This real estate agent is dominating Palm Beach’s ‘Presidential Security Zone’— as NYC buyers flood Florida again after the Mayoral Primary
- Jake Nicholas
- Jun 30
- 6 min read
In the wake of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a micro-market boom has unfolded in Palm Beach Island’s ultra-exclusive neighborhood now dubbed the “Presidential Security Zone.” Centered around former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, this zone has seen luxury home sales skyrocket amid what local agents call a “Trump Bump.” In the two months following Trump’s November victory, the number of Palm Beach homes under contract above $10 million jumped 400% year-over-year, and sales volume surged 612% to nearly $291 million.
At the forefront of this boom is one of the country’s top realtors: Margit Brandt. A senior luxury advisor at Premier Estate Properties who has swiftly become the dominant broker in the Presidential Security Zone, Brandt is the youngest real estate agent in the 2025 RealTrends/WSJ Top 20 Agents in America and one of the top 10 female realtors in the United States - with over $350 million personally sold in both 2024 and another $350 million so far in 2025.
By early 2025, she had handled four of the seven total sales (57%) behind the Mar-a-Lago checkpoints, including five of the seven (67%) highest-priced deals, according to data collected by Markets of Tomorrow. Out of $118.2 million in total sales volume in the Presidential Security Zone since the election, her deals totaled $77.9 million, accounting for 65.9% of all activity - an impressive feat in a neighborhood teeming with interest from billionaires, celebrities, and political elites. Nonetheless, it is not all that surprising considering that multiple mainstream outlets including The Real Deal, The Palm Beach Daily News, and The New York Post have all reported that she has served as a personal realtor to sitting U.S. President Donald Trump.
Brandt ironically predicted the boom, which she coined “The Trump Bump” when she appeared on Fox Business in November 2024 and noted that in the first week alone after the election, “nearly $100M went pending on Palm Beach Island” as buyers raced to snap up prized properties near the President-Elect. Brandt recently told The New York Post; “The enthusiasm from many of the buyers is significant.”
The result is an unprecedented frenzy of demand focused on the seven-street radius around Mar-a-Lago, an area transformed into a fortified enclave by Secret Service checkpoints and round-the-clock security when the President is in residence.
“President Trump’s victory has brought together a wide range of people to Palm Beach over the past 60-plus days... It is like King’s Landing.” – Margit Brandt, of Premier Estate Properties, told The New York Post.
Locals have watched this once-discreet section of Palm Beach’s Estate Section turn into a global hotspot virtually overnight. The Secret Service security bubble around Mar-a-Lago – roughly a 0.5-mile radius encompassing about seven residential streets – has elevated the neighborhood’s exclusivity to new heights. “That is the radius of about 7 streets north of Mar-a-Lago which have been blocked off by Secret Service and Palm Beach County Sheriff,” explained Brandt, describing a hard perimeter that strictly limits access. Those lucky enough to own homes inside this zone enjoy a secure, resort-like environment with checkpoints at every entrance, deeded beach access, and even Mar-a-Lago membership on some streets. “This unique neighborhood has become an ‘enclave within the enclave’ of Palm Beach Island, which in itself already boasts one of the highest concentrations of billionaires in America,” Brandt told the New York Post.
The media spotlight on Mar-a-Lago has only amplified interest. Ultra-wealthy buyers – political allies, international elites, and even apolitical investors – are flocking to the area. “The glamorous descriptions in news articles and the beautiful imagery of Palm Beach beaming around the world is driving new interest,” Brandt observed to the New York Post. “When they think of Palm Beach right now, they see momentum.” Even non-political buyers are drawn in by the buzz: In effect, the Presidential Security Zone has become perhaps Palm Beach’s hottest micro-market, where demand far outstrips the limited supply of estates behind the checkpoints.
When reached for comment, Brandt told TMW: “When a market moves this fast, you have to be ready – and the key is knowing every property and every buyer in play.”
Brandt’s dominance is evident in both closed sales and active listings in the Security Zone. Here is a look back at some of the activity which has made Margit Brandt #1 in this exclusive part of the Estate Section:
The Mediterranean-style estate at 120 Clarendon Avenue, which Margit Brandt sold for $27.5 million just weeks after the 2024 election. This 8-bedroom, 9-bath compound sits on a ¾-acre high-elevation lot with deeded beach access. An updated Mediterranean design, it features a separate guest house, a wood-paneled library, a private gym, and a resort-style pool with fountains. Brandt brokered the sale of 120 Clarendon for one of the highest prices in the zone ($27.5M), underlining the post-election surge in values here.
