Should I move to Miami (high crime, credit, neighborhood)

[Sugah Ray]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

Boricua or Puerto Rican, that's fine, why would I care if they called me that, isn't that what I am?

$200,000k gets you a 2 bed townhome? Nice! In Chicago $200,00k gets you a 1 bedroom in a nice area. I get Texas is very affordable, but I don't want to live there.

Salaries in what field? I see a lot of really nice houses and condos there (and ****ty ones as well) so people are obviously getting paid enough to live there. Are you talking more about the professional jobs or non-college degree ones? I have a Masters, and trilingual in with Spanish and Portuguese and work in Marketing. How are marketing salaries there?

Miami-Ft Lauderdale 2013
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists #of jobs 5,120, median hourly wage $28.13($58,510 annually)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL - May 2013 OES Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists #of jobs 14,040 median hourly wage $28.83($59,996 annually)
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI - May 2013 OES Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates


Median home price
Chicago $195,100
Miami $265,000
http://www.realtor.org/sites/default...2015-02-11.pdf

It's no secret that our home prices are a "little" inflated. Besides look at the # of openings. Are you sure you want to come here and pay the Sunshine tax? Chicago has twice the population of Miami metro but has 3 times the # of jobs in that particular occupation

[UrbanCheetah]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

Miami-Ft Lauderdale 2013
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists #of jobs 5,120, median hourly wage $28.13($58,510 annually)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL - May 2013 OES Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists #of jobs 14,040 median hourly wage $28.83($59,996 annually)
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI - May 2013 OES Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates


Median home price
Chicago $195,100
Miami $265,000
http://www.realtor.org/sites/default...2015-02-11.pdf

It's no secret that our home prices are a "little" inflated. Besides look at the # of openings. Are you sure you want to come here and pay the Sunshine tax? Chicago has twice the population of Miami metro but has 3 times the # of jobs in that particular occupation

I can attest that the Chicago median home price isn't the most accurate. Chicago is almost like two separate cities. The poor southside which is very dangerous have home prices in the $100s, the northside (where I live) and where middle class and upper class live, you won't find very much for under $200k. It's rare. I live in Avondale, a middle class neighborhood and condos on average sell for 250k-400k and houses 300k-800k. You have to remember the southside is generally poor and is actually the size of Miami proper in terms of population and bigger in land size! It really skews the numbers. If you were to just take the northside of Chicago the median would probably be more like $330k.

I know and have always known that jobs are more plentiful in Chicago. BUT I will say this my work in Marketing in expanding agency services in Panama, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia with the fact that I speak Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese I think opens up some more doors for me in Miami. Chicago has a lot more jobs for sure. Not arguing that.

[Sugah Ray]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

I can attest that the Chicago median home price isn't the most accurate. Chicago is almost like two separate cities. The poor southside which is very dangerous have home prices in the $100s, the northside (where I live) and where middle class and upper class live, you won't find very much for under $200k. It's rare. I live in Avondale, a middle class neighborhood and condos on average sell for 250k-400k and houses 300k-800k. You have to remember the southside is generally poor and is actually the size of Miami proper in terms of population and bigger in land size! It really skews the numbers. If you were to just take the northside of Chicago the median would probably be more like $330k.

I know and have always known that jobs are more plentiful in Chicago. BUT I will say this my work in Marketing in expanding agency services in Panama, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia with the fact that I speak Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese I think opens up some more doors for me in Miami. Chicago has a lot more jobs for sure. Not arguing that.

Like any other large city. We have high crime areas all over the county but probably more in the North. Usually you have to head to the Everglades(and then put up with a long commute) to be in a "safe" area that is affordable to someone making 60k. The homes close to civilization are ridiculously expensive like Coral Gables, East Kendall and Pinecrest, homes in those areas usually start over 500k.

Western suburbs might be more affordable but have to put up with horrible traffic because the homes were built without taking into account those people would have to drive. Public transportation usually doesn't take you anywhere unless you get lucky and get a job in Brickell or Jackson hospital and can afford an expensive condo in Brickell or don't mind putting up with the homeless and crime in the "up and coming" gentrified areas in downtown Miami and design district.

Many people in Miami are biligual and learning Portuguese it's not really that hard if you have to. I'm not sure your language skills are really an advantage. I had a job where I needed to deal with Brazilians and we were able to communicate with my limited knowledge of the language.

Sorry for being so negative but I want to also consider these things so you don't end up being another statistic in this forum. Reality is that good jobs are hard to get anywhere in the US and living in good safe neighborhoods in a large city is expensive everywhere but Miami tends to be one of the least affordable cities in the US. I did the math in an old post and only Los Angeles was slightly worse.

[UrbanCheetah]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

Like any other large city. We have high crime areas all over the county but probably more in the North. Usually you have to head to the Everglades(and then put up with a long commute) to be in a "safe" area that is affordable to someone making 60k. The homes close to civilization are ridiculously expensive like Coral Gables, East Kendall and Pinecrest, homes in those areas usually start over 500k.

