Mile Marker 61 · Middle Keys
Duck Key Real Estate
A private, five-island residential community built for boaters.
Five Islands, One Community
Center, Harbour, Plantation, Yacht Club and Indies
Duck Key is a planned residential community at Mile Marker 61, laid out across five interconnected islands — Center Island, Harbour Island, Plantation Island, Yacht Club Island and Indies Island — joined by the arched Venetian-style bridges that give the place its look. There is one way in off the highway, no through traffic, and a genuinely quiet, insulated feel that is rare on U.S. 1.
The north end is anchored by Hawks Cay Resort and its marina; the rest is homes. Because the community was engineered rather than grown, the canals are deep and boat-friendly by design, and most properties sit on protected water with quick access out to the ocean. It attracts buyers who want a boating base and a private address without giving up proximity to Marathon's services ten minutes south.
What Buying on Duck Key Actually Involves
Deep water, a property owners' association, and dockage
Duck Key's appeal is the water, so the dock, lift and seawall are central to the transaction. Deep, sailboat-depth canals are part of what you pay for here; verify the controlling depth to your slip, the condition of the seawall, and what the dockage will actually accommodate for the boat you intend to keep.
The community is governed by a property owners' association, so factor its rules and dues into the picture, and keep the standard Keys diligence front of mind: elevation certificate, current wind-mitigation report, and firm flood and windstorm quotes on the exact property. Note that homes within the Hawks Cay resort footprint can operate under a different rental and ownership structure than the surrounding private residential islands — know which one a given listing is.
Renting It Out
Duck Key is unincorporated Monroe County, which generally sets a 28-day minimum rental term in residential districts — materially stricter than the resort program at Hawks Cay. Do not assume a Duck Key house can be rented short-term because a villa at the resort can. Confirm the current Monroe County rule and any association restriction for the specific address before counting on rental income.
See What’s for Sale in Duck Key
Search active Florida Keys MLS listings, and reach out for anything you want walked in person. We know these islands address by address — what the photos do not show is usually what decides the deal.
Explore the Other Keys
Every island in the chain has its own rules, water and market.