Lot of conversations about moving to Miami. What does everyone think? Heard that moving to Miami was one of the dumbest ideas of all time. Then again some tech pundits like Keith Rabois are trying to make relocation to Miami a ‘thing’ although I’m nit sure if he’s genuine or just trying to hype himself up as being a prognosticator. On the surface seems interesting - coastal, warm, not as deplorable and disgusting as San Francisco proper.
- Great tax haven. - Great social scene/nightlife. - Not far from NY. - Great if you like tropical weather. - Risk of hurricanes. - Risk of large swaths of Miami RE being underwater due to rising tides within the next decade (climate change).
Do u mean literally under water ? Even figuratively, their RE looks stagnant and at the risk of losing value. While markets like Seattle and austin are going crazy !!!
By underwater, I mean literally underwater. If you’re planting roots, this would be a consideration I would want to be comfortable with (or at least understand) before committing. Random Google article here (do more research if curious); https://e360.yale.edu/features/as-miami-keeps-building-rising-seas-deepen-its-social-divide
Two major downsides: Hurricanes and Keith lives there
Is it a thing tho? I'm thinking about it but where are these "lot of conversations " happening in the tech community
Twitter.com/rabois the sponsored content robot for Miami
Locals think it's the best place ever but it's a shithole with a superficial facade
Sounds exactly like another US tax haven... Las Vegas
Hear me out. Miami has BAD SCHOOLS, and mediocre universities. People with kids are better off in Bay Area, Seattle, NY, Austin. Miami will not happen. Just a rich kids’ playground.
I am in Miami rn, it looks like heaven after SF/Bay Area. I am sold.
Thank you for this. What brought you to Miami? When did you get there and are summers as bad as they say? Heard about flakiness although not sure what that means. What do you think are the negatives.
Dude, I am here for a first time. I just spent a week here. Can’t comment on summers, it gets hot but I’ll take it over the bay considering all other pros. A con for me is a lack of tech companies. Gotta work remotely which is not my preference. I am going back to the bay selling my shit and moving ASAP. I forgot to mention people are not crazy about COVID here and pretty much everything is open. It make me feel depressed thinking that I’ll have to go back to California lockdown and solitary confinement in my apartment. Feel free to dm me.
I’m a Miami native who left for many years and am back for a few months since I can now wfh full-time. I’m thinking of moving back but really struggling with it. There are big pros and big cons. I’ll do a long post here, as I’m thinking it through for myself as well. $$$ Big benefits: no income tax and lots of opportunity for real estate investments as the city grows. More tech and finance firms moving here means more lucrative job opportunities. Weather Nice weather FOR 2-3 MONTHS. The rest of the year it’s hot as hell and humidity is off the charts. The summer is intolerable unless you’re sitting in a pool. Walking from your car into a store will leave you soaking in sweat. In the summer there is a daily thunderstorm but it passes quickly and then it is sunny again. BUT there is no winter. Hurricanes suck but you can prepare for them. And if you wfh, you can leave for the summer. Schools There are good schools in the suburbs like Pinecrest. If you have means, there are excellent private schools though increasingly competitive. Location It is really beautiful. Most people think of Miami Beach but the real Miami is lush and tropical and full of jungle plants and oak trees. Stunning houses and architecture all over the place. And the ocean never gets old.. Close to the Bahamas and the Keys- very common to hop on a boat and head down there for the weekend. Boat life in general is big here and a blast if you’re into it. Transportation You need a car. Period. Lots of traffic!! There’s a metro rail to downtown but very limited and only runs north to south. Property tax and flood insurance Property tax is a bit high because we don’t have income tax. But you still win without income tax. Flood insurance is expensive but it’s very easy to buy in a low risk flood zone. I think when you search properties on Zillow it tells you the zone they’re in right up front. The People Where to begin? I’m very excited about how many people are moving from out of state. I see license plates from all over lately. So we’ll have more diversity of thought. The locals tend to be insular snobs. Obviously I know a lot of people who are not that way, but that’s the city’s vibe. It is all about keeping up with the Joneses. Every working professional has an expensive car (even when they can’t afford it). Women are extremely body conscious— not in the healthy LA way— in the “I’m starving myself and getting surgery to be attractive for men” way. Men aren’t as body conscious because they just need to look rich to be attractive and well-regarded. People get really dressed up and wear lots of jewelry. All about flashiness. The hoodie lifestyle will not fly here. Big generalization but it’s palpable. There are tons of Latinos here. I mean everyone speaks Spanish. Often in restaurants or stores, people