single mom considering miami (Jacksonville, Tampa: best neighborhoods, real estate, rent)

[Brie83]

I'm a single mom of a three year old daughter. I currently live in cleveland, ohio. This december I'll be graduating with a bachelors in Social Work. I want to know:

1. Is Miami affordable (especially on a Social workers salary)?
2. What area has the best schools?
3. Where would you say the best neighborhoods are?

[JacobMAX]

In my opinion, Miami is not affordable.

Public schools ( Middle and High schools ) in Miami usually are bad or not so good. But most Elementary Public Schools are good or fine here.

The best neighborhoods generally are located east ( or near ) US-1 between Brickell and Palmetto Bay....like Coral Gables, South Miami, Pinecrest, East Kendall...and also there are a few more good neighborhoods located elsewhere in Miami ( like Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, Aventura,... )

You should look for something in Kendall, it's a affordable and fine neighborhood, safe, about 30 minutes ( without traffic ) from Downtown Miami and it has fine Elementary schools. The rent costs about $1,200 for a 2bd/2br condo, $1,325 for a 3bd/3br condo and $1,500 for 2bd or 3bd townhouse. The East part of Kendall is better ( and closer to Downtown and safer ) than the West part.

[compelled to reply]

Jacob, glad to see you back, your posts are so...concise! Always excellent, flawless advice.

That being said, I do not reccomend moving to South Florida (especially Miami) as a single mom unless you are pulling in a solid, gurantteed 75 thousand a year or above. Miami (and South FL at large) is very expensive in day to day expenses (as well as real estate, property taxes and homeowners insurance), has mediocre middle and high schools in all but the best neighborhood (good ones do exist however, and elementary is usually fine but can be spotty in Miami-Dade), and a not-so-robust job market, not to mention a lot of negative influences for your children in an "affordable" area. Three words- don't do it.

[JacobMAX]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Jacob, glad to see you back, your posts are so...concise! Always excellent, flawless advice.

That being said, I do not reccomend moving to South Florida (especially Miami) as a single mom unless you are pulling in a solid, gurantteed 75 thousand a year or above. Miami (and South FL at large) is very expensive in day to day expenses (as well as real estate, property taxes and homeowners insurance), has mediocre middle and high schools in all but the best neighborhood (good ones do exist however, and elementary is usually fine but can be spotty in Miami-Dade), and a not-so-robust job market, not to mention a lot of negative influences for your children in an "affordable" area. Three words- don't do it.

Thank you, Compelled!!!

And I agree with everything you said...definitely Miami isn't affordable...

[Brie83]

thanks for your honest answers

[doggiebus]

Brie - Sorry to tell you, but it will be tough to live here on a single salary just out of school, plus with a child. There is another thread just opened listing Miami as the third most expensive city to live in the US. If that gives you any idea. If you want to move to Florida, north Florida is cheaper over all. Maybe even Tampa. To give you idea of rent in Kendall. My sister rents her place out for $1400 a month 1br/1.5bath plus a den around 1000 sqft.

[JacobMAX]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

Brie - Sorry to tell you, but it will be tough to live here on a single salary just out of school, plus with a child. There is another thread just opened listing Miami as the third most expensive city to live in the US. If that gives you any idea. If you want to move to Florida, north Florida is cheaper over all. Maybe even Tampa. To give you idea of rent in Kendall. My sister rents her place out for $1400 a month 1br/1.5bath plus a den around 1000 sqft.

$1,400 for a 1br/1.5ba + den...that's a lot; last year I almost rented a 2bd/2ba townhouse for about $1,450 in Central Kendall ( near SW 107th Ave ).

Even Kendall is getting expensive...

[Alphaman]

Originally Posted by Brie83

I'm a single mom of a three year old daughter. I currently live in cleveland, ohio. This december I'll be graduating with a bachelors in Social Work. I want to know:

1. Is Miami affordable (especially on a Social workers salary)?
2. What area has the best schools?
3. Where would you say the best neighborhoods are?

Try Tampa or Jacksonville Miami is crap right now I see alot of people from miami moving here to Orlando telling me how much it sucks down there..

[Luiso]

I can only compare Miami to PA I have lived here 2 yrs its expensive compared to PA but in your case with a daughter the weather is great.
Miami is kid 'friendly" as far as out door activites all yr long

[Luiso]

Originally Posted by Alphaman

Try Tampa or Jacksonville Miami is crap right now I see alot of people from miami moving here to Orlando telling me how much it sucks down there..

Orlando has the highest crime rate in Florida how can anyone say its better than Miami ?

Infact Orlando is rated one of highest crime cities in America