moving family to miami. looking for area with character (Coral Gables: apartment, to rent)

[AliGilbert]

Hi, we are moving to Miami in January partially to learn Spanish. We want to be somewhere near the ocean. Finding a safe charming neighborhood with character and a community feel is very important to us. We are looking for a quaint neighborhood with craftsman's bungalows or old spanish style architecture walking distance to some shops or restaurants. We also like lots of green space and pedestrian/bike friendly. Not interested in strip malls or apartment buildings. Looking to spend up to $2,800 for at least a 2 bedroom. We are a family of 3 with a toddler. I am a nurse practitioner and my husband is a physician assistant. Based on what I've read in the threads the 3 places we want to be are Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, or Miami Shores. My questions are...Would we be able to find work close to home in those areas? Can we find a home for $2,800 rent or less based on what we're looking for? Is it feasible to learn spanish in a year in Miami.
Thanks!
Ali

[AliGilbert]

Also, what's a good way to find a job before we move there?

[Cubanchic]

Try Miami springs or coconut grove area. I would check the hr depts for all area hospitals, Baptist being one of the big ones with various locations. Also I would check in to a professional agency to get a feel what is available. You can also try Careerbuilders.com

[Sugah Ray]

Originally Posted by AliGilbert

Hi, we are moving to Miami in January partially to learn Spanish. We want to be somewhere near the ocean. Finding a safe charming neighborhood with character and a community feel is very important to us. We are looking for a quaint neighborhood with craftsman's bungalows or old spanish style architecture walking distance to some shops or restaurants. We also like lots of green space and pedestrian/bike friendly. Not interested in strip malls or apartment buildings. Looking to spend up to $2,800 for at least a 2 bedroom. We are a family of 3 with a toddler. I am a nurse practitioner and my husband is a physician assistant. Based on what I've read in the threads the 3 places we want to be are Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, or Miami Shores. My questions are...Would we be able to find work close to home in those areas? Can we find a home for $2,800 rent or less based on what we're looking for? Is it feasible to learn spanish in a year in Miami.
Thanks!
Ali

No to all.

Miami is a new city mostly built for cars with modern architecture. Also Miami coastline is very limited to the public so the few areas that meet some of your requirements have been taken over by millionaires from all over the world.

You can afford to live in a suburb with a 30-60 minute commute if you both find work.

[AliGilbert]

Thanks for the replies.

The one who says no to everything. That's disappointing. We used to live in Honolulu. I'm surprised Miami is more expensive than that. No to learning Spanish to? I don't expect to live on the coast, but within 20 minutes from the beach would be nice. So coconut grove or miami springs is not possible either?

[unquiltom]

I would recommend you do some job searching first, before moving here. You'll find that Miami employers pay quite a bit less than employers in other parts of the country. Also, at least where I now work, your benefits are also more expensive than other places. $2800 a month will get you a nice place in the areas you mentioned, but you may not make that kind of money here, even if it's common in other places.

[disappear lika ghost]

$2800 will get you a 2 bedroom in coral gables. It's a 25 min drive to/from the beach without traffic. Decent area. However, I also have a family with a toddler and I'm looking elsewhere around Miami. I've heard plantation, weston, pembroke pines are better areas to raise a family.

[ruski]

What about South Beach? should be able to rent something there for that much. And it is walkable. Plenty of Spanish spoken all over too.

[AliGilbert]

South beach sounds fun. I like art deco too. How safe and green is it though? I seem to remember lots of strip malls from the one time I went.

[Dakster]

If you like crowds and parties, south beach is the place to be.... I am done with that (and have been for quite a while) but to each their own. Further North is better. Remember that you have to cross one of only a few causeways to get to the mainland and to your work. For anyone moving to South Florida - I HIGHLY recommend pretending like you live their and have to go to work. i.e. Start out in the neighborhood you want to move to and try to get to work on time. And then when you would get off of work, drive home.

I've been here 40 years and I still don't know Spanish. At one point I was ok in survival Spanish. FWIW, most people here don't speak real Spanish anyways (at least the young crowd) more of a Spanglish... My Latin friends tell me their kids do not know or use Spanish often, especially if they are second generation born here.