will assume you speak Spanish if you’re white. Lots of white Latinos here. They are the dominant culture and tend to look down a little bit on “gringos.” I’m a white Latina and married to a non-Latino and people are always making jokes about how gringo he is. They mean well but they assume he just doesn’t have flavor or that he’s lame. However, if you are from out of state and working in the tech world, you’ll have your own friend set. As I said, the locals can be pretty insular and I’ve heard it’s hard to make friends with locals if you’re not from here. But things are changing and young people are better about this in general. There are also a lot of locals that are white Jewish. Some white Anglo Americans but not a ton. The town is pretty segregated in terms of other people of color, which is terrible but also changing rapidly. Politics Florida is a red state. Miami is a mix. Lots of trump lawn signs. Remember there’s a huge Cuban contingency and they’re terrified of socialism with good reason so they are conservative. But there are still a lot of people who are never trump conservatives and lots of dems as well. The state legislature is conservative. I personally think it’s good for the state’s economy and there’s less red tape for businesses. There’s a reason people are fleeing from California and NY. I’m not into the trumpers or social conservativism, but I do appreciate that the state is responsible with our funds and taxation and still has a wealth of safety nets. Also I like the fact that there’s more political diversity than the echo chambers of the west coast or NY. Everything in moderation, I say. Again, though, if you’re in tech with lots of outsiders, you’ll be right at home with a set of liberal friends if that’s who you prefer to hang out with. I can do a whole post on neighborhoods as well if anyone is interested. Obviously a lot of this really depends on where you live and work. My post is mostly about the Coral Gables/Pinecrest/Grove local crowd.
Thanks! Good post!
Ok! *cracks knuckles* *rubs hands together* TLDR; if you’re young and single- midtown or brickell are cool. If you’re well-off and want something central and beautiful, look at coconut grove or the Gables. If you have a family and are looking for value and location, South Miami. If you have a family and want bigger lots, look at Continental Park and Pinecrest. I’ll start from North Miami Beach to the south. These are my personal impressions. North Miami Beach A lot more “American” Americans as opposed to Latino Americans. Big Jewish population. Increasingly more Europeans. Expensive in the nicer areas. Good schools. Very residential but lots to do. You’re not going to have a wild time in this area. Also I think there are more job opportunities further south. Miami Beach Tons of great hotels, restaurants and tourists. There are really nice residential areas but there’s lots of traffic. Don’t know much about the schools. Don’t think there are good ones close by. It’s beautiful and, because Miami Beach is a set of islands, you’ll frequently see the water. There are a lot of public beaches all along the eastern coast and on the other side of the islands, views of Miami and downtown. Good diversity of people- mostly upper middle class and above. South Beach Party central. People who live there generally are rich and flashy and live in expensive condos or are beach bums in cheap, older apartments. Can get very hectic around holidays or special events. Decent amount of robberies and some questionable characters there for the party scene. *Note* all of Miami Beach is prone to floods. Not just if you live on the water. The islands shouldn’t really exist and were dredged from swamps unnaturally lol. The ground is made of porous limestone so the water comes up from the ground when water levels rise. It gets worse every year. If you live there, rent, don’t buy, IMO. Midtown Newer area. Trendy. Young. Up and coming so there are some pretty dicey blocks. Cool restaurants, nightlife, the design district and Wynwood are found here though a lot of it is spread out across the area. Lots of modern condos. Expensive to buy but probably ok to rent. No good schools that I’m aware of. Downtown Big buildings, tons of condos with stunning views of Miami Beach. Like a lot of downtowns, there’s not a ton to do outside of work hours. Some of it can be kind of scuzzy. Increasingly there are more restaurants and nice buildings. Great location though, right in between the beach and the rest of Miami. Tons of traffic when there’s a game at the American Airlines Arena or a concert or festival. No good schools. Brickell Adjacent to downtown. Tens of thousands of condos and the buildings vary widely in terms of quality and price. Right next to Brickell City Center which is a GORGEOUS modern, state of the art mall with good restaurants and the nicest movie theater I’ve ever been to. Good location. Lots of traffic at rush hour. You’ll need to go further south for good schools. Lots of upper middle and upper class Latin Americans. More than just Cubans- lots of Venezuelans, Colombians, etc. Many of them have vacation condos there or now live there permanently. This area is on the water but there are no beaches, just docks for boats. The Roads Good location. Not on the water. Smaller, older houses. Can