Miami, Florida?

TedH71 · #1 04/18/13, 12:20 PM

I seem to recall someone having a condo for sale in that city. I also have 2 job offers in that town. Has anyone lived or been in Miami? Just wondering and would love more info from a person who's been there. I know it's expensive to live there though.....

Harry Chickpea · #2 04/18/13, 01:15 PM

Worked all over south Florida for a company based out of Coral Gables. Lived in North Miami and the Ft. Lauderdale area for about twenty years. Like everywhere, there are good and bad points. Have you lived outside of Kansas? Lived in a big city? Do you mind heat? Do you speak Spanish?

You might still be able to homestead in Homestead, but I doubt it.

TedH71 · #3 04/18/13, 01:33 PM

Yes, I've lived in big cities. Have lived in Texas most of my life. Living in Dallas and Austin. Used to the heat which is precisely why I'm considering relocating. Helps with my arthritis and if you live in an area like Kansas, every year you have to deal with the hot/cold weather that goes up and down...causes me to be ill every year and I'm tired of it. No, I don't speak Spanish but know a few words. I do have friends living there though. I'm only in Kansas because my wife's family is almost all living there while mine is mostly in east Texas.

Harry Chickpea · #4 04/18/13, 01:55 PM

If you have friends already there, that is a good start. They can help guide you on the various sections of the city. Costs are high; insurance - car, health, and homeowner are ALL astronomical. We had to go with the state mandated minimum on car insurance, and less than optimal health insurance. Driving, especially U.S. 1 and the expressways, is a pain. One other thing that affects you more and more is that the area is at the end of a LONG peninsula. It is about a fourteen hour drive to see any significant mountains, seven hours to see any rock except for coral, and a drive beyond Orlando to get outside the south Florida "culture." There is constant noise of some sort - airplanes, police helicopters, 120mph motorcycles, various festivals and bar patrons.

There is excellent food, the museums and art and shows are world class. Shopping options are pretty much unlimited.

suzyhomemaker09 · #5 04/18/13, 02:32 PM

Crime rates are insane in the Miami area....
We lived for years in the Miami Ft. Lauderdale area.
I suppose it all depends on your family situation and exactly what you are looking for.

danielsumner · #6 04/19/13, 01:09 PM

Put our house on the market this week. It's in the Pinecrest Area of Kendall in Miami. Very nice area. I lived in Miami for 32 years, worked in the Crime Lab for Miami Dade Police. It is not crime ridden as everyone thinks. If you take the crime statistics for the population, your safer there than a lot of rural areas. Just like living in the country, there are some places that you "Just don't go to". Lot's of things to do and see, you won't get bored. Housing prices are going up fast. We put our townhouse on the market on Monday, by Monday night we had the first offer. Expecting to sell for over the asking price by several thousand. Here's a link to my listing so you get an Idea. BTW homes with any size land will cost quite a bit, also taxes and hurricane insurance will be high. I will answer any questions no matter how small. Also no need to speak Spanish.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...#axzz2QV1Vg0LI

Daniel

suzyhomemaker09 · #7 04/19/13, 04:33 PM

I beg to differ on crime rates

TedH71 · #8 04/19/13, 05:53 PM

My buddy is a native Miamian. Says that the media makes it out worse than what it really is. His wife is a lawyer and he is a home remodeler...a quite skilled one. He does want to move away from Miami simply because he wants a more quieter neighborhood. Said it was nothing to do with the schools or what people perceive as a crime rate. He knows Spanish but does not use it every day. He's actually Jewish and so is his wife. Says you don't need to know Spanish to live there but that it's just a helpful tool.

4nTN · #9 04/19/13, 06:05 PM

I grew up in Miami. I lived in what they now call Pinecrest.They called it Kendall when I lived there.

I loved growing up there. I left in 1979,it was a whole different world then.

Back in 1967 my parents bought their house for 24,000.We also had 50 mango trees and 50 avocado trees to cover the property taxes.The house recently was on the market for 1.8 million.My parents left in the early 90`s.As a child with none of those worries it was a great place to grow up!

TedH71 · #10 04/21/13, 11:01 AM

Also was asked to consider the Tampa/Clearwater areas as well. What's your opinion on those cities?

luvrulz · #11 04/21/13, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4nTN

I grew up in Miami. I lived in what they now call Pinecrest.They called it Kendall when I lived there.

I loved growing up there. I left in 1979,it was a whole different world then.

Back in 1967 my parents bought their house for 24,000.We also had 50 mango trees and 50 avocado trees to cover the property taxes.The house recently was on the market for 1.8 million.My parents left in the early 90`s.As a child with none of those worries it was a great place to grow up!

My hubby grew up there too in the 50's and 60's. Whole different ball game then vs. now. Wouldn't give you a plugged nickel for the 7 s's I call it. Sun, surf, sand, sea, salt, etc, etc. And whoever said that about the crime rate not being as bad as some rural areas is full of baloney. Come visit Edmonton, Ky - been here 12 yrs and only one murder in all that time.... How many have happened in Miami?

