South Florida Retirement Destinations

The warm climate and clean air has always made South Florida a popular retirement destination. Because of the down-turn in the housing market there are now some great bargains to be had across the region. But there’s more to the area than Golf courses, no state income tax and sunny beaches, US News’ feature on the ‘best places to retire‘ in the USA features South Florida heavily for various reasons.

Melbourne Beach for good value for money, Doral for it’s low tax, Pembroke Pines because it’s political mix and Fort Lauderdale for those seeking a more active retirement. The proliferation of local NFL teams (Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars) made Miami Beach a good location for football fans. Even winter sports are possible in the South with Clearwater’s Ice Arena and the Tampa Skate Academy enabling residents to skate and sunbathe on the same day!

Our top three picks for best retirement neighborhoods in Miami are; Coconut Grove (an active community with great facilities but without the bustle of central Miami), Key Biscayne (for the outdoor retiree who isn’t ready to hang up their fishing poles quite yet) and Coral Gables (a more Hispanic neighborhood but featuring lovely, quiet, tree-lined streets). Miami isn’t full of white haired old people waiting to pass over, it has a lot to offer retirees of all ages, abilities and interests.

How Kneedl Recommends Neighborhoods

In order for us to recommend neighborhoods on Kneedl.com we’ve gathered information from many different sources and combined this with on-the-ground editorial experience. Our aim is not to tell you about every neighborhood in every city. Our aim is to recommend the best neighborhoods for you.

There are many publicly available up-to-date resources for data such as crime-rates, house prices, schools and healthcare but the latest census in Miami was taken in 2000 and much of this information is actually misleading when you take into account Miami’s property boom and the recent downturn. Neighborhoods that were once small family homes and barren lots now host modern high-rises attracting a younger, more affluent resident.

Statistical relevancy is subjective. What may be an acceptable crime-rate for a young student looking for a bargain apartment may not be acceptable for an elderly couple seeking the quiet life. We’ve weighted the stats by what’s important to our three demographics (young and carefree, family focused and retirees) as well as taking into account the relative desires of Hispanic and non-hispanic residents.

Rather than relying solely on statistical information and trying to develop a fancy algorithm we found the best neighborhood recommendations were made by combining stats with resident testimonial and by unbiased Kneedl staffers actually visiting the neighborhood in person.

Free promotion for Miami realtors

Kneedl is almost ready to go live. We’re smoothing out a few kinks before we let it loose for feedback. The site aims to help people find the right neighborhood based on their preferences. We’re looking for Miami realtors who would like a bit of free promotion for their services.  Leave a comment and we’ll get back to you with details.

Buying a condo in Miami? The questions you need to ask first.

Life is pretty tough for everyone right now, so if you’re looking at buying in the current climate it’s essential to make sure you’re getting the right place for your money. Most of the newer high-rise condos in Miami offer great facilities: pool, gym, swanky lounges and much more. Plus you’re pretty much guaranteed that you can move straight in without having to  spend money fixing any of the fixtures and fittings.  But before you commit there are a few things you should find out first:

1. Can you show me the minutes of the latest home owners association? You may have fallen in love with the building, but if the residents are at each others’ throats it’s best to find out first. Your dream apartment could turn into a nightmare with the wrong neighbors or a misguided condo commando.
2. Can I see the condo bylaws? Don’t even think about making an offer before seeing this.  If you can, get a real estate lawyer to look them over too.  You don’t want to sign the contract and then find out that Fluffy, your beloved Doberman, won’t be able to move in with you as there’s a no pet clause.
3. What is the relationship with the building’s developer? Sometimes developers retain the rights to certain amenities or parts of the building and then rent them back to the condo association. They could then raise rents and the costs will be passed onto your monthly fees.
4. Are there any lawsuits filed against the condo association? Once you become an owner you could be responsible for covering the costs of any litigation.
5. How many units are owner-occupied? The higher the percentage, the more likely to building is to be kept in good condition.
6. How many units have been sold? Some mortgages may require a certain percentage of occupancy to guarantee their loan, or they might charge you a premium to gain financing. If it’s low, you may have more room to negotiate a good price.  There is the risk that if it’s still low when you come to sell it could hurt your resale value.
7. Are there any maintenance plans for the next year? If so, see if the condo association has enough money in their fund to cover it. Otherwise, yes you guessed it, you will be responsible for a portion as an owner.
8. What does the condo association insurance plan cover? Look through it and see what the plan covers and what you are responsible for.

Happy house hunting!