Middle Class American Dream in Miami? (West Miami, Havana: mortgage, hoa, apartments)

[Chelito23]

To all of the people on the forum who are "unaware" of your fellow citizens complaints about widespread crime, high costs and a degrading quality of life, please respond with what areas you are living in, and how much money one must make to buy a decent house or condo in your area.

I admire people with positive outlooks, I think it is very important. I would just like to see where in Miami the community problems cease to exist and where the sun always shines, and maybe get an apartment or house there!I have always said Miami is great for the rich, so here is your chance to show if the American dream exists in Miami for non millionaires!

I live in Shenandoah, which is in between Little Havana and Coral Way/US 1.
A fixer upper here with no wall AC units and 3 bed/1 bath would start at $350,000. Apartments run the gammit. Cheap studios start around $750. Decent, safe 1 bedrooms start at $1,000. This is one of the nicer areas, in between downtown, the gables, the grove....and has seen a huge increase in condo tower construction over the past few years. I think one would have to earn over $70,000 annually to afford a mortgage/house here(that is not a combined income). Very few jobs in Miami pay that much. Even after paying these costs, all of the problems I have mentioned in other posts are still prevelent. This is middle class Miami as I know it.

Share your gems of a neighborhoods please!

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

To all of the people on the forum who are "unaware" of your fellow citizens complaints about widespread crime, high costs and a degrading quality of life, please respond with what areas you are living in, and how much money one must make to buy a decent house or condo in your area.

I admire people with positive outlooks, I think it is very important. I would just like to see where in Miami the community problems cease to exist and where the sun always shines, and maybe get an apartment or house there!I have always said Miami is great for the rich, so here is your chance to show if the American dream exists in Miami for non millionaires!

I live in Shenandoah, which is in between Little Havana and Coral Way/US 1.
A fixer upper here with no wall AC units and 3 bed/1 bath would start at $350,000. Apartments run the gammit. Cheap studios start around $750. Decent, safe 1 bedrooms start at $1,000. This is one of the nicer areas, in between downtown, the gables, the grove....and has seen a huge increase in condo tower construction over the past few years. I think one would have to earn over $70,000 annually to afford a mortgage/house here(that is not a combined income). Very few jobs in Miami pay that much. Even after paying these costs, all of the problems I have mentioned in other posts are still prevelent. This is middle class Miami as I know it.

Share your gems of a neighborhoods please!

Shenandoah is not bad. As a matter of fact, it is pretty sought after, despite the Shenandoah killing spree.

[Chelito23]

That is my point exactly...this is not a bad area at all, yet all of the complaints I have aired in the forums happen here, in a "good" area. This is why I asked which areas people are in that they claim not to experience any of the problems.

[tallrick]

If our parents and grandparents who lived and worked here could afford a nice single family home, why should newcommers be forced to live in the overpriced condo trash? Today's developments are shoddy looking and butt-ugly. When I see brochures from developments in the 50's and 60's look at what's offered today, the current new home buyer is really getting the shaft. I would prefer a nice yard and tropical style 50's home over supposed upgrades like marble floors and granite countertops. My terazzo floors and tile countertops are just fine, as well as the gravel roof. It's more important to me to have space between neighbors so we don't end up enemies, and the lack of the Gestapo otherwise known as the HOA. HOA or is it SS?

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

That is my point exactly...this is not a bad area at all, yet all of the complaints I have aired in the forums happen here, in a "good" area. This is why I asked which areas people are in that they claim not to experience any of the problems.

Tell me where in creation you can find a 100% safe, 100% of the time, neighborhood. Probably not even in your own 10, 20, or 30 acres of land that is barb-wired with security cameras and killer dogs with killer masters. Come on, you just have to use common sense and take precautions to stay safe. That is everywhere! Look what just happened in Amish country recently.

[Chelito23]

VPCats,

I have stated on numerous occasions that I know there are problems all over the place in the US, not just in Miami. I have just said that they ocurr disproportionatly in Miami. I am not naive to think that crime only ocurrs here or that crime is unique to South Florida. I do not address the problems of other areas, since I do not live there. I only state that from the other large cities I have visited and have family in, they do not experience the daily smorgasboard of problems that most Miami residents face.

You have stated that you have not had this experience. You are very lucky and I have asked whereyou live that you are sheltered from these problems. You have shared that info yet...

It seems like you challenge all of my posts to validate your opinions which are not shared by the majority of the people in Miami. In Miami there is a higher than normal percentage of unhappy residents than in most cities. The problems here are also worse than in many places. I have never said that this is a hell hole and anyplace is better. I think you tend to project thoughts and ideas on me that are not accurate representations of what I have shared. Your last post didn't even address anything I said (it was another poster), yet you addressed me about the issue.

