SUNSET BAY
Homes for Sale in Marathon, FL

Community in Marathon · Monroe County · ZIP 33050
32 homesBuilt 1938–2023
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True comps, carrying-cost math, and listings before the portals.

Built fromLive floridakeys data7 years of closingsFL DOR public recordsUpdated twice daily
Live · SUNSET BAY Housing Pulse floridakeys + public records Analysis by Momentum Realty · $3.5B+ sold · 8,500+ transactions · Top 1% in Florida (RealTrends)
Tempo
2
Sold · last 12 mo
10-yr average: about 2 a year
Ownership and context
50%
Owner-occupied · SUNSET BAY
17 of 34 parcels homesteaded (FL DOR 2025)
50%
Non-owner-occupied · SUNSET BAY
incl. 3% trust or LLC-held · 6% out-of-state
0%
Cash buyers · SUNSET BAY
0 of 3 sales, 12 mo ending July 2025
32
Homes in the community
plus 2 vacant residential lots · 34 residential parcels (FL DOR 2025)
Track record · 7 years of records
Est. 1938
Community established
homes built 1938-2023, median 1988 (FL DOR 2025)
6.2%/yr
Turnover rate
about 2 of 32 homes trade a year
Jon Brooks, founder of Momentum Realty
Jon's Current Read

Sunset Bay sits in Marathon, Monroe County — the Florida Keys — and that geography alone anchors the pricing conversation. With a median living area of 1,147 square feet and a stock that spans from 1938 to 2023, what you are actually pricing here is location and lot access, not square footage. The median year built of roughly 1987 means the community sits in a generation of Keys construction that predates modern flood and wind codes, so condition, elevation certificates, and insurance underwriting will move individual values far more than any list-price trend.

Exactly half of the 32 homes carry a homestead exemption, which signals a meaningful split between primary residents and non-homesteaded owners — the latter category typically includes investment or vacation properties. For a buyer, that dynamic affects how motivated sellers are priced and how the rental use history reads in disclosure. For a seller, it is worth understanding how a buyer's lender will classify the property, because second-home and investment financing carry different rate and reserve requirements than primary-residence loans.

Best for

  • A buyer seeking a Keys vacation or second property who has already priced flood and wind insurance into their carrying-cost model.
  • An investor targeting non-homesteaded Keys inventory with a long hold horizon and tolerance for variable annual insurance costs.
  • A primary-residence buyer relocating to the Middle Keys who wants a small, established community rather than a large planned development.

Probably not for

  • A buyer whose financing approval is contingent on a specific monthly payment that has not accounted for Keys-market insurance premiums.
  • A buyer expecting consistent construction standards across the community — the nearly nine-decade build range makes that assumption risky without property-specific due diligence.
  • A buyer who requires community amenities or HOA-managed common areas as part of the lifestyle equation.

If we were buying in SUNSET BAY today, this is the order of operations we would run for our clients.

1

Underwrite the condition first. Price the roof, HVAC, and systems honestly before judging any list price; condition swings value here more than square footage alone.

2

Match the home to real comps. Recent sales of similar condition and lot, not the asking price, tell you what a home is worth.

3

Move deliberately, not desperately. Neither side has a decisive edge, so a well-prepared, fairly-priced offer wins without overpaying.

4

Line up financing and inspection early. A pre-approval and an inspection plan let you act fast and negotiate from evidence.

5

Keep an agent in your corner. The listing agent works for the seller; we represent you and prepare a hand-built valuation before any offer in SUNSET BAY.

Best Buy
Buyers who want a Keys address and understand they are buying geography, not a turnkey product.
Biggest Risk
Insurance and code compliance costs on older structures can reshape the true cost of ownership after contract.
Sweet Spot
A buyer who has already modeled flood and wind insurance premiums and is shopping with an elevation-aware offer strategy.
Avoid If
You need a predictable monthly payment and have not stress-tested Keys insurance costs against your budget.

A small inventory with a wide vintage spread

Thirty-two homes is a thin market. When inventory is this tight, a single distressed closing or a premium waterfront sale can shift the median meaningfully, so any snapshot — including this one — should be read as a point-in-time read rather than a stable trend line. The build range of 1938 through 2023 is unusually wide for a community this size, which means buyers cannot assume consistency in construction standard, utility systems, or flood-mitigation features from one parcel to the next. Each home demands its own due-diligence review.

The roughly 1987 median year built places a significant portion of the stock in an era that predates the post-Andrew building code reforms Florida enacted in the 1990s. That is not disqualifying, but it does mean renovation scope and insurance costs can vary sharply by structure. Buyers should budget for an independent inspection that specifically evaluates roof condition, opening protection, and the elevation certificate — all three feed directly into what flood and wind insurance will cost annually, and in the Keys that cost is not a footnote in the budget.

The location and the amenities are priced into every listing in SUNSET BAY. The deal is won or lost on condition, the comps, and the renovation math.