The Georgian-style residence at 153 Kings Road, built in 2009 by noted architect Tom Kirchhoff, which sold for $14 million in late 2024. Located in Palm Beach’s Estate Section, 153 Kings Road is a turnkey 5-bedroom, 6.3-bath home spanning about 6,800 square feet. Its elegant interiors – featured in “The Pearls of Palm Beach” – include a double-height foyer, formal living and dining rooms, a library, and a chef’s kitchen with dual ovens and butler’s pantry. French doors open to a resort-style pool terrace, and an upstairs primary suite (accessible by elevator) boasts dual baths, a study, and large closets. Brandt represented this sale, again demonstrating her reach in the zone’s top-tier transactions.
Rendering of the planned new-construction estate at 1090 S Ocean Boulevard, directly adjacent to Mar-a-Lago, which was offered at $45 million. This over-13,000 sq ft mansion (6 bedrooms, 8.5 baths) is a ground-up build slated for completion in Fall 2025. Designed for resort-style living, it will feature a gym, sauna, spa room, wine cellar, jacuzzi and lap pool – plus private deeded beach access just steps away. Notably, the purchase comes with a deeded membership to the Mar-a-Lago Club, offering the owner exclusive access to the President’s social club. Brandt listed this property, leveraging its unique position “next door to the President-elect” to attract interest. (Update: This home went under contract in early 2025 for approximately $19.5 million as an unfinished project, highlighting the cachet of proximity to Mar-a-Lago even for in-progress construction.)*
An aerial view of 112 Algoma Road (outlined in white) in Palm Beach’s Estate Section – a current listing asking $12.5 million. This property presents an “exclusive opportunity” to acquire a ~14,300 sq ft lot on the sunny south side of Algoma Road. The existing 4-bedroom, 4-bath home (circa 1952) is modest by island standards (~2,493 sq ft), but the value lies in the prime location. It sits “within the highly secured Presidential Security Zone,” just 245 feet from a deeded beach access path. The future owner enjoys an elite level of security and privacy – literally living inside the same perimeter that protects a former President. Whether kept as a cottage or redeveloped into a larger estate, 112 Algoma represents the entry point to Palm Beach’s most watched neighborhood.
The intense demand for homes in the Presidential Security Zone boils down to a rare combination of security, prestige, and location unmatched elsewhere:
Unparalleled Security: Homeowners live under the protective umbrella of Secret Service and local police. The neighborhood’s checkpoints and patrols create a virtually crime-proof environment, a major draw for high-net-worth individuals who value safety for their families. As one agent quipped, “It’s arguably the safest neighborhood in America right now.”
Proximity to Power: Owning a home here means being neighbors with a U.S. President. For some ultra-wealthy buyers (especially those who are supporters or affiliates of Mr. Trump), there is intangible value in rubbing shoulders with a former President, hosting dinners a stone’s throw from his residence, and watching motorcades roll by from their front lawns. The area has been likened to “King’s Landing” – a gathering spot for world leaders and titans of industry in Trump’s orbit.
Privacy and Exclusivity: The very security measures that protect the zone also grant it extreme privacy. Public access is restricted; tourists and gawkers cannot easily infiltrate the enclave. The streets inside feel like a private gated community (albeit on public roads), offering peace and seclusion. This level of personal privacy, amid paparazzi and media attention on Palm Beach, is highly coveted.
Island Convenience: Despite its fortress-like setup, the zone remains just minutes from Palm Beach’s attractions. The top of Worth Avenue’s upscale shopping and fine dining district is only about a 5-minute drive north. The close-by Southern Boulevard bridge provides quick access to West Palm Beach and the private jets at Palm Beach International Airport. Buyers see the zone as “the best of both worlds” – secluded yet not remote.
Finally, there’s the overarching allure of Palm Beach itself. The island’s perennial glamour, combined with the post-election spotlight and strong asset appreciation track record, has created a feedback loop driving even more interest in this rare locale which has become the nexus of luxury real estate, the Florida lifestyle, and Presidential history.
