Mexico Beach, Florida Real Estate
Mexico Beach is a small city on the Gulf at the western edge of the Forgotten Coast. It sits in Bay County, right next to St. Joe Beach in Gulf County, and it has been an incorporated city since 1967. Mexico Beach is on Central Time, an hour behind Port St. Joe, which is a few miles east.
The town is known for its beach, its canal and its long-running small-town feel. The Mexico Beach canal gives boaters a direct route to the Gulf, and a string of public beach access points runs along US 98 through town. Fishing, shelling and sunset watching are part of the daily routine here.
On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall at Mexico Beach as a Category 5 storm and destroyed or damaged much of the town. In the years since, Mexico Beach has rebuilt, and a large share of the homes here are newer construction built to current Florida Building Code standards. The town's Al Cathey Pier, lost in the storm, is being rebuilt. The new design keeps its 840 foot length but starts 230 feet farther out into the Gulf, and construction was expected to begin in late 2026 and take about a year.
Mexico Beach has restaurants, shops and lodging along US 98, and the city hosts events through the year. Downtown Port St. Joe is about 25 minutes east, and Tyndall Air Force Base and Panama City are roughly 25 to 45 minutes west.
Buying real estate in Mexico Beach
Property types include Gulf-front homes and condos, canal-front homes, newer single-family homes on pilings, townhomes and vacant lots. Because so much of the town was rebuilt after 2018, buyers often see newer homes next to vacant lots that are still available. Flood zones vary, and elevation, construction date and building code all affect insurance, so get quotes from a licensed agent before you make an offer. The City of Mexico Beach has its own rules for vacation rentals in addition to Bay County and state requirements. Rental income varies and is not guaranteed.
See what's available: Browse Mexico Beach listings at sellingthecoastfl.com/listings/city/Mexico-Beach/ or check home values at sellingthecoastfl.com/listings/city/Mexico-Beach/home-values/. Call Selling the Coast Real Estate at (850) 201-6154.
FAQs
What county is Mexico Beach in? Mexico Beach is in Bay County. St. Joe Beach, right next door, is in Gulf County.
What time zone is Mexico Beach in? Central Time. Port St. Joe and St. Joe Beach are on Eastern Time.
Is the Mexico Beach pier open? Not yet. The Al Cathey Pier was destroyed by Hurricane Michael in 2018, and the rebuild was expected to start in late 2026 and take about a year. Check the City of Mexico Beach for the latest.
Are there newer homes for sale in Mexico Beach? Yes. Much of the town was rebuilt after 2018, so many homes for sale are newer construction. Availability changes, so check our current listings.
Selling the Coast Real Estate | 402 Reid Ave, Suite A, Port St. Joe, FL 32456 | Office (850) 201-6154 | Carla Ashabranner, Broker, (850) 730-3278