Western suburbs might be more affordable but have to put up with horrible traffic because the homes were built without taking into account those people would have to drive. Public transportation usually doesn't take you anywhere unless you get lucky and get a job in Brickell or Jackson hospital and can afford an expensive condo in Brickell or don't mind putting up with the homeless and crime in the "up and coming" gentrified areas in downtown Miami and design district.

I am looking at Wynwood as a possibility for the move. How is little Havana, safe? I don't need to be in the coolest neighborhood (while it would be cool) but at the very least one that is affordable, convenient and safe.

[pierrekid]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

What's your age? How long have you been there for? Just curious.

Sorry it took me long to respond. I'm 28, recently married and have been down here since 2005 ( came here for school at the University of Miami). Cant get enough of this place now!

[pierrekid]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

I am looking at Wynwood as a possibility for the move. How is little Havana, safe? I don't need to be in the coolest neighborhood (while it would be cool) but at the very least one that is affordable, convenient and safe.

Wynwood is the equivalent of the new brookyln in NY. Very hipster high end with cool shops and restaurants. By 2019 the whole coastal strip of midtown, edgewater, wynwood and brickell are going to completely remodeled.

[Winchupuata]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

Reality is that good jobs are hard to get anywhere in the US and living in good safe neighborhoods in a large city is expensive everywhere but Miami tends to be one of the least affordable cities in the US. I did the math in an old post and only Los Angeles was slightly worse.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/15/bu...able.html?_r=0

And you would be right, only in LA rents take a bigger share of one's income, and if you start looking at the more desirable areas of Miami then rents are simply ridiculous. Really, who can afford $3000 and $4000 rents, or more, for a one bedroom? Well, obviously some people can, unfortunately I'm not one of them.

[UrbanCheetah]

Thanks Pierre. Are you Latino? (Sorry for all the questions!). I am and I am just curious if you are/aren't and how that has helped you fit in.

Wynwood was what did it for me. I love cities, the very urban ones. When I went to downtown Miami I was really impressed at everything going on. Went to Miami Beach and always loved the urbanity there, but it always felt so South Beachy. By that point Miami was a place I would consider but nothing serious. When I went to Wynwood, completely changed and I was like I have to live there. Not because I loved the neighborhood, but it showed loud and clear how Miami is changing and I want to be a part of it. Wynwood was what really brought me in (outside that I love the beach, tropical weather and Latin culture).

Yeah I can see it being the New Brooklyn, or the Wicker Park/Logan Square of Chicago (which are my two favorite neighborhoods).

I made it official though. January 18 2016 I will be in Miami. I am putting a lot in motion right now for it to happen. It's all kind of falling into place. My dad bought a condo in Jupiter, FL, and lives only 1.5 hours away from Miami. My mother said that if I go she is going to start making plans to move there as well. My cousin is planning on moving there too. On top of that I have three friends, who I visited on this trip, that live there. So I am really looking forward to this. I know it's not perfect and there will be some things I hate about Miami and really miss about Chicago, but I think it's time for a change.

[pierrekid]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

Thanks Pierre. Are you Latino? (Sorry for all the questions!). I am and I am just curious if you are/aren't and how that has helped you fit in.

Wynwood was what did it for me. I love cities, the very urban ones. When I went to downtown Miami I was really impressed at everything going on. Went to Miami Beach and always loved the urbanity there, but it always felt so South Beachy. By that point Miami was a place I would consider but nothing serious. When I went to Wynwood, completely changed and I was like I have to live there. Not because I loved the neighborhood, but it showed loud and clear how Miami is changing and I want to be a part of it. Wynwood was what really brought me in (outside that I love the beach, tropical weather and Latin culture).

Yeah I can see it being the New Brooklyn, or the Wicker Park/Logan Square of Chicago (which are my two favorite neighborhoods).

I made it official though. January 18 2016 I will be in Miami. I am putting a lot in motion right now for it to happen. It's all kind of falling into place. My dad bought a condo in Jupiter, FL, and lives only 1.5 hours away from Miami. My mother said that if I go she is going to start making plans to move there as well. My cousin is planning on moving there too. On top of that I have three friends, who I visited on this trip, that live there. So I am really looking forward to this. I know it's not perfect and there will be some things I hate about Miami and really miss about Chicago, but I think it's time for a change.

That's great! I'm actually African American. Jamaican/ English/French background. Hasnt really helped/hurt me since i went to UM. I think the title of being a UM grad helps in the miami area in terms of acclimating to the different areas of Miami. Glad you will be joining the movement! This place is an amazing investment for the future for young professionals/ businesses. One of the few areas that I actually feel I can grow with instead of the old "small fish in a big pond" feeling you get with most cities.

[roberta08]

UrbanCheetah, I surprised to see you considering Wynwood. Wynwood has historically been a high crime area. It has a lot of homeless passing thru to/from the homeless shelters to the south. I briefly worked in the area, and the office rule was "be gone before dark". Maybe you should check out the crime stats, before you choose an area.