Best Area to Live (for single guy in 30s) (Miami: rental car, best neighborhoods)

[WonderfulAlex]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of making a move to Miami and was hoping to get some advice from this group. About me: 37, single male, working in the energy/utility industry, and currently living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am East Asian if that matters.

I was wondering if you could suggest where the best areas to live around Miami are. Some things that are important for me (in no particular order):
1. Cost of Living: Ideally, rent under $2500 a month, but willing to stretch it higher.
2. Dating
3. Proximity to healthy food and grocery stores
4. Gyms nearby
5. Safety
6. Cleanliness
7. Friendly locals
8. A home/apartment with good natural light (and AC of course)

I plan to visit for 3 weeks to get a feel for the city and see if this could be a good place to relocate long term. Unfortunately, I am still working for a company based in California and do not have a job lined up in Miami.
I also will not bring my car and was planning on using Uber for my trip.

I also have money saved for a down payment on a home. Could reasonably afford something in the ballpark of $750k.

Any tips, advice, and info would be much appreciated! Cheers.

[kyle19125]

I would recommend the Arts Park neighborhood in Downtown Hollywood. It's a nice, walkable area with all of the amenities and minutes from beautiful Hollywood Beach and it's Broadwalk. Hollywood is conveniently located off of I-95 between Miami and Fort Lauderdale with the city limits touching FLL and close to the MIA-Dade County line. Unlike the trendier parts of MIA for instance it has more an age-appropriate (and approachable/friendly) vibe with many working single professionals living there. Uber is quite expensive and would recommend renting a car to truly see the area at your own pace and with a wider scope so you're not overlooking a potentially great area (like Downtown Hollywood) you might have otherwise missed. Rental cars from one of the national companies like National, Hertz and Avis cost about $50 a day, that's easily eaten up in one Uber round trip. Also besides MIA be sure to comparison shop flights into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, often the difference is significant. Below are some apartment suggestions in Hollywood:

https://www.apartments.com/circ-resi...od-fl/wcn83sl/
https://www.apartments.com/1818-park...od-fl/ymm2jms/
https://www.apartments.com/nine-holl...od-fl/81qlhf3/

[Corrie22]

Dec 4, 2023

BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN MIAMI FOR SINGLES & YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Brickell
Coconut Grove
Downtown Miami
Little Havana
Wynwood

https://www.extraspace.com/blog/movi...professionals/

... I 100% agree with these 5 choices

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Corrie22

Dec 4, 2023

BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN MIAMI FOR SINGLES & YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Brickell
Coconut Grove
Downtown Miami
Little Havana
Wynwood

https://www.extraspace.com/blog/movi...professionals/

... I 100% agree with these 5 choices

I agree, all are good options with some caveats. Brickell/Downtown Miami is very status-driven and can be difficult to assimilate into or have the desire to. Coconut Grove tends older (30s and 40s) and could be a good fit for the OP. Wynwood is very artsy and unless in that mold a difficult place to blend in. Little Havana is very Spanish language-centric and would highly suggest the OP be of a higher level of bilingual ability than Spanish 101.

[WonderfulAlex]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I would recommend the Arts Park neighborhood in Downtown Hollywood. It's a nice, walkable area with all of the amenities and minutes from beautiful Hollywood Beach and it's Broadwalk. Hollywood is conveniently located off of I-95 between Miami and Fort Lauderdale with the city limits touching FLL and close to the MIA-Dade County line. Unlike the trendier parts of MIA for instance it has more an age-appropriate (and approachable/friendly) vibe with many working single professionals living there. Uber is quite expensive and would recommend renting a car to truly see the area at your own pace and with a wider scope so you're not overlooking a potentially great area (like Downtown Hollywood) you might have otherwise missed. Rental cars from one of the national companies like National, Hertz and Avis cost about $50 a day, that's easily eaten up in one Uber round trip. Also besides MIA be sure to comparison shop flights into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, often the difference is significant. Below are some apartment suggestions in Hollywood:

[url]https://www.apartments.com/circ-residences-hollywood-fl/wcn83sl/[/url]
[url]https://www.apartments.com/1818-park-hollywood-fl/ymm2jms/[/url]
[url]https://www.apartments.com/nine-hollywood-hollywood-fl/81qlhf3/[/url]

This location looks fantastic, thank you so much!

[WonderfulAlex]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I agree, all are good options with some caveats. Brickell/Downtown Miami is very status-driven and can be difficult to assimilate into or have the desire to. Coconut Grove tends older (30s and 40s) and could be a good fit for the OP. Wynwood is very artsy and unless in that mold a difficult place to blend in. Little Havana is very Spanish language-centric and would highly suggest the OP be of a higher level of bilingual ability than Spanish 101.

My Spanish is actually pretty decent. Not totally fluent, but I am able to get by with conversation, express my feelings, tell jokes, etc.

I've looked at a few apartments and airbnb's around Brickell. It's beautiful, but unfortunately out of my price range. I'm not a particularly artsy person so I agree Wynwood wouldn't be a great option.

Is there any area within Coconut Grove you would recommend?

[kbtoy7891]

Originally Posted by WonderfulAlex

My Spanish is actually pretty decent. Not totally fluent, but I am able to get by with conversation, express my feelings, tell jokes, etc.

I've looked at a few apartments and airbnb's around Brickell. It's beautiful, but unfortunately out of my price range. I'm not a particularly artsy person so I agree Wynwood wouldn't be a great option.

Is there any area within Coconut Grove you would recommend?

What's your price range, if I may ask?
I'd throw Miami Beach into the mix, where you can find some pretty decently-priced rentals.

If you must buy, I'm surprised you can't find something in Brickell at $750k. Have you looked at Zillow? I'm seeing quite a number of nice condos for well under that.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by WonderfulAlex

My Spanish is actually pretty decent. Not totally fluent, but I am able to get by with conversation, express my feelings, tell jokes, etc.

I've looked at a few apartments and airbnb's around Brickell. It's beautiful, but unfortunately out of my price range. I'm not a particularly artsy person so I agree Wynwood wouldn't be a great option.

Is there any area within Coconut Grove you would recommend?

There's a few nice areas of Coconut Grove.

The first recommended listing below is Core Link which is next to a MetroRail station, a Trader Joe's and Milam's Market (an upscale locally-owned grocery store), a Lifetime gym and a Yard's restaurant/bar. The second (Avalon) is practically next door and shares obviously the same amenities nearby.

https://www.apartments.com/core-link...mi-fl/n4drk0p/
https://www.apartments.com/avalon-me...mi-fl/t9tzqnc/

[WonderfulAlex]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

There's a few nice areas of Coconut Grove.

The first recommended listing below is Core Link which is next to a MetroRail station, a Trader Joe's and Milam's Market (an upscale locally-owned grocery store), a Lifetime gym and a Yard's restaurant/bar. The second (Avalon) is practically next door and shares obviously the same amenities nearby.

https://www.apartments.com/core-link...mi-fl/n4drk0p/
https://www.apartments.com/avalon-me...mi-fl/t9tzqnc/

This location also looks fabulous, thank you so much for your recommendations. So helpful!

[WonderfulAlex]

Originally Posted by kbtoy7891

What's your price range, if I may ask?
I'd throw Miami Beach into the mix, where you can find some pretty decently-priced rentals.

If you must buy, I'm surprised you can't find something in Brickell at $750k. Have you looked at Zillow? I'm seeing quite a number of nice condos for well under that.

Ideally under $2500 for rent. Now that I'm looking at Brickell condos, the list price is at $750k but the HOAs are very high, often over $1k. I probably would need to adjust my range down.