Relocating and Confused (Miami, Tampa, Miami Beach: buying, high school, university)

[Tjam]

Originally Posted by Tjam

Not much about Kendall on this forum. An apartment search for Kendall shows fine looking apartment buildings in East Kendall (I guess east of US1?), and West Kendall with 1 & 2 BR going for $900-$1500. I would suspect that housing prices in that area would also be affordable. Household income in the area ranges $40k-$118k, and housing $99k-$357k. Appears to be mostly middle income with no ghetto areas, tho $99k is on the low side. I am getting these numbers from zip-codes.com, looking at all the zip codes for kendall.
What it does not tell is the ambience and general quality of life in the area. Also, I can't find any crime stats for Kendall, I guess it's grouped with Miami overall.
Anyone here knows Kendall and care to tell.

It just dawned upon me that those prices I quoted above are for Average House Value. No, I wasn't smoking anything and I wasn't drinking anything strong.

[♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥]

A decent home in Kendall and any part of miami would be at least in the 300k range. The rent prices sound accurate. Rent is cheaper. Crime should not be a problem anywhere in kendall unless the home is not really located in kendall.

Kendall is usually the area going south after 88st (kendall drive) all the way through 184st, as you go south, you go more to the west. But it's hard to define. 88st and 67ave is Kendall, 104 and 67ave is not(that's Pinecrest, very nice area) 104st & 97ave is Kendall, 152 & 97 ave is not (that is Perrine, not a great area), 168 & 137 is Kendall, 168 & 97ave is not (This is a bad area which I don't even know the name) 184st & 147 is kendall, 184 & 107ave is a prostitution and drug dealing area.

It's a little confusing, sometimes you see good areas sorrounded by not so great areas(pinecrest/perrine) You see million dollar homes on Old cutler Road and then you drive a little south and you see bungalows. I live here and I still don't know some of the areas but when you drive around you get the idea.

[Chelito23]

I would define Kendall as anywhere that is a middle class suburban area SW of Miller Road, excluding the incorporated areas, south to 136 st.-ish area. People tend to label all areas Kendall that are middle class in the SW unicorporated areas. The "bad" areas are not "considered" Kendall, and usually have their own identities, like West Perrine, S. Miami Heights, Goulds, The Ridge, Howard etc.


South of 136st is not really traditional Kendall. It is a mix of incorporated areas, the Redlands, subdivisions and people who identify their areas by streeet names and places (i.e. Quail Roost, Eureka, Metrozoo etc.). People have always debated the bounderies and always will, unless Kendall ever incorporates. This is why there is so much disagreement as to what Kendall is like...it all depends on one's opinion of what actually constitutes the area.

PS I agree, a 99K home is wishful thinking in Dade County much less Kendall.

[vvolin]

Many immigrants survive by living in poor areas. It is very expensive to live down here and I know that some middle income families are not able to buy a house. However, things are changing, prices are going down. Check http://www.dqnews.com/ZIPSFL.shtm for a special on price change by area in south florida: the reality is that prices have dropped much more in some areas than in others.

[Tjam]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

I would define Kendall as anywhere that is a middle class suburban area SW of Miller Road, excluding the incorporated areas, south to 136 st.-ish area. People tend to label all areas Kendall that are middle class in the SW unicorporated areas. The "bad" areas are not "considered" Kendall, and usually have their own identities, like West Perrine, S. Miami Heights, Goulds, The Ridge, Howard etc.


South of 136st is not really traditional Kendall. It is a mix of incorporated areas, the Redlands, subdivisions and people who identify their areas by streeet names and places (i.e. Quail Roost, Eureka, Metrozoo etc.). People have always debated the bounderies and always will, unless Kendall ever incorporates. This is why there is so much disagreement as to what Kendall is like...it all depends on one's opinion of what actually constitutes the area.

PS I agree, a 99K home is wishful thinking in Dade County much less Kendall.

Re that 99k: I'm seeing in the fine print for zip-codes.com that the data is from the 2000 census. Way out dated for home prices.

[fromtxtofl]

Second confusion, if miami is SOOOOOOOO expensive that middle class folks can't survive here then how can all the immigrant population survive. If your answer is government assistance then you've never really looked at what that assistance entails...hardly called survival...necessary and everyone who receives it should be grateful that they receive any assistance at all but hardly the lap of luxury. Wouldn't it be safe to argue that they will too eventually exit South Florida for more affordable places to live.