Jon Brooks · Founder, Momentum Realty

Why work with Momentum here

A 32-home community with no formal amenity infrastructure and a build range spanning nearly nine decades does not reward a generalist approach. Momentum Realty focuses on Northeast Florida, and our referral network in the Keys is built on brokers who live this market daily — we will connect you with the right local specialist while handling the contractual, financing, and negotiation layers from our end. If the numbers or the insurance picture do not work for you, we will say so before you are under contract, not after.

SUNSET BAY in 15 seconds.

Best forBuyers who want a Keys address and understand they are buying geography, not a turnkey product.
Biggest advantageSmall inventory means limited competition when a well-priced home does come to market.
Biggest riskInsurance and code compliance costs on older structures can reshape the true cost of ownership after contract.
Sweet spotA buyer who has already modeled flood and wind insurance premiums and is shopping with an elevation-aware offer strategy.
Avoid ifYou need a predictable monthly payment and have not stress-tested Keys insurance costs against your budget.

HOA, CDD & Fees

In short
  • Mandatory HOA — confirm current dues
  • Any club/amenity membership is billed separately

Confirm the current HOA dues, exactly what they cover, and any CDD bond or special assessment for a specific address before you offer.

The takeaway

Selling here is won on condition and pricing to real comps, not an automated estimate. The right number comes from closed SUNSET BAY sales matched to your home.

What is your SUNSET BAY home worth?

Get a no-obligation home value based on real comparable sales in SUNSET BAY, not an automated guess. Tell us about your home and we will personally prepare your numbers and a pricing strategy. No obligation, no spam.

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Real comps, not an automated estimate.

The real cost & risk here

Before the list price, the Florida math the portals skip. These are Monroe County typicals — your exact home, flood zone, and insurance quote will vary, so verify each before you offer.

$5,590/mo
Monroe County typical true cost to own
$365/mo
Monroe County typical home insurance
Check CDD
Confirm before you offer

County typicals from Momentum’s Florida housing data (Zillow & Realtor.com aggregates, Census, FRED), updated monthly; insurance modeled. Flood zone is property-specific — always confirm via FEMA.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many homes are in SUNSET BAY?
The Florida DOR 2025 assessment roll shows 32 homes plus 2 vacant residential lots in SUNSET BAY (public records).
What share of SUNSET BAY is owner-occupied?
50% of SUNSET BAY parcels carry a homestead exemption on the 2025 Florida DOR roll, the owner-occupancy proxy in public records.
When were the homes in SUNSET BAY built?
Homes in SUNSET BAY were built between 1938 and 2023, with a median year built of 1987.5 (FL DOR 2025 roll).
Do cash buyers compete in SUNSET BAY?
Cash buyers took 0% of SUNSET BAY sales in the 12 months ending July 2025 (0 of 3 closings, floridakeys).
Who is the best real estate agent for SUNSET BAY?
The best agent for SUNSET BAY is one who actively works Marathon and knows the community's pricing, fees, and current inventory. Tell us what you're looking for in the form on this page and Momentum Realty will match you with a local specialist for SUNSET BAY.
How do I find a top Marathon real estate agent who knows SUNSET BAY?
Share a few details in the form on this page. Momentum Realty has 280+ agents and more than $3.5B in closed sales, and we'll connect you with one who knows SUNSET BAY and the wider Marathon area.
Can Momentum Realty connect me with an agent for SUNSET BAY?
Yes. Use the form on this page and we'll introduce you to a local specialist who can guide your SUNSET BAY purchase or sale - no call center and no pressure.
A buyer seeking a Keys vacation or second property who has already priced flood and wind insurance into their carrying-cost model.Excellent fit
An investor targeting non-homesteaded Keys inventory with a long hold horizon and tolerance for variable annual insurance costs.Excellent fit
A primary-residence buyer relocating to the Middle Keys who wants a small, established community rather than a large planned development.Excellent fit
A buyer whose financing approval is contingent on a specific monthly payment that has not accounted for Keys-market insurance premiums.Probably not
A buyer expecting consistent construction standards across the community — the nearly nine-decade build range makes that assumption risky without property-specific due diligence.Probably not
A buyer who requires community amenities or HOA-managed common areas as part of the lifestyle equation.Probably not

Data sources & freshness

Housing stock & ownershipFlorida DOR 2025 assessment roll (street-list match (3 streets, ZIP 33050))
Historical depthClosed-sale records back to 2019 (17 transactions analyzed)

Verify the primary sources yourself: Florida DOR · U.S. Census · FEMA flood maps · Citizens Property Insurance.

Momentum Research figures are our own analysis of floridakeys records; MLS data is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Methodology: how Momentum market scores are computed. Market metrics describe homes for sale and recent sales, not residents.

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The numbers on this page move markets in the aggregate. The number that matters to you is what a buyer pays for your address. Momentum sells for 1.25% above the floridakeys member average and 8 days faster, and we’ll price yours against live your area comps.

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More Marathon & The Florida Keys & Monroe County guides

Compare before you commit - every guide covers pricing, HOA/CDD, insurance posture, and fit. Browse all of The Florida Keys & Monroe County or the full Neighborhood Finder.

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