And land there is very expensive..... Property taxes very expensive..... And when it's 100 degrees with 100% humidity, who's going to want to go weed the garden?

Can you tell, we got tired of Florida and moved north? You can keep it.

Mallard Farm · #12 04/24/13, 06:55 PM

We lived in Homestead, not the homestead you should consider living in. The crime is bad, we lived in a good area but had break ins every night and the police knew who it was but didn't care. We moved to Miami, lived near Biscayne Bay, very nice no issues. Traffic is hell, drivers don't use signals, everyone runs red lights and have no regards for cross walks, they walk out in front of you. we have a lot of pedestrian accidents. People on motorcycles ride down center lane, cops look the other way. We moved north to Hallandale Beach, FL. better people and drivers. I would suggest you move more north. weather is great. We bought a farm in Puerto Rico in the mountains where only farmers ride the dirt roads, counting the days till we get out of here.

Karen · #13 04/24/13, 09:32 PM

I lived in the Tampa/St. Pete area for 15 years. It's a liveable place and, like any place, it has it's advantages and disadvantages.

But no matter where you 'think' you might like to live in Florida, there is one thing you must do first. Visit that area in the middle of summer. A lot of people can't even begin to image the heat and humidity in Florida in the summer. Everyone is so sure "it can't be that bad" or "I'm sure I could live with it" -- but you have no idea until you experience it. During that visit remember that it isn't that way just for a few weeks; it's that way from May until November -- without a break for even a day -- ever; not even when it rains! In fact, the rain makes it even more humid. You don't even need a weather forecast. It's the same every day - "hot, humid (as in 98-100% humidity), and a chance of rain.

Florida is also notorious if anyone in your family has a fear of bugs (especially Palmetto bugs which are giant cockroaches and they are every where), lizards, scorpions, no-see-ems, fire ants, mole crickets, and snakes. Oh then there are the annual Love bug season. And I won't even bring up the traffic and how the old people drive.

Tacoma · #14 04/25/13, 04:42 PM

I lived my first 34 years in Miami. It was the 50's, 60's, and 70's. It was home then and so different now. It comes down to this question- How important is the "quality" of your life to you and your family? Yes, you will make higher wages there. You will stand in long lines with everyone speaking Spanish around you. The traffic will be the worse you every have experienced, and insurance is very high due to the congestion. The noise level is high. The concrete absorbs the summer heat like you have never experienced, and you will see plenty of it. There is lots of cultural events, salsa dancing, bars, and nite life. So ask yourself if the increase of money is worth it to you. I escaped in 1983 to Central Florida where I see green everywhere I go. I don't hear sirens all night long and they speak English everywhere. The air is fresh and alive and I know my friendly neighbors. I don't have deeded restrictions and never pay for parking. I am a retired teacher and never would I have children in todays' world in public school there. Remember money isn't everything. So, how do you value your quality of life?

carugoman · #15 04/25/13, 06:46 PM

I have lived in and around Dade county for nearly 16 yrs,but after Hurricane Andrew destroyed my home and everything in it; I kissed that sewer-hole goodbye forever! I am now settled on 168 acres of forest,pasture and farmland in NW Florida and I love it!

There are no traffic problems,my nearest neighbor is a little more than .75 mile down the road...round the bend. Crime? Well,if y'all look for it,I'm sure you'll find it. I keep a loaded weapon near every door in my house. I have creatures that wish to deprive me of my eggs,poultry,livestock and produce,albeit coyote or Human,One Shot One Kill. Most of my neighbors,friends family and the local and state police understand my one steadfast rule. You must call ahead to inform me,if you plan on arriving at my ranch anytime after dark.

I love the area that I live in. taxes are low. People tend to mind their own. they'll help out if you ask. English is the only language spoken. If Spanish is spoken people tend to get stressed and someone calls the cops? NASCAR and College Football:the only two sports. Fishing and hunting are,well,uh,what everyone is supposed to do? In Florida,the more Northern you go...the more Southern y'all git! Then once all y'all hit I-10, head west,cross the time zone and welcome to the "Redneck Riviera!"

tabbidawn15 · #16 04/26/13, 10:09 PM

I live about 30 mins north of Clearwater. It's ok. Wouldn't want to live there myself... downtown clearwater is home to a bunch of scientologists. Living on the gulf coast isn't the greatest (no waves, the water is always warm). A few things to think about if you're buying a house in the area.

1.) Sinkholes. People from up north apparently don't have this problem as much?
2.) Depending on how close to the water you are, flood insurance.
3.) Tropical storms and hurricanes.

Also, it's hot, the bugs are huge and you can pretty much say goodbye to winter. (or any really significant change in seasons) It's hot mid april- mid/late november. Cold for about six weeks in january/ february and unpredictable for december and march. Also, in the summer it rains pretty much every afternoon.

We don't have soil we have sand. Just in case you plan on growing anything.
Almost all the native plants are pokey/sharp.