Opinion from Miami area Dis'ers

[dash]

DH has a job offer in the Miami area. I'd like to know from area residents if they enjoy living in the area. Is the crime really bad? I know that houses are expensive, but what about hurricane insurance? I know that bad storms hit the area fairly often during hurricane season, are power outages common. What do you like best about living in the area? Least? Thanks for your help!

 

[JennaTX]

About three years ago, DH was offered a job in N. Miami Beach, which he accepted. He moved there first and we (myself and the kids) followed about 5 months later.

We ended up living in Hollywood, FL which is between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.

I have mixed feelings about our move (we moved back home in less than a year). I really liked Hollywood, it had a complete small town feel when really it was just a suburb of Miami. I felt like the housing was very, very expensive, but then I come from TX which has lower house costs. I was also surprised about the school system, nearly all of my neighbors sent their kids to private schools, which is another expense.

With what I have said, I probably was not there long enough to truly make it a home, I missed Texas and don't think I really got over leaving Houston. I also moved there with a 6 month old and I was completely tied to the house.

I would suggest flying down there and checking out different neighborhoods/areas/schools, etc.

Good luck!

 

[dash]

Thank you for your reply. It is a difficult decision for us as well, since we really like where we currently live. How long did it take for your husband to commute to Miami from Hollywood?

 

[Mom21]

Need to ask you a couple of questions. You say "Miami area", but that covers a large area. So do you have more of an idea as to where? That will make a difference in where you live. Also do you have children and what ages? There are some good schools (my dd goes to one), but there are some really bad ones also. Also be prepared for high housing cost and high property taxes, but no state income tax so it evens out. I'll be happy to help you in any way I can. I have been here since "91 and lived in Miami, Hollywood, Sunrise, Lauderhill, and now Southwest Ranches so I have been all over.

 

[Mom21]

Oh yeah some other answers. You can only get hurricane insurance now through Citizens which is government. No one write policies down here and a lot of companies are dropping. Power will go out almost certainly if we have a hurricane. Last year during Wilma we were out for 8 days. I suggest a generator. In the event of a direct hit, you could be out for weeks. However my opinion is anything more than a Cat 2 you need to evacuate anyway.

Best about area: tons of things to do and see, opportunities for my dd are everywhere. Lots of colleges. never any need to say there is nothing to do.

Dislike: traffic, old drivers (sorry), summer heat.

This time of year is gorgeous. Starting around Dec to about middle of April the weather is very nice. This morning we are having a cold spell. It is 52 but by the end of the week it will be back into the 80's. I am fond of saying during one of the cold spells "well we just had our 3 days of winter".

 

[heart4pooh]

I was born and raised in Miramar, just outside of Hollywood (Where Johnny Depp is from). I hated it!! I hate the heat, too many people, the drugs and violence, the heat, the cost of living, the very fast pace, too many people and also the heat!!! I'm so happy living in a small town on the coast of NC, I will NEVER move back to S. Florida! The good points were: Any store you can think of is in easy driving distance. There are museums, theaters, concert arenas and basically cultural stuff that now I have to drive pretty far to go to. There is a melting pot of people, languages, customs that I find interesting. We don't have much of that here. But, if I ever start longing for the good points of S Florida, I'm sure if I looked hard enough I could find them somewhere else that isn't so stinking HOT! Also, I miss deciding on a Friday night to drive up to Disney for the weekend!!

 

[disneymouse]

i agree with the points heart4pooh made. i grew up in miami and now live in sunrise. the good points are the close promixty of all the stores. i have taken that for granted. we might move to vero beach and there didn't seem to be nearly variety of stores and big malls broward has and i know if we do move there i will miss that.
however, the housing is so expensive. our neighbors have a modest home that they have lived in for 6 years. for what they are selling it for they plan to move to georgia and buy a large 2 story home practically paid off!

 

[dash]

Need to ask you a couple of questions. You say "Miami area", but that covers a large area. So do you have more of an idea as to where? That will make a difference in where you live. Also do you have children and what ages? There are some good schools (my dd goes to one), but there are some really bad ones also. Also be prepared for high housing cost and high property taxes, but no state income tax so it evens out. I'll be happy to help you in any way I can. I have been here since "91 and lived in Miami, Hollywood, Sunrise, Lauderhill, and now Southwest Ranches so I have been all over.

I'd like to thank everyone for their replies so far. The job is in Miami kind of close to the airport. We haven't narrowed down where we will live. It depends upon where I get a job. Because of the high housing cost, we were thinking about living north of Miami. I am concerned about the commute and the traffic if we live too far away so I think we'll also look in the Kendall area which I hear is a 15 minute commute without traffic and a 40 minute drive with traffic. We don't have children yet, but would like to have one in the near future. About how long would the commute be from the Hollywood area?

We currently live in Georgia. The weather is mild compared to what we're used to (we grew up in the Northeast) and the traffic is minimal. We have a fairly good variety of stores. The one drawback is that Catholic churches are a bit of a drive and if we stayed, we'd probably move to an area that is more remote. We'd still be working in a more built up area, so we wouldn't be that remote.

 

[ducklite]

You might want to look at Sunrise. It's a little more inland, very nice with good shopping, nice developments, and lots of restaurants.

Anne

 

[Poohbear123]

Well, I have "lived in Miami ALL of my life." Enough said! However, if you want to REALLY Live down here, take it for what its worth....its a melting pot of different races, lanquages, and TRAFFIC! LOTs and LOTS of traffic, especially in the Miami airport area. I hope your DH is getting paid a LOT cause you will need it in order to live here. Houses are 150,000-400,000 minimum, and taxes are pretty high. There are "high rises"/Condos going up in very odd places in the city, and those will get Big bucks too. Be prepared to pay MORE for your Auto insurance/health insurance, etc. If you REALLY want to move here, search the web for Schools and such, and best of luck.

 

[RitaZ.]

Yes, the area near MIA is extremely congested, he'll probably have to take 836, which is a nightmare. Even if you live in southern Broward county, Hollywood, it will be quite a commute for your DH. Insurance rates have gone up, like they weren't high before, and will continue to go up. Think carefully about your decision. Good luck!

 

[ktpool]

We sold our house is SW Miami, near Kendall in 1996 for $180,00 - typical ranch, pool, nothing special. I understand the same houses on the the same streeet are now seeling for $500,000....OMG!
I grew up in Miami, but could never live there again. Heat, bugs, traffic, culture, heat, traffic...seeing a pattern?
That being said, I was just in Ft. Myers last month visiting family that fled Miami and it looks just like Miami did 15 years ago! Very strange.

It will be culture shock if you have children for sure. Good luck!!

 

[dash]

Thank you everyone! We decided to take the offer and see how we like living in the Miami area first hand. At least we'll be closer to the World!