How can all of the immigrants survive? I found this answer yesterday in another thread. It was a great explanation about how when you drive around, you will notice numerous vehicles parked in front of a house, they're crammed in like sardines in order to afford the housing.
No, I don't think it is safe to argue that they too will eventually exit South Florida. This answer is also found in a thread I read yesterday. It would require a HUGE adjutment for the immigrants to leave. First, they'd have to learn English. It would also require them to take an interest in America's cultres, values, beliefs, interests, government, etc. which they don't seem to be interested in. Am I generalizing, yes, but there are always exceptions to any rule. What I have seen is immigrants from Cuba successfully making Miami similar to Cuba in many ways.
I think it is important to note that I have only lived here four months. I have lived throughout TX and have a great appreciation for my home state now. Until you live somewhere where there is a great quality of life, sense of community, friendly people who say hello to strangers, etc. it is very difficult to understand what everyone seems to mean about Miami.

[Chelito23]

Good question. Many of the immigrants have family who subsidize them. Free room and board. Relatives who can provide jobs or know of informal work. Banding together to afford housing. Settling for inadequate housing. All of these factors come into play.

I have also wondered if the spiraling costs would force immigrants out. Then I look at LA, and see that hasn't really changed immigration patterns. What I see happening is first or second generation children of immigrants growing up and moving away to other cities, many previously went to Broward. Then to Collier County and PB. Now Central Florida is the promise land in many people's minds. Others dream bigger and try for North Carolina or other places where many Hispanics are concentrating. Just my thoughts though.

[vvolin]

The web site I sent is linked to a special nbc6 news did last week and reports the last year home price change. You may have to do some extra search on the site, but you shoudl be able to get the correct and updated information.

[vpcats]

If you are referring to the Cuba of NOW, I think Miami could hardly resemble it, not even in my wildest dreams. If you're referring to the Cuba of 1960, Miami could not have dreamt of catching up to it so it IS conceivable that Cubans have actually helped put Miami on the map.

As to central and north Florida and NC being the new "place to be", yeap. Just watch those blossom into more of the same that everyone complains about.

It's funny how we always just want more and more and more and are willing to uproot our existences in search of OZ only to find that the new place also comes with troubles of its own.

I am more and more convinced everyday that we are really obnoxious creatures that can never be satisfied enough and have a very difficult time accepting the foreign notion of just being thankful that we are not in somebody else's stinky smelling shoes.

[salisbury]

Originally Posted by MilaMila

As I explained before everyone has their own personal reasons for leaving or moving to Miami. The jobs there might suck in your opinion but my husband's company is relocating all of us to Miami...he gets to keep is Northern California salary and stands to do a ton of more business while he is there. Our equity on our current home will allow us to purchase a much better house there. So for us it is a good move and a chance worth taking. Maybe things will go well and maybe they won't but that's life isn't it. We would be dumb not to take the risk. If we hate it then we'll have another decision to make and at that juncture we will revisit this question. For now the decision has been made and I hate to think that I have to defend it...

I understand that you are fed up with Miami and although I don't know all your reasons, I respect that it's your decision. I appreciate the honesty...I really do...but "why not just stay in California?" was not up for debate nor a question I asked. I really appreciate the information but I reserve the right to make my own choices and those choices should be respected.

I was under the impression that this was a good place to get answers to questions about life in Miami from the people who live there. I'm beginning to think this forum is a support group for people who hate Miami and want to leave. Are those of us moving into Miami not welcomed on this forum? Is it impossible to live in Miami and do well...like it in fact? Can you honestly say that everyone hates Miami as much as a the people on this site do? If so - no wonder the city is an awful place to live. Imagine living in a place that everyone hates.

Do you think that your collective negative attitude (justified or not) also affects the energy in the city? I'm sure you've had an awful time living in Miami otherwise you wouldn't feel this way but assuming that this is everyone's experience and therefore no one should move there a bit drastic.

Hehehe! most here are happy and out enjoying life here, overall the town is pretty cool and exotic. The few shut-ins that don't enjoy all there is to do here, well you just found them via this message board. Relax you'll do fine here, especially with a N. Cali salary. It's a unique town like SanFran, with very strong negatives overshadowed by even stronger positives, you either get Miami or you don't.