I am glad that you enjoy life here and have not experienced the hellacious problems that most of us have. You are very blessed and I envy you good fortune.

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

VPCats,

I have stated on numerous occasions that I know there are problems all over the place in the US, not just in Miami. I have just said that they ocurr disproportionatly in Miami. I am not naive to think that crime only ocurrs here or that crime is unique to South Florida. I do not address the problems of other areas, since I do not live there. I only state that from the other large cities I have visited and have family in, they do not experience the daily smorgasboard of problems that most Miami residents face.

You have stated that you have not had this experience. You are very lucky and I have asked whereyou live that you are sheltered from these problems. You have shared that info yet...

It seems like you challenge all of my posts to validate your opinions which are not shared by the majority of the people in Miami. In Miami there is a higher than normal percentage of unhappy residents than in most cities. The problems here are also worse than in many places. I have never said that this is a hell hole and anyplace is better. I think you tend to project thoughts and ideas on me that are not accurate representations of what I have shared. Your last post didn't even address anything I said (it was another poster), yet you addressed me about the issue.

I am glad that you enjoy life here and have not experienced the hellacious problems that most of us have. You are very blessed and I envy you good fortune.

Chelito. If I responded to another poster but was about you, I apologize. Sometimes I may get my boxes wrong. I do not feel like I am attacking all of your posts. The last few are actually about the only ones which I have commented on. You've been posting for a long time. I definitely have not gotten involved in many, mostly because I feel like it's just the same thing over and over with a few posters and, honestly, I skip them.
You are correct. I have been very lucky and very blessed, all the way around. And I've been around for a long, long time already.
I have mentioned where I live many times, maybe in other threads but I will repeat it. I am in West Miami and I work in one of the nastiest areas of Miami. Yet, here I am recognizing that not everything is perfect but it sure as heck hasn't made me totally negative about life or where I live.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a much happier 2007!

[Chelito23]

Yes, most of the threads I post are very similar...people ask the same questions over only the neighborhoods change.

I am surprised that in West Miami you don't see the level of problems, at least when you venture to 8th St or on the way to the 836 or 826. Probably has to do with luck and a great attitude.

Sorry if I missed your post about living in WM earlier. Have a merry Xmas and happy new years too!

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

Yes, most of the threads I post are very similar...people ask the same questions over only the neighborhoods change.

I am surprised that in West Miami you don't see the level of problems, at least when you venture to 8th St or on the way to the 836 or 826. Probably has to do with luck and a great attitude.

Sorry if I missed your post about living in WM earlier. Have a merry Xmas and happy new years too!

Hey No problem. I just watch my back and try to stay away from trouble. I'm not a big risk taker in anything. I don't purposely tempt fate.

[Tjam]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

To all of the people on the forum who are "unaware" of your fellow citizens complaints about widespread crime, high costs and a degrading quality of life, please respond with what areas you are living in, and how much money one must make to buy a decent house or condo in your area.

I admire people with positive outlooks, I think it is very important. I would just like to see where in Miami the community problems cease to exist and where the sun always shines, and maybe get an apartment or house there!I have always said Miami is great for the rich, so here is your chance to show if the American dream exists in Miami for non millionaires!

I live in Shenandoah, which is in between Little Havana and Coral Way/US 1.
A fixer upper here with no wall AC units and 3 bed/1 bath would start at $350,000. Apartments run the gammit. Cheap studios start around $750. Decent, safe 1 bedrooms start at $1,000. This is one of the nicer areas, in between downtown, the gables, the grove....and has seen a huge increase in condo tower construction over the past few years. I think one would have to earn over $70,000 annually to afford a mortgage/house here(that is not a combined income). Very few jobs in Miami pay that much. Even after paying these costs, all of the problems I have mentioned in other posts are still prevelent. This is middle class Miami as I know it.

Share your gems of a neighborhoods please!

What American dream? The American dream, with everyone making it to the house with the white picket fence on working class income is long gone. Inflation has changed that. Cheap fuel and building materials no longer exist. To make it to the American dream you must either have your own business or have a college degree. If you have a masters degree you can be on your way to the American dream. If you can play the stock market you are on your way to Fisher Island. If you make working class wages in Miami or anywhere in the U.S., you will have a working class lifestyle, probably in a low income high crime neighbourhood, living from paycheck to paycheck, and driving used cars. America does'nt promise anything to anyone except freedom of speech and freedom of movement, and free education to a point. The American dream is something you must create for yourself, regardless of how the economy performing or who is running the country. Sometimes things are slow, and at other times it's booming. What you make of it is all up to you, that's the American way.