why do people with kids not live on the beach? (Miami: for sale, homes)

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

lmao oh come on, you have to admit a couple of the homes and small apartment buildings right on Harding look a little worn out with the paved lawns and burglar bars. Now don't get me wrong, I love Surfside...

surfside is the place I was thinking of then. It looks like some of the more seedier parts of south beach. Atleast the areas I saw, didn't search around the place I am sure there are nicer areas in there. Guess its like plantation, nice in some areas run down in others.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by fauve

I PROMISE you - Abbot, Byron, Carlisle, Dickens, Emerson, Froude, Garfield, Bay Dr - all NICE....I lived there for 5 years before it got *really* nice, and it was nice then. Not the *least* bit rundown or gritty. It's a neighborhood of half a million dollar homes AFTER the crash.

Edit: Okay, I give up.

If the look of the neighborhood is not a little down and out then WHAT is the reason that Surfside prices are lower than other beach neighborhoods? There is always a reason that the price in one neighborhood is lower than another otherwise similar neighborhood.

[fauve]

Originally Posted by Momma_bear

If the look of the neighborhood is not a little down and out then WHAT is the reason that Surfside prices are lower than other beach neighborhoods? There is always a reason that the price in one neighborhood is lower than another otherwise similar neighborhood.

Well, it's main downfall is that it's not Miami Beach or Bal Harbour which it is bordered by. Whatever prices Miami Beach or Bal Harbour is going for, it will sell for less. It has always been to the go-to place for people for whom Miami Beach & Bal Harbour was out of reach.

There is also no downtown - that's why I remembered Compelled's comment because it sounded like perhaps in the last few years it had gotten some community personality with trendy restaurants and shops - now I'm thinking it's Normandy Isle he was thinking of, which was kind of going in that direction when I was there.

Surfside has also never been a magnet for the young and hip who want houses like Las Olas/Miami Beach (rich hipsters) or Hollywood/Normandy Isle (poor hipsters). And, it's not a magnet for the wealthy like Bal Harbour/Boca. It's just middle-of-the-road. The closest neighborhood I can think of that is close to it up here is Lauderdale by the Sea, but without the restaurants or charm. Quiet, safe, walk to the beach, normal neighbors, but if you want any excitement you have to go to Miami Beach, and when I was there and this may still be true, you had to go to MB even if you wanted groceries. On the bright side, along with the excellent elementary school, the boring-ness has made it very attractive to families.

And, then there's the lack of old trees, the 50's houses (altho recently there are people who have been consciously searching out 50's houses - they've become very in) & the small lots (they average about 6000 sf)....

[fauve]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

surfside is the place I was thinking of then. It looks like some of the more seedier parts of south beach. Atleast the areas I saw, didn't search around the place I am sure there are nicer areas in there. Guess its like plantation, nice in some areas run down in others.

Now, you want to trash Plantation? A man who was extolling the virtues of Melrose Park? Yeah, right. I won't even go there. I think you're playing with me.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by fauve

Now, you want to trash Plantation? A man who was extolling the virtues of Melrose Park? Yeah, right. I won't even go there. I think you're playing with me.

Trash plantation, what are you talking about? Parts of it are nice and some look a bit run down, that's a fact.

Ask anyone with eye sight what the side of plantation looks like east of the turnpike and west if 441. Is it bad? No, but is a bit rough around the edges as far as looks goes.

Also you are being dishonest, I never "extolled the virtues of melrose park". WHat I did do was say it is not a dangerous place. Compelled to Reply tried to make it seem like it was the south bronx and it isn't. Melrose also looks rundown/gritty. But it isn't dangerous. Compelled said he went through melrose park and now he agrees, it isn't a bad area. Would I purchase a home there? Nope but I don't like rundown/gritty looking areas. I don't dislike older parts of town, i prefer it but when it looks a certian way, I pass. Rio Vista is a perfect example of a older area that I would live in.

[fauve]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

Trash plantation, what are you talking about? Parts of it are nice and some look a bit run down, that's a fact.

Ask anyone with eye sight what the side of plantation looks like east of the turnpike and west if 441. Is it bad? No, but is a bit rough around the edges as far as looks goes.

Also you are being dishonest, I never "extolled the virtues of melrose park". WHat I did do was say it is not a dangerous place. Compelled to Reply tried to make it seem like it was the south bronx and it isn't. Melrose also looks rundown/gritty. But it isn't dangerous. Compelled said he went through melrose park and now he agrees, it isn't a bad area. Would I purchase a home there? Nope but I don't like rundown/gritty looking areas. I don't dislike older parts of town, i prefer it but when it looks a certian way, I pass. Rio Vista is a perfect example of a older area that I would live in.

Okay, nevermind then, and yes I agree I wouldn't live around 441 unless I got some great canalfront in Riverland and had a big boat.

[bocamom]

Originally Posted by fauve

I don't know - that first bathroom looks a little crummy. And, those ceiling fans? Run-down!

lol. it is exactly what i am looking for, only i am looking to pay about 2/5 of the price, have 300 more square feet, and be in a good school district! FWIW, I can do this is several neighborhoods, so I don't see how this one is being tossed about as "affordable" unless the only places that are listed currently in surfside all happen to be cream of the crop.

i wish the neighborhood WERE run down, because it looks awesome except that i can't touch it in my price range!

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by bocamom

lol. it is exactly what i am looking for, only i am looking to pay about 2/5 of the price, have 300 more square feet, and be in a good school district! FWIW, I can do this is several neighborhoods, so I don't see how this one is being tossed about as "affordable" unless the only places that are listed currently in surfside all happen to be cream of the crop.

i wish the neighborhood WERE run down, because it looks awesome except that i can't touch it in my price range!

What is your price range?

[bocamom]

surfside has a "great" elementary school? i forget who posted it, but really?

any other beach neighborhoods with "great" elementary schools? because at this point i am going to end up with an intracoastal view and have to walk to the beach. the horror!

[bocamom]

Originally Posted by Momma_bear

What is your price range?

i want to be under $1600 for a 2/2 with 1500 sq feet and a clean beach (no inlets within a few miles to the north) and a good elementary school with a gifted program. otherwise, no carpet and sensible windows. not just to the west of a road.


i have all that in pompano but the school and the clean beach, but those things turn out to matter