Coral Gables for 50-somethings from Richmond, VA??? (Miami, University: bank owned, appointed)

[debfulk]

My husband is being transferred to Coral Gables with a bank. We have been in Richmond, VA for 7 years. Also lived in Sao Paulo, Atlanta, London, and Zurich. Son at federal service academy. Daughter will be a junior in high school this fall. She currently attends Catholic all girls' high school that is almost 100 years old. What are her chances of a transfer to Lourdes at this late date? Are there any other Catholic girls' schools to consider? I would like to work in event planning for a museum, historic site, non-profit...any ideas? My background is interior design and I have a certificate from UVA in Event Planning. I am also involved with Junior League Sustainers, DAR, UDC and do a lot of volunteer museum work. Love older homes and can pay around 600K for a home. Any recommendations/suggestions appreciated about streets, neighborhoods, school for our daughter, job for me, Miami League Sustainer transfers, lineage societies like DAR, UDC, Colonial Dames. We are early 50's and love to entertain. Thank you for your advice, comments.

[crisp444]

Coral Gables is a wonderful place. In fact, it's one of the most beautiful suburban towns I have seen in this country, and it has a great, lively downtown full of nice restaurants, cafes, and shops. $600,000 buys you a nice home, possibly with a swimming pool, on a tree-lined street. For private schools with junior high, try Lourdes (a couple people I have known attended Lourdes and liked it there), Gulliver, or Ransom Everglades. I just looked up DAR, UDC, and Colonial Dames, and I highly doubt there is anything like that in the Miami area. Miami is not really "southern" at all except in African-American areas and semi-rural Anglo-American areas. Coral Gables is a mix of Anglo-Americans, Cuban-Americans, NY/NJ Jews, Europeans, and South Americans... not too many people who really identify with the South, really. There is a Junior League, however! http://jlmiami.org/ Let me know if you have any more questions.

[feelquiet]

Also check out Carrollton School, another catholic girls' school that's close to east coral gables.

You can find lots of older homes in the $600k price range in east (of US-1) and west Gables as well as some in Pinecrest. But be prepared for sticker shock. The prices for SFH are still relatively high. The $600k homes will seem small compared to what you can buy for the money in VA.

I visited Richmond last summer and loved it; everyone was friendly with that old-fashioned southern courtesy/hospitality. My favorite concert of the last few years was at the restored National ....

[StilltheSame]

Welcome! You will do well - if you are intent on religious based schools - Lourdes or Carrolton. If youd consider others - Ransom and Gulliver are really really good. Private schools are less epensive in SFl - so thats a plus. And, while va home prices may be lower- the home prices are fair for what you get - its the taxes that are problematic. Enjoy your move !

[debfulk]

Thanks to all of you for advice, encouragment. I will look at all the schools you mentioned. And the housing/neighborhood advice is so helpful. Forgot to mention we speak Portuguese, which may come in handy. We actually have a pool here in Richmond, so even a tiny one in FL would be welcome! Feelquiet, we, too, love the National. Saw the Temptations there opening night and walked down Broad St (in black tie, party dress) to a restaurant with a Brazilian chef. I will let you know where we end up! You are so wonderful to take the time to post.

[crisp444]

Anywhere in Coral Gables is nice. Most of Coral Gables is west of US1 (that's where the University of Miami, the downtown area, and all of the golf courses are), but there is also a sliver of Coral Gables that runs east of US1 to the Bay. Other nearby areas you could consider are South Miami, Pinecrest, and Coconut Grove. Here is a sample of what your budget can buy in the area:

**BEAUTIFUL SOUTH CORAL GABLES HOUSE**JUST REDUCED**PRIME AREA
*CORAL GABLES BANK OWNED! 4/3.5 3031 SF HOME PROOF OF FUNDS REQ
Charming Coral Gables
Awesome house for sale
Canoe or Fish from your Back Yard in prestigious Pinecrest Villages!!
Pinecrest 5 bedrooms 3 bath, pool $599,000

[miamiblue]

Coral Gables is one of Miami's very first planned communities and is very nice, but nothing in south Florida comes anywhere near the same type of historic feel of downtown Richmond. The "older" homes people mention are actually quite young compared to what Richmond has to offer in the downtown area, so depending on what your definition of "older" is you may be pleased or disappointed.

You generally won't find much architecture older than the 1920s in Miami (if you can find that!), and you most certainly will not find any concentration of Victorian architecture a la The Fan. All that said, Coral Gables is a very nice collection of Mediterranean Revival homes that are older relative to the rest of Miami.

Another historic neighborhood that you might want to look into is Coconut Grove.

[stevep111]

No offense but when I see posts like this it makes me wonder if these people are real or if they are just trolling for information. If you look around you will see descriptive posts with all sorts of information about the person and what they are looking for.

May be my suspicious mind is acting up but do you think these people might be Marketing people trying to dredge for information? They are usually junior members and it is their first or second post.

[Rich2010]

Originally Posted by stevep111

No offense but when I see posts like this it makes me wonder if these people are real or if they are just trolling for information. If you look around you will see descriptive posts with all sorts of information about the person and what they are looking for.

May be my suspicious mind is acting up but do you think these people might be Marketing people trying to dredge for information? They are usually junior members and it is their first or second post.

You must have gotten out of bed on the wrong side this morning, Steve! Most new members to the Florida groups first start out posting questions related to an anticipated move. That's certainly why I joined, and I'm hardly alone in this. I've also found the responses to debfulk's questions quite informative.

[rysy]

I am in the exact same boat...moving, that is. (august)
I joined this forum to get any/all info to plan the best move for us.
It is helpful to read others experiences & I appreciate all the input!