Homestead advice (Jacksonville, Miami, Hollywood: crime, public schools, living)

[paulroger]

My wife and I are planning a move from Jacksonville, FL to Homestead in mid August. She has been accepted as a graduate student at FIU. I would like some input on the commute times to Miami (presumably where I will be working) and advice about the schools, things to do - or how far to drive to find things to do, etc. Previously I posted a thread several months ago asking about Kendall and the response was mostly negative. While I am hoping for better responses this time it would be naive of me to think Homestead is an oasis.

[eufo]

Homestead is much worse than Kendall, IMO. I used to live in Kendall and liked it just fine.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by paulroger

My wife and I are planning a move from Jacksonville, FL to Homestead in mid August. She has been accepted as a graduate student at FIU. I would like some input on the commute times to Miami (presumably where I will be working) and advice about the schools, things to do - or how far to drive to find things to do, etc. Previously I posted a thread several months ago asking about Kendall and the response was mostly negative. While I am hoping for better responses this time it would be naive of me to think Homestead is an oasis.

Homestead is hell. Do NOT move to Homestead. Not only will you have to commute about an hour and a half to FIU, but you live in a crime filled, rude, and depressing city. Schools are as bad as it gets, too. Which FIU campus will you be commuting to? If you are going downtown or to the North Miami campus, you ought to check out Hollywood, Broward County, where rents will be affordable, it will take a about a half an hour to go downtown, and the living quality is far superior, especially east of U.S.1. Schools still aren't too good, but a huge step up from most anything in Dade County.

Kendall would be just fine, to tell you the truth, if public schools are not a concern. Its trafficky, but if you are going to live in Dade, its probably your best option,and provides better commute scenario than Broward, depending on which campus,. One of our most miserable posters in the past lived in Homestead, and I would take some of his words very seriously.

If you can give us the address of where you are commuting (or which campus), we can give you a good guide of where to live.

[at7815]

I second what people above have said. Homestead is a "no-no." I've lived in Kendall for 3 years and have not had any issues...you would probably like it. Everything is close except for downtown or the beach so if you want to enjoy the night life there, it'll be a good 45 min. drive but that's about the only negative.

[HGONZ001]

Kendall is no wonderland, neither is Homestead. The drive from downtown to Kendall is a good hour and a half. I have several co-workers that live in K and they say that it takes them that much time to get home after work. Homestead is even farther South. I guess it would take almost 2 hours to commute from downtown. Crime is bad in both areas. Although the ghetto culture is more present in K than H. The numbers of illegals in H is huge. There is not much to do in H, although housing is cheaper than the rest of SoFl. I would try West Dade, maybe El Doral area, South Miami or even Aventura, in North Dade. Good luck.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by DCFLNC

Kendall is no wonderland, neither is Homestead. The drive from downtown to Kendall is a good hour and a half. I have several co-workers that live in K and they say that it takes them that much time to get home after work. Homestead is even farther South. I guess it would take almost 2 hours to commute from downtown. Crime is bad in both areas. Although the ghetto culture is more present in K than H. The numbers of illegals in H is huge. There is not much to do in H, although housing is cheaper than the rest of SoFl. I would try West Dade, maybe El Doral area, South Miami or even Aventura, in North Dade. Good luck.

El Doral? lol.Miami can do that to you. He should look into Doral though, depending on which campus he is commuting to. If he is commuting to the North Miami campus, he should live in Broward.

[HGONZ001]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

El Doral? lol. He should look into Doral though, depending on which campus he is commuting to. If he is commuting to the North Miami campus, he should live in Broward.

I agree with you. It all depends which campus he is talking about. But IMO Doral is far better than Kendal and Homestead, at least when it comes to crime, traffic and the people.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by DCFLNC

I agree with you. It all depends which campus he is talking about. But IMO Doral is far better than Kendal and Homestead, at least when it comes to crime, traffic and the people.

Agreed. East Kendall is a nice place to locate, but Doral is a little better. Broward is optimal for living, but not commute. I do hope they are commuting to the north campus, there are more appealing places to locate on the north side.

[HGONZ001]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

Agreed. East Kendall is a nice place to locate, but Doral is a little better. Broward is optimal for living, but not commute. I do hope they are commuting to the north campus, there are more appealing places to locate on the north side.

Yeap, Broward is far better than Dade. In all aspects.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by DCFLNC

Yeap, Broward is far better than Dade. In all aspects.

Plus they mentioned schools. If they moved into west Miramar (doable to the north campus, just take Turnpike Extension and you have like no traffic until you are in Dade, see what I mean about Broward being beter in all aspects?), they could even get GOOD schools, at least up to junior high . Not to mention they can get the ethnic mix and Latin flavor of South Florida, en ingles, as well as large populations of whites, blacks, AND asians. Very mixed area without much tension and crime..