still find a good deal there on a house and re-do it. Very residential. Cute streets but not the most beautiful spot in Miami. But very decent. No good public schools. Key Biscayne This is an island. You drive 15 minutes across a large, beautiful bridge with a toll booth. It’s very residential, has great schools, and feels like you’re at a resort at all times. If you live there, you’ll want to buy a golf cart to zip around. Really pretty beaches and less crowded than South Beach. It is very expensive- a mix of condos and houses. The people there are suuuper insular. We call them “key rats”. Also lots of rich South Americans. It’s getting more crowded nowadays and there’s traffic now on the main blvd. It’s nice but a slog to have to take the bridge every time you want to get into town. Coconut Grove The most lush, jungle like neighborhood of all. There’s a mall there and lots of sidewalk restaurants and art galleries. Very cute, laid back vibe. Less manicured than other areas. Lots of peacocks in the area (yes, we have peacocks in Miami). Some of the best private schools like Ransom (arguably best school in Miami), Carrollton (best girls’ school), St. Thomas and St. Hugh... With the exception of a few streets with mansions and mega mansions, the houses in this area tend to be smaller and older— they have an old Miami feel, a mix of old Spanish and key west-type houses. Because of the great location, it’s getting expensive. A 2200 square foot house with a tiny, but lush, yard, will be like $1.5mn. Houses on the water are prohibitively expensive unless 20mn is in your range. Again, traffic is heavy in this area. But it’s one of my favorites. Lots to do and still residential and pretty. Coral Gables This is a large neighborhood with a range of offerings. It’s best known for it’s beautiful old Spanish, uniquely coral gables architecture. Traditional homes with tons of character. Lush oak trees and very manicured landscaping. Strict neighborhood rules. That’s where the famous Biltmore Hotel and golf course is (google it. Beautiful), the Venetian Pool, as well as the Riviera Country Club and golf course. The main drag in CG is Miracle Mile has lots of great restaurants and shops and galleries. Google “Giralda under the stars”— it’s a walking-only street with cute cafes and bars. Great area but you’re not going to get good bang for your buck on the houses. Also the public schools aren’t great but charter and private schools are nearby. Also lots of traffic! There are huge homes and very small, older homes. The area is expensive by Miami standards. You pretty much can’t get in for under a million in the nicer parts, even for a 1000 sq fr house with like 1 bathroom. Then there’s “Little Gables” which is the area closer to Little Havana. It’s cheaper and houses are smaller and older in this area. South Miami Great location. East of US1 is more expensive, very lush and residential. Lots of traffic on the main streets, but also lots of little quiet backstreets. Sunset Place is a cute mall with some decent shops and restaurants. Dadeland is a major mall with everything you’d ever need. This area is really close to the Gables and the Grove so it is highly desirable. West of US1 there are still deals to be found. Lots of development in the area so I think there is great opportunity there. Busy streets for the most part. Good schools. Decent sized lots. Some streets are beautiful. Best bang for your buck IMO. Pinecrest This is the most suburb-y. It’s about 20min from Coconut Grove (without traffic). East of the highway is more expensive. Gorgeous, wide, quiet streets (some of the main streets will have traffic during rush hour, of course). Amazing houses. Lots of new construction and rehab of old houses. You can find bigger lots here— half acres and up usually. Getting pretty expensive. Great public elementary school but after that the schools aren’t as good and you may want to go private. Good proximity to all the good private schools. This area is residential but no far from the action and there are increasingly nice neighborhood restaurants popping up. If you have a family, want some outdoor space, and don’t need a walkable neighborhood, this is my recommendation. West of the highway there are fewer, but equally beautiful houses. It’s more affordable, lower taxes, but no access to pinecrest elementary. This area (I think) is called Continental Park and it’s taking off. Lots of homes getting rehabbed or newly built. Good sized lots, etc. Same proximity to the action as the rest of Pinecrest. I’m really digging this area lately if you have a family, don’t need something walkable, etc. West of that area you get the huge Kendall area— there are some nice parts but it’s not charming and it’s full of highways and traffic and far away from the prettiest parts of Miami. It’s definitely more affordable and you can get a nice sized lot. Some people like it, but I personally wouldn’t live there. It’s like a separate city. Ok. I’m legitimately going back in the pool now and listening to some peacocks crooning. DM if you have questions!
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Lived there long ago. Loved the weather.(except hurricanes...)...might pick an area north of Miami though... why not spend a month there and see if you like it (assuming this a WFH anywhere move)