Considering moving to Miami- advice please! (Sarasota, Aventura: home, condo, rent)

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

Exaxtly, most people (latin speaking) are probably happy here. Most people however that are here came from a South America, Central America, or Carribean. Where things are horrible. So yes they would be happy living in Miami, again Miami, is a step up for most people from where they came from. Even people who moved here from a small town in West Virgina are probably happy here. Those of us who are unhappy, have been here for many years and watched Miami change for the worse or have come from some where else thinking Miami must like that great place we see on tv shows, i.e. CSI Miami.

Sorry. I came from NYC and its suburbs. Have been living in Miami for 10 years and used to come at least two or three times a year to "take a break". I happen to be one who likes Florida AND Miami itself.
Also, who owns all those new condo high risers from Brickell/Key Biscayne, to Coral Gables, to the Keys? Those same people who don't know anything about plumbing and electricity?
Just wait until the Venezuelans get their act together and can leave now that they know who Chavez really is.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by vpcats

Sorry. I came from NYC and its suburbs. Have been living in Miami for 10 years and used to come at least two or three times a year to "take a break". I happen to be one who likes Florida AND Miami itself.
Also, who owns all those new condo high risers from Brickell/Key Biscayne, to Coral Gables, to the Keys? Those same people who don't know anything about plumbing and electricity?
Just wait until the Venezuelans get their act together and can leave now that they know who Chavez really is.

My case in point, you have moved here from some where else (NY) and are one that likes Miami. And to some people in NY, a move to Miami is a step down, but to some it is a step up like your self. Most not all of the condos that have been sold are being bought by South Americans. Yes, the people that are coming to Miami from South America and buying in these wealthy areas, they are the wealthy people of course. But just because someone is wealthy doesn't mean they have manors, are polite, speak english, know how to drive, are willing to assimilate etc. I like latin culture, I just wish that the latin population in Miami would assimilate more. This is a general statement, I have latin friends that have assimilated well, but for the majority of Miami latins, they think this is northern cuba, which it is not, it is still the USA. We speak and write ENGLISH in America, why not speak the language of the country you are in. If I live in Russian lets say, I would learn to speak the language, I wouldn't expect to survive with English as my language. My mom just became a citizen, when she came to this country she didn't speak engligh, she learned ENGLISH here. I just don't understand why so many latins in Miami don't try to even learn english, even though they don't need too, to get by. Why can't so many latins understand this?

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

My case in point, you have moved here from some where else (NY) and are one that likes Miami. And to some people in NY, a move to Miami is a step down, but to some it is a step up like your self. Most not all of the condos that have been sold are being bought by South Americans. Yes, the people that are coming to Miami from South America and buying in these wealthy areas, they are the wealthy people of course. But just because someone is wealthy doesn't mean they have manors, are polite, speak english, know how to drive, are willing to assimilate etc. I like latin culture, I just wish that the latin population in Miami would assimilate more. This is a general statement, I have latin friends that have assimilated well, but for the majority of Miami latins, they think this is northern cuba, which it is not, it is still the USA. We speak and write ENGLISH in America, why not speak the language of the country you are in. If I live in Russian lets say, I would learn to speak the language, I wouldn't expect to survive with English as my language. My mom just became a citizen, when she came to this country she didn't speak engligh, she learned ENGLISH here. I just don't understand why so many latins in Miami don't try to even learn english, even though they don't need too, to get by. Why can't so many latins understand this?

It was not a step down or a step up for me. Not even a parallel move.

I wish I could agree with you more about people's refusal to assimilate another language or culture but it is not so cut and dry, black or white (not talking race here). There are many shades of grey involved. Just because your mother in particular learned English, does not make the world go 'round. Besides, you really don't need THAT much English to pass the citizenship test and there are many, many exemptions.

[doggiebus]

Your move to Miami had to be a step up, step down or at least parallel, you have to admit that, it's not non of the above. You brought up a great thing, the citizen test, yes it doesn't take much to get a citizenship. Why not make learning english part of the process of getting your citizenship. If you can not read or write the language, then you fail in getting a citizenship.

I agree, just because my mom learned ENGLISH, doesn't make the world go round. I was using her as an example, of someone who came to this country and learned to read and write the language. Which many (not all) new latins that come here, do not do.

But the fact is that this is the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, an ENGLISH speaking country. Yes there are many languages spoken in this country, but the legal language of the US is ENGLISH not SPANISH.

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

Your move to Miami had to be a step up, step down or at least parallel, you have to admit that, it's not non of the above. You brought up a great thing, the citizen test, yes it doesn't take much to get a citizenship. Why not make learning english part of the process of getting your citizenship. If you can not read or write the language, then you fail in getting a citizenship.

I agree, just because my mom learned ENGLISH, doesn't make the world go round. I was using her as an example, of someone who came to this country and learned to read and write the language. Which many (not all) new latins that come here, do not do.

But the fact is that this is the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, an ENGLISH speaking country. Yes there are many languages spoken in this country, but the legal language of the US is ENGLISH not SPANISH.

