golf cart service, a pool, a fitness center, barbecue grills, covered parking, and storage units. Kayaks, paddleboards, and personal boats can launch directly toward Phil Foster Park and Peanut Island from the property.
What HAVN does not have is the expansive amenity stack you would find at a 300-unit high-rise in Miami or downtown Fort Lauderdale — multiple pools, a spa, a screening room, an extensive social calendar. The marina and the water access function as the primary amenity here, and for the right buyer, that is precisely the point rather than a limitation.
The building itself consists of five structures: three buildings along the water — one with six units, one with 12, and one with six — plus two additional buildings behind them, each with six units. Some residences have garden views, while others offer partial or full views of the water, the marina, and Peanut Island.
Six Categories Every Serious Buyer Should Evaluate
After walking through the unit and the building, here is the framework I use with clients evaluating HAVN against other options in the market.
Space and Layout — Among the best in Palm Beach County for new or newer construction. Minimal wasted space, and the storage capacity throughout — particularly in the kitchen — is genuinely above average for this category of building.
Water Access and Views — Some of the best in the county, full stop. Direct Intracoastal access from your backyard, with the Palm Beach Inlet less than five minutes from the marina by boat. For serious boaters, deep sea fishing enthusiasts, or anyone planning regular runs to the Bahamas, this is as good as it gets.
Finishes and Quality — Strong craftsmanship and attention to detail throughout, down to details like the textured wallpaper in the model unit. This is a building that was finished with genuine care rather than developer-grade minimums.
Exclusivity and Scarcity — Thirty-six total units puts HAVN in a genuinely small ownership ecosystem. This is not a building with 400 or 700 units. The scarcity itself is a feature, and it aligns naturally with the quiet, small-town character of Palm Beach Shores as a whole.
Amenities and Lifestyle — The trickiest category to score cleanly. HAVN is not amenity-rich in the way a major Miami high-rise is. The marina and water access function as the headline amenity, supplemented by the pool, gym, and beach access. If you are looking for a building with an extensive amenity list to match a high-rise experience, HAVN will not check that box.
Neighborhood and Location — Genuinely difficult to beat. A short walk to the beach, the Intracoastal in your backyard, Peanut Island and Phil Foster Park immediately accessible, and a 20-minute drive across the Blue Heron Bridge to downtown West Palm Beach or Palm Beach Island. Palm Beach International Airport and the Brightline are both within reach for connections to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami.
Who HAVN Residences Are Right For — and Who They Are Not
This is the most important question to answer honestly, because HAVN is genuinely not for every buyer — and being clear about that serves everyone better than overselling the project.
HAVN is right for the buyer who wants a boutique, quiet experience in a true small beach town. The buyer who loves the water, owns a boat or is thinking seriously about getting one, and wants Peanut Island and Phil Foster Park as part of their daily life. The buyer who wants to walk to the beach without being surrounded by density, crowds, or constant activity.
HAVN is not right for the buyer who wants a sleek, modern high-rise with extensive amenities, constant action, and maximum walkability to restaurants and retail. If that is your priority, downtown Fort Lauderdale, downtown West Palm, or Miami will serve you better than Palm Beach Shores ever will — and that is fine. Different buyers want different things, and HAVN was never designed to be everything to everyone.
The Bottom Line
When most buyers think about new construction condos in South Florida, Miami, downtown Fort Lauderdale, or downtown West Palm Beach are usually the first names that come to mind — and with so many projects competing for attention, differentiating between them can be genuinely difficult.
HAVN Residences solves that problem by being something different rather than trying to compete directly. You can move in today rather than waiting years for a pre-construction delivery. You can buy and start renting tomorrow if that fits your strategy. And you are living a boutique lifestyle in one of Palm Beach County's most authentic small beach towns, with water access that very few other addresses in this price range can match.
It is not for everyone. For some buyers, it checks nearly every box. For others, it may not check a single one. The work is figuring out honestly which buyer you are.
Interested in HAVN Residences?
I'm Joe Vairo with the Vairo Group. If you want to see available units, get current pricing, or talk through whether HAVN is the right fit for your specific situation — reach out directly.
📲 Text or call me at 954-830-1126
📩 Email me at [email protected] anytime — I respond personally
Joe Vairo is a 2x eXp ICON Agent, South Florida real estate agent, and Fort Lauderdale Magazine's #3 ranked agent in Fort Lauderdale. The Vairo Group, ranked the #3 real estate team in Fort Lauderdale, specializes in waterfront properties and luxury relocation in the $1M+ market.