OK back to the drawing board.
My move to Miami WAS none of the three choices. It was a choice I made, not a financial one, not a family based one, not a lifestyle one but IF anything, it was a good one and I am happy with my choice.

You bring up another point about the English. Reading and writing is NOT the same as speaking, understanding, comprehending, thinking, in that language to carry a full "conversation" as we are doing now.

I think it's been brought up before too, somewhere, English is NOT the official language of the USA. We do not have any official/legal language.

[doggiebus]

Ok, yes English isn't the official language YET. The senate oked it in May andthen I think it went back to the house. I don't know if it got lost as they say or what. Don't forget 82% of the country speaks English and only 10% of this country speaks Spanish. In 1988 Florida declared that ENGLISH is the official language of the state. And half of the states in this country have the same law (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming.)

And yes reading and writing is different than just speaking the language, you should be able to do all three if you are a US citizen. And yes your move to Florida was a step up or a step down or a parallel move for you in someway. What ever it may be, ie. weather, entertainment, dining, family, job, etc. Something here is better, worse or just the same compared to NY.

[jjnnino]

Originally Posted by vpcats

Sorry. I came from NYC and its suburbs. Have been living in Miami for 10 years and used to come at least two or three times a year to "take a break". I happen to be one who likes Florida AND Miami itself.
Also, who owns all those new condo high risers from Brickell/Key Biscayne, to Coral Gables, to the Keys? Those same people who don't know anything about plumbing and electricity?
Just wait until the Venezuelans get their act together and can leave now that they know who Chavez really is.

What is "latin speaking " man I know a lot of people down here , who speak Spanish but not Latin ?

VPcats , I am like you I can never hate Miami I think it has many beautiful areas and I have strong roots down there . As an area it has great beaches , nightlife , sports , architecture , and beautiful women ..... do I think the quality of life has deteriorated in the last ten years .... definitely because of some of the recent immigrants who have moved here many who are illegal and their definite "third world " ways . Still many people especially from the North East still like living here at least in the winter months and they and wealthy South Americans and Europeans are driving the building boom down here which will turn soon downtown Miami into a smaller Manhattan .

Miami is not for everyone and it has things that I do not like , but its becoming a vacation for three - four day spot and the you leave like Las Vegas or New Orleans . To the posters who hate it I suggest you move and just done come back not even for a visit .... better this than being miserable down here .

[MilaMila]

I was born in the Dominican Republic, grew up in NY, went to bording school in Vermont, college in LA and moved to San Francisco after college. I've also traveled extensively within the USA and am a proud citizen of this country.

Due to a job relocation my husband and I are moving to Palmetto Bay shortly. I attended predominantly white bording schools and colleges where I was the ONLY Afro-Latina. Cixel, I empathize with your feeling of isolation and the sense of being considered an "outsider" as this has been my experience living in many parts of the country as an educated latina. I have to work twice as hard to make friends and be noticed from the crowd. Assimilating to anglo culture "please note I didn't necessarily say American culture" was a matter of necessity in order to be successful.

The fear of being passed up for a job based on my racial background has always been a reality I've had to deal with and is a reality for MANY citizens who are not white in this country. My point is, your experiece is not exclusive to you. In fact many AMERICANS deal with this reality daily in all 49 states. So consider yourself lucky...you have the rest of the county where you can go and not have this fear - fit in perfectly. But when you get there please take note that there will be another population that is excluded and feel as you do now - even if they speak English perfectly and are American citizens.

Are there any Latinos who post on this site? I would be interested in hearing what their perspective of Miami is? What are their concerns and fears?

[Veloire]

Originally Posted by lisalisa4444

We are considering moving to maimi???
We are a couple in our thirties and have a one year old and are expecting another child. We currently live in Sarasota and love Miami but just do not know if it is a smart move for us. We love the outdoors and nature but also love action and nightlife. Our TOP priority is our children as it should be and is this a good place to raise children and enjoy life? The schools are our main priority and have found that Pinecrest and Palmetto bay would be good choices although they are somewhat pricey. We have also heard positive things about Aventura and would consider this area as well. We will most likely rent at first. Any advice on areas, crime, schools, and quality of life here would be much appreciated.

I live here about 10 years and I like it. Cities like Aventura and Pinecrest are a little expensive but nice places. Palmetto Bay is a Pinecrest want to be with prices very unstable at the moment. At Aventura they are about to complete a new PGA Golf course, property prices will go to the sky soon. If you like the area here, go for it. The problems with traffics and other isssues are nation wide, not just local. Wish you all the best. J.

[TriDad]

how much are you looking to spend on housing? You can get into something reasonable in Pinecrest for around a half million or so.

The traffic there is getting worse too....since there's only US1 (S Dixie Hwy) to gain access back into the main part of Miami.

My favorite shopping spot was The Falls....totally redone after Hurricane Andrew and quite nice. Back in 1997 I was renting a 2/2 condo for $800/month....no clue what